Escape Plan has easily been the most intriguing PlayStation Vita launch title on the plate. An all-original property with a deliciously unusual art style, this touch-based puzzle game has long looked like a fantastic way of showcasing the Vita’s multiple interface options. That, and its two monochrome heroes look far too cute for their own good.

It’s just a shame that Escape Plan had absolutely no ambition outside of being a tech demo. A tech demo that doesn’t even work correctly most of the time.

Escape Plan (PlayStation Vita)
Developer: Fun Bits Interactive
Publisher: SCEA
Released: February 14, 2012
MSRP: $14.99

Escape Plan is the tale of two fittingly named protagonists — the diminutive Lil and his hulking ally Laarg — as they attempt to escape their nefarious captor, the masked Bakuki. Fragile and lacking in spatial awareness, our heroes require outside assistance with plenty of environmental manipulation if they’re to avoid being recycled and turned into mindless minions.

Almost everything is interacted with using touch controls on both the screen and rear pad. In order to make Lil or Laarg walk, you swipe over their bodies in the desired direction, while simply tapping on them will cause them to stop. Various environmental features, such as bricks, platforms and elevators, can be manipulated in the same way. For instance, if a brick is in Lil’s way, it needs to be tapped out of his path, otherwise the short-sighted prisoner will trip up and smash his stupid face in. Meanwhile, objects such as fans can be spun around with repeated circular motions, and electric pylons can be pushed into new positions in order to divert their current.

Some objects can be pushed in or out of the environment by touching from the front or rear. Various platforms sunk into walls will need to be interacted with via the touchpad in order to shove them outwards, although many of these platforms will retract after a few seconds so timing is important. The touchpad is also used to interact with other creatures, such as sheep that can be herded with rear swipes, or enemy minions that will respond to sounds created by tapping behind walls. Goading these creatures around the map will be integral to a number of puzzles.