Solar Winds: The Escape

Solar Winds: The Escape is a 1993 space adventure that combines exploration, combat, trading, and a healthy dose of science-fiction mystery. Players pilot a spacecraft through a large universe, visiting planets and stations, meeting characters, gathering information, and improving their vessel along the way. The game encourages exploration rather than forcing the player down a completely linear route, creating a sense that the galaxy is a place to investigate rather than merely a collection of shooting galleries. Combat is important, but knowing where to go and what to do can be just as challenging. The Escape has the unmistakable charm of early-1990s PC science fiction, when a relatively simple graphical interface could still make a galaxy feel enormous. It is a leisurely space adventure with enough freedom to encourage experimentation. Naturally, “escape” sounds easy until you realize the entire universe appears to have opinions about where you should be going.