Exit is a stylish 2D platformer/puzzle game that looks a lot like a resurrected comic book. Everything is true 3D, even the backgrounds, which gives the game great depth despite the fact that the gameplay only deals in two dimensions. The polygons are also cel shaded, which lends some style to the game.

The sound and music are very action-oriented. There is little recorded dialogue, except for the people you are trying to save screaming one-liners out every now and then. The music is the domineering audio presence here, and it plays its part well by setting the pace for each level.

Exit is a puzzle game, but not in the typical sense of the genre. The game is separated out into levels, but instead of lining up rows of blocks or matching various colors together, you are saving people from various crises. As Mr. ESC, you must find the quickest way to get people out of burning buildings, flooded rooms, and whatever other devastated area that comes your way.

Invariably, at the outset of each level, your goal is to lead those who are trapped in the building to the exit. You do this by first reaching the survivor and then having them follow you to the exit. Sounds simple, but not all survivors are created equally. Some are young and need help getting over obstacles, others are large and, well, need help also.

As Mr. ESC, you have far superior abilities when compared to the survivors, but there are times when you will need their help as well. The levels, though based on real life establishments, are not exactly populated by what we would consider the most practical apparatuses. Levers, elevators, switch-gates, and loads of boxes are scattered throughout each level, making it a challenge to successfully navigate your way to the end.

The balance in the difficulty is surprisingly good. Every level is a well thought out labyrinth, and there are just enough of the ones that make you think that you’ve got it all solved, when they throw a twist in that you hadn’t given consideration to. The latter levels are especially taxing, giving a long life expectancy to Exit.

For the most part, the control in Exit is very good. Navigating the levels is easy and mostly intuitive. Giving commands to the survivors that you locate is done with the analog stick, but this is where you’ll run into some hitches. This is especially bad when you want them to take stairs somewhere and they end up going in the opposite direction. It doesn’t kill the gameplay, but it is still a hassle that needs to be worked around.

Exit is a great game that thinks outside of the box. Not only is it a breath of fresh air for die-hard puzzle fans, but it presents itself in such a way that those not entirely familiar with puzzle games can easily pick it up. On top of all that, it is a great portable game, requiring little commitment each time you turn it on, something the PSP needs more of.