Escaped Chasm

{{Infobox video game

| image = Escaped Chasm title.png

| caption = Itch.io game poster

| developer = Temmie Chang

| composer = Toby Fox

| engine = RPG Maker MV

| platforms = {{ubl|Windows|macOS}}

| released = April 2, 2019

| genre = Adventure

| modes = Single-player

}}

Escaped Chasm is a 2019 adventure game developed by Temmie Chang. As a test project, it was released on April 2, 2019, as freeware on Itch.io. The game is set in an abandoned house and follows an unnamed girl whose parents never come back. Previously known for her illustration work on Toby Fox's Undertale (2015) and Deltarune (2018), Chang used the game as a way to practice using the RPG Maker MV engine. Escaped Chasm received praise from reviewers.

Gameplay and plot

Escaped Chasm is a exploration-based adventure game with four different endings. The player controls an unnamed girl who lives alone in her parents' house. Without her parents, the player can freely explore the house and progress through the game by writing down events in a diary. Sleeping lets the player watch a dream sequence and continue to the next day.{{Cite web |last=Shigeta |first=Yūichi |date=April 4, 2019 |script-title=ja:『UNDERTALE』のアートで知られるテミーが制作したADV『Escaped Chasm』がPCで配信開始！孤独でネガティブな少女が奇妙な夢を見る |trans-title=The adventure game “Escaped Chasm” created by Temmie, who is known for the art of “UNDERTALE”, is now available on PC! A lonely and sad girl has a strange dream |url=https://jp.ign.com/escaped-chasm/34553/news/undertaleadvescaped-chasmpc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015211900/https://jp.ign.com/escaped-chasm/34553/news/undertaleadvescaped-chasmpc |archive-date=October 15, 2022 |access-date=January 4, 2024 |website=IGN Japan}}{{Additional citation needed|date=April 2024}} On the second day, the unnamed girl meets a man with a demonic appearance named Zera, who warns her that the house is slowly descending into chaos. As time progresses, the house gradually falls apart. Zera reveals that the girl's parents are gone and offers the opportunity to save them by taking the girl to another world. Despite knowing she will lose memories of her parents, the girl accepts Zera's offer.

Development and release

Escaped Chasm was developed by illustrator and animator Temmie Chang, known for being the lead artist of Toby Fox's Undertale (2015) and Deltarune (2018).{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Fraser |date=April 3, 2019 |title=Escaped Chasm is a free game about loneliness from Undertale's artist |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/escaped-chasm-is-a-free-game-about-loneliness-from-undertales-artist/ |access-date=January 3, 2024 |website=PC Gamer |archive-date=June 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605013503/https://www.pcgamer.com/escaped-chasm-is-a-free-game-about-loneliness-from-undertales-artist/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Khan |first=Imran |date=April 3, 2019 |title=Escaped Chasm Is A New, Small Game From Undertale's Lead Artist |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/04/03/escaped-chasm-is-a-new-small-game-from-undertales-lead-artist |access-date=January 3, 2024 |magazine=Game Informer |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010223827/https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/04/03/escaped-chasm-is-a-new-small-game-from-undertales-lead-artist |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/1025759/temmie-chang-artiste-sur-undertale-publie-son-rpg.htm |title=Temmie Chang, artiste sur Undertale, publie son RPG |last=ChewbieFR |date=3 April 2019 |website=Jeuxvideo.com |trans-title=Undertale Artist Temmie Chang Releases RPG |language=fr |access-date=January 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611194208/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/1025759/temmie-chang-artiste-sur-undertale-publie-son-rpg.htm |archive-date=June 11, 2019 |url-status=live }} It serves as a test project and Chang's first attempt at using the RPG Maker MV engine.{{Cite web |last=Dale |first=Laura |date=April 9, 2019 |title=Escaped Chasm is a Free Game By Undertale Artist Temmie Chang |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/04/escaped-chasm-is-a-free-game-by-undertale-artist-temmie-chang/ |access-date=January 3, 2024 |website=Kotaku Australia |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010223827/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/04/escaped-chasm-is-a-free-game-by-undertale-artist-temmie-chang/ |url-status=dead }} Chang worked on art and animation while Fox composed the soundtrack for the game. Chang also had contributors help with additional music and sound design, with James Roach providing the supporting music.{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=April 3, 2019 |title=Free games: Undertale artist Temmie Chang has released her own RPG |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/escaped-chasm-free-games |access-date=January 3, 2024 |website=PCGamesN |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010223831/https://www.pcgamesn.com/escaped-chasm-free-games |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Tarason |first=Dominic |date=April 2, 2019 |title=Escaped Chasm is a short, sad, free story by Undertale's artist |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/escaped-chasm-is-a-free-short-from-undertales-temie-chang |access-date=January 3, 2024 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010223826/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/escaped-chasm-is-a-free-short-from-undertales-temie-chang |url-status=live }} Her initial goal was to form a storyline and practice game development to create better projects in the future. Escaped Chasm was released on April 2, 2019, as freeware on Itch.io. On July 10, 2020, Chang released Dweller's Empty Path, an RPG Maker game that takes place within Escaped Chasm{{'s}} universe; Toby Fox again helped to compose the music, joined by Japanese composer Camellia.{{Cite web |last=Lada |first=Jenni |date=July 11, 2020 |title=Undertale Artist Temmie Chang Releases Dweller's Empty Path |url=https://www.siliconera.com/undertale-artist-temmie-chang-releases-dwellers-empty-path/ |access-date=January 3, 2024 |website=Siliconera |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010223828/https://www.siliconera.com/undertale-artist-temmie-chang-releases-dwellers-empty-path/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite tweet|last=Chang|first=Temmie|user=tuyoki|title=Hooray!! It's all finished! You can play my newest RPGMaker game here: 🐕 https://tuyoki.itch.io/dwellers-empty-path… 🐕 -- ☆Story/Art/Animation by me ☆Music (arrangement & Production): @cametek ☆Music (melody & chords): me, @tobyfox, @cametek|number=1281605025471635456|access-date=3 January 2024|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Rory |date=July 10, 2020 |title=Undertale Artist Temmie Launches Name-Your-Price Game |url=https://gamerant.com/undertale-artist-temmie-launches-name-price-game/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012203503/https://gamerant.com/undertale-artist-temmie-launches-name-price-game/ |archive-date=October 12, 2022 |access-date=January 4, 2024 |website=Game Rant}}

Reception

Multiple reviewers praised Escaped Chasm for its animation, visuals, music, and themes. Fraser Brown of PC Gamer called the game "brief but striking" and described the visuals as "lonely and occasionally unsettling". Rock Paper Shotgun{{'s}} Dominic Tarason described it as heartfelt and liked the juxtaposition of red and blue color schemes in one of the game's cutscenes. Tarason said that it made the story feel "too real and oppressive" and contrasted it with the in-game pixel art. Reviewers commended Fox's music and compared the game to Undertale from its similar themes and dialogue.{{Cite web |last=Glagowski |first=Peter |date=April 3, 2019 |title=Undertale artist releases free game Escaped Chasm |url=https://www.destructoid.com/undertale-artist-releases-free-game-escaped-chasm/ |access-date=January 3, 2024 |website=Destructoid |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010223826/https://www.destructoid.com/undertale-artist-releases-free-game-escaped-chasm/ |url-status=live }}