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Escape Kids

Arcade

Arcade

Escape Kids is a racing game for up to four players but instead of driving or riding a vehicle you control a kid who has to run round a single screen track over various races. There are five competitors running with the black clothed runner the champion, and to progress to the next race, one play...

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Developer
Konami

Released on
1991

Size
1–4 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Racing

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Escape Kids is a racing game for up to four players but instead of driving or riding a vehicle you control a kid who has to run round a single screen track over various races. There are five competitors running with the black clothed runner the champion, and to progress to the next race, one player must beat him. Each race is three laps and each player can use a fire-button to speed up and each player has a limited amount of super-jumps. There are various obstacles to avoid and bumping into another racer slows you down. Icons appear and these can speed you up, give a super-jump or create an earthquake where all the racers fall over. Once three laps have been completed by one racer then the results are shown before each player can increase various stats, like reduced skidding, get stronger, more super-jumps or get up quicker. If a player wins three races in a row then they can ride a bike in a bonus game trying to get more money.

Escape Kids

Overview & History

Released in 1991 by Konami, Escape Kids is an eccentric and fast-paced co-operative arcade platformer that drops players into a chaotic, televised obstacle course game show. Eschewing traditional beat-'em-up tropes of the era, Konami crafted a uniquely lighthearted competition where players race across bizarre stages—ranging from treacherous jungle temples to futuristic theme parks—dodging eccentric hazards, outsmarting rival AI or friends, and striving to cross the finish line first while surviving the network's deadly ratings-driven traps.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Escape Kids blends frantic side-scrolling platforming with party-style sabotage. Up to four players can simultaneously select from a roster of cheeky youngsters, each outfitted with distinct sprinting speeds and jumping arcs. The gameplay loop forces a constant dilemma: do you dash ahead to secure first place, or do you lag slightly behind to grab map-altering power-ups like rocket boots, boxing gloves, and giant mallets? Players must time their momentum across crumbling platforms, ride mechanical beasts, swing over lava pits, and avoid slapstick hazards. Unlike standard platformers, camera scrolling is aggressive; falling behind or getting squashed by environmental hazards results in an immediate life loss, ratcheting up the tension in competitive multiplayer sessions.