Before the Echo

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 887 reviews
  • music
  • story
  • gameplay
Before the Echo Game Cover
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Before the Echo is a single-player Comedy Role Playing game with an intriguing story and perfected game mechanics, featuring stunning visuals and an outstanding soundtrack by Ronald Jenkees and Michael Wade Hamilton. Engage in a 10+ hour story mode with deep item synthesis and spell customization while encountering quirky characters. Enjoy full integration of Steam achievements and cloud saves.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 887 reviews
music249 positive mentions
grinding99 negative mentions
  • Innovative blend of rhythm and RPG mechanics, providing a unique gameplay experience.
  • Catchy soundtrack featuring Ronald Jenkees, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • Witty dialogue and humorous writing that keeps players engaged and entertained throughout.
  • Repetitive gameplay due to limited music tracks and the need for grinding to collect items.
  • Some players may find the story and characters lacking depth or overly campy.
  • Technical issues such as poor input detection and the requirement for Windows Media Player can hinder the experience.
  • music601 mentions

    The music in "Before the Echo" is widely praised for its catchy and engaging tracks, primarily composed by Ronald Jenkees, which enhance the rhythm-based gameplay and overall atmosphere. However, many players express disappointment over the limited variety of songs, leading to repetitiveness as they grind through battles. While the soundtrack is enjoyable and fits well with the game's mechanics, the lack of diverse tracks can detract from the experience over time.

    • “Fantastic rhythm game with a gripping plot plus some amazing soundtracks.”
    • “The music, composed by Ronald Jenkees, is equally impressive, with catchy electronic beats and memorable melodies that drive the rhythm gameplay and set the tone for each encounter.”
    • “The music is great, and the art has a nice look and feel to it.”
    • “The music is absolutely terrible, but what can you expect from an indie game... I guess the only real complaint I'd have about it is that all of the songs are so similar that it kind of sounds like you're listening to the same song over and over again.”
    • “The soundtrack, while well-made, is extremely limited, and you'll end up hearing the same handful of songs over and over (so far maybe a half dozen songs in the first 4/7 floors of the tower, compared to dozens/hundreds in your average true rhythm game).”
    • “The only real flaw to Sequence is the general elevator-esque feel to the very little music in the game, and the poorly thought out randomly generated number system that governs the drop rates and crafting rates.”
  • story349 mentions

    The story in "Before the Echo" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its engaging and humorous dialogue, intriguing plot twists, and well-developed characters, while others criticize it for being shallow or poorly written. The narrative follows the protagonist, Ky, as he navigates a mysterious tower, blending RPG elements with rhythm-based gameplay, which keeps players invested despite some grindy moments. Overall, while the story may not be groundbreaking, it effectively complements the gameplay and offers enough charm to keep players interested.

    • “The story is interesting as well, and the ending was good.”
    • “The writing is delightful and funny without being too goofy and while telling an interesting story.”
    • “The story itself puts a bit of a twist on the caught-in-a-video-game trope and is well worth the play, and the characters are quirky and unique enough to be interesting.”
    • “Sadly, the story and writing are a little lackluster, and some floors can become a real grind due to the low drop rates.”
    • “The protagonist is unlikable; his personality is 'snark' and 'blows up at people for little to no reason', and he is treated as the smartest being in existence by the story.”
    • “The story is weak, the progression is highly linear, and the playtime is padded out by a moderate amount of grinding.”
  • gameplay287 mentions

    The gameplay of "Before the Echo" is widely praised for its unique blend of rhythm mechanics and RPG elements, offering an engaging experience that challenges players to switch between multiple action tracks during battles. While many reviewers appreciate the innovative approach and fun mechanics, some note that the gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, particularly in terms of item collection and crafting. Overall, the game is recommended for fans of rhythm games and those looking for a fresh take on traditional RPG gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is extremely good and unique as a combo of RPG style real-time-turn-based fighting and falling arrow rhythm game.”
    • “The primary gameplay - having to watch multiple Dance Dance Revolution screens and switch between them to attack, defend, and heal - feels extremely empowering once you get into the flow of it.”
    • “Before the Echo is a captivating fusion of rhythm-based mechanics and RPG elements that offers a fresh and engaging gameplay experience.”
    • “The writing is hit-or-miss, but the main issue is how dreadful the gameplay is.”
    • “However, the mechanic of flipping between three rhythm tracks would be fine if there was a feeling of groove which continued between tracks, but with the randomly generated button prompts, it is impossible to achieve this.”
    • “But to keep matters short, the gameplay got stale after a while; the farming for items got fairly tedious.”
  • humor152 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, witty dialogue, and engaging character interactions, often blending internet memes and pop culture references. While some find the humor edgy or cringey, many appreciate its lightheartedness and the way it enhances the overall experience, making the gameplay enjoyable and entertaining. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with its RPG and rhythm elements, resulting in a fun and memorable adventure.

    • “The writing is delightful and funny without being too goofy and while telling an interesting story.”
    • “Hilarious writing, with fun easter egg jokes all over the place.”
    • “The dialogue is clever, the art is gorgeous, and the item descriptions are hilarious (example: broken pencil [utterly pointless]).”
    • “Whether it's the memes that were dated when this was new or the incredibly unfunny Reddit-/v/ hybrid jokes.”
    • “Edgy, unfunny, badly balanced.”
    • “I dunno, it's got a lot of cringey humor and some mediocre voice acting.”
  • grinding100 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that while it can be tedious and repetitive—often requiring multiple plays of the same songs and battles to gather crafting materials and experience—it is somewhat mitigated by enjoyable mechanics and a compelling story. Some players appreciate the challenge and find the grinding rewarding, while others feel it detracts from the overall experience, leading to boredom and frustration, especially for completionists. Overall, grinding is a significant part of the gameplay, and its enjoyment largely depends on individual tolerance for repetition and the desire to engage with the crafting system.

    • “Grinding in this game adds a layer of challenge that keeps you engaged, especially in rhythm games where you need to prepare for tough bosses by collecting resources and leveling up your skills.”
    • “The grind can feel overwhelming at times, but it ultimately rewards you with a sense of accomplishment as you overcome difficult challenges and improve your character.”
    • “While grinding may seem tedious, it enhances the gameplay experience by encouraging players to explore and master the game's mechanics before facing tougher opponents.”
    • “There is only a very limited set (3) of enemies on each level and fighting might get a bit grindy, especially if you want to unlock all craftable items (and bonus boss and ending).”
    • “Grinding often becomes something of a necessity in RPGs, but with a game like this, you can't just do it mindlessly because of the battle system in place.”
    • “The gameplay by itself is fun for a while, but as the entire game is built around grinding items and experience, it would get boring very quickly if it weren't for the well-written story pushing players forward.”
  • graphics60 mentions

    The graphics of "Before the Echo" are characterized by vibrant and colorful artwork that many players find appealing, with a consistent art style that enhances the overall aesthetic. However, some reviews note that the battle graphics and animations are basic and lack polish, which detracts from the otherwise well-crafted visuals. Overall, while the artwork is praised, the static nature of the graphics and limited animations leave room for improvement.

    • “Before the Echo is a story-driven RPG rhythm game that defies expectations with its colorful artwork and attention to detail.”
    • “The game has crisp graphics and artwork, witty writing (the biggest plus in my opinion), and great voice acting.”
    • “Visually, Before the Echo boasts a vibrant and colorful art style, with character designs and environments that pop off the screen.”
    • “One weakness of the game is the battling and UI; although simple enough, the weak graphics jar with the otherwise well-crafted characters and backgrounds.”
    • “The dialog is atrocious, the story is insignificant, and the graphics are the kind of crappy animatics that have now become standard fare in a sea of indie game dev mediocrity.”
    • “The graphics are very basic; the art looks okay, but there are basically no animations.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting a lack of content and limited incentives to replay. While some aspects, like unlocking new songs and achievements, offer slight motivation for multiple playthroughs, the short story and repetitive elements detract from long-term engagement. A few players found enjoyment in the gameplay mechanics and story, but the consensus leans towards minimal replay value.

    • “The boss battles don't seem to be replayable, but they do unlock new songs when you complete them that will be used in the higher levels of battle.”
    • “Some replayability since the gameplay is just super fun, but more (and different...) music tracks would have been nice.”
    • “The game has amazing replay value, too.”
    • “That coupled with the fact that I'm better than halfway through the game in under 4 hours suggests that this game won't have replay value.”
    • “The game itself, I'll warn, has little replay value.”
    • “Replayability and extras are limited (unless you opt for a higher difficulty, I started on the highest), but the game is well worth one playthrough.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Overall, character development in the game is noted for its interesting characters and well-executed voice acting, contributing to a vibrant narrative experience. However, some reviews suggest that the focus on antagonistic dialogue detracts from deeper trait building, while others appreciate the clever writing and the effective use of character arcs despite the game's brevity. The visual presentation enhances the character designs, making them engaging within the story.

    • “Characters are interesting and there is character development throughout the story, and the voice acting is very well done.”
    • “The writing is clever and meta, and while the game is short, it still finds the time to whip up some fun characters and even has room for character development.”
    • “Great character development.”
    • “The voice acting was well done too, though similarly with There Came an Echo, the character development was not endearing, focused too much on antagonistic dialogue rather than meaningful trait building.”
    • “The voice acting and character design are well done for a game of this scope, but in my opinion that time could have been better spent improving the core game loop.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, recalling fond memories and music that evoke nostalgia. However, some also feel a sense of frustration or inadequacy, as the game can create a feeling of not meeting expectations or goals.

    • “Remembered a song from this game and decided to give it another play after not touching it for 10 years.”
    • “So maybe that's my gripe -- the game always made me feel like I wasn't doing what I should be doing.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game offers smooth performance, particularly optimized for Xbox 360 controllers, which may require additional adjustments for keyboard and mouse users. Overall, while it performs well across input methods, players using a gamepad will have a more seamless experience.

    • “Smooth performance at all times.”
    • “The game is optimized for Xbox 360 controllers, so buyers beware if you only use a keyboard.”
    • “This means the game is more optimized for Xbox 360 controllers, so buyers beware if you only use a keyboard.”
    • “It seems to be optimized for play with a gamepad/Xbox 360 controller, but keyboard and mouse work just as well; it just needs a little extra adjustment.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game's stability is mixed; while some users report no glitches or crashes, others experience frequent crashes when alt-tabbing and encounter various audio issues, indicating a need for improvement in this area.

    • “I had no glitches of any sort, and it never crashed on me.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any hiccups, providing a seamless experience.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the game is; I can play for hours without any issues.”
    • “The game does, however, get a huge minus for being very buggy. I can understand not liking alt-tabbing very much, but the game crashes often when it loses focus, so no multitasking allowed. Not to mention, there are some audio issues here and there.”
    • “The game frequently crashes, making it frustrating to play for extended periods.”
    • “There are numerous stability issues that detract from the overall experience, including random crashes and performance drops.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

14hMedian play time
14hAverage play time
12-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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