ECHO

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,000 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
ECHO Game Cover
ECHO's amazing mixture of A.I programming and evolving enemies encourages creativity and problem solving instead of just heading towards the goal.
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"ECHO is a single-player, third-person Science Fiction Shooter game with an intriguing story, ingenious gameplay, good graphics, and a marvelous soundtrack. As you explore the Palace and wield its magical technologies, it creates 'Echoes' that mimic your movements, making for a challenging and unique experience. With a dense atmosphere and highly emotional story, ECHO offers a memorable and punishing journey."

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,000 reviews
gameplay477 positive mentions
grinding74 negative mentions
  • Unique gameplay mechanic where enemies learn from the player's actions, creating a strategic challenge.
  • Stunning visuals and atmospheric design that enhance the overall experience.
  • Engaging story with well-written dialogue and excellent voice acting.
  • Repetitive gameplay and environments that can become tedious over time.
  • Slow pacing, especially in the beginning, with long walking sequences and minimal action.
  • Abrupt and unsatisfying ending that leaves many questions unanswered.
  • gameplay1,674 mentions

    The gameplay of "Echo" is characterized by its unique mechanic where enemies learn and mimic the player's actions, creating a strategic layer to the stealth experience. However, many players find the gameplay repetitive and simplistic, with limited mechanics that do not evolve significantly throughout the game, leading to a sense of monotony. While the atmosphere and visuals are praised, the overall execution of gameplay mechanics often leaves players feeling frustrated or disengaged, particularly due to the linearity and lack of variety in gameplay elements.

    • “The quasi titular feature - the game's 'learning' and 'unlearning' of your actions onto the enemies - puts a far-reaching twist on the stealth gameplay, because it actually - structurally - rewards keeping a cool head & keeping it clean.”
    • “The gameplay blends elements of puzzle solving, stealth, exploration, and brief but very intense moments of combat all within a gorgeous yet disorienting environment that plays heavily on agoraphobia.”
    • “The core mechanic of the game is pretty solid - part of what makes it interesting is deciding which actions the AI learns or unlearns in each cycle, deciding which things you can afford to let the AI do that won't hinder your own progress.”
    • “This game had so much potential, but alas the antiquated console-like checkpoint mechanics make it a complete waste of time.”
    • “The gameplay loop is punishing and frustrating.”
    • “The gameplay is linear and beatable in about 8-12 hours, with not much replay value, outside of replaying levels that you liked.”
  • story1,301 mentions

    The story of "Echo" is a mixed bag, with many players finding it intriguing yet frustratingly vague and poorly paced. While the visuals and voice acting are praised, the narrative often feels disjointed, with significant exposition delivered through lengthy walking segments that can detract from engagement. Overall, the game presents a unique sci-fi premise that captivates some players, but leaves others wanting more clarity and depth in its storytelling.

    • “The story is fascinating without being condescending, the world is brutal and surreal, and the infinite palace is going to claim you, whether you want it or not.”
    • “The backstory is all told through dialogue, which is well written, and with excellent voice acting.”
    • “The story is intriguing, the main character is a genetically engineered woman named 'en' who apparently escaped from a testing ground that creates enhanced 'perfect' beings.”
    • “The plot is one of my main concerns because not a single dialogue makes sense.”
    • “The vast majority of the story will be revealed while walking from A to B while being forcefully slowed down and via very few cinematics.”
    • “The story just isn't worth it.”
  • graphics635 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and unique art style, often described as breathtaking and among the best seen in recent indie titles. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a captivating atmosphere through its detailed environments and impressive use of lighting, although some note that the visuals can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game's aesthetic is praised as a significant strength, contributing to an engaging experience despite criticisms of gameplay mechanics.

    • “This game has such stunningly beautiful graphics and visuals.”
    • “The visuals are breathtakingly gorgeous, somehow repetitive but stunning nonetheless, with a spectacular attention even to little environmental details.”
    • “Absolutely stunning graphics paired with a great narrative makes this one of the best games I've played.”
    • “Bad graphics/textures for a game that published in 2017.”
    • “Assassin's Creed 2 and Batman: Arkham Asylum had better graphics back in 2009.”
    • “The graphics are okay, but the environments quickly become boring as it's the same assets plastered over and over again.”
  • music270 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its dynamic and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience and complementing the stunning visuals. While many players appreciate the elegant and immersive soundtrack, some note that it can become repetitive over time, with limited variation. Overall, the sound design, including ambient music and audio cues, is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's unique atmosphere.

    • “The dynamic/reactive music enhances the gameplay and atmosphere nicely too - plus the crystal clear and crisp ambience, with the occasional orchestral sting, just goes down incredibly smoothly.”
    • “Incredible atmosphere unlike anything else out there, thanks to a fantastic soundtrack and sound design, as well as badass character and environment designs.”
    • “The music and sound design is phenomenal, and ties very well into the level design and visual effects that accompany each 'cycle' during the levels.”
    • “And can we just talk about how boring it is to wait for the night cycle to end, with the same musical cue and 'black screen' over and over again?”
    • “There are only 2 or 3 songs and again, they get very repetitive.”
    • “While the visuals and the soundtrack are really polished they become repetitive after a couple of hours; besides a couple of key moments, the game uses the same music all the time, which takes out any impact that it has at the beginning.”
  • atmosphere236 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and unique blend of sci-fi and horror elements, creating a captivating and eerie experience. Players appreciate the dynamic music and art direction that enhance the storytelling, while the game's setting—often described as a vast, ornate mansion—contributes to a sense of mystery and tension. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, drawing players into its haunting world and leaving a lasting impression.

    • “The atmosphere is incredible, and the way the mechanics and story blend together is just impressive.”
    • “Incredible atmosphere unlike anything else out there, thanks to a fantastic soundtrack and sound design, as well as badass character and environment designs.”
    • “The game is superbly atmospheric and if you can play it in an immersive cinematic environment, then I highly recommend doing so.”
    • “I appreciate the atmosphere and the work that has gone into the game, but it fails to deliver on the most basic aspects of its premise, so... it's a no for me.”
    • “The concept is amazingly innovative, where you have to make your way through bypassing and fighting enemies which are actually copies of your previous reactions and gameplay methods, in addition to wonderful graphics, but regretfully repetitive levels and almost the same atmospheres lacking an interesting story as well.”
    • “Lack of real atmosphere/no real tension, unless you haven't planned properly.”
  • grinding80 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its repetitive and tedious nature, often transforming engaging gameplay into a frustrating cycle of die-and-repeat mechanics. Many players found the pacing slow and the combat unfulfilling, leading to a lack of progression and enjoyment, particularly in the later stages. While some appreciated the unique story and atmosphere, the overall sentiment leans towards the experience being overly grindy and exhausting.

    • “Most reviews mention repetitive gameplay, but it's not tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A lot of grinding.”
    • “The gameplay can feel tedious, especially at the beginning.”
    • “The game is very repetitive, and after the first 1-2 hours you stop feeling any sense of progression; it's just tedious.”
    • “Sadly, the last 2-3 hours drag and become extremely tedious as the idea they invented never improves.”
  • optimization54 mentions

    Overall, optimization for the game appears to be a mixed bag. While some players report smooth performance and high frame rates, others experience significant stuttering, frame drops, and issues during cutscenes, indicating that optimization could be improved for a more consistent experience across different hardware setups. Additionally, certain gameplay mechanics, particularly stealth, are noted to be poorly optimized, leading to frustration for some users.

    • “Performance-wise, there was nothing to complain about though I do have a good gaming PC, so it was to be expected.”
    • “Setting is beautiful, runs smoothly, nice controls.”
    • “It has a cool art style, an interesting premise, and runs smoothly.”
    • “I had some performance issues on cutscenes and I think I managed to crash it once with out of memory.”
    • “Most sections are very poorly optimized for stealth, and the player would often get more results by just running through and gunning down anything directly in the way.”
    • “The graphics are good, though perhaps not worth the inconsistent performance on my GTX 980 (FPS is acceptable, but not solid). I've had just as good or better looking games perform better.”
  • replayability33 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with a linear structure that can be completed in 8-12 hours. While there are elements like collectibles and different gameplay approaches that encourage replaying, many players feel that the experience can become repetitive and may benefit from more open-world design or procedural generation to enhance longevity. Despite its beautiful design and engaging characters, the game is not seen as highly replayable, often rated around 6/10 for this aspect.

    • “In conclusion: echo has a very unique character to it with beautiful audio-visual design, strong and interesting characters, and a novel gameplay mechanic that introduces a lot of replay value.”
    • “That being said, the game is built for replayability with different approaches.”
    • “It is satisfying to try and get all the collectibles, so I'm seeing a lot of replay value in that as well.”
    • “The gameplay is linear and beatable in about 8-12 hours, with not much replay value, outside of replaying levels that you liked.”
    • “Replayability: 6/10 - not the most replayable game ever; I feel having a more open world with more things to find would really benefit here.”
    • “One thing that can boost replayability would be to add procedural generation -- to really sell the idea of an infinite palace.”
  • emotional28 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has garnered mixed reactions, with some players feeling deeply invested in the characters and their journeys, likening the experience to classics like Portal 2. However, others found the ending abrupt and emotionally hollow, suggesting that the story could have benefited from further development to enhance character relatability and emotional depth. Overall, while the voice acting and character backgrounds are praised, the emotional impact varies significantly among players.

    • “So, after finishing the whole game, it has a really touching and unsettling ending.”
    • “From the opening scenes to the end, I was emotionally invested in the character's journey.”
    • “Every moment is a gorgeous new experience with a moving and emotional soundtrack to match.”
  • stability20 mentions

    The game generally runs well, especially on Linux, but players have reported various stability issues, including glitches with enemies, doors, and environmental interactions. While some minor bugs and crashes occur, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience, which is praised for its stunning visuals and unique mechanics. However, the presence of clunky mechanics and occasional game-breaking glitches can lead to frustrating moments during gameplay.

    • “Runs great on Linux.”
    • “Beautiful game, runs great too.”
    • “I've also encountered glitches opening doors and the bridges right during a day or night cycle change causing the bridges or doors to be stuck half open, with seemingly no way to fix them. Trying to repeat the source of the glitch (flipping it open or shut right at night/day cycle change) fixes this.”
    • “This too limits one’s drive to explore the area for hidden stuff since a) you die rather quickly b) no manual saving, only points where the game saves at the first visit c) some areas are buggy... I fell through the floor in a place where I was looking for 5 solid minutes on how to advance and after hearing the same text about 10 times.”
    • “Clunky mechanics, lots of buggy things (door having to be opened twice, corpse as hindrance, etc.) and generally a gameplay that is not so much challenging as it is annoying.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of intentional and unintentional comedy, with players finding amusement in quirky mechanics, such as the absurdity of AI behavior and the slow, exaggerated movement. Moments of self-sabotage and the ridiculousness of certain interactions, like AI mimicking actions, contribute to a lighthearted experience, making players laugh despite the game's serious undertones. Overall, while some aspects may not land as intended, the game offers plenty of humorous surprises that enhance the gameplay.

    • “Some of the game mechanics are pretty unintentionally hilarious: I really wish I could do a whole run with just schoolyard bully pushing and no kill, but alas, not entirely feasible.”
    • “It's hilarious - I actually had a close look at the walk to see just how comical it is to move so slowly, like walking across a tightrope.”
    • “It was funny and frightening at the same time watching the echoes go crouching behind a table, and then suddenly another one comes up from behind and chokes me!”
    • “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced.”
    • “The jokes are stale and fail to elicit any genuine laughter.”
    • “The comedic elements are poorly executed and lack originality.”
  • character development14 mentions

    The game excels in character development, delivering deep and genuine growth for key characters within a concise narrative. Players appreciate the balance of emotional depth, humor, and the complexity of the protagonist, despite their seemingly stagnant arc by the end. The combination of strong character and architectural design enhances the overall immersive experience.

    • “You get a lot of character development for the key people involved within the narrative.”
    • “There is banter, there is gut-wrenching sorrow, and there is just so much character development that feels genuine and earned rather than tacky.”
    • “They've managed to somehow make deep character development and story progression in a game where by the end of it, I think the protagonist is still massively arrogant, overconfident, and cunning, and everything is essentially back at square one [spoiler]before Foster had ever met her[/spoiler].”
    • “That's one way to save on character design, I guess.”
    • “There was so much character development in such few words.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game appears to be self-funded, which has led to a lack of advertising resources, potentially limiting its visibility and press coverage. Reviewers suggest that a more effective marketing approach could have significantly boosted the game's exposure without altering its content.

    • “They build their own game, fund themselves, go through all the motions... and then I suppose didn't have much money for advertising?”
    • “Seriously, I think that would have gotten this game so much free press, without even having to change anything in the game at all. Polygon or Kotaku or whatever would have been all over it, advertising it to the high heavens.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

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Play time

6hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
2-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs

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