ECHO

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 990 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 990 reviews
gameplay235 positive mentions
grinding37 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 and character interactions, particularly between the protagonist and the AI.
  • Repetitive gameplay and environments that can become tedious over time.
  • Slow pacing, especially in the beginning, with long walking sequences and minimal action.
  • The ending feels abrupt and leaves many plot points unresolved.
  • gameplay831 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 linear, with limited mechanics that can lead to frustration, particularly due to the punishing checkpoint system and lack of variety in gameplay elements. While the atmosphere and visuals are praised, the overall execution of the gameplay mechanics often leaves players wanting more depth and engagement.

    • “Unique gameplay and atmosphere, tied together in a mysterious high sci-fi story.”
    • “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 is linear and beatable in about 8-12 hours, with not much replay value, outside of replaying levels that you liked.”
    • “The gameplay loop is punishing and frustrating.”
  • story646 mentions

    The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it intriguing yet poorly executed. While some appreciate the immersive world-building and character dynamics, others criticize the pacing, repetitive gameplay, and lack of clarity in the narrative, leading to confusion and frustration. Overall, the game presents a unique sci-fi premise with strong visuals and voice acting, but the storytelling often feels disjointed and underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more depth and coherence.

    • “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 atmosphere is incredible, and the way the mechanics and story blend together is just impressive.”
    • “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 is confusing.”
  • graphics316 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and unique art style, often described as breathtaking and reminiscent of high-quality AAA titles. Many reviewers highlighted the game's ability to create an immersive atmosphere through its detailed environments and exceptional sound design, although some noted that the visuals can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game's aesthetic is considered one of its strongest features, captivating players with its intricate design and artistic direction.

    • “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.”
    • “The graphics and artistic style are simply amazing!”
    • “Bad graphics/textures for a game that was 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.”
  • music135 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 reviewers 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 is so much repetition in the environment, enemies, and music, that it's clear the overall scope of Echo was very small.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere117 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. Many reviewers highlight the dynamic music and art direction as key components that enhance the overall ambiance, making it a standout feature of the game. While the atmosphere is often described as haunting and engaging, some players note that the gameplay can become repetitive, which may detract from the overall experience for certain audiences.

    • “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 atmosphere is incredible, and the way the mechanics and story blend together is just impressive.”
    • “The atmosphere is haunting.”
    • “The visuals of the palace are incredible, though quickly grow repetitive over time, and the music complements the atmosphere well.”
    • “Lack of real atmosphere/no real tension, unless you haven't planned properly.”
  • grinding40 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its repetitive and tedious gameplay, which often shifts from engaging narrative and exploration to frustrating die-and-repeat mechanics. Many players found the combat and level exploration to be exhausting, with long walking sections and frequent enemy respawns contributing to a sense of monotony. While some appreciated the unique story and atmosphere, the overall consensus is that the game can become overly grindy, detracting from the enjoyment and sense of progression.

    • “There's a lot of grinding, but it feels rewarding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding, but the progress makes it worthwhile.”
    • “Most reviews mention repetitive gameplay, but it's not tedious; it keeps you engaged.”
    • “Because it changes from a narrative/exploration game into an extremely tedious die-and-repeat stealth game.”
    • “The game is very repetitive, and after the first 1-2 hours you stop feeling any sense of progression; it's just tedious.”
    • “Combat can be very tedious.”
  • optimization27 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and high frame rates, others experience significant stuttering, low-resolution cutscenes, and inconsistent frame drops, particularly on older hardware. Many users suggest that while the game looks great and has a compelling story, it still requires further optimization to enhance the experience for a broader range of systems.

    • “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 errors.”
    • “Most sections are very poorly optimized for stealth, and the player would often get better 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.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it offers some enjoyment through collectible hunting and different gameplay approaches, its linear structure and relatively short playtime (8-12 hours) limit its long-term appeal. Players noted that the experience can feel repetitive, and many suggested that enhancements like procedural generation or a more open world could significantly improve replay value. Despite these limitations, the game's strong audio-visual design and character depth provide enough incentive for some players to revisit it.

    • “One thing that can boost replayability would be to add procedural generation -- to really sell the idea of an infinite palace.”
    • “In conclusion: echo has a very unique character to it with beautiful audio-visual design, strong and interesting characters, and novel gameplay mechanics that introduce a lot of replay value.”
    • “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.”
    • “Good voice acting, might be a little steep of a price for the 7 hours of gameplay I experienced, but it also offers some replay value.”
    • “[*] 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.”
  • emotional14 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a mix of deeply explored character backgrounds and motivations, alongside a powerful soundtrack that enhances the player's investment in the story. While some players found the ending to be touching yet unsettling, others felt it lacked emotional depth and relatability, leaving them wanting more character development. Overall, the game evokes strong feelings, with some moments resonating deeply, reminiscent of emotional experiences in other acclaimed titles.

    • “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.”
    • “This is a game where the passion the developers put into it is apparent in the characters, excellent and emotional voice acting, and an interesting universe that unravels itself throughout the game.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with players reporting various glitches such as enemies getting stuck, issues with door mechanics, and occasional crashes. While some minor bugs are present, they generally do not detract significantly from the overall experience, and the game runs well on Linux. Despite these issues, many players appreciate the game's unique mechanics and beautiful design.

    • “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 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.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of intentional and unintentional moments, with players finding amusement in quirky mechanics and absurd situations, such as the comical movement of characters and the AI's ridiculous behavior. While some aspects may not be overtly funny, the interactions and unexpected outcomes often lead to laughter, creating a lighthearted experience amidst the game's challenges. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm, making players chuckle at both their own strategies and the game's mechanics.

    • “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.”
    • “Cynicism aside, the game has a massive amount of qualities: the concept is fresh and utilizes every single thing you do as a kit for the enemies, which results in either you handicapping yourself by playing aggressively, or you laughing at AI eating disgusting things, because monkey see monkey do, only to then mercilessly choke them to death.”
    • “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.”
    • “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced.”
    • “I found the jokes to be stale and lacking any real wit.”
    • “The attempts at humor are so awkward that they detract from the overall experience.”
  • character development7 mentions

    The game features impressive character development, delivering deep and genuine growth for key characters within a concise narrative. Despite the protagonist's return to a familiar state by the end, the journey is marked by meaningful interactions and emotional depth, showcasing a blend of banter and sorrow that enhances the overall experience. The character and architectural designs are also praised for their high quality, contributing to the game's immersive atmosphere.

    • “There was so much character development in such few words.”
    • “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].”
    • “You get a lot of character development for the key people involved within the narrative.”
    • “That's one way to save on character design, I guess.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviewers suggest that the game's monetization strategy may have hindered its visibility, as the developers focused on self-funding and game development rather than investing in advertising. This lack of promotional effort could have limited the game's exposure, despite its potential for free press coverage from major gaming outlets.

    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It seems like the developers prioritize profit over player satisfaction, which is disappointing.”
    • “The in-game purchases are not just optional; they feel necessary to progress, which is frustrating.”
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 9 analyzed playthroughs

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