Echoes of Aetheria

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 109 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Echoes of Aetheria Game Cover
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In Echoes of Aetheria, play as heroes pursuing a kidnapped bride, which escalates into a grand saga of war, love, and betrayal. Your decisions will shape the fate of entire nations as you navigate treason, rebellion, and even the formation of a new nation. The game's rich narrative revolves around relatable characters with distinct dreams, goals, and flaws, creating an immersive and engaging RPG experience.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 109 reviews
story46 positive mentions
grinding11 negative mentions
  • Engaging and memorable story that evokes nostalgia for classic JRPGs.
  • Fun and strategic combat system with a variety of skills and character customization options.
  • Beautiful graphics and well-designed environments that enhance the overall experience.
  • Difficulty spikes, especially in the final boss battle, can be frustrating and may require excessive grinding.
  • User interface issues, such as the inability to compare equipment stats while shopping, can hinder gameplay.
  • Some dungeon layouts are overly complex and can lead to confusion and frustration during exploration.
  • story103 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, with many players finding it engaging and memorable, despite some predictable tropes and clichés. While the main characters are often praised for their depth and development, some critiques highlight a lack of emotional weight and underdeveloped supporting characters. Overall, the narrative is described as compelling, with a mix of political intrigue and personal growth, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of JRPGs, especially if they can overlook some gameplay flaws.

    • “Great storytelling by a committed developer; I enjoy the mature themes and excellent writing.”
    • “The story is compelling, the characters have depth, and the overall theme is magnificent if you are into this genre.”
    • “The intriguing storyline, addictive turn-based combat, and highly memorable cast of endearing characters make for a gaming experience that should not be missed for a true fan of the roleplaying game genre.”
    • “Writing is very weak, story and characters are not well written at all and it had little emotional weight.”
    • “The plot is too fast-paced in the beginning and barely gives any time for the characters to breathe, and when it eventually does, it leaves the player unsatisfied with how little character growth is happening.”
    • “The main story itself was nothing original and kind of a bore.”
  • gameplay37 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging combat mechanics and tactical elements, while others criticize repetitive design and frustrating mechanics, such as losing dungeon progress. Many players appreciate the crafting system and the variety of enemies, but some find the exploration tedious and the balance inconsistent, particularly towards the end of the game. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable moments and a solid RPG experience, it also has notable flaws that may detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Great game with an interesting story, great gameplay, and challenging fights that never get boring.”
    • “I really enjoyed the gameplay and puzzles that you experience at every level.”
    • “The gameplay is very satisfying!”
    • “There are a lot of things that didn't need to be so cookie cutter when it comes to game design or RPG mechanics.”
    • “Combat is average and many mechanics are rarely useful.”
    • “A confusing mechanic I haven't seen in many (if any) RPGs, and it just seems anti-player with no real added challenge.”
  • graphics23 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their bright and colorful art style, particularly in battle sequences and character expressions, showcasing impressive hand-drawn visuals. While some reviews note a mix of generic RPG graphics with unique assets, the overall presentation is considered polished and visually appealing, especially for a RPG Maker title. However, a few critiques mention issues with resolution and navigation complexity, suggesting that while the graphics are good, they may not stand out significantly in the broader gaming landscape.

    • “The art style is bright and colorful, especially when compared to other RPG Maker games.”
    • “The artwork on the main characters during dialogue is superb with very impressive fantasy-inspired hand-drawn images that noticeably change facial expressions as they speak.”
    • “Equally of note are the fantastic visuals for the battle sequences, of which you will fight many during the course of the game.”
    • “Not the story, not the graphics, not the gameplay.”
    • “The resolution isn't great and isn't meant to be played in widescreen (unless you like stretched graphics).”
    • “Even at 4:3 the graphics look a bit off.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise for its charm and energy, with many reviewers noting it as a standout feature that rivals soundtracks from larger RPG projects. The orchestral score is particularly highlighted for enhancing combat, exploration, and emotional moments, contributing to an excellent overall aural experience. Despite some technical issues, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset that elevates the game's quality and enjoyment.

    • “Boasting a wonderful orchestral soundtrack, Echoes of Aetheria presents a terrific musical score with tracks appropriate for combat, exploration, and emotionally tense moments in the narrative.”
    • “The soundtrack is incredible, especially the main battle theme; I will never tire of hearing it.”
    • “The music is especially a welcome surprise.”
    • “Great RPG Maker, it does have several flaws, the first is full screen mode, you get black borders, 2nd is the in-game music randomly goes away, but the biggest problem like a lot of JRPGs out there is the final bosses, the game level goes through the roof, you will find yourself having to go back and grind, grind, grind, to get up to a level you can take them on.”
    • “While this game is superior in almost every way to its predecessor, it does re-use some of the assets of Skyborn, including the music there, the sprites used for making the maps, etc. That being said, it's not detrimental at all.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the lack of random encounters and find strategic combat enjoyable, many express frustration with the necessity of grinding for materials and gear, especially as they approach tougher bosses. The maze-like dungeons contribute to the tedium, and the game's scaling system has been criticized for encouraging grinding despite developer claims against it. Overall, while some grinding is expected in JRPGs, the excessive requirement in this game has led to disappointment and even player burnout.

    • “There are definitely things to like, like no random encounters, strategic combat, and even fun little quirky items that are surprisingly enjoyable to come across.”
    • “This grinding and crafting trial and error shouldn't be a requirement to beat normal difficulty.”
    • “It was a huge struggle and frustration that I had to make lots of time for grinding, though.”
    • “But when I reached the last bosses (which receive a very strong boost in hard mode), I noticed I had to go back to grinding.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is polarizing; while some players find the character banter hilarious and endearing, contributing to their emotional investment in the story, others feel that the humor has become stale and unbalanced, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The banter between characters is hilarious and endearing, and their personalities really made me care about them as a group.”
    • “Humor, romance, conflict, betrayal, and loss are just some of the many aspects of this intriguing fantasy adventure.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for being engaging and well-integrated into the overall experience, complementing its solid plot and world-building. While it may not be the primary focus, the character development adds enough depth and flavor to keep players interested, making it a standout feature in the current gaming landscape.

    • “At its heart, this game is a JRPG with a solid B-movie (a compliment for a video game) plot and just enough character development and flavor to keep it interesting.”
    • “Character development (okay, really a part of the above, but it's so rare these days I wanted to mention it separately).”
    • “I love the character design, combat system, and world-building.”
    • “Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
    • “The characters don't evolve in a way that feels impactful or engaging.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of depth in the character arcs.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while the orchestral soundtrack effectively enhances combat and exploration, the weak writing and poorly developed characters result in a lack of emotional depth in the story.

    • “Boasting a wonderful orchestral soundtrack, 'Echoes of Aetheria' presents a terrific musical score with tracks appropriate for combat, exploration, and emotionally tense moments in the narrative.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Replayability is considered adequate, particularly for players interested in obtaining all achievements, which encourages multiple playthroughs.

    • “Replayability is excellent, especially if you're aiming to unlock all the achievements.”
    • “The game offers a variety of choices that make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
    • “I love how different strategies can lead to entirely new experiences, making me want to play again and again.”
    • “Replayability is lacking; once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return.”
    • “The game offers minimal variation in gameplay, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
    • “After finishing the game, I found that there wasn't much left to explore or experience again.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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