ECHOPLEX

About

ECHOPLEX is a single player simulation game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Output Games and was released on October 21, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

Outsmart your Echo in this futuristic first-person puzzle game. Minimalist graphics and live action video combine to create a mind-bending story experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+11

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews

story9 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

ECHOPLEX features a unique and intriguing gameplay mechanic where players must navigate levels while being pursued by an echo of themselves, adding a thrilling layer to the puzzle-solving experience.
The game has a strong aesthetic with minimalist visuals and well-produced FMV cutscenes that enhance the storytelling, creating an engaging atmosphere.
Puzzles are challenging yet rewarding, with a gradual increase in difficulty that keeps players engaged and encourages strategic thinking.

The game suffers from inconsistent audio levels, particularly during cutscenes and sound effects, which can be jarring and disrupt the experience.
Some players find the drone mechanics frustrating, as they can lead to unexpected resets and require a level of chance that detracts from the logical puzzle-solving aspect.
The lack of options for customizing controls, such as inverting the Y-axis, and the absence of a more comprehensive tutorial can hinder the overall gameplay experience for some users.

story
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
68%
8%
The story of "Echoplex" is a standout feature, blending dystopian sci-fi elements with horror and humor, delivered through engaging full-motion video cutscenes that reveal the protagonist's fragmented memories. While some players found the narrative abstract and challenging to piece together, the intriguing atmosphere and cliffhanger ending suggest a larger story yet to unfold, making it a compelling reason to explore the game despite its gameplay and graphics shortcomings. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its emotional depth and unique presentation, though some players noted the brevity of the cutscenes as a drawback.
- “The storyline of Echoplex is by far its strongest point.”
- “The story is an intriguing blend of dystopian sci-fi, with elements of horror, and even some wry humor.”
- “The story that they tell is very intriguing and does a good job of 'dangling the carrot' in front of you so that you are always hungry for the next bit of plot.”
- “If I'm being honest, I didn't really understand the underlying story.”
- “The purposely cryptic story is being delivered in short bursts as flashbacks between Echoplex's levels.”
- “Also, as the game is not completely finished yet, the whole story of the game in its current state seems like more of a prologue and the setup for a larger story in the future, including a huge cliffhanger ending that left me disappointed with how the story has only just begun turning its gears.”
gameplay
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
76%
12%
The gameplay of Echoplex is a mix of intriguing puzzle mechanics and a minimalist aesthetic, with a strong emphasis on a unique follower mechanic that evolves as players progress. While the initial levels are engaging, the introduction of drone mechanics can detract from the experience for some, leading to frustration. Overall, the game offers a challenging and thought-provoking puzzle experience, complemented by a narrative that unfolds through cutscenes between levels.
- “This is one of those games with a hidden meaning that unlocks itself at the end of the gameplay. At the start, you are given a short cinematic that sets the universe and part of what is happening and why. After finishing one level, you will receive another flashback identified by the game as a piece of a cube that will be filled with each found piece at the end of every level. These pieces can also be identified as memories that, when pulled together, create a longer and stable narrative, waiting for you to reveal all the secrets from the main character's past.”
- “If you like puzzle games, this is a perfect match for your Steam library since the difficulty of the gameplay escalates with every level, making the game more challenging the more you play.”
- “For me, the mark of any good puzzle game is when I can't stop thinking about the mechanics long after I've stopped playing it, and Echoplex does exactly that.”
- “It's simply a game with so much potential but wasted with awful drone mechanics.”
- “I continued to enjoy it until the 10th level, where drones are introduced, and suddenly, the mechanics of the game change.”
- “There are no other gameplay features (aside from jumping and climbing onto high ledges), interesting abilities, or powerups.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
Echoplex features minimalist graphics that are not overly impressive but are complemented by a strong aesthetic that enhances the overall atmosphere, described as cyber-horror. The cutscenes utilize well-executed full motion video with glitch effects, contributing to the game's unique tone. While the graphics and gameplay may be considered mediocre, the immersive aesthetic and storytelling provide compelling reasons to engage with the game.
- “The cutscenes are well done FMV (full motion video using actors) that give you tiny little snippets of the story, usually a few seconds at a time with a lot of glitchy effects, also tying back to the great aesthetic of the game.”
- “Overall, the graphics aren't over the top and are minimalistic, but the aesthetic of the game ties it all together.”
- “Although the graphics and gameplay are mediocre at best, the atmosphere, aesthetic, and story are definitely a great reason to pick up the game and try it for yourself.”
- “Echoplex has two different sides; on one side is the actual graphics in the gameplay.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with many users highlighting its cohesive aesthetic and engaging story, which effectively enhances the overall experience despite mediocre graphics and gameplay. The inclusion of video clips contributes to a creepy and intriguing ambiance, making it a recommended choice for fans of atmospheric and puzzle-driven narratives.
- “Although the graphics and gameplay are mediocre at best, the atmosphere, aesthetic, and story are definitely a great reason to pick up the game and try it for yourself.”
- “If you enjoy games with a good story, puzzles, or atmospheric elements, then I highly recommend you try out Echoplex.”
- “The atmosphere is very cohesive.”
- “Creepy atmosphere, and even weirder story.”
- “The video clips enhance the atmosphere, although I'm not sure what exactly happened.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The music in Echoplex is described as decent but unremarkable, serving more as background ambiance that does not detract from gameplay, allowing players to concentrate on navigating the digital mazes.
- “The soundtrack never stood out either, but it certainly didn’t interfere with the gameplay, allowing me to focus on figuring out the correct routes through those digital mazes.”
- “The soundtrack in Echoplex was decent, to say the least.”
- “The soundtrack never stood out either, but it certainly didn’t interfere with the gameplay, and I could simply focus on figuring out the correct routes through those digital mazes.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the glitches encountered in the game appear to be intentional and well-designed, suggesting a stable overall experience rather than random technical issues.
- “All glitches witnessed in-game have been carefully planned.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the immersion.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging storytelling and the use of full-motion videos, which create a strong emotional connection. However, some players found the pacing to be rushed, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Interesting mechanism, gradual learning curve, and emotionally charged storytelling through the use of full-motion videos.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is generally adequate, with users noting that gestures frequently substitute for speech, indicating a focus on visual communication over verbal interaction.
- “Overall, it’s an adequate performance in which gestures replace speech more often than not.”