ECHOPLEX
- October 21, 2016
- Output Games
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreOutsmart your Echo in this futuristic first-person puzzle game. Minimalist graphics and live action video combine to create a mind-bending story experience.
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Windows
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Reviews
- The game features a unique and intriguing mechanic where players must navigate levels while being pursued by an echo of themselves, adding a thrilling layer to the puzzle-solving experience.
- The minimalist visual style and well-produced FMV cutscenes contribute to a cohesive and engaging atmosphere, enhancing the overall storytelling.
- 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 controls clunky and the movement mechanics frustrating, leading to repeated level restarts due to minor mistakes.
- The absence of an option to invert the Y-axis and a lack of comprehensive tutorials can make the game less accessible for some players.
- story37 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of *Echoplex* is a standout feature, presented through intriguing full-motion video cutscenes that reveal the narrative in short, cryptic bursts. Set in a dystopian sci-fi environment, the plot follows a male protagonist entangled with a malevolent corporation, blending elements of horror and humor, though some players find it challenging to piece together. While the storytelling is compelling and atmospheric, many reviews note that the current state of the game feels more like a prologue, leaving players eager for a more complete narrative in future updates.
“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.”
“My only complaint about them is that many are extremely short flashes of a few images, making it difficult to see what they contain (but the story is still simple enough to figure out for yourself).”
- gameplay25 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
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.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics in Echoplex are described as minimalist and not overly impressive, yet they effectively contribute to the game's unique cyber-horror aesthetic. While the gameplay visuals may be mediocre, the atmospheric elements, including well-executed cutscenes and ambient audio, enhance the overall experience, making it worthwhile for players.
“The cutscenes are well done FMV (full motion video using actors) that give you tiny 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.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with many users highlighting its cohesive aesthetic and engaging story as key reasons to play, despite mediocre graphics and gameplay. The inclusion of video clips adds to the eerie ambiance, creating a creepy yet intriguing experience that appeals to fans of atmospheric and puzzle games.
“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.”
“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.”
“The video clips enhance the atmosphere, although I'm not sure what exactly happened.”
“Creepy atmosphere, and even weirder story.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in Echoplex is described as decent but unremarkable, serving more as a background element that does not detract from gameplay, allowing players to concentrate on navigating the digital mazes.
“The soundtrack never stood out, 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.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the glitches encountered in the game appear to be intentional and well-designed, suggesting a stable experience overall.
“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 overall experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally adequate, with users noting that gestures frequently substitute for speech, indicating a reliance on non-verbal communication for gameplay.
“Overall, it’s an adequate performance in which gestures replace speech more often than not.”
“The game suffers from frequent frame drops, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
“Optimization feels rushed, leading to long loading times and inconsistent performance.”
