Outsmart your Echo in this futuristic first-person puzzle game. Minimalist graphics and live action video combine to create a mind-bending story experience.
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 puzzle-solving.
The game has a strong narrative delivered through well-produced FMV cutscenes, enhancing the overall atmosphere and engagement with the story.
The minimalist visual style and gradual increase in puzzle difficulty create a fun and challenging experience that keeps players engaged.
The game suffers from inconsistent audio levels, particularly with cutscenes and sound effects, which can disrupt the gaming experience.
Many players find the drone mechanics frustrating, as they can lead to unexpected deaths and level restarts, making some puzzles feel reliant on chance rather than skill.
The lack of options for customizing controls, such as inverting the Y-axis, and the absence of a co-op mode limit the game's accessibility and replayability.
story
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
72%
4%
The story of *Echoplex* is a standout feature, presented through intriguing full-motion video cutscenes that reveal snippets of a dystopian narrative involving a male protagonist and a malevolent corporation. While some players found the story abstract and difficult to piece together, many appreciated its creepy atmosphere and emotional depth, despite the game feeling more like a prologue with an unresolved cliffhanger. Overall, the combination of unique storytelling and gameplay mechanics makes *Echoplex* a compelling experience for those who enjoy narrative-driven games.
“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.”
“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).”
“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
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
86%
6%
The gameplay of Echoplex is a mix of intriguing puzzle mechanics and a minimalist aesthetic, with a narrative that unfolds through cutscenes and collectible memories. While the initial levels are engaging, the introduction of drone mechanics in later stages has polarized players, with some finding it a frustrating shift that detracts from the game's potential. Overall, the game offers a challenging experience for puzzle enthusiasts, though its execution may leave some players wanting more.
“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.”
“Echoplex applied remarkable gameplay mechanics to an original story of its own along a minimalist style.”
“For me, the mark of any good puzzle game is when I can't stop thinking about the mechanic 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 power-ups.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
12%
The graphics in Echoplex are described as minimalist and not overly impressive, yet they effectively complement the game's unique cyber-horror aesthetic. The use of ambient sounds enhances the atmosphere, while well-executed full motion video cutscenes add depth to the storytelling. Overall, while the graphics may be mediocre, the cohesive aesthetic and immersive tone make the game worth experiencing.
“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.”
“Echoplex has two different sides; on one side is the actual graphics in the gameplay, and the other side would be its general aesthetic (or a e s t h e t i c for the cool kids).”
“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
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its cohesiveness and ability to enhance the storytelling, despite the graphics and gameplay being considered mediocre. Players appreciate the creepy ambiance and the intriguing, albeit confusing, narrative, making it a compelling choice for those who enjoy atmospheric and story-driven experiences.
“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.”
“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.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
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 game's challenges.
“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, 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.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features an interesting mechanism and a gradual learning curve, complemented by emotionally-charged storytelling through full-motion videos. However, some players felt that the pacing was rushed, which detracted from the overall emotional experience.
“Interesting mechanism, gradual learning curve, and emotionally charged storytelling through the use of full-motion videos.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is considered adequate, with users noting that gestures frequently substitute for speech, indicating a reliance on non-verbal communication.