There Came an Echo

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 368 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
There Came an Echo Game Cover
A unique control scheme that was put a great deal of care to do correctly, shame the game it very short and a little bit simplistic in a few ways or it could have been excellent.
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In "There Came an Echo" , play as a strategic commander, directing Corrin Webb and his squad in real-time missions using an advanced voice recognition system. Give precise commands against advanced enemy forces and navigate a complex sci-fi story featuring Wil Wheaton as the protagonist. Although designed for voice commands, the game can also be played using standard controls.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 368 reviews
story104 positive mentions
stability14 negative mentions
  • The voice recognition system is innovative and works well most of the time, providing an immersive experience.
  • The story is engaging with interesting characters and solid voice acting, particularly from Wil Wheaton.
  • The soundtrack is excellent, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The game is very short, typically taking only 3-4 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
  • Voice commands can be inconsistent, especially for non-native speakers or those with accents, leading to frustration.
  • Unskippable cutscenes and a lack of manual save options can make retrying missions tedious.
  • story406 mentions

    The game's story is a central focus, featuring a mix of engaging sci-fi themes and strong voice acting, which many players found compelling despite its brevity and occasional convoluted delivery. However, the pacing is often disrupted by unskippable cutscenes and frustrating gameplay mechanics, leading to a sense of tedium during retries. While some players appreciated the narrative twists and character development, others criticized the story for being trope-heavy and lacking depth, resulting in a mixed reception overall.

    • “The story is great and interesting, and the voice acting is top notch.”
    • “The story was really well written and the voice acting was very good.”
    • “Fantastic game featuring an engaging story that has my mind pondering the ideals from the game.”
    • “The game is very story heavy and having to re-watch the same scenes play out every time you retry is tedious.”
    • “The story wasn't that compelling, and it seems obvious that the game should have been fleshed out far more.”
    • “The real issues are in the delivery and pacing of the story, compounded by obstructive UI elements.”
  • gameplay136 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is characterized as a straightforward, single-player real-time strategy experience that leans heavily on voice recognition mechanics, which can be both innovative and frustrating. While some players appreciate the tactical elements and engaging story, many criticize the gameplay for its simplicity, lack of variety, and technical issues with voice commands, leading to a mixed reception overall. The campaign is relatively short, lasting around 3-4 hours, which may leave some players wanting more depth and complexity in the gameplay.

    • “At its core, it is a single-player real-time strategy game that delivers excellent gameplay, fantastic voice acting, great music, some replayability, and a 3-4 hour long campaign.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth, the mechanics are easy to understand (though not that easy to master), and the plot is actually very non-trivial.”
    • “Using voice commands in this game surprisingly works well, and the gameplay can be fun.”
    • “These are its draws; you don't play this game for the gameplay, which is below average if I'm being honest, but like I said, that shouldn't matter because it's not its draw.”
    • “The gameplay suffers; the mission structure and the enemy AI are lacking.”
    • “It operates mostly on voice commands, but you can't guarantee that any one directive will be clearly heard and understood by the game, and in the context of a time-sensitive situation, you'll likely find yourself getting screwed over by wonky game mechanics again and again.”
  • music100 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its breathtaking quality and the impressive contributions from composers like Ronald Jenkees and Big Giant Circles. The soundtrack is described as epic, immersive, and fitting for the game's futuristic setting, often compared to iconic soundtracks from other popular titles. Overall, players recommend purchasing the soundtrack, highlighting it as a standout feature that enhances the gaming experience.

    • “The music in the game is simply breath-taking.”
    • “This game has been an incredible amount of fun and the soundtrack is utterly epic.”
    • “Suffice it to say, it’s definitely one of my favorite video game soundtracks of all time.”
    • “The soundtrack is in-fucking-sane.”
    • “Sure it doesn't have fancy graphics or out of this world soundtrack, but it's different and unique and that counts for a lot.”
    • “The soundtrack?”
  • graphics47 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are not groundbreaking, they are functional and well-suited for an indie title. Some praise the visuals for their aesthetic appeal and smooth optimization, while others feel they fall short compared to the game's strong narrative and voice acting. Overall, the graphics are described as decent to good, complementing the game's unique style and engaging soundtrack.

    • “Graphics look very good and aged well.”
    • “The voice acting is superb and the graphics are just right for what is necessary to tell the story.”
    • “A great concept, well executed, paired well with amazing music, graphics beyond description, and an uncommon but well implemented voice command system.”
    • “Great game with good story but bad graphics.”
    • “And while the story is serviceable enough and the graphics are eye-catching, they don't do enough to turn this into a compelling game.”
    • “The graphics aren't fantastic, but they're pretty damn good for an indie game of this caliber.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report no crashes or significant glitches during gameplay, others experience frequent bugs, particularly with checkpoint reloads and clunky interaction mechanics. Voice recognition features are surprisingly effective, but overall, many users describe the game as "bug-ridden" and "unpredictable," indicating a need for further refinement.

    • “And to make matters even worse, I've experienced glitches when the game reloads a checkpoint.”
    • “The game in its current state is a bug-ridden disaster.”
    • “Like every voice recognition software ever... buggy, unpredictable, unresponsive...”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players enjoying the charming voice acting and character interactions that elicit smiles and chuckles. Many appreciate the clever jokes, references, and overall funny moments that enhance the immersive experience, although some users felt the humor fell flat. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging and humorous elements, contributing to a fun narrative.

    • “I was practically smiling the whole time from how adorable Val's voice and mannerisms were; let alone chuckling most of the time from the interactions or quips between characters.”
    • “And I found the game to be very immersive, lots of action, funny, great story and development, nice jokes and references/easter eggs, smooth well-optimized graphics, engaging soundtrack.”
    • “Devs: thank you for this innovative, funny, awesome game!”
    • “Not a funny game :(”
    • “Not a funny game :(”
    • “Not a funny game :(”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The game offers a short campaign lasting around 3-5 hours, which many players find enjoyable but lacking in replayability due to its linear structure. While the gameplay and production values are praised, the consensus is that the limited replay value may make it more appealing as a discounted purchase.

    • “At its core, it is a single-player real-time strategy game that delivers excellent gameplay, fantastic voice acting, great music, and some replayability.”
    • “I beat it in 5 hours; I would like more playtime and would like to see more replayability.”
    • “Overall, I think the game is totally worth the price, but there isn't much replayability.”
    • “With all that praise, it's a short game with little to no replayability.”
    • “It is also only 4 hours long with no replay value as it is a linear experience.”
    • “Overall, I think the game is totally worth the price, but there isn't much replayability, so you may want to get it on sale.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    Overall, the game's graphics are praised for being smooth and well-optimized, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some players noted issues with gameplay stuttering and a need for refinement, suggesting that the game may not have met the high expectations set by early reviews regarding its performance. Additionally, there are concerns about the quality of voice acting, indicating that more resources could have improved the overall delivery.

    • “I found the game to be very immersive, lots of action, funny, great story and development, nice jokes and references/easter eggs, smooth well-optimized graphics, engaging soundtrack.”
    • “I can't see how it was released in this state after all the huge reviews it got about its flawless performance from start to finish.”
    • “The gameplay, while novel, needs a bit of refining; I didn't like the stuttering in some places, like having my decisions questioned when we are operating on time.”
    • “Wil Wheaton could have given a better performance if he was pushed harder to deliver and if the game had the budget to do more takes, or someone on the team with higher quality standards.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, primarily due to ineffective voice controls and cumbersome mouse controls. The repetitive nature of re-watching story scenes during retries adds to the frustration, making the experience feel more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay.

    • “The game is very story heavy, and having to re-watch the same scenes play out every time you retry is tedious.”
    • “The action can be fun, but it mostly feels so hand-holding and tedious that it's like working instead of playing.”
    • “Voice controls rarely work, and mouse controls are tedious.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while the voice acting is technically strong, the character development, particularly through antagonistic interactions reminiscent of "Sly Cooper 1," can be perceived as frustrating and less engaging.

    • “My only complaint about the voice acting is less about the technical side of it (which is really well done) and more with the writing - the character development through antagonism, ala Sly Cooper 1, can be grating.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

57% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
4-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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