ECHO (2017)

ECHO made a great first impression on me with its dark atmosphere and AI that mimics player’s tactics, but this impression did not last long, as the game sunk into repetitiveness. [12/2017, p.47]

An imperfect lucid recipe.

Echo is basically an experiment that was made on a limited budget. Hence its unique approach to AI, which is offset by monotonous decorum and general lack of variety. To enjoy it, you have to be on the same wavelength as the developers – that is, be excited about exploring new concepts that mainstream industry doesn’t give a damn about. [Issue#226, p.50]

ECHO tries new and interesting things, but doesn't always succeed. The gameplay and visuals wear thin over time, but some players will appreciate the game for its originality.

Unfortunately the adaptive A.I., which learns from our actions, is more of a gimmick than a true innovation. On top of that the basic stealth mechanics and the beautiful yet repetitive setting of the Palace can’t help but make us feel exhausted even in the somewhat short length of the game.

A cocktail of stealth and action, perfectly mixed to create a clever, gripping, and tense experience. [Nov 2017, p.77]

Shoot and you will be shot ... In the Echo sci-fi adventure, the artificial intelligence smart learning is a two-handed weapon. Man is pursued by his own decisions, which is not easy to accept. Just like the game itself.

ECHO is a short-ish game though, clocking in around 8-10 hours, so it doesn’t quite overstay its welcome. It’s a slow burn, but when it gets going it doesn’t really let go. If you’re keen on tense stealth games, with a good sci-fi story, then look no further. ECHO is destined to be a cult hit like the movie Event Horizon, and that’s no small praise from me.

Figuring out how to and how not to teach the game's enemies what to do is a stupendously gratifying process.

Echo doesn't use its potential, but with the adaptive AI it offers an interesting gameplay approach and a cool sci-fi story.

Echo is a game that presents some very original and interesting game mechanics while creating an enjoyable and full world. The characters of En and London were brought to life expertly by Rose Leslie and Nick Boulton. A lack of diversity in the game puzzles and environments drag it down a little but the changes in style save it from becoming bland and make Echo a very enjoyable experience.

Echo is both fascinating and terrifying. Its ability to learn from the players moves opens the door for a future of shooters and action games full of smarter enemies.

ECHO is a pretty special game that tries to go on a new field for infiltration games. If the gameplay is very good, the narrative and the lack of save points are a let down.

Echo is a fantastic experience, but a poor stealth game. Its worldbuilding, presentation, dialogue and characters all very, very nearly do enough to excuse the awful AI, poorly implemented mimicry mechanic and lacklustre sneaking. Stealth aficionados might not get what they’d expect out of an ex-Hitman team like Ultra Ultra, but anyone looking for an engaging, character-driven adventure will be in for an absolute treat.

Although clearly a lot of work has gone into the title, ECHO fails to deliver on the most basic aspects of its premise.

ECHO is a decent story-driven adventure game that has too much bad stealth gameplay.

Echo is an ultimate expression of humdrumness: a stale set of animations, unpractical architecture, miniscule story, copies upon copies of everything, from characters and gameplay design to even the soundtrack. An echo of a game.

Echo proves that innovation can truly be limitless as long as there are people willing to push boundaries and explore new ideas. With a stunningly flawless trifecta of gameplay, storyline, and visuals, Ultra Ultra has knocked it out of the park with their first foray into indie gaming. Regardless of your tastes, styles, or interests, this adventure is sure to satisfy nearly all of your cravings. The only craving that you will be left with is for more and more game to play.