There Came an Echo

 PC
There Came an Echo Image
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 23 Ratings

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  • Summary: There Came an Echo is a real-time strategy in which the player takes command of a small squadron, using an advanced voice recognition system to issue orders. It features a character-driven sci-fi narrative that stars Wil Wheaton, Ashly Burch, Laura Bailey, Yuri Lowenthal, and others.

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E3 2014 - There Came an Echo Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 14
  3. Negative: 3 out of 14
  1. Hardcore Gamer
    Feb 24, 2015
    80
    Sure, its story can get a bit incoherent, its non-voice controls are awkward, and there are moments of spotty voice-recognition, but the good greatly outweighs what little bad there is. If you’ve found yourself bored with all of the monotony and nonsense surrounding recent titles, you’d be doing yourself an injustice not giving There Came an Echo a shot.
  2. Cheat Code Central
    Feb 25, 2015
    76
    The voice recognition controls are probably the best any video game as incorporated, and certainly recommended over traditional controls. However, the overly abridged story paired with limited gameplay can't help but mark this venture as a work still in process.
  3. 4P.de
    Mar 6, 2015
    71
    There Came an Echo with its surprisingly effective speech recognition is pure immersion. But it definitely could be more challenging, offering more tactical depth and more content in general.
  4. Destructoid
    Feb 24, 2015
    60
    A worthy experience, but it's lacking in too many minor areas to achieve greatness. While the voice-controlled strategy gameplay is engaging, it does lead to some design hiccups. While the narrative is entertaining and even intellectually demanding at times, it just as easily falls into navel-gazing jargon. While the technology is impressive, it feels like it belongs in a much bigger game.
  5. games(TM)
    Mar 15, 2015
    60
    Voice control just isn’t an improved method of input over just pointing at something and making it happen, but the effort is a worthy one.
  6. Edge Magazine
    Mar 30, 2015
    50
    Feels like a proof of concept for a much more substantial, and refined, counterpart. [Apr 2015, p.120]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. GameSpot
    Mar 12, 2015
    40
    Though the plot is poorly delivered, it provides an appropriate context for the role you assume as the omniscient commander. There is an eerie sensation when you realise your PC is actually listening to you. Unfortunately, far too often, it simply isn't.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 2 out of 7
  1. Deitis
    Mar 1, 2015
    9
    Saying commands and watching them happen on screen is really a magical thing. I initially had some trouble getting the volume of my voiceSaying commands and watching them happen on screen is really a magical thing. I initially had some trouble getting the volume of my voice correct (shouting's a bad idea) but once I did, I was managing orders with ease.
    The voice acting is superb and the plot, though heavily abridged, is one of my favorites in indie gaming. Well worth the $15 price of admission, and with a larger budget, it could've been one of the games of the year easily. Though the game is short, I was left wanting more - an excellent problem to have, and one that I will be revisiting on higher difficulties soon.    … Expand
  2. CuriosityMarie
    May 9, 2015
    9
    This was a really fun, unique little game. The voice recognition was a bit quirky, but your shields give you some breathing room if you haveThis was a really fun, unique little game. The voice recognition was a bit quirky, but your shields give you some breathing room if you have to say a command twice. I felt the early missions give you enough of a tutorial that remembering them during the later, more intense battles was easy. You could play through this in one sitting. My only complaint is that it feels too short and there is a lot of plot and not enough combat. As a result sometimes it seems like you are listening to the (very good) voice acing more than you are playing with the cool voice controls.… Expand
  4. kimar2
    Mar 20, 2015
    9
    Certainly has it flaws, but the game should definitely not be measured on the quality of it's regular controls. It is clearly designed to be aCertainly has it flaws, but the game should definitely not be measured on the quality of it's regular controls. It is clearly designed to be a voice controlled game.
    I plugged my apple earpods into my headphone jack and it seemed like they turned into a mic as well so I didn't have a problem with the game hearing and understanding me once I got it calibrated.
    It was short, but for such a fun concept, and something that is totally unlike anything else I've played before, it is 100% worth a playthrough. Story wasn't too bad either.
    It would be awesome to see the game fleshed out more. Maybe more content in a sequel.    … Expand
  5. Genis94
    Mar 2, 2015
    9
    In an age when developers are trying new and innovative ways at allowing the player to feel more engaged with the game, and failing, ThereIn an age when developers are trying new and innovative ways at allowing the player to feel more engaged with the game, and failing, There Came an Echo is a breath of fresh air, and a massive success on all fronts. From the first simple commands you give your cryptographer turned soldier, you feel a massive sense of accomplishment and power. You are the on in control. You analyze the situations, give orders on the fly, and watch as your team expertly carves a path through enemy soldiers. There are some parts of the story that feel cliche, and the voice controls aren't always responsive, but the accuracy I have seen from my time playing it far outweighs any minor hiccups, and is leagues above other games that implement similar features. If you have a decent microphone and $15, There Came an Echo is a must buy.… Expand
  6. MadJaples
    Feb 26, 2015
    6
    The non-voice controls are indeed quirky. Much of the time you'll spend will be spent on identifying what controls will come up on a radialThe non-voice controls are indeed quirky. Much of the time you'll spend will be spent on identifying what controls will come up on a radial dial and in which position. It's not as intuitive as I'd like it to be.
    Seriously if you do get this game, you really should play it with a decent (not built-in for a start off) microphone. Built in mics won't cut it with this one I'm afraid.
    It looks fine for the most part, if a little unpolished in one or two places - particularly with the most notable being the non-synced lip movement with the characters when they are supposedly speaking.
    Without a mic this game can be very unforgiving, whereas it's much easier if you're able to speak commands because it'll take much less time to chat than to pick out commands from a list you have no idea how it's going to come up on the screen.
    It's ok, but I wouldn't write home about it, even if Wheaton is one of the voice actors in it.    … Expand
  7. Rasa
    Mar 8, 2015
    0
    Tried only the voice controls, because really, that's the only reason to ever buy this game. Voice recognition is buggy as hell. It requiresTried only the voice controls, because really, that's the only reason to ever buy this game. Voice recognition is buggy as hell. It requires you to have *exact* pronunciation with *exact* tempo, *exact* volume and *exact* intonation. If you have any accent you're **** If your mic is bad you're **** etc. Watched Total Biscuit's WTF on this game and boy this guy is lucky. Almost 100% recognition of his commands! I have trouble to zoom in and out, and moving my squad to Alpha 2 or Foxtrot 1 is a feat that I haven't achieved in several hours, despite a lot of trying and listening to its correct pronunciation. Hell, I have trouble to recognize Pause, Back or Options (menu navigation also accepts voice input). Freaking Back! How much can I **** up a word as simple as that?! I mean, of course I have accent, and my mic is some 15 bucks **** but just how much can you mess up words like Back or Apply? I have zero trouble conversing with english-speakers or using Google Voice even with that same mic. I wonder how could they do VR that bad when there are many excellent solutions on the market already.
    Couldn't even navigate the training room, didn't touch the campaign. For me this game has zero playability. Perhaps I'll give it a try again when they add my native language support (I'm already awed knowing how bad its support usually is).    … Expand
  8. fredhorrigan
    Mar 6, 2015
    0
    The game is full of annoying characters who all try way too hard to sound witty and yet there is no swear recognition, meaning one would getThe game is full of annoying characters who all try way too hard to sound witty and yet there is no swear recognition, meaning one would get no response for calling Whedon's character a **** mentioning another VA's brother is a cuckold, or just swearing at the game because the voice recognition is spotty (there is a way to control the game without voice recognition but the game handicaps you by making the controls clunky and requiring a character to read off your command before your units act it out.

    As for the game part, the game is only a few hours long and the combat is rather shallow with each of your 4 units having identical base stats and being able to equip two of four weapons (in addition to a weak pistol weapon) also the missions are heavily scripted affairs that leave little room for trying to be creative with the game's limited mechanics.    … Expand

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