How does former IO staff’s first indie game hold up?
ECHO is the first game by studio Ultra Ultra, which was formed by former IO Interactive members who worked on the Hitman series. It’s very different to the adventures of Agent 47 however…
After a century in stasis, the girl En arrives at her destination: a palace out of legend, a marvel of the old civilization eons gone, still awaiting its first human occupants. Out here, using forgotten technologies, she hopes to bring back a life that shouldn’t have been lost.
The game starts out on a planet surface, descending till En arrives at the palace…which is one amazing spectacle, but after a while inside you begin to realise that the palace reboots itself and after a while, the reboots end up in leaving behind echoes of En who in turn, learn how you play. Essentially, you end up fighting copies of yourself who react in ways that you have only done so far. It makes you think outside the box if you wish to overcome the enemy.
En is voiced by Game of Thrones’ own Natalie Dormer, a nice coup for Ultra Ultra as she owns the role incredibly well. The other voice-acting and the banter between characters is decent too. The story is gripping and told well, plus the game itself is stunning. The level of detail in the palace is nothing short of staggering, plus all the visual effects for the reboots and the lighting are spectacular. This is a real showcase for the PS4.
It may seem a bit repetitive after a while, but I felt that ECHO didn’t outstay it’s welcome…it’s actually over after just a few hours, but it’s probably the most memorable hours in a game that I’ve spent in quite some time.
The Verdict
ECHO is an intriguing game and one that leaves a lasting impression. It has a great game mechanic that really makes you think, plus it makes me want to see what else Ultra Ultra are capable of.