There Came an Echo Reviews

I really wanted to like this game, because I loved Sequence (which is now renamed Before the Echo) and I learned that this game is a continuation of it. I had heard that you could play the game with a mouse if you didn't want to use the game's voice commands, and so I decided to try it out, but I wanted to give the voice commands a fair chance anyways. On a technical level, they work fine, and the game never had any trouble recognizing my voice, but they just don't add anything to the gameplay. There are a limited number of phrases that you use and most of the gameplay is just directing your squad members to the right designated points on the map and letting them do their thing, and even with the option of being able to swap out the game's default phrases and words with custom ones I never felt like I was actually talking to a squad because the technology just isn't there for it to be able to recognize anything more than the handful of preset phrases that you'll recite over and over throughout the game. The natural assumption would be to just switch to mouse controls, as I did, but you don't have to play for more than a few seconds to see just how awful it is. Instead of having a traditional point-and-click interface, you play the game by holding the right mouse button to bring up a contextual wheel with various orders on it to emulate the lines you give to your squad when using the voice commands, and it's a massive pain to use in the middle of gameplay. If you have to shoot a particular person for a mission, for example, in order to shoot them with the mouse controls you have to hover over them, hold the right mouse button, and search for the "target unit x" option, instead of just clicking on them like most games. In a turn-based game this would be fine, but in a real-time game it's counter-intuitive and makes the game a chore to play. The story is still there, so if you really liked Sequence/Beyond the Echo like I did and this game goes down on sale enough it might be worth checking out just to see the story (though the game is pretty short, so you may want to wait for a particularly deep sale), but overall this game is just another example of "if it isn't broke, don't fix it".

This game is actually a lot of fun. At first, I was skeptical of the 'Voice Command' gimmick but it's voice recognition is pretty legit, although, sometimes if you get excited it might not pick you up. The combat is actually like a simplified Real-time version of X-COM with a more linear storyline. All in all, I don't regret spending less than 20 for it. Plus I find it satisfying saying to Corrin, "GET YOUR FUCKING HEAD DOWN, WIL WHEATON!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HCpgj-Lgrw

Voice interaction was kind of cool, worked about 85% of the time with my gaming headset. Ultimately the checkpoint system was not working well and insta-failure stealth sections with only 85% input detection is a no-go. Wish I would've played it right after I bought it to be able to refund...

I've played through the entire game about 4 times and I love it immensely. The voice controls generally work about 97% of the time for me (only one character, Syll, gives it trouble semi-regularly). If you enuciate, differentiate your commands with a pause, and use a headset, it works extremely well. That said, in the heat of battle sometimes it's hard to remember to enunciate and pause for breath :P The story is definitely a thinker; great introspection material here. The characters are well done, even the characters you want to hate, and moral gray areas abound. Some phenom voice talent as well. The soundtrack? I listen to it outside the game all the time. Ronald Jenkees and Great Big Circles are [i]amazing[/i]. The graphics aren't fantastic, but they're pretty damn good for an indie game of this caliber. The tactical combat isn't super deep, but frankly, with voice controls and the learning curve around them, I wouldn't expect it to be too crazy. It is short, ~3 hours of gameplay + story for the campaign, which for me was just about right I think, but for some folks that may be too short of an experience. As a WoW raid leader, I felt like I was directing my raiders around the battlefield. It's a familiar feeling in that respect, but it's definitely a novel experience in a standalone video game form.

Iridium Studios' previous game, [i]Sequence[/i] (now renamed [i]Before the Echo[/i]), is the only game I have ever purchased twice from different suppliers because I had such a blast playing it. So it's fair to say that I didn't go into [i]There Came an Echo[/i] with zero expectations: I was hoping for another game from the same indie developers that would hit me in a similar way. Something fresh and innovative, an engaging background narrative with a bit of zaniness, casual gameplay but a bit challenging, colourful and cool aesthetics. All the stuff that appealed to me so much with [i]Sequence[/i]. And to that end this is my first review on Steam. [h3]The Positives[/h3] [i]There Came an Echo[/i] is definitely fresh and innovative (especially at time of release). The opening few scenarios hooked me in, and I loved using the voice commands to direct the action. The narrative is interesting, and definitely veers into zaniness :-) The gameplay starts casual before requiring some strategy in the later levels, but fortunately the game quick-loads you back into fray from the latest checkpoint if you totally mess up. The voice acting is great: Wil Wheaton does a fantastic job. [h3]The Not-So-Positives[/h3] The aesthetics were not as appealing as [i]Before the Echo[/i]. I feel this was a missed opportunity: in a world with cyberpunk-style weapons and future tech, the environments could equally have been more interesting and visually distinct from the humdrum of warehouses and corridors. As cool as it is to use your voice to issue commands and direct your team, it is a bit limited and limiting. Other than moving, changing weapons, and directing weapons fire, you don't have much control. Again, I feel this is a missed opportunity: I think the gameplay could have benefited from some extra field commands, and extra weapons, to improve the tactical options. The game is also quite short: I was surprised to complete it in only two plays. [h3]Overall[/h3] [i]There Came an Echo[/i] didn't grab me in the same way as [i]Before the Echo[/i], but its novelty will stay with me. The two game genres are very different, sure, but while [i]Before the Echo[/i] breathes life into the rhythm format from start to finish, [i]There Came an Echo[/i] seems to run out of breath just as it gets going. I enjoyed my playthrough, but in terms of aesthetics and gameplay I was left a bit wanting. Overall, however, the game still made an impression on me enough to chat about it with friends.

There Came an Echo is an XCOM styled visual novel operated through voice commands. Having units not listening to your commands is exactly as aggravating as expected. 10/10, would get chastised for shouting again.

Real-time tactics game where you command units with your voice. Very interesting, quite fun to play, but your mileage may vary depending on your pronunciation of different words. As a non-English speaker, I struggled here and there, though when the system works, it's super satisfying. Mark!

I'll start by saying this game is awesome. Awesome means to inspire awe, and the fact that I did 95% of the control with my voice was just that. It's good. You get pretty fast at it, which is good, because combat ramps up fairly quickly. There Came an Echo has a fantastic voice cast. Wil Wheaton was good and hammed up up a little, but that's okay. Dramatic scenes call for a little melodrama. Laura Bailey is one of my favorite voice actresses. Period. And she kills it in this. The combat never loses track of the story, and if your crew seems a bit willing to go along with questionable activities... just remember people are trying to kill them. Finally, a big kudos to Iridium for being responsive during launch. There were some bugs with microphone volume and the system forgetting to listen to you. Those got fixed (for me) the first night. You guys are great and you deserve all the support in the world. Pros Voice input system! Enjoyable voice acting. Great soundtrack. Clever level design with mechanics that aren't just "kill everyone". Developers were actively involved and interested in making sure everyone has a good play experience. Cons I had to wait one night for a patch. Oh lordy. ;) I could have played another 40 hours of this game but beat it in a little under 5 hours.

I want to love it - I want the 49 hours played to actually be true - it isn't. I have maybe 5 hours in game. All 5 of those were spent shouting at Syll and Miranda, who for some reason simply wont do what i ask them. For the record, I'm British without a regional accent and I've tried different microphones and head sets and nothing seems to get me past about 80% accuracy, which just isn't good enough to play. OTOH though the music is fantasic, Wil and the other voice actors do a great job, what I've seen of the story is good, and I'm glad the developers took the risk and made the game, I don't regret the purchase. But damn that voice activation is wonky.

For a game with easily the best soundtrack of the year, this was a huge letdown. I respect what this tech demo is trying to do but the voice recognition as it stands just doesn't work very well. Gameplay wise, there are some glaring flaws, like when you double click on someone, the camera will go to them but it will DESELECT them. In what world does a strategy game exist where this is the case? This means that without clicking on them AGAIN, any orders get applied to the entire squad. Carefully laid out formations fell apart in a single moment. This was so infuriating on multiple occastions that I couldn't enjoy any part of the game afterward. I only finished it out of obligation for having paid for this.