Echo

Backed by gorgeous production values and, critically, voice acting that’s able to carry the nuance this script demands, Echo is distinctive, characteristic and artful. It’s not a stretch to say it’s probably the smartest shooter that I’ve ever played, and it’s exactly the kind of thing that I’ve been waiting for from the genre. It’s a game that didn’t need multiplayer, loot boxes, unlockables or experience bars, or any of the other features that bloat down the modern shooter genre. It’s simply a single player game that has the confidence to be smart, and faith that the player…

WellPlayedAsh Wayling

9.5/10

Stop hitting yourself.

KeenGamerNick Banks

8.5/10

Echo is an idea born out of experienced developers getting bored. This almost feels like an homage to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. The opening images reveal an odd yet majestic slab, floating through space. Our protagonist, En, wakes up from a deep sleep. What follows is an exercise in experimentation, subtlety in game design and - for the player - any play style they choose.

COGConnectedNicholas Plouffe

85/100

When Half-Life 2 came out, the new AI being able to actually circle around and break through doors to get to you was the wave of the future. Smart enemies who had the power to hunt you down became more and more present in modern gaming, and while guards in stealth games often still seem dumb or inept, we’ve come a long way. ECHO offers something new, an AI that learns and unlearns through your actions as you play. It seems ULTRA ULTRA set out to create something different and by gosh they’ve done it.

DestructoidKevin Mersereau

8.5/10

I have never played another game quite like Echo before. Folks are always rallying for innovation in the industry, and I can’t think of too many better examples of that in recent years. It’s not all perfect, but what’s there is extremely refreshing. This is not an easy game. You will die a lot. You will get angry. However, when you finally defeat your opponents, it’s like sex. A huge release where, for a few small minutes, you genuinely feel like you just accomplished something. It’s glorious.

Worth PlayingChris "Atom" DeAngelus

8/10

Echo is a third-person, sci-fi adventure game set within an ever-changing futuristic neo-classical, infinite palace, where you play as the mysterious and headstrong En as she contends with the ultimate opponent: herself.

MonsterVineMonsterVine Staff

The game follows En, well voiced by Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones), a woman traveling in space with her A.I. partner, London. After the pair reaches the Palace, a vast and seemingly limitless structure, En sets out to use its own technology to bring back another life. ECHO’s story is filled with dialogue between En and London as both argue the necessity of her objective on the Palace. The story is driven by En’s curiosity in both the world and herself, while London’s harsher personality puts the pair at odds. I like the premise of this sci-fi story but the constant back and forth of the two cha...

TheSixthAxisJim Hargreaves

8/10

There’s definitely room for ECHO to improve and expand, but it’s a smashing debut nonetheless. Ultra Ultra has performed a deft balancing act here and one that carefully avoids over complicating things, much to the benefit of the player. It’s far and away one of 2017’s best sleeper hits and we can’t wait to see what the studio has coming next.

Playstation UniverseJohn-Paul Jones

7.5/10

ECHO’s lacklustre story, slow pace and restrictive character control mildly detract from what is otherwise one of the most refreshing stealth titles to come along in a good while. Make no mistake; fans of the genre will find much to like in ECHO.

GameSpaceWilliam Murphy

7.5/10

And while the story and mystery carry you through the game, the gameplay scenarios can be a little repetitive.  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.

Playstation LifestyleChandler Wood

7/10

Imagine if your enemies learned their abilities by mimicking what you did. Our Echo review explores this concept and the themes of repetition.

TechRaptorMatthew Arrojas

6/10

ECHO tries to reinvent the wheel with its new take on enemy AI. While the game ultimately succeeds in doing so, the end result is having a fancy new wheel on an otherwise mundane sedan. The rest of the game simply doesn't do the enemy AI system the justice it deserves.