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Echo Generation pokes fun at 80s gaming and entertainment. Moreover, it has a heartwarming story of family and friendship. However, this gooey rich centre is surrounded by a tale of supernatural beings, monsters, and a classic conspiracy theory. As such, you must find clues, uncover secrets, and battle beasts as you search for the truth.
Developed and published by Cococucumber, this is a pixelated adventure title. What’s more, it focuses on turn-based action and allows you to build a small but cute army of followers. Subsequently, this witty and fun game is full of puzzles, tactical nuance, and plenty of challenging encounters. Furthermore, its aesthetics are brilliantly dated and retain an old-school charm.
Echo Generation keeps you guessing.
Echo Generation tells a story that ebbs and flows nicely. However, its secretive moments and sinister characters keep you on your toes from beginning to end. As such, I adored the strange story and the bizarre moments. Moreover, the excellent setting and witty dialogue keep you hooked until the end credits. Accordingly, it was a moreish experience that was tough to put down.
You control a sibling duo who are on the hunt for their dad. After his strange disappearance, the pair never got closure. However, weird occurrences are happening in Maple Town, and this piques their interest. Yet, as the siblings explore their surroundings, they realise that the world is a dangerous place. With mutated creatures, demented robots, and ghostly apparitions, they have bitten off more than they can chew. Amusingly, though, this doesn’t stop them, and they team up with cute animals and robotic sidekicks to continue their adventure. If successful, the team will destroy mountains of bosses while uncovering the bizarre disappearance of their father. However, if they fail, the conspiracy theories will remain unsolved.
Puzzles and exploration.
The core gameplay centres on exploration, puzzles, and turn-based combat. Yet, Echo Generation doesn’t have an open world. Instead, it has a small map that can be explored freely. However, a linear approach and tight puzzles drive you to the finale. As such, there are no choices to make, and each problem must be solved in a timely fashion.
Now, this isn’t an issue, as I enjoyed searching for items, comics, and other bits and bobs. Furthermore, the relationships you form with each NPC are amusing and add to the colourful nature of the action. My only complaint is a lack of a journal. Annoyingly, the game expects you to remember multiple side quests and every key moment. Moreover, there is no way to fast travel, nor is there a map to fall back on. Subsequently, if you put this down for too long, you’ll forget what you are doing and that is unfortunate.
These minor issues could have easily been avoided. If a journal had been included, it would have improved the gameplay while making the finer details and weird lore easier to follow.
Turn-based combat and teamwork.
Your progress relies on your ability to work together and excellent turn-based combat. Your team comprises two siblings and one additional member. Each person or creature has strengths and weaknesses that must be exploited. Furthermore, they have an array of attacks that are executed by completing a short mini-game. You unlock each special move by finding or purchasing comic books. With 30 to discover, there are plenty of tactical choices to make.
Whether you are spamming the A button, matching shapes, or timing a spinner, it matters not. However, you must focus on accuracy if you wish to excel. The same approach is taken when you are under attack. This simple but effective mechanic was tough to master. However, once you got to grips with it, the combat elements were great fun.
Alongside the choice of attacks, you need to consider skill points, health, and strength. Each of these stats can be improved as you level up, and they are key to your survival. Additionally, they add another tactical layer to this excellent title.
Echo Generation is wonderfully pixelated.
There is a time and place for a Voxel art world. Thankfully, Echo Generation gets it just right. With its brilliant blend of locations and vivid colour palette, it was great to look at. Moreover, the combat was smooth, the transition between areas was seamless, and there were no issues. On top of this, I loved the still shots of every big boss, and the minor details capture the 80s perfectly.
Alongside the great visuals was the brilliant audio. The developers incorporated an excellent soundtrack if you found hidden cassette tapes. These wonderful synth songs are upbeat and reminiscent of the era. Furthermore, the sound effects are crass but well-considered.
Brilliant controls.
As much of the action relies on rapid inputs and accuracy, the controls needed to be on point. Thankfully they were, and this ensures the gameplay is executed flawlessly. What’s more, the simple layout and helpful hints keep you on target and reduce mistakes.
If like me, you searched every nook and cranny, then the replay value will be reduced. However, if you rush through the game, you’ll need to return to find collectables and other items. As such, Echo Generation has limited longevity and replay value. Thankfully, though, the first playthrough is so good, that this is a minor complaint.
Echo Generation is an enjoyable and amusing nod to the 80s.
Echo Generation epitomises everything I love about the 80s. Consequently, it’s crass, loud, amusing, witty, and a little surreal. Furthermore, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I adored this fact. Alongside this, the gameplay is fantastic, and the tactical moments were phenomenal. I think the developers got the balance just right, and it prevents the game from being OTT or overbearing. Accordingly, I cherished my time with it and recommend you buy it here! Can you uncover the secrets of this strange town? Work together, unlock new attacks, and discover the truth about your father.
