Echoes of the Endis a new action-adventure game that puts players in the shoes of Ryn, a woman fighting to save her brother from the empire. There are many fantasy games with a similar trope. Our main character must rise and become stronger to save those close to them, growing as a person to find their place in the world. Does this game stand on its own and back up the promise of a compelling and enriching experience for players?
A Promising Premise
Booting up the game, you’ll be tossed into this new world. You even get an opening monologue to introduce you to this world right when you’ve started the game, providing a promising narrative for what’s to come. At the start, you’ll have character building between Ryn and her brother Cor, where they share brief memories about their time with their father before the events that are taking place. It’s a slower start with a pace that allows you to get used to the movement of the mechanics, the style of puzzles and how the combat works.
The story ofEchoes of the Endtakes a lot of beats fromGod of War, something that they were clearly inspired by in terms of combat and exploration as well. You’ll be able to explore linear sections of the world with paths that branch off for treasure. This treasure only provides bits and pieces of lore, however, as well as Easter eggs, referencing popular media that share the same fantasy genre. you’re able to also gain permanent health and mana upgrades by collecting and going through these various chests, rewarding you for fully exploring each area you encounter.
There are also several difficulty choices when starting the story. The three difficulties provided for the game are: Story, Balanced and Challenge. The combat in the Story difficulty is extremely forgiving to players, while Balanced will be the normal and ideal way to play for most players. Challenge difficulty is the most unforgiving difficulty, with smaller parry windows and health recovery, and much more damage taken and higher enemy aggression. It’s hard to say which is the best for a new player given some of the issues that take place within the action portions of the game. If you’re seeking direct and difficult combat, Challenge may be the best bet for you. It may not be seamless and intense as you might expect, though.
Unrefined Combat and Animations
Combat is slow and can be troublesome to utilize the combat mechanics. This is another piece of the game that aims to emulateGod of War, but ends up falling short. You have your companion who can help while in the middle of a battle, Abram. He offers a reprieve from enemies, allowing you to command him to put enemies into stasis while in combat. There are upgrades and variants of attacks, many of which will only stop enemies for a short amount of time at the start. These can buy you enough time to deal real damage to incoming foes while you have frozen the main threat. But due to how combat works, Ryn can’t utilize it right away in the ways you may want.
Attack animations from Ryn feel slow and cumbersome to deal with, and your dodge and parry options to avoid damage don’t feel as smooth as they should. Parrying often feels strange, with it not being something you’re able to use right away; the timing is extremely punishing, and it feels like you need to do this perfectly, even on normal difficulty. Dodging has only a few i-frames as well, meaning your dodges have to be just as perfect as the parries, which can lead to frustration when dealing with enemies that use slow and wide area of effect attacks.
A majority of the animations in general end up looking and feeling awkward, even when you aren’t in confrontations. For example, there are sections where Ryn slides down ramps and hills to escape or catch up to enemies. She doesn’t attempt to maintain her balance, and she keeps the same pose throughout these sections, making the whole situation look stiff and graceless.
Despite the clunky and clumsy way combat is handled in the base form, it does have abilities that you can use to make it feel smoother. Where the game shines the most is when you are fighting groups of enemies and utilizing all of Ryn’s abilities that you’ve unlocked. Pulling and pushing enemies into each other, draining their health or picking them up and slamming them into the ground.
It all adds a power dynamic to the game where you truly feel powerful. The variety of ways you may utilize combat within these larger fights makes the game infinitely more fun to play, almost feeling smooth when you learn how to manage usage and learn the awkward timing of dodging and parrying. These moments are fleeting, however, and not there when you’re in boss fights.
Where the game shines the most is when you are fighting groups of enemies and utilizing all of Ryn’s abilities that you’ve unlocked.
Boss fights can be flashy, but their difficulty isn’t at the spot it should be. Most bosses are going to be easier than the groups of enemies you take on in the game, making them feel like pushovers once you know their movements. you’re able to’t perform full combos on bosses and instead can beat them with three to four simple steps throughout their fights. Unfortunately, it takes away the challenging nature of the boss fights and makes these trials more like spectacles.
Closing Comments:
When everything runs as it should,Echoes of the Endis visually pleasing, but the actual gameplay and animations are lacking. What the game does end up doing well are the variety of ways you’re able to handle the combat as you progress. Many of the issues lie with how the combat itself has been handled, with animations from both your main character and enemies being sluggish and hard to read at times. With proper love and attention to ironing out those edges,Echoes of the Endhas the potential to transform into an amazing title.
Echoes of the End
Version Reviewed: PC
Echoes of the End is a cinematic third-person action-adventure game. It blends a deeply personal, character-driven story with thrilling magic and sword-based combat, engaging traversal and thought-provoking puzzles. Inspired by Iceland, this epic adventure offers a mature, rich and immersive experience in a breathtaking and original fantasy world.A Heroine’s JourneyStep into the shoes of Ryn, a vestige wielding volatile yet powerful magic, as she battles to save her brother from a ruthless totalitarian empire. Partner with Abram Finlay - a scholar and explorer haunted by his past - to uncover a conspiracy that could reignite an ancient conflict and plunge Aema into chaos. Immerse yourself in a heartfelt tale of trust, redemption, and sacrifice in a world on the edge of war.Dynamic Combat and ExplorationMaster Ryn’s prowess in magic and swordsmanship to defeat unique enemies and face epic boss battles.Harness a vast array of devastating powers as Ryn grows in strength and confidence throughout her journey.Team up with Abram to combine forces in combat and traversal, unleashing creative combos and interactions.Explore breathtaking environments inspired by Icelandic landscapes, from fiery lava fields to icy mountain peaks.Puzzles and Traversal ChallengesSolve engaging puzzles with Ryn’s powers, including gravity manipulation, destruction, and illusions, through collaboration with your companion.Navigate the world with a diverse range of traversal mechanics, such as double-jumping, dashing, and gravity control, with each chapter introducing fresh, unique challenges.Cinematic Visuals and Realistic FantasyEchoes of the End immerses players in an original, grounded fantasy world brimming with depth and detail.This character-driven adventure features motion-captured performances, intricately designed character models and stunningly crafted environments, delivering a truly unforgettable and heartfelt experience.Explore the hidden history of Aema, forge unbreakable bonds, and embrace your magical potential as you shape the destiny of a nation.
