I’m always escatic when I here about crowdfunded indie projects gaining momentum and talent, but all of this promise doesn’t always equal a good game. A more recent example of this was the port of the mobile stealth darling Republique, which fell short in my opinion. I was a bit wary that There Came An Echo might struggle with the same issues, ones that don’t even correlate with mobile development. But after learning that it’s a strategy game, does it fit in with the likes of Transistor, the high rankings of XCOM, or does it crumble completely? Here’s our opinion.

Gameplay:

Even the smallest battles can feel large scale

The more I played There Came An Echo, the more I noticed it’s startling similarities Republique and it’s flaws. For examples, both games aren’t controlled normally. You execute commands in Republique with a camera and use voice commands in There Came An Echo, and both feel wonky and slow. I suppose this fits a bit better for a strategy game, and the rest of There Came An Echo works well on this promise. The choice for classes are strong and there’s a strong sense of tactile movement as you progress later on. Unfortunately, there are other flaws to bare.

Story & Design:

Story sequences are rarely intense due to preachy dialogue

There Came An Echo also spends a considerable chunk of it’s resources on the story, which sounds good on paper, but doesn’t float as well in motion. For example, not paying 100% attention to the smallest story beats can leave to grave consequences of confusion. Thankfully, the well written characters will likely keep the attention of most players, besides for their frequently cheesy quips.

Presentation/ Visuals & Audio:

Character design is impressive and slick

Lastly, There Came An Echo features amazing voice acting, likely due to it’s star studded cast that includes Ashly Burch of Life Is Strange, Laura Bailey of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, and Will Wheaton of basically everything geeky fame. Because of this impressive lineup, the bad lines don’t come off as bad, and the good leaves an even better impression.

Conclusion:

I would recommend getting There Came An Echo if you’re looking for a different strategy game, with some light flaws. While it may not be as commending to other players unfamiliar with the genre, it’s still a great title where it fits, and I’d like to see more potential from where it came from, in the form of a sequel, spin-off, or new IP.

There Came An Echo gets a 7/10 (Average)

We’d like to thank Iridium for giving us a code!

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