Review | Echo Generation - Don't Call it a Callback | Winter Spectacular 2021

The best way I can describe my experience playing Echo Generation is that it is like a mixture of the shows Gravity Falls and Stranger Things combined with the turn-based action-adventure gameplay of Five Nights at Freddy’s World and Paper Mario after the opening cutscene. 

FIGHT!

The music from the moment you leave the starting area is peaceful. A slow tempo followed by a rhythmic beat builds for a few seconds before looping back on itself. It’s calming and doesn’t distract from the gameplay. The battle music misses a chance to up the speed, playing at the same pace as the overworld you’re in, but just with a few different instruments. The music changes with the location and the environment, which is a nice touch. Whether it’s the neighbourhood you’re running around in while trying to complete objectives like taking out the raccoon in the trash can to get a key, or you’re going into your creepy neighbour’s house - the one who collects dolls and displays them behind glass cases - the game will always give you music that fits the tone of the place you’re in.

Echo Generation’s aesthetic had me reliving FNAF World. From the 3D voxel block models to the idol animation during battle sequences. The movement speed of the character outside of battle is remarkably slow. I feel that the developer, Cococucumber, could have at least added a button or an option to let you move about the map a bit faster than the current pace you’re stuck with. Despite this, all the animations look very fluid.

You know kids these days, getting into whacky hijinks and fighting giant robot monsters.

However, there were some times where I couldn’t tell if something was a bug or a feature. The bodies of the giant rats I killed at the junkyard lay there, but when you fight raccoons, their bodies disappear once the battle is over. 

Now, the combat system in the game is, as I noted at the beginning of this review, similar to Paper Mario. Echo uses a similar turn-based timing attack mechanic, as well as an aiming and blocking system. The blocking aggravated me, as the timing needed to reduce incoming damage has to be so precise. Fighting the first boss was mostly me frantically healing because the block didn’t register.

There’s more going on here than you think.

Echo Generation is an ‘80s cartoon soulslike, masquerading as a relaxing adventure game. If you’re willing to put in the time to learn the enemies attack patterns so that you can properly block their hits, then I’m sure you’ll have fun with it - I can already imagine people attempting no-hit runs.