Echo Generation

A fascinating RPG with a unique visual style, Echo Generation has all the ingredients needed to become a timeless classic. A turn-based masterpiece, this game features some of the nicest graphics we’ve ever seen in an indie video game.

Drawing inspiration from multiple pop culture media and other retro games, Echo Generation is a game that any video game lover will no doubt love. The cleverly written plot and entertaining characters make this feel like some sort of lost Nintendo game, a true testament to the dedication of the devs.

Nostalgia Overdrive

Set in the summer of 1993, Echo Generation draws inspiration from some classic Stephen King stories (and a dash of Stranger Things,) as it sends the main character and his friends on a quest to investigate a meteorite crash.

If the opening of the game sounds familiar to you, that’s because it’s a near-verbatim opening as that of Nintendo’s RPG classic, EarthBound. Just like in that game, what the player will find is that legions of supernatural and mechanical atrocities are now invading their once peaceful little town.

The game plays like a traditional turn-based RPG. Each of your party members has access to their own list of skills and stats. However, the action is slightly changed once you start fighting the game’s bosses.

These massive creatures must be fought using a combination of turn-based and real-time commands. The sheer stature and incredible design in all the bosses are absolutely mindblowing, and fighting them is an experience that has to be played to be believed.

Visual Powerhouse

Every little model and location in Echo Generation exudes style. Using a seemingly voxel-based presentation, the game feels like an old-school 2D RPG brought to life in glorious high definition 3D.

In a word, the graphics are astonishing. Not only are character models presented in a retro, pixel-art-inspired look – the way the shadows are cast over the environment and how amazing lighting looks is simply fantastic.

Of course, all of these graphical bells and whistles also mean that you’ll need a somewhat beefy PC to play the game properly. However, players with more modest computers can still enjoy the game with reduced details.

Plot and Inspiration

The similarities between Stranger Things and Echo Generation are undeniable. However, comparing the game to Earthbound or Undertale would actually be more adequate in terms of characterization and general narrative.

The mystery at the core of Echo Generation is engaging and is presented in a fun way without ever ruining the general tone of the game. In a way, this game is just what YIIK: A Postmodern RPG hoped to achieve: a proper tribute to the Mother series that’s updated for a new generation of gamers.

All in all, this is a game that features all of that nostalgia that 90s gamers are so fond of. That said, the game still manages to feel like a fresh experience that doesn’t rely too much on its inspirations to shine. Echo Generation simply has all the right ingredients to become a true modern classic, even if it’s for its presentation alone.

Pros

• Incredible visuals
• Well-written characters and plot
• Tons of cool references and homages to other media

Cons

• Relies a bit too much on its inspirations in some stages