There Came an Echo

 PC
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 14
  3. Negative: 3 out of 14
  1. Hardcore Gamer
    Feb 24, 2015
    80
    Sure, its story can get a bit incoherent, its non-voice controls are awkward, and there are moments of spotty voice-recognition, but the good greatly outweighs what little bad there is. If you’ve found yourself bored with all of the monotony and nonsense surrounding recent titles, you’d be doing yourself an injustice not giving There Came an Echo a shot.
  2. Cheat Code Central
    Feb 25, 2015
    76
    The voice recognition controls are probably the best any video game as incorporated, and certainly recommended over traditional controls. However, the overly abridged story paired with limited gameplay can't help but mark this venture as a work still in process.
  3. 4Players.de
    Mar 6, 2015
    71
    There Came an Echo with its surprisingly effective speech recognition is pure immersion. But it definitely could be more challenging, offering more tactical depth and more content in general.
  5. Game Over Online
    Mar 4, 2015
    68
    I’m happy that Iridium Studios continues to try new and unusual things, and I’ll even say that when the audio interface actually worked for me, it made the missions feel much more involving (perhaps because it made them feel more like multiplayer missions). But the game was far too short and far too broken for me to recommend it.
  6. Riot Pixels
    Aug 17, 2015
    65
    There Came an Echo is hardly a full-fledged commercial game. It is more like a cool 3-4-hour proof of concept which shows you that yes, you can make a good strategy game fully controlled by voice.
  7. IGN Italia
    Apr 3, 2015
    65
    A good idea implemented in a game that could have been better. Aside from the novelty of the voice control and good acting There Came an Echo is quite a forgettable tactical game.
  8. Eurogamer Italy
    May 11, 2015
    60
    There Came an Echo is a simplified tactical game with the best voice recognition software ever included in a videogame. Unfortunately the simplification seems too heavy and the voice gimmick is both not perfect and not that entertaining on his own.
  9. games(TM)
    Mar 15, 2015
    60
    Voice control just isn’t an improved method of input over just pointing at something and making it happen, but the effort is a worthy one.
  10. Destructoid
    Feb 24, 2015
    60
    A worthy experience, but it's lacking in too many minor areas to achieve greatness. While the voice-controlled strategy gameplay is engaging, it does lead to some design hiccups. While the narrative is entertaining and even intellectually demanding at times, it just as easily falls into navel-gazing jargon. While the technology is impressive, it feels like it belongs in a much bigger game.
  11. Edge Magazine
    Mar 30, 2015
    50
    Feels like a proof of concept for a much more substantial, and refined, counterpart. [Apr 2015, p.120]
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  12. Multiplayer.it
    Mar 17, 2015
    50
    There Came an Echo tells a very good story, supported by an excellent cast of voice actors, but the game definitely fails to deliver.
  13. CD-Action
    Apr 30, 2015
    45
    Switch off voice recognition in the menu and you’re left with a run-of-the-mill budget game that doesn’t have much to offer. [05/2015, p.72]
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  14. Games Master UK
    May 6, 2015
    43
    The voice-controlled novelty wears off to reveal a short, broken strategy that'll leave you speechless. [May 2015, p.78]
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  15. GameSpot
    Mar 12, 2015
    40
    Though the plot is poorly delivered, it provides an appropriate context for the role you assume as the omniscient commander. There is an eerie sensation when you realise your PC is actually listening to you. Unfortunately, far too often, it simply isn't.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 23
  3. Negative: 7 out of 23
  1. fredhorrigan
    Mar 6, 2015
    0
    The game is full of annoying characters who all try way too hard to sound witty and yet there is no swear recognition, meaning one would getThe game is full of annoying characters who all try way too hard to sound witty and yet there is no swear recognition, meaning one would get no response for calling Whedon's character a **** mentioning another VA's brother is a cuckold, or just swearing at the game because the voice recognition is spotty (there is a way to control the game without voice recognition but the game handicaps you by making the controls clunky and requiring a character to read off your command before your units act it out.

    As for the game part, the game is only a few hours long and the combat is rather shallow with each of your 4 units having identical base stats and being able to equip two of four weapons (in addition to a weak pistol weapon) also the missions are heavily scripted affairs that leave little room for trying to be creative with the game's limited mechanics.    … Full Review »
  2. Deitis
    Mar 1, 2015
    9
    Saying commands and watching them happen on screen is really a magical thing. I initially had some trouble getting the volume of my voiceSaying commands and watching them happen on screen is really a magical thing. I initially had some trouble getting the volume of my voice correct (shouting's a bad idea) but once I did, I was managing orders with ease.
    The voice acting is superb and the plot, though heavily abridged, is one of my favorites in indie gaming. Well worth the $15 price of admission, and with a larger budget, it could've been one of the games of the year easily. Though the game is short, I was left wanting more - an excellent problem to have, and one that I will be revisiting on higher difficulties soon.    … Full Review »
  3. MadJaples
    Feb 26, 2015
    6
    The non-voice controls are indeed quirky. Much of the time you'll spend will be spent on identifying what controls will come up on a radialThe non-voice controls are indeed quirky. Much of the time you'll spend will be spent on identifying what controls will come up on a radial dial and in which position. It's not as intuitive as I'd like it to be.
    Seriously if you do get this game, you really should play it with a decent (not built-in for a start off) microphone. Built in mics won't cut it with this one I'm afraid.
    It looks fine for the most part, if a little unpolished in one or two places - particularly with the most notable being the non-synced lip movement with the characters when they are supposedly speaking.
    Without a mic this game can be very unforgiving, whereas it's much easier if you're able to speak commands because it'll take much less time to chat than to pick out commands from a list you have no idea how it's going to come up on the screen.
    It's ok, but I wouldn't write home about it, even if Wheaton is one of the voice actors in it.    … Full Review »
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