Echo Generation 2 preview
Although the possibilities seem endless, creating any form of art or entertainment comes down to one choice: the same or different. Do you repeat yourself or others' ideas, or try something new? Every decision carries risks and rewards. This is certainly true of games, where the landscape is littered with sequels that simply rehash old ideas. This brings us to Echo Generation 2continuation of the turn-based role-playing game Echo Generation from the developer Cococucumber, released in 2020.
Changes in the heart
If you missed the first game, it's a turn-based puzzle/RPG adventure game with eye-catching voxel graphics set in a seemingly ordinary suburban neighborhood. But in the best tradition of mystery and horror, appearances are not what they seem. There are strange characters, dark secrets and supernatural undertones. While the game looks (and is overall) family-friendly, the tone and themes are a bit more adult at times. For example, the father of the main character mysteriously disappeared.
Both critics and players responded positively to Echo Generation, but did not necessarily like the combat, which could be predictable and overly reliant on limited and powerful attacks. Additionally, some players felt that the game was too dialogue-heavy. For the sequel, the developer made a bold choice and completely abandoned the first game's combat system. Also, the new game contains, according to the developer, “4 times less dialogue.”
It's in the cards
Wanting to make combat faster and more flexible, the team switched to a card-based combat and deck-building system. With over 100 cards to use in battle and upgrade, the potential for experimentation seems wide open. My discussion with the developer was brief, so I didn't get any details about the maps or combat, but the folks at Cococucumber are excited about what they did to mix things up.
In terms of story and presentation, Echo Generation 2 is both a sequel and a prequel to the first game. Although the characters are new, the two games are linked by the absentee father, Jack, whose story is central to the new game. Players will have to find out where he went, an unsolved mystery in Echo Generation. There will be some voice acting this time around, but it looks like Echo Generation 2 won't be quite the same adventure puzzle game as the first game.
The art style retains and expands on the first game's aesthetic, which was colorful and eye-catching. The new game looks just as colorful, although a little darker and more menacing. The homage to the visual style of the 1980s remains strong, and the game's combination of voxels, pixels, and particle effects looks great.
I really enjoyed my time with Echo Generation and look forward to diving into the sequel sometime in 2026.
