There Came an Echo
Overview -
Kickstarter, along with other crowdfunding sources like Indiegogo and Steam’s Early Access program, has been very useful for smaller companies (and even some larger ones) with big ideas who want to create games outside of the conventional publishing system. For example, a voice controlled-RTS like 'There Came an Echo,' which is the second game from Iridium Studios. 'There Came an Echo' was funded on Kickstarter nearly two years ago and just released to the public.
Video Review
The game uses an isometric, top-down perspective. It looks neat and tidy, and the characters have decent (if not amazing) textures. This is a colorful kind of sci-fi, but the wide palette nevertheless conveys an overly uniform look. Character animations are rather odd, on the other hand. The camera presents a problem, as it doesn’t zoom out very far and pans slowly.
Audio Review
The score stumbles occasionally but is for the most part a worthwhile addition, even if it tends to loop itself into oblivion on longer levels. The voice acting is spottier - there is a decent cast, with entries like geek icon Wil Wheaton and Ashley Burch (Tiny Tina from 'Borderlands'), but some of the performances lag behind the pack. The script may have something to do with this.
Final Thoughts
While 'There Came an Echo' has its problems, some of which seriously detract from its merits, I did enjoy my time with it. I can’t recommend it wholeheartedly, as it is quite thin on content and most players will probably put it away after less than a half-dozen hours. It is more than a tech demo with pretty window dressing (although the tech is great). I sincerely hope it is successful and Iridium takes it to the next level, as there is a lot of fun to be had with its mechanics.
