Game review: Echoes of the End (Xbox Series X)

It's always a breath of fresh air to play a game from a little and unknown developer. This is because Echoes of the End is a new game from a small studio based in Iceland called Myrkur Games. Echoes of the End is the studio's first major release, and the game had been in development for nearly a decade. 

One thing I admire most about Myrkur Games is that the developer chose not to chase industry trends. Instead of making a live service or Souls-like game, Echoes of the End is a linear action adventure title with an interesting story. I would say the game is a mix between the recent God of War titles as well as Hellblade. 

As for the game itself, Echoes of the End lets players assume the role of a magic wielder (called a Vestige) by the name of Ryn. She's fighting against an evil invading empire that has also kidnapped her brother; Cor. Ryn hopes to not only save her brother, but also to prevent the invasion from happening. 

Ryn isn't alone in her journey because she partners with a man who knew her father, called Abram. The two have trouble trusting each other, but they have to put their differences aside if they want to stop the empire. Abram isn't totally playable in the game, but you can control his actions during exploration and combat sections. 

What I like most about Echoes of the End is the fact that the game isn't just a basic hack-and-slash title. Sure, Ryn is armed with her trusty sword, but as a Vestige, she has loads of cool abilities that aid her in her journey. Her magic powers come in handy when it comes to both combat and puzzle exploration. 

The first skill you will encounter in Echoes of the End is Ryn's ability to move objects with her hand. If you see a heavy box that needs to be moved, Ryn can easily use her powers to position the box wherever she needs it to go. Platforms that are closed can also be moved around so she can jump onto previously inaccessible areas. 

Ryn can also use special devices that allow her to somewhat reverse time. For example, a bridge might have collapsed during warfare, but Ryn can use this device to reverse time and make the bridge walkable again. 

Later on in the game, even more abilities and skills become available to Ryn. In one section, she gains both a double jump and even a dash so he can traverse treacherous terrain with ease. My favourite ability is when she can teleport to a different area using a decoy she creates for herself.

As for Abram, he comes in handy during the game as well. He has a special ability where he can freeze objects in place. If Ryn needs to cross a moving platform, you can order Abram to freeze it so she can make it across. Abram can also be ordered to freeze certain enemies during combat sequences. 

Speaking of combat, Echoes of the End has pretty enjoyable sword fights. Ryn has both a light attack and a heavy attack that you can execute using the right shoulder buttons. Ryn can also use her levitating abilities to literally throw enemies away like ragdolls. 

Ryn is also able to block and parry attacks from certain enemy soldiers. If an enemy attack glows white, this means you can parry the attack and fight back. On the other hand, when an attack glows orange, this means it's unblockable. Ryn can easily just use her dodging ability to avoid unblockable attacks. 

The game also has many epic boss battles that you have to endure. The boss fights are easier compared to Souls-like games, but they're still entertaining. Not to mention, Ryn can unlock more combos and abilities when you upgrade her 'Skill Tree'. XP is earned every time you kill enemies and finish boss fights. 

Outside of combat, Echoes of the End has linear level design, but it's mixed with lots of puzzle-solving elements. To be honest with you, I feel this game has too many puzzles because there are more things to solve than there are combat sequences! That being said, the level design is clever, and you will need to use your brain to solve most puzzles in the game. 

The only time the levels open up is when Ryn and Abram need to travel on boat to their next area. There are also some hidden paths you can take to open chests to collect some collectibles. 

Visually, Echoes of the End looks realistic because it uses Unreal Engine 5 for its game engine. The animations are mostly smooth, as most of the combat and movements have been motion-captured. I don't think I encountered too many glitches on Xbox Series X, although the game did crash once and Ryn got stuck between rocks another time. 

Aside from being too puzzle-heavy, I think Echoes of the End is a great linear action game that more people should play. If you're into games like God of War or Hellblade, you should definitely give this game a go. The game is available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. 

Verdict: 8.5/10