Ijust finished reading Adastra, and now have Post-Adastra depression.. great, but now I want a new start for visual novels... is this going to make me cry like Adastra? Or is this bearable... please-
They're both... psychologically terrifying more than anything else, but GREAT reads(if you can handle it) and are a bit funny. BUT THIIIIS VN RIGHT HERE WILL DESTROY YOU PLS READ IT LAST
TSR is not quite as light as Adastra (and yes, Adastra is the lightest of the series to stomach imo), but is certainly less heavy than Echo and even less heavier than this game lmao. TSR isn't finished yet, but would probably be the next step if you want to make somewhat of a more gradual descent into the deep end that is Echo and Arches. It's also my fave of the series, but that's just me ;p
I caught a massive continuity issue they refer to Lake Emma as a reservoir in arches when Chase refers to it as an ancient natural lake and the Echo Reservoir is a unique location showcased in Jenna's Storyline in Echo when Heather attempts to flood the town
i had a whole long post previously, but i have changed my opinion since replaying jennas route. the river that feeds the lake was augmented by the dam when the town built it upstream, and a reservoir is essentially a dammed river—so it doesnt seem entirely false to use either term for lake emma. i read more about reservoirs than i ever thought i would, but i think no one would be terribly remiss in calling lake emma a reservoir, given that the hyperlinked hydrological website states that 'large artificial impoundments, frequently called reservoirs, are waterbodies typically created by placing a dam across a stream or river.' lake emma comprises whatever water is permitted to pass from the dam further downstream, so even if its not officially a reservoir itself, its damn (heh) close to one.
and if it was simply a mistake on the part of the author, i dont think its relevant enough to be a major concern to the events of the plot
Where do I even start on this one? I only made this account now to comment here. I just...- God. Wow.
This has been a true masterpiece. Something that will forever stay with me. The writing, the story, the characters, the visuals, the sounds, everything is perfect. Everything is so fucking perfect. . .
I resonate especially well with Cameron, having experienced life in really similar ways to him, and Devon has been the exact character I would imagine being together with. So just from the characters, how real everything felt, the connection I have with them on a personal level, I immediately knew that this would be the Novel of my life. Something to always remember as the best one I've read so far. I had read Adastra, I had also read echo, and everything had effects on me that will last an eternity, however this one in particular... I am speechless. I had always delayed reading it. I guess I just felt like I was not ready, and also waited for the final release, but now that I had gone ahead and did it?...
I don't want to do spoilers, just in case others read my comment, therefore I won't say why, but I can say that I had cried and sobbed, and held the edge of my bed , grasping for air in so many places. It has been a true emotional roller coaster, and the way Howly writes, the sudden jumps in time and places, and things real and not real, it really took me to the edge. I cried out of fear, I cried out of anxiety, and I cried of relief, and of happiness. I cried, but I felt the need to move and know what happens next and just hoped the ending would be happy. And I can't tell here if it was. But I can tell you that when I saw "The End" I knew I want to come and tell how thankful I am for this. It had taken me to places I never thought possible, and it also helped me understand my very own self more. It also serves as a giant inspiration not to give up making a VN myself. I always felt like it probably won't be noticed or that it won't make people feel anything.
But to someone it might be as life changing and beautiful and thrilling and horrifying and euphoric as this one was to me. I cannot begin to talk about how much thankful I am for everyone involved. I- am at a loss of words. Yeah. I don't know. Just read it, if you haven't. And I am eternally thankful for everyone involved in the making of this. As well as releasing it for free. This is a priceless work of art, deserving to be in a digital museum, archived and taught from generation to generation. I cannot rate it with numbers, nor words, as they would be too small to do so. I just. I don't know.
This was the most Emotional, beautiful, painful, and wholesome vn i think i've read. Personally this VN hit me right to the heart.. Ive struggled with abuse, suicide, and anxiety attacks.. but this story..just really got me to thinking about my life..I had no idea a visual novel could make me feel so grateful, for my boyfriend who's been there by my side through my pain.. All i wanna say to the Echo team is.. Thank You. ^^
Your review nearly made me hit download with you saying it was great, even though you were struggling... until I read the part were you had a bf.. I might just uhh- not download
In terms of graphic representation, there are no sexual scenes (There is only one suggestive scene in the prologue). There are a few violent scenes though, but no hard gore or anything like that.
read this in like. a day while bored recovering from top surgery- i feel all the emeowtions and the story just felt so raw and relatable annd i see a lot of myself in cameron (even tho i dont deal with psychosis or hallucinations i do dissociate and struggle with my perception of reality)
i want him and devon to be happy together forever- same with artie and maria
A master piece, i just finished it and I'm actually in awe
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Brian, as much as i hate him, is a masterly crafted character and is the only character to ever make me feel pure hatred, fear, and sadness on a level i didn't think possible for a fictional character. That fake/alternate moment where Cameron's head was shot point blank by the shotgun and gruesomely described pulled me out of the world i was living in for a moment and i actually felt shocked like I watched a real person die in that traumatic way. Even when i reminded myself that it isn't real, the pure terror i felt is like nothing any other game has ever given me. I could talk for hours about this but ill just say: I don't think any piece of media can top the immersion and horror that i felt in that scene, and quite frankly, the novel as a whole.
Exactly. Also, the moment you described, made me curl up on my bed and cry, cry cry. Something has broken in me, and all I could tell me family when they asked me WTF happened to me was: n-no... Cam..........
I was... entirely broken. To my great surprise, luckily that was just another vision, and cam was actually alive a scene later. A scene later, that I only managed to read after catching my breath. I don't know how anyone can write in such an emotionally intense way, but I agree with you. Not a single piece of media can top the immersion and horror I felt there. And with your own words, the novel as a whole. This one will forever hold a special place in my heart.
That was the best thing I have ever read. I had to make an account to share how good this was. This VN literally made me cry for about an hour and a half. And it just kept going with I absolutely loved. Time to read Echo!
had to make an account just to comment here. Echo was one of my favorite stories ive ever read, so many emotions. But this, wow, absolutely tore my heart to pieces. The ending seriously got me thinking so much about my own life and how little effort ive ever put into trying to be happy. i know its just fiction but seeing the emotion and effort that Cameron and Devon put into being happy despite everything that happened. i dont think i can say that anything has made me feel what this story has, it made me realise i wanted to be happy again. Thank you very much for this story
I loved this VN so much. Personally for me, it made me feel fear, happiness, and sadness. It made me care for the group so quickly. All the diaglouge sounds natural. I just wanna say that I really recommend it. Like really.
Just finished it, and man. Not even sure what to say. The fear and horror in this VN was really cranked up to eleven with this one. Echo made me a little disturbed, but Arches had me full on scared for Cam and Dev, Brian is such a good antagonistic force. Not to mention the high quality SFX of every punch, kick, slam, spurt of blood and breaking of bone only added to the fear and despair with an added squeamish factor. Speaking of despair, despite the fact that everyone makes it out alive, they're certainly not okay. Cam still sees and hears things, sometimes with the voice of the man who caused him so much pain both physically and mentally, the drugs given to him to help alleviate this issue barely work and sometimes cause him even more pain and has guilt over what happened to Artie. Devon is going to copious amounts of stress with trying to keep Cam together, and can't even take out the anger of the monster responsible for it, and Artie now suffers from a stutter and the fact the right side of his body is compromised. Regardless, Cam and Dev do adjust to a new normal despite their trauma together, and Artie has Maria. Despite all the awful things Cam and Dev went through their honestly the healthiest relationship to ever to touch Echo, and watching them reassure each other in dark moments is always so heartwarming to see. They might be both fucked up, maybe for life, but at least they'll be fucked up together. 110/10.
ALSO BRIAN IS DEAD #RIPBOZO YOU WILL NOT BE MISSED #PACKWATCH
Just ended up reading this and... wow. I`ve been waiting the end of that vn and the only thing I can tell that I cried at the end. Music and visuals were giving me shivers and goosebups while reading it from the begining and until the end. I can`t even find a word that will describe all my feeling to the developers and their vns. Echo, The Smoke Room, Adastra, Arches.. Adastra was my first and then I started to read the whole Echo seires. and I`ll definitely keep watching for other projects. In the end of all, just want to say that EchoProject doing a great job, y`all are amazing and wonderful creators and I will follow your projects forever. Continue in the same spirit, you`re amazing!
Literally a masterpiece of writing, art, characterization, and narrative flow. I don't know what more I can say, except that this has raised my bar for visual novels extremely high
I absolutely love this visual novel, the characters, the topics it touches on, the ending. Im glad it turned out well for them, although it is a little bitter-sweet im still happy with this ending.
((SPOILER)) ((also need help answering a question))
this Vn is AMAZING!!! I love it and how it made me care about the characters, it made me SUFFOCATE ON HOW SCARY THEY WERE FACING!!! I haven't read echo the vn but if this is like this but 10x more soul crushing, oh nah that will leave me more of a sobbing mess but I'm happy for the ending they achieve even tho it's a little bittersweet.
Although I do have some questions like I'm genuinely confused.
I don't understand the part where Devon is wearing a white hoodie imagining Cameron?? Like is he dead? I don't understand that part of the story so if someone has an answer for it, please tell me.
The dream of Devon with Cam in his head is Cameron imagining/seeing an alternative timeline where he was shot by Brian in the mines and his spirit possessed Devon (kinda like how Sam possesses Chase)
This was one of the best visual novels I have ever read. The character development is top level and the story of the two lowers made me feel sad and peaceful(I guess this is the right word for it) at the same time.
Even tho it's ending is kind of a happy ending, I'm still left with hopelessness and sadness. The story is beautifully written, soundtracks are amazing and the art is the cherry on the top.
Thank you to Echo Project and to the people who worked on this novel.
Thank you...thank you all for making this, you guys are freaking awesome yall know that? I LOVE YALL!!! AAAAAAAA THIS IS THE BEST VN I EVER READ IT'S...marvelous, nothing can describe this amazing masterpiece...
This made me shiver in fear, and cry with emotion. I am not your average Goodreads keysmasher; I do not cry for nothing. No, it takes beautiful writing, and wonderful music, and gorgeous art, and this VN had all of that in spades. You can clearly see the effort that went into it, and more importantly, the love.
This Novel took a complete turn on what I was expecting and I am not upset one bit. I'm at a loss for words and I just needed to comment to express how truly stunned I am by the jaw-dropping and suspenseful plot and storyline.
Absolute 110/10 if I've ever seen one. Amazing, simply amazing.
wow... that was something. Usually i like to think about vns as some sort of escapism but this time things got really personal. I relate to cameron on a deep level, it's actually funny how we have so much in common, from his experiences to his feelings but things got real at the end.
I was expecting this to be just like echo with the horror setting and mystery, that cameron would realize how "special" he was and with the help of his new found powers and his awesome boyfriend would uncover the secrets of echo and "free" the town for good, but real life doesn't work like that right?
It was a punch in the gut, a wake up call that i needed but didn't want. I don't mean to be a killjoy or anything but this time it feels right to share what i feel. For most part of my life i've struggled with major depression and lack of sense of self as a result of trauma and reasons i preffer to keep undisclosed, the way cameron described how he felt was just like seeing a recount of myself, it felt human and that goes to show how much tought was put to write this vn, how the soul of the creators can be felt and that's what hurts the most. Something else that i found interesting is how cam takes some of the same pills as me so they made their investigation about the medication, in fact it reminded me in my stupor that i had to take my pills, i was so shaken that i dropped my mothers favorite glass to which she just said "don't worry about it, what's broken is broken but what matters to me it's that you're fine" and i swear to god i was about to cry.
What i'm trying to say with the mess of this comment is that i'm grateful for this vn, it didn't "save" me, it didn't solve my problems, it didn't "fix" me but it gave me hope, a bittersweet hope and that's enough for me to feel grateful, i wish to see what's next for the future, for my future and the continued future of Echoproject, it was a pleasure reading.
btw, sorry if there's gramatical errors, english is not my first language
for me i absolutely love this game just like Echo and Smoke room the games that come from this project like Adastra as an example are amazing it shows me things i didn't know about myself or other things like that but the way its written shows just how amazing it is thank you
also i am missing three things from the gallery in the beginning if anyone knows why or where i can find them i would greatly appreciate it
Maybe you didnt read the side story, click on cameron in the main menu. or if you finished the game and its just an empty desert you gotta click where he wouldve been otherwise.
Howly, what you've written is masterful because it is personal. Arches is such a personal and grounded story about addiction, abuse, loss, recovery and, most of all, hope. I realized that this game started during the Covid-19 Pandemic and that says a lot about the nuances and charm this story has. It really is a time capsule of this pandemic and I'm glad it is.
What I personally thought before I started reading Arches was that Cameron and Devon were literally going to go through the town, finding ghosts and learning about themselves and whatnot. But once I found out that Duke and Brian were there, still alive in Echo, it dawned on me. THEY are the ghosts, the remnants of Echo's past horrors and trauma. It makes perfect sense that they would still be there. Cameron and Devon were their last nail in the coffin.
I keep thinking of that shadow that jumped Cameron in the forest, the perceived "fork" during the shotgun blast in the mines. Echo, the town, may be dead but its trauma was still able to seep through. However, that is...kind of necessary? We will NEVER be able to forget our past trauma. No matter how hard we try. Like Devon trying to make up past mistakes, Brian trying to forget his victims and continue his selfish tirade. It stays with you, like a scar. Scars heal but the mark is still there. The only thing we can do is learn and keep moving. Embrace our trauma and choose whether we want to keep living or just stop. You can never get what you had back. Your choices define your future.
Thanks again for making this short novel. It might not be as "popular" as the other vns but I don't think that is the point. The best creative works in the world are when creatives create for themselves and the world simply enjoys what they created. You wrote something for you and it clearly does resonate with many folks.
Thank you for your hard work. You are appreciated and loved. All of you peeps in the Echo crew. Thank you. ❤️
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maybe playing echo back to back with arches wasn't a good idea...
Also 10/10, shout out howly and everyone else involved in these games :)
Ijust finished reading Adastra, and now have Post-Adastra depression.. great, but now I want a new start for visual novels... is this going to make me cry like Adastra? Or is this bearable... please-
I highly recommend that you play echo, the smoke room and then this game or you probably wouldn't understand
will I cry in Echo or smoke room?
They're both... psychologically terrifying more than anything else, but GREAT reads(if you can handle it) and are a bit funny. BUT THIIIIS VN RIGHT HERE WILL DESTROY YOU PLS READ IT LAST
ps, The smoke room has TOOOOONS of p*rn ;p
TSR is not quite as light as Adastra (and yes, Adastra is the lightest of the series to stomach imo), but is certainly less heavy than Echo and even less heavier than this game lmao. TSR isn't finished yet, but would probably be the next step if you want to make somewhat of a more gradual descent into the deep end that is Echo and Arches. It's also my fave of the series, but that's just me ;p
I caught a massive continuity issue they refer to Lake Emma as a reservoir in arches when Chase refers to it as an ancient natural lake and the Echo Reservoir is a unique location showcased in Jenna's Storyline in Echo when Heather attempts to flood the town
i had a whole long post previously, but i have changed my opinion since replaying jennas route. the river that feeds the lake was augmented by the dam when the town built it upstream, and a reservoir is essentially a dammed river—so it doesnt seem entirely false to use either term for lake emma. i read more about reservoirs than i ever thought i would, but i think no one would be terribly remiss in calling lake emma a reservoir, given that the hyperlinked hydrological website states that 'large artificial impoundments, frequently called reservoirs, are waterbodies typically created by placing a dam across a stream or river.' lake emma comprises whatever water is permitted to pass from the dam further downstream, so even if its not officially a reservoir itself, its damn (heh) close to one.
and if it was simply a mistake on the part of the author, i dont think its relevant enough to be a major concern to the events of the plot
Oh my gooooooood,I can just say it's the best,it's the best vn.It touched my heart when I read it.I resonate deeply.Oh,It's really tear-jerking.:(
I love it a lot, it's great
Omg its good
Im here to just say good its too good
Ho-lee-sh-
Where do I even start on this one? I only made this account now to comment here. I just...- God. Wow.
This has been a true masterpiece. Something that will forever stay with me. The writing, the story, the characters, the visuals, the sounds, everything is perfect. Everything is so fucking perfect. . .
I resonate especially well with Cameron, having experienced life in really similar ways to him, and Devon has been the exact character I would imagine being together with. So just from the characters, how real everything felt, the connection I have with them on a personal level, I immediately knew that this would be the Novel of my life. Something to always remember as the best one I've read so far. I had read Adastra, I had also read echo, and everything had effects on me that will last an eternity, however this one in particular... I am speechless. I had always delayed reading it. I guess I just felt like I was not ready, and also waited for the final release, but now that I had gone ahead and did it?...
I don't want to do spoilers, just in case others read my comment, therefore I won't say why, but I can say that I had cried and sobbed, and held the edge of my bed , grasping for air in so many places. It has been a true emotional roller coaster, and the way Howly writes, the sudden jumps in time and places, and things real and not real, it really took me to the edge. I cried out of fear, I cried out of anxiety, and I cried of relief, and of happiness. I cried, but I felt the need to move and know what happens next and just hoped the ending would be happy. And I can't tell here if it was. But I can tell you that when I saw "The End" I knew I want to come and tell how thankful I am for this. It had taken me to places I never thought possible, and it also helped me understand my very own self more. It also serves as a giant inspiration not to give up making a VN myself. I always felt like it probably won't be noticed or that it won't make people feel anything.
But to someone it might be as life changing and beautiful and thrilling and horrifying and euphoric as this one was to me. I cannot begin to talk about how much thankful I am for everyone involved. I- am at a loss of words. Yeah. I don't know. Just read it, if you haven't. And I am eternally thankful for everyone involved in the making of this. As well as releasing it for free. This is a priceless work of art, deserving to be in a digital museum, archived and taught from generation to generation. I cannot rate it with numbers, nor words, as they would be too small to do so. I just. I don't know.
yeah. Thanks.
An eternal fan,
~ Foxoup
Hanggang ngayun umiiyak parin kiffy ko sa takot , galit at saya.
ANTE GRABE KANA WAHAHAHAHA
What happened to the side story 'Halloween' for arches
I've seen the wiki mention it, but can't find it anywhere, was it taken down?
This is the only image I could find, please help
it's in the game, you can access it if you click on cameron in the menu
thank you
How did I not notice, lol
F&%$ man... I can't keep doing this. ;.;
10/10
This was the most Emotional, beautiful, painful, and wholesome vn i think i've read. Personally this VN hit me right to the heart.. Ive struggled with abuse, suicide, and anxiety attacks.. but this story..just really got me to thinking about my life..I had no idea a visual novel could make me feel so grateful, for my boyfriend who's been there by my side through my pain.. All i wanna say to the Echo team is.. Thank You. ^^
Your review nearly made me hit download with you saying it was great, even though you were struggling... until I read the part were you had a bf.. I might just uhh- not download
Heartrending and beautiful.
My personal favorite story from The Echo Project.
Arches was a very, very cathartic story to me. I cannot stress that fact enough.
just a quick question is therre any nsfw scenes ?
In terms of graphic representation, there are no sexual scenes (There is only one suggestive scene in the prologue). There are a few violent scenes though, but no hard gore or anything like that.
so how do you feel after readin
read this in like. a day while bored recovering from top surgery- i feel all the emeowtions and the story just felt so raw and relatable annd i see a lot of myself in cameron (even tho i dont deal with psychosis or hallucinations i do dissociate and struggle with my perception of reality)
i want him and devon to be happy together forever- same with artie and maria
Congrats for the surgery!
A master piece, i just finished it and I'm actually in awe
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Brian, as much as i hate him, is a masterly crafted character and is the only character to ever make me feel pure hatred, fear, and sadness on a level i didn't think possible for a fictional character. That fake/alternate moment where Cameron's head was shot point blank by the shotgun and gruesomely described pulled me out of the world i was living in for a moment and i actually felt shocked like I watched a real person die in that traumatic way. Even when i reminded myself that it isn't real, the pure terror i felt is like nothing any other game has ever given me. I could talk for hours about this but ill just say: I don't think any piece of media can top the immersion and horror that i felt in that scene, and quite frankly, the novel as a whole.
Exactly. Also, the moment you described, made me curl up on my bed and cry, cry cry. Something has broken in me, and all I could tell me family when they asked me WTF happened to me was: n-no... Cam..........
I was... entirely broken. To my great surprise, luckily that was just another vision, and cam was actually alive a scene later. A scene later, that I only managed to read after catching my breath. I don't know how anyone can write in such an emotionally intense way, but I agree with you. Not a single piece of media can top the immersion and horror I felt there. And with your own words, the novel as a whole. This one will forever hold a special place in my heart.
That was the best thing I have ever read. I had to make an account to share how good this was. This VN literally made me cry for about an hour and a half. And it just kept going with I absolutely loved. Time to read Echo!
had to make an account just to comment here. Echo was one of my favorite stories ive ever read, so many emotions. But this, wow, absolutely tore my heart to pieces. The ending seriously got me thinking so much about my own life and how little effort ive ever put into trying to be happy. i know its just fiction but seeing the emotion and effort that Cameron and Devon put into being happy despite everything that happened. i dont think i can say that anything has made me feel what this story has, it made me realise i wanted to be happy again. Thank you very much for this story
is there a thumbnail for the game? every time i put it on my desktop its an anime character with a snake lol
A lot of games made with renpy have that thumbnail
I loved this VN so much. Personally for me, it made me feel fear, happiness, and sadness. It made me care for the group so quickly. All the diaglouge sounds natural. I just wanna say that I really recommend it. Like really.
! Spoilers ! ! Spoilers !
Just finished it, and man. Not even sure what to say. The fear and horror in this VN was really cranked up to eleven with this one. Echo made me a little disturbed, but Arches had me full on scared for Cam and Dev, Brian is such a good antagonistic force. Not to mention the high quality SFX of every punch, kick, slam, spurt of blood and breaking of bone only added to the fear and despair with an added squeamish factor. Speaking of despair, despite the fact that everyone makes it out alive, they're certainly not okay. Cam still sees and hears things, sometimes with the voice of the man who caused him so much pain both physically and mentally, the drugs given to him to help alleviate this issue barely work and sometimes cause him even more pain and has guilt over what happened to Artie. Devon is going to copious amounts of stress with trying to keep Cam together, and can't even take out the anger of the monster responsible for it, and Artie now suffers from a stutter and the fact the right side of his body is compromised. Regardless, Cam and Dev do adjust to a new normal despite their trauma together, and Artie has Maria. Despite all the awful things Cam and Dev went through their honestly the healthiest relationship to ever to touch Echo, and watching them reassure each other in dark moments is always so heartwarming to see. They might be both fucked up, maybe for life, but at least they'll be fucked up together. 110/10.
ALSO BRIAN IS DEAD #RIPBOZO YOU WILL NOT BE MISSED #PACKWATCH
Yeah Brian is so ick
So is this VN complete?
A bit confused due to one of the dev logs mentioning a 1.0 version (or did that mean the 0.8.1?)
The main story is finished, but they will release a 1.0 version that includes a new short story and polishes/fixes
Just ended up reading this and... wow. I`ve been waiting the end of that vn and the only thing I can tell that I cried at the end. Music and visuals were giving me shivers and goosebups while reading it from the begining and until the end. I can`t even find a word that will describe all my feeling to the developers and their vns. Echo, The Smoke Room, Adastra, Arches.. Adastra was my first and then I started to read the whole Echo seires. and I`ll definitely keep watching for other projects. In the end of all, just want to say that EchoProject doing a great job, y`all are amazing and wonderful creators and I will follow your projects forever. Continue in the same spirit, you`re amazing!
Il y a pas de version française ?
nan faut aprendre lenglais
merci
As other have said: Very good 10/10
Those last few scenes were pretty emotionally devastating for me. Hit very close to home.
-very minor spoiler-
I can really relate to Cameron wanting Devon punch him whenever they have an argument.
10/10
Literally a masterpiece of writing, art, characterization, and narrative flow. I don't know what more I can say, except that this has raised my bar for visual novels extremely high
I absolutely love this visual novel, the characters, the topics it touches on, the ending. Im glad it turned out well for them, although it is a little bitter-sweet im still happy with this ending.
((SPOILER)) ((also need help answering a question))
this Vn is AMAZING!!! I love it and how it made me care about the characters, it made me SUFFOCATE ON HOW SCARY THEY WERE FACING!!! I haven't read echo the vn but if this is like this but 10x more soul crushing, oh nah that will leave me more of a sobbing mess but I'm happy for the ending they achieve even tho it's a little bittersweet.
Although I do have some questions like I'm genuinely confused.
I don't understand the part where Devon is wearing a white hoodie imagining Cameron?? Like is he dead? I don't understand that part of the story so if someone has an answer for it, please tell me.
Overall I love the story, 10/10 almost cried!!
The dream of Devon with Cam in his head is Cameron imagining/seeing an alternative timeline where he was shot by Brian in the mines and his spirit possessed Devon (kinda like how Sam possesses Chase)
=VERY MINOR SPOILER AHEAD=
This was one of the best visual novels I have ever read. The character development is top level and the story of the two lowers made me feel sad and peaceful(I guess this is the right word for it) at the same time.
Even tho it's ending is kind of a happy ending, I'm still left with hopelessness and sadness. The story is beautifully written, soundtracks are amazing and the art is the cherry on the top.
Thank you to Echo Project and to the people who worked on this novel.
10/10
Thank you...thank you all for making this, you guys are freaking awesome yall know that? I LOVE YALL!!! AAAAAAAA THIS IS THE BEST VN I EVER READ IT'S...marvelous, nothing can describe this amazing masterpiece...
Thank you all <3
This made me shiver in fear, and cry with emotion. I am not your average Goodreads keysmasher; I do not cry for nothing. No, it takes beautiful writing, and wonderful music, and gorgeous art, and this VN had all of that in spades. You can clearly see the effort that went into it, and more importantly, the love.
Does this game contain any horror scenes or pornographic content? I'm a little afraid of those
no pornographic content, and maybe only one real "jumpscare." Every other element of horror is just good 'ol slow-burn disturbing
Thank you!
Wow... Just.. Wow.
This Novel took a complete turn on what I was expecting and I am not upset one bit. I'm at a loss for words and I just needed to comment to express how truly stunned I am by the jaw-dropping and suspenseful plot and storyline.
Absolute 110/10 if I've ever seen one. Amazing, simply amazing.
played Echo, and TSR downloading this like "oh boy I do sure love heartbreak."
wow... that was something. Usually i like to think about vns as some sort of escapism but this time things got really personal. I relate to cameron on a deep level, it's actually funny how we have so much in common, from his experiences to his feelings but things got real at the end.
I was expecting this to be just like echo with the horror setting and mystery, that cameron would realize how "special" he was and with the help of his new found powers and his awesome boyfriend would uncover the secrets of echo and "free" the town for good, but real life doesn't work like that right?
It was a punch in the gut, a wake up call that i needed but didn't want. I don't mean to be a killjoy or anything but this time it feels right to share what i feel. For most part of my life i've struggled with major depression and lack of sense of self as a result of trauma and reasons i preffer to keep undisclosed, the way cameron described how he felt was just like seeing a recount of myself, it felt human and that goes to show how much tought was put to write this vn, how the soul of the creators can be felt and that's what hurts the most. Something else that i found interesting is how cam takes some of the same pills as me so they made their investigation about the medication, in fact it reminded me in my stupor that i had to take my pills, i was so shaken that i dropped my mothers favorite glass to which she just said "don't worry about it, what's broken is broken but what matters to me it's that you're fine" and i swear to god i was about to cry.
What i'm trying to say with the mess of this comment is that i'm grateful for this vn, it didn't "save" me, it didn't solve my problems, it didn't "fix" me but it gave me hope, a bittersweet hope and that's enough for me to feel grateful, i wish to see what's next for the future, for my future and the continued future of Echoproject, it was a pleasure reading.
btw, sorry if there's gramatical errors, english is not my first language
What your mom said was very sweet. I really wish you all the best!
This was like, a rollercoaster of feelings
Damn boy
This was an absolute 10/10
I really enjoyed it!
I like this VN so much ,cuz it gives me like a new world experience.
The plot
The places
The music
The ambients
THE CHARACTERS omg
The only sad thing about it is
When it ends , and i just sit there on my bed
Looking at that calm desert road with cricket sounds
And i just think to my self
...what now..
for me i absolutely love this game just like Echo and Smoke room the games that come from this project like Adastra as an example are amazing it shows me things i didn't know about myself or other things like that but the way its written shows just how amazing it is thank you
also i am missing three things from the gallery in the beginning if anyone knows why or where i can find them i would greatly appreciate it
Maybe you didnt read the side story, click on cameron in the main menu. or if you finished the game and its just an empty desert you gotta click where he wouldve been otherwise.
Until 110...
Howly, what you've written is masterful because it is personal. Arches is such a personal and grounded story about addiction, abuse, loss, recovery and, most of all, hope. I realized that this game started during the Covid-19 Pandemic and that says a lot about the nuances and charm this story has. It really is a time capsule of this pandemic and I'm glad it is.
What I personally thought before I started reading Arches was that Cameron and Devon were literally going to go through the town, finding ghosts and learning about themselves and whatnot. But once I found out that Duke and Brian were there, still alive in Echo, it dawned on me. THEY are the ghosts, the remnants of Echo's past horrors and trauma. It makes perfect sense that they would still be there. Cameron and Devon were their last nail in the coffin.
I keep thinking of that shadow that jumped Cameron in the forest, the perceived "fork" during the shotgun blast in the mines. Echo, the town, may be dead but its trauma was still able to seep through. However, that is...kind of necessary? We will NEVER be able to forget our past trauma. No matter how hard we try. Like Devon trying to make up past mistakes, Brian trying to forget his victims and continue his selfish tirade. It stays with you, like a scar. Scars heal but the mark is still there. The only thing we can do is learn and keep moving. Embrace our trauma and choose whether we want to keep living or just stop. You can never get what you had back. Your choices define your future.
Thanks again for making this short novel. It might not be as "popular" as the other vns but I don't think that is the point. The best creative works in the world are when creatives create for themselves and the world simply enjoys what they created. You wrote something for you and it clearly does resonate with many folks.
Thank you for your hard work. You are appreciated and loved. All of you peeps in the Echo crew. Thank you. ❤️
loved this