I played Adastra, and yes I cried a lot... Took me a little to get myself ready for another one, base on the comments this one seemed to be worst(in the best way).
So.. before I enter to this new world, may I ask some spoilers? Just maybe some glimpse... So it would be worth it..
if you go down tj's route immediately, prepared to fucking bawl your eyes out if you get overly attached to everyone, though it seems he might be the worst route with how it affects you? i haven't done flynns, nor carls, and i'm not done with jenna, but so far leo and jenna helped me get over tj's route since it. was really powerful. tj's also doesn't paint flynn in the best light, he's an asshole, yes, but the other routes make him look better, yknow
I still haven't played this yet, tho I already downloaded it, and I got it for 2 days straight now.. so, I'm still putting myself back together since I just finished Adastra weeks ago...
I'm still not ready for an another Emotional Rollercoaster Ride....
Okay, as a Person who follow this game before Carl route done, I highly recommend route to play as 1.Carl 2.Leo 3.TJ 4.Flynn 5..Jenna
Why? Because if you jump straight into Jenna route it'll ruin some 'plot'. The important thing is a puzzle and hint has been reveal slowly in each route. Think of it as a CHAPTER.
OH and before you play Jenna route besure that you finished Echo route 65 first! ;)
I'll just say that Echo has no good endings, it has bad endings and bittersweet endings! Even whats considered the best endings really made me sad! I'm actually writing my own endings now!
So let me ask about Adastra, what is it like? Are it's endings sad too? Since it's science fiction I'd normally jump at playing it, but not after echo...
Oh you should really TRY ADASTRA! It may be a little eh... Clichè on some parts but in a BEST WAY, if you really just focus on the story, you will surely cry on the ending.. Also, heed my warning that in the end You'll surely be craving for MORE, literally because Spoiler Alert, in the end the two protagonist eh.. You know what can't tell you, because it will surely ruin the whole plot.
I think the Leo ending is going to bother me for the rest of my life! Like Kudzu is cool and all, and Leo was acting insane, but Chase should have taken a moment to try and reason with him, Leo wouldn't have hurt him! Also I wouldn't have tried jumping on a moving train, hiding in the house would have seemed better!
Yes i am too bothered by Leo's route where he'd gone cray cray like what the hell is happening in that demn town. I really do want to see Chase and Leo together again or at least a Good ending, i don't want to see that " So, are we just going to say goodbye forever?" That just broke my heart ;-;
i see where you're both getting from, but remember that everyone was telling chase not to get together with leo, since he was quite literally obsessed with chase to an extremely unhealthy amount- chase only saw a glimpse of leo being better, and since he would obviously have trust issues, especially from reading his phone (if you chose to do that, im not sure what happens if you don't), and simply being kept away from the group. i think chase did the right thing to agree to not speaking again, otherwise leo would have reverted to his previous state. if he did stay down, and not jump on a moving train, he would have been stuck with leo, and for all they know, could have been targeted because of that. everyone else would have left, and leo would have been free to really do whatever he would want with chase, due to his size.
I don't actually remember the others telling Chase not to get back with Leo!
Yeah Leo had an extreme obsession with Chase, and that truly is bad. But I feel that Leo didn't deserve to be abandoned to the depression he went through. There had to be a way for Chase to send him a message through someone else! He could have told him they weren't good for each other and at lest needed to stay apart for a while. Although getting on the train they only had a moment, Chase really should have followed up and tried not to cause Leo so much pain! Also I really don't think Leo would have hurt Chase. Yeah he was flipping out and obsessed, but under that was real love for Chase.
im not sure who else did (though i do think someone else did), im sure flynn said something about not getting back with leo, or it's a mistake, or something.
as for leo - i don't think chase wanted to, but he had to, for survival. leo didn't deserve to be left, but the group panics for a second once they realize leo didnt make it onto the train, flynn shouting fuck, for example. they didn't want him to be left back, but since leo left, with no one knowing, they didn't have a chance to bring him back. it was a matter of survival for everyone, leo just so happened to have gone through a traumatic episode in the small second, and that trumped his adrenaline to get onto the train.
there should have been a way to contact leo, but then again, we've already seen chase and how he acts when he's in an awkward situation, he becomes silent, as he did with leo when they broke up. he was young, and he uses that excuse frequently, because he knows he doesn't know how to handle it otherwise.
i do agree that chase should have said something else, but i can see why he said it! he was under a lot of pressure, pain, adrenaline and stress. he didn't have time to think, and probably said whatever was first on his mind: yes, i'll stay with you in echo, or no, i've voiced my opinion on echo.
if chase did decide to stay, leo's obsession with him was already getting out of hand, especially with the hysteria the town was going through, leo would have eventually gone to hurt chase, accidentally or 'on purpose' (because of the insanity). normally leo wouldn't, i agree with that, but the many factors along with no one to stop him, leo wouldn't have had anyone to stop him from doing whatever he wants with chase. he 100% had real love for chase, but the obsession would overrule his love.
Yeah, it would be nice if they got back together. But they both had some big issues and never got a chance to work them out!
My thought is that Leo was taken by the hysteria and his problems where greatly exaggerated!
That was truly sad that they might never speak to or see each other again when they where once such good friends! I have real life experience in that the person who was my childhood best friend I have not spoken to in 15 years! I mean if Leo and Chase decided to stay aprt for a while to heal, that would be good. But the possible goodbye forever is just too sad!
(edit; what's the point of downvoting bro it's just letting the authors know there are mistakes that could be fixed :pensive:)
A different comment, definitely needs a grammar check; just between TJ's route and one of Leo's, I've encountered plenty of mistake, such as Kudzu being called 'Kduzu' when at Leo's house with Carl, TJ, Chase and Leo, other chatboxes having improper grammar, such as Kudzu starting with lowercase letters in certain parts (though I can't remember). Some just don't end with periods, which is oddly unsettling, such as Leo saying "How" (i think) when they're at the motel, about to find TJ, Chase saying "Wait, Leo, clint hasn't done anything to us since this started, just--". Flynn also refers to Kudzu as 'Kduzu' when they're going to the train. Unlike every other time (that i've noticed), Chase says 'Oh my god', instead of 'Oh my God' when talking to Leo in the same scene.
Jenna says "I know that sounds bed" instead of bad in her route as well.
Woohoo, Flynn's route time!!
Janice is literally missing her name on her chatbox when Chase and Flynn choose what they're having to eat.
i'm not gonna lie! i read some comments and i brushed it off; i read someone say they wish they had more control over TJ's route, and i now get that completely! i wish i had significantly more control over the ending, and hope in the future that we get good/neutral/bad endings, because tj's really fucked me up! i finished it last night and i've been pretty upset since because i got really attached to him, i wanted to build a good relationship, but then that had to go and happen?? i'm sorry?? please at least give me a happy ending where tj and i get to spend the rest of eternity together consensually PLEASE oh my god i can't STAND the current ending it's so upsetting. i haven't and probably won't complete routes for a few weeks because tj's fucked me over so mentally lmfao, but everyone seems.. so real. they're real people in a game, which not many games can reaaaaally say.
I agree, TJ's route was just really bad! Like I couldn't believe it ends like that!
Yeah, TJ is soo cute and fluffy! But I don't even know how to describe how I feel about that ending! I like your idea of three ending for each of them, that would be good. Leo already has a bad ending and a neutral ending.
I got that feeling too that they all truly seem real, and I felt sad when bad things happen to them.
I was immediately gunning for TJ's route- expecting it to be kinda sad, like he gets physically hurt or something, but nope! Of course, this game isn't meant to be happy-go-lucky, as it gives a warning, but I do hope that they make other endings for everyone! I feel like 1 ending for certain characters isn't satisfying enough, plus it would add a lot more replayability and feel like you're in control rather than choosing one route, and then nothing else matters because you're already on the path to that one ending. I hope they take into consideration this suggestion, likely not, though
Totally agree! A good, bad and neutral ending for all the characters is a great idea! I'll even implement it into my visual novel whenever I get started on it...
Anyway, I wonder if the Echo writers ever see these comments?
To be a truly great author, you should take into account what others think. And I don't see a reason adding happy endings would really change what the story is about! Like Chase and Leo could get back together, but the town is ruined, Chases project is ruined and maybe he won't be friends with one or more of the others anymore? Actually in a "happy" Leo ending I think things won't turn out good for Flynn!
I'm sure they probably receive notifications, but if I had to guess, they don't have many staff members, so it's hard for them to get to the comments? I've seen them comment on one of the comments multiple weeks ago, they're busy people, I'm sure they want to read, but don't have the time. I guess for TJ's Good/Bad/Neutral, Neutral could be just a plain friendzone, or it leaving off with TJ struggling to figure his sexuality out, Chase helping him along. Good could be them getting together and working on the project, taking hikes, etc. and Bad would be his current ending- I haven't completed anyone else's routes, working on Leo's right now, actually, so I can't add onto anyone else's routes.
I'll be done with all the routes in Echo soon, so I was wondering if there's any order to follow to play the other Echo games or can we just play the 3 other gamers in any order? Maybe play The Smoke Room first out of the 3 since it's a prequel?
I just finished playing the Flynn route and have found that there really isn't a lot of talk about it at all. I feel that as a character there is a lot that is left unspoken that should be said, and I have a bit of confusion on the ending, as I saw somewhere that it was finished, but the TBC showed up after it went dark.
That is because that ending leads into the sequel game that takes Flynns route as "canon" i think. "Arches" is about the Bear and Fox couple that Chase meets in this ending and thats why i think it it says TBC. The Echo story itself is finished(except Jenna).
All imma say is my boy Flynn better be ok and or with Chase. I've started one of the Leo routes and I can even tell that he cares about Chase more than the others. I find that Chase probably reminds him of Sydney. Also I feel so bad for Flynn because while Leo and Chase had each other, Flynn was gay and alone, had to lose his best friend, and cover up a murder. He is in so much conflict that I hope he gets some resolution to.
Even though i agree that Flynn is probably one of the guys who care for Chase the most (i would even go as far as to say he probably loved Chase) i don't see a future with him ok. He turned into the Monster of Echo becoming a timeless being. The most i can imagine is Chase and his monster form facing eachother in the sequel and Chase like sacraficing himself to safe the two new main protagonists from his old friend. Also Flynn liked Chase way before Chase was possessed. Flynn did imply he liked Chase alot more when Chase was snarky and had a sharp tongue as a kid. Leo only really started liking Chase after he was possessed so Flynns love is more true to the real Chase.
Flynn's route has the worst ending! So he's domed to forever be all burned and mutalated and wonder through time D: Not to mention Carl and Dax might have seen him transform into the monster, I wonder how mentaly scared they are from that?!
Flynn's route is kinda confusing in how the point of view switches from Chase to Flynn! Although I did like actually seeing Chase in the game, he's so cute! But anyway Flynn's ending was gruesome and tragic and it was hard to tell if he was hallucinating or if all that really happened to him! I hope this isn't the "true" ending as it truly is horrifying what happened to Flynn! Also I don't like how Leo and Chase end up not talking to each other in this one.
Spoiler!
It's implied that Leo actually loved what was possesing Chase and not actually him! Thats just sad.
Yeah.., I guess I was hoping that would get an ending where he and Chase could be happy together because Leo is such a handsome fluffy wolf! Plus it's just far too sad that he cried everyday over Chase! I got the impression that his life is ruined and he might never find love again!
That is an awesome idea! Really, that would be very clever for them to do. Jenna's route starts with you choosing her or Leo, it would be pretty interesting if it ends the same way. Like in her route you get to know her more, but I actually kinda find her annoying! Plus Leo seems really aggressive in her route, maybe thats his way of telling Chase that he's hurt to see him hang out with Jenna? It would make sense if the route goes like this; Chase tells Jenna he's bi and gets together with her in the end. Chase tells Jenna he's gay and gets back with Leo in the end, working out their problems. Thats what bothers me about Leos ending, him and Chase never got time to even try to work out their problems and arguments. They have that one conversation, but it didn't help their relationship. Maybe in Jenna route Chase will see how much Leo is actually hurting?
Just found out about this game and think i did the TJ ending? not sure what considers which ending. Also confused how to even get to each ending, it seems like i made only 3 choices, 2 of which i thought had no impact myself. But i do want to explore the other endings, and for that do i just create a new game? is there anyway that the save files interact with gameplay or if youve done previous runs they interact?
Also i see in a previous comment that there appears to be 6 endings so far with Jenna's being the 7th in the making, but is that for certain?
Excited to go thru the storylines, real interesting game that is making me feel real outta it lol
Also wondering that if the Jenna route isnt completed, how can i avoid delving into it and focus on the other endings (without spoilers)
I don't believe that your existing save files have an effect on other routes. And you do make very few decisions throughout these stories, the lack of control seems to bea big part of Echo.
The routes themselves exist in isolation from each other, so doing the other routes won't give spoilers to Jenna's route (i.e. the situations faced during the TJ route are very different to the ones faced in Carl's route, so you won't get any tj spoilers by doing carls route)
The route you do is determined by your response after Flynn causes a scene and storms off, and some routes have multiple endings while others do not (listed below). You do not need to start a new game if you make a save at this choice since the introductory section remains the same no matter what and the storylines only branch from there, so you can just load that 'choice save' and start a different story. (you may need to make 1 new game to get back to this choice however)
TJ: find TJ (1 ending)
Flynn: Go after Dlynn(1 ending)
Carl: Sit with Carl (multiple endings)
Leo: Follow Jenna and Leo > Go to Leo (multiple endings)
Jenna: Follow Jenna and Leo > Stay with Jenna (no endings yet)
i came here to see who's traumatized by this VN today, LMFAO. Sorry echoproject but I'm not playing your games ever again they gave me depression and anxiety lol, but they're good af don't worry.
I really want to see the whole story though! I'm going to finish all the routes and make my own theories about what happened. Plus my fanfiction with a better Leo ending.
Honestly, this is a warning to anyone wanting to read this story. I was so engrossed in it, I think I've gone a little insane for a while, like actually slightly psychotic.
Granted, I've been under huge pressure from other things at the same time, but this story.. I could never have imagined the impact.
I'm not used to having feelings for guys, being bi and never really explored this side of myself outside some alcohol fueled nights. Now I've explored this side of myself through this story, and I'm left having lost touch with reality a bit. What have you done to me? Just to put things into context I'm 34, and honestly never expected to be this affected by a story.
Totally baffled, and obviously a huge hats off the the creators, but fair warning - it really is true when people say that this story isn't for the faint of heart.
Happened to me too! I was trying to imagine what Sams voice sounds like in Chase's head, and now I hear him telling me things!!!!
I'm just two years younger then you, I thought I could handle whatever this vn had in it, and the horror isn't too bad it's those ending that keep me up a night!
Yeah, anyone new who wants to try it, take the warning seriously please!
It's not even funny anymore! It's these characters, man. You come to care about them so much, and then it all ends in tears. And for me, it's also the intense yearning to get to know them IRL, which is obviously impossible, creating some sort of mini disassociative psychosis. Holy shit man - and from a f...... VN. No doubt I am a very sensitive person, which I guess you'd have to be, to get hit so hard by this.
Even now, I want to go back and read more, but I have to stop. I'm starting a new job in less than two weeks, and I feel like I damn near had some sort of breakdown. THAT'S how much this story affects you. Or at least me.. I've actually become fearful of reading other stories now. HAH! It's patheticly, morbidly funny, when it isn't happening to YOU!
Oh, is Sam the voice that speaks to Chase? I guess I missed something, but it's up for interpretation if it's some sort of demonic version of the characters themselves, which is part of their personality, or if it's something else entirely. Spooky. Are you seriously hearing a voice in your head? If that's the case, then that's really scary. If it continues, please talk to someone about it, no matter how silly it may feel.
Ok I didn't really do Flynns route, tried, but I thought he was too much of an asshole. I've only done TJ's, and Leo's route. If I ever feel like having another mental break, I'll come back and check it out.
Echo just stands out! I've never had such an emotional experience with any kind of novel, game or movie! It's one of very few thangs to have made me cry! But the "good" ending with Leo, that really bothers me!
(spoiler warning!)
Even if I had an ex boyfriend who was going crazy I would not have left him alone during some crazy event! If I saw Leo not getting on board the train, I would have jumped back off! When I imagined myself in the story, I just couldn't have left him there! Kudzu and the others would have been safely away Leo would be all alone with who knows what kind of evil entity and towns people gone insane! Even if I was having some serious disagreement and relationship brake up problems with him, I could never have left him there! I'd have faced whatever evil was in the town rather then leave a friend behind alone! Especially if he was having some kind of mental trauma! I'm actually planning a fanfic with a third or even fourth option at the end of Leos, route!
I dunno, I think it's thematically more appropriate leaving him there. It was his choice to stay behind, and he's the one with the gun. And coming back would have gone against the choice of telling him that it is over. It also doesn't fit with the earlier decision about the positive of being with Leo vs the negative of being in Echo.
Yeah, that makes sense. I guess it's just my own nature to not want to leave a friend behind in danger. Being angary with them and braking up with them is one thing, leaving them in mental distress and in danger is another thing to me! I especially wouldn't want to lose a friend I'd known for my whole life, in real life I have! Just a bit passionate about this since I can relate to it very well. Also in the story I'm kinda not impressed with Kudzu....
But to be fair, Kud was a side character and we didn't get to spend much time with him. I'm liking him so far, I just wish/hope he'll be in the side stories or prequels or in the other paths.
I guess Kudzu just came off as a little forced to me. He is an interesting character, I just would have tried to mend an old friendship and help an old friend first.
I did TJ's route, and I don't know if I can do another.
Of the VN's I've been reading/playing over the past week, this was the one that felt the most real. Some of the others really touched me as well, but this one.. Boy. Is it just me, or does it feel like betrayal to go through the story again, with another character?
I have a lot of love for this, even if it was emotionally difficult.
EDIT: I went through the Leo timeline. Why does this story hit me so hard??
Is it the medium, or the story, or both? Holy shit.
I want to know what happened in the other timelines, but I can't take any more.
I think Leo's route is the most sad! Poor guy just wanted his love back, and messed it up then never got a chance to make things right! Plus I might have found a couple plot holes in his route!
Spoiler!
The whole train escape doesn't actually make sense. Why can the train leave the town and cars can't? Why would they believe a druggy and try such a dangerous stunt as jumping onto a moving train, even slow moving!?
Also they seem able to snap their friends out of the hysteria by talking to them and touching them, but nobody tried to comfort or reason with Leo! At least not a serious try. Chase although understandably having mental and emotional stress, didn't even try to tell Leo he was possibly having hallucinations even though it shouldn't be that hard to guess what was happening to him! Yeah Leo was being unstable and dangerous, but surly his life long friends could have taken a minuet to try and help him!
Yeah, leaving Leo behind was gut wrenchingly awful, and it broke my heart. I really appreciate how realistic the break was, and the conversation that happens two years later - it felt real, not like something out of a Hollywood movie.
Well, the train was sent through echo, and unrelated to the crisis. 'It' wasn't trying to escape echo, but just passing through, therefore it was able to do so. At least, this is how I perceived it, and I accepted it without too much effort.
Why didn't they attempt to snap Leo out of it, tell him to his face that he was hallucinating? Well, I think they reacted in a realistic way considering everything that was going on, and how traumatized they were. I was feeling a similar desperation like you - Why the hell can't chase or Kudzo just tell Leo he's going crazy? But you know, they all were. I think we'd be surprised with our own inabilities if we were in the situation they were in. We all act differently, but we don't know how we will act. I've been through things myself, where I've gone into shock, and I can attest to this.
I was sort of assuming they talked to Leo though, when Chase was in the trailer with Kudzo and Jenna.
I didn't think of the train just passing through so not being affected like that. Still seems kinda odd to me though, and not something I would do unless I had been chased towards the train! Honestly I would just hide and leave the town after!
Yeah, I understand that. I guess it's just my own experience losing childhood friends that would make me want to do anything I could to help then rather then leave them! Also I watched another friend having to brake to brake off a relationship for way worse then anything Leo did! I guess if I had a friend like leo who was under some kind of mental influence I'd rather stay with trying to help them rather then take risk like train jumping! And that goes back to the "why listen to what a druggy says" thats something I wouldn't do ether. That reminds me, years ago not to far from where I live some guy really did get mangled trying to get on a moving train, and it was moving pretty slow too!
You remember how they tried to drive out of echo in the van, right? (In the Leo timeline)
I too made the decision to break off with Leo, because he's become psychotic. I had a feeling it might take away his hope and purpose, but I just did not want to lie to him. It was his decision to stay behind, after all, and the relationship had already died at that point, and taken a backseat to pure survival. It was heartbreaking! But as such, a good example of the writing that nearly broke my mind, although along with other things I was experiencing as well, at the time.
Yeah, it does make sense the way it ends. But it's just so sad after seeing how they got together in route 65! Also very sad when Chase visits Leo two years later, he just seems totally broken! Like he's only living and has no hopes or anything to look foreword too! He says he's getting better, but he doesn't enjoy his life and seems he would just end up some old hermit all alone!
No the guy did not survive! A good reason I'd never have tried getting on that train in Echo!
I didn't think the game was going to be that emotionally intense when I saw the warning, but I still cried a the end of TJ's route, poor guy... (first route I finish, as well). Please take that comment as a second warning.
This game is amazing though, like really, really good, it's going into my favorites.
Currently midnight when writing this, so I better be going to bed, but let me ask first: should I do the other routes before playing the 2 other Echo games? I really need to know, I want to play absolutely everything.
LEGIT HAVE STARTED HAVING DREAMS ABOUT CHARACTERS FROM THIS GAME. VIVID TOO. PLAY AT OWN RISK.
When you realize the town was based off of Ebay. AKA Echo Bay, Nevada - a ghost town right off the coast of Lake Mead. Gonna visit it when The Virus cools down, and explore the old motel too.
In conclusion, the town exists in real life and has a weird history too...
All in all 10/10 IGN would recommend, wack but amazing.
Came back to say that only the town name is the same, the history and stories are all created by the Echo Project. I was not trying to discredit the creator because they make beautiful games. Anyways thats it. Thank you Echo Project for existing!
I LOVE the story honestly and I find it terrifying that I can (somehow) relate to Chase in some ways, especially when I took Leo's route. Leo reminded me of a friend of mine back in the days that gave me hints of liking me, and I just ignored it. And I left the school we enrolled in because of a bad incident that made me learn my lesson. That's one I can find similar but anyway, it doesn't matter, isn't it?
Right after playing the game, I literally stared into space for five minutes trying to process everything. Even if it has no good ending, knowing both of them are literally bad endings in some ways, I find the story very interesting. And it lived up to its horror theme which I loved the most. For me, horror is meant to be tragic (apologies for being dark... fufufu).
Kudos to Echo Project and for their magnificent work! Keep up making people inspire!
You know, I saw the bit at the top about "Echo" not being for the faint of heart and thought "oh hey, it's just a VN, it can't be that bad"... oh boy how wrong I was.
To clarify, when I say that, I don't mean the VN is bad; on the contrary in fact. I fucking LOVE the writing here. I simply mean that this VN is very taxing. It seems crazy to me even typing that out but I am honestly so drained from the experience I have so much to say and yet it's just so difficult to articulate without just delving into plot points (which I will do shortly I just wanted to go spoiler free for a second and give general thoughts on the VN to where I've played).
SPOILER WARNING BELOW READ WITH CAUTION!
Ahhh, where do I begin. Honestly I feel almost bad writing this now having only finished one of the routes (currently halfway through another) but I severely doubt my views on the game will change over the routes. The first route I played was TJ's. I think he's definitely one of the more genuine characters with a very interesting conflict which is probably why I gravitated towards him first. As I said previously, my experience of the game is incomplete so forgive me if I simplify stuff to what I understand as of now.
The presence in Echo, I don't know what to call it. From what I could tell, there is some supernatural entity with the ability to make people hallucinate and give them delusions, which cause them to do bad things and sometimes go insane. It's equal parts devastating and horrifying to see this entity warp the MC as he's interacting with TJ. Chase's kiss in the woods took a lot out of me.
The death of Flynn in that route shook me to my core; I found myself actually crying as it happened. It occurred to me then that only two VNs have elicited that kind of reaction from me, this one, and, wouldn't you know it, Adastra. Damn you EchoProject! Of course, the tears came in very different circumstances but still it was such an incredibly tragic moment.
To left turn a bit, after finishing the TJ route, I've moved on to Leo. Oh boy, he's insane. I've not yet completed the route but I found my heart drop when you find that he's been intentionally isolating you from the group. I almost wished it wasn't true. I already feel sorry for Clint; I know something bad has clearly happened. Despite everything, I feel he's probably not that bad of a guy from what I can tell. I read a comment below saying something like "Leo is a psychopath" so I can't wait to get to that part. Just clarifying, I wasn't reading for spoilers, I just happened to glance at the wrong comment. Still an incredible experience, albeit an emotionally exhausting one. This VN keeps you on your toes, despite not actually having too much intractability (not necessarily a complaint, I don't mind not having to worry about whether I've made the wrong choice constantly).
Bruh I was playing, got scared Shitless in the Jenna route. Big brain me goes "Yo I'll just finish it so it doesn't haunt me tonight and I get a resolution" and then I get hit with that "To be continue....." Ima go curl up into a bawl and forget everything now.
And they don't, actually. Adastra is another visual novel from the echo project which is not horror themed and I enjoyed it as much as the other ones. It does have drama and crude moments as well though, kinda their signature in my opinion and I don't think these vns would be half as good without those elements. Just my humble opinion :p
I just got done binging through the TJ and Flynn routes for hours on end and I must say that I am emotionally drained. Echo is without a doubt the most emotionally invested I’ve ever been into a single piece of media in my entire life. Sure I know that sounds pretty rich coming from a 19 year old.
I still gotta say that Echo does such a good job at sucking you into the world and it’s characters. Despite it being a rather average visual novel visually with some expressive still work and some CG work here and there, it is absolutely carried by the story and the framing of every scene. You can tell that who ever sequenced the music/sound and scenes paid a lot of attention to what type of emotions they were trying to get across to the reader.
I especially was impressed with how the game handled the horror elements. When I was searching for “gay furry visual novels” to play and saw Echo I really thought that the horror aspects would just take a back seat to a dating sim story. However, the opposite is true with the dating sim aspects coming on hard at first only for things to get progressively more miserable as the story carries on.
I love how scenes will change so dramatically without warning when going into a dream sequence or back into reality. I recall during the TJ route when Chase is playing never have I ever with TJ and Carl, out of nowhere being confronted with three choices to brutalize Sydney with that droning horror music seeping in while still having the regular cheerful music playing in the background. When you pick your poison the scene just reverts back to normal as if nothing had just happened. It made me question my sanity and also made me laugh by just how jarring it was.
There’s so many moments in this game that I just want to gush about how the implementation of horror and framing pair so well together to create a cacophony of psychological instability. It was entertaining through and through and I don’t regret spending hours partaking in the two stories. I plan to finish the rest, but the TJ and Flynn routes were the ones that called out to me the most.
If you haven’t played this game yet, definitely give it a download. I’ve played a few gay furry games such as Tennis Ace, Four Letter Word, Nekojishi, Blackgate, Amorous, Dawn Chorus, Far beyond the World, and Beyond the Harbor but I must say that this game takes the cake for me. I never thought I’d get so invested in a game and it’s characters from something on itchio, but damn look at me now typing a long winded “review” on my phone.
Sorry if my points aren’t too coherent I just got done playing and it’s 4 in the morning lol I just really felt the urge to give this game a bump and what better way to leave a review after a fresh play through. If you got to the end of the wall of text many blessings to you ;)
I also finished TJ's route a few days ago, and just finished Flynn's today (also being 4am when I did so haha). And I must say, the story pulled me in so much that I did stay up this late to read it. I noticed that at the end of Flynn's route it said to be continued, so I can't wait for it to do so!
But guys, imagine if you had an ability to enter in any games depends on their character appearance (beast-man, etc.) Means, as any appearance you want. What will you do "IF" you have this ability?
If you ask me. I will enter on "Echo" to have fun, relax, be friends with the main characters, solved the mystery there (that I/you know what will happen, and you can stop and change it). As an Wolf.
To Echoproject, or is it just Echo? I don't know, anyway.
I'm new here, and first of I just want to say that Adastra, made me see a new light of things, a lot of things. Playing it was just a roller-coaster of emotion and I kid you not, sometimes I instantly turn my phone off because I instantly get assaulted with emotions, both the good and the bad. One night, I was binging till 3am and decided to stop for a bit and rest, but I couldn't, I stayed awake as my mind was just being blendered with these emotions over and over again until I realised that the sun was rising, it instantly reminded me of the title screen, and I both laughed and cried. Adastra reflected a lot of things in life, like strife and happiness, pain and healing, and the known dread of furthest reaches of existence, like the Parents,and the Other, that bit was nightmare fuel to me.
Seeing as how the relationship unfolds with everything around you, the character, learning some morals and a bit of wisdom to be honest, and the most memorable moments for me is with Amicus. I have never experienced what it's like in a relationship, single since birth basically but I don't mind it, although with the carnal urges and also the confused selection of which sex to choose (I'm Bi) but playing Adastra, made me realize something that I already knew, basically I just vibe checked myself like heck, and I realize, I'm just so lonely. Adastra gave me a bit of hope that anywhere and some day, there will be that someone that you just want to do everything with, a moment which I hope will happen (Parent forbid, lol). Speaking of Parents, them able to see the future kinda reflected me a bit, when I'm making big decisions I always try to imagine every possible outcome and pick the most favourable, but Adastra, as I said, major vibe check, reminded me that life is just weird, and that seeing of what's already to happen is boring, like watching that one movie all over and over again, because knowing of what's to come next in life, is like your life has already ended as color that is worth painting on the canvas is just, gone.
To summarise all this, Echoproject or Echo, I thank you for this game, Adastra, and I hope that you will read this and get as much as the love I have felt for it. As I go to sleep in emotional content, excited to continue the story tomorrow. Thank you😘🤗
Also having just finished reading Adastra, being bi, and feeling everything you just said, I want to say thank you also. I could not have been able to word my feelings as you just have.
Just started reading Echo today, hoping for that same amazing storytelling!
after reading several comments saying things like, "the game destroyed me", "it was painful to play", "it destroyed my heart", "traumatized me," "I cried with fear", I am really worried about what will come of this game, a part of me says to stay away of this game but my curiosity spoke louder so I'm downloading the game, I hope I don't regret it
This novel is making me feel things. I’m not sure if that’s good or not but i am sure the writing is great. I just don’t know if i have the strength to return for more.
Incredibly good (and by good I mean it broke my heart and I can't listen to the title screen music without feeling like shit anymore). Can't wait for Jenna's route to be finished and the epilogue game.
← Return to visual novel
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HELP I'M ALSO A CHASE KINNIE I'M LOSING MY MIND /POS
Sure 😳
OP it's ok I won't judge you bc I am in solidarity with kinning the psychological mess known as Chase Hunter
I played Adastra, and yes I cried a lot... Took me a little to get myself ready for another one, base on the comments this one seemed to be worst(in the best way).
So.. before I enter to this new world, may I ask some spoilers? Just maybe some glimpse... So it would be worth it..
spoilers, obviously
if you go down tj's route immediately, prepared to fucking bawl your eyes out if you get overly attached to everyone, though it seems he might be the worst route with how it affects you? i haven't done flynns, nor carls, and i'm not done with jenna, but so far leo and jenna helped me get over tj's route since it. was really powerful. tj's also doesn't paint flynn in the best light, he's an asshole, yes, but the other routes make him look better, yknow
base on what they are saying. He dies?
nah, no one dies
Oh.. Well that's a relief.. So, just got abandoned? Or what?
hehe, that's for you to find out
Did it take you to a different site?
I still haven't played this yet, tho I already downloaded it, and I got it for 2 days straight now.. so, I'm still putting myself back together since I just finished Adastra weeks ago...
I'm still not ready for an another Emotional Rollercoaster Ride....
Okay, as a Person who follow this game before Carl route done, I highly recommend route to play as 1.Carl 2.Leo 3.TJ 4.Flynn 5..Jenna
Why? Because if you jump straight into Jenna route it'll ruin some 'plot'. The important thing is a puzzle and hint has been reveal slowly in each route. Think of it as a CHAPTER.
OH and before you play Jenna route besure that you finished Echo route 65 first! ;)
Sure! Thank you for the suggestion. I surely look it up 😊
i agree! i finished leo's and then went to route 65 and there is so much route 65 references to it and a whole ass scene, word for word from route 65
I'll just say that Echo has no good endings, it has bad endings and bittersweet endings! Even whats considered the best endings really made me sad! I'm actually writing my own endings now!
So let me ask about Adastra, what is it like? Are it's endings sad too? Since it's science fiction I'd normally jump at playing it, but not after echo...
Oh you should really TRY ADASTRA! It may be a little eh... Clichè on some parts but in a BEST WAY, if you really just focus on the story, you will surely cry on the ending.. Also, heed my warning that in the end You'll surely be craving for MORE, literally because Spoiler Alert, in the end the two protagonist eh.. You know what can't tell you, because it will surely ruin the whole plot.
Lol! Alright I will do so then!
Going to play the smoke room update first though.
I just cried from Leo's ending demn like T_T ... *Still crying* this just hit me real hard ;-;
I think the Leo ending is going to bother me for the rest of my life! Like Kudzu is cool and all, and Leo was acting insane, but Chase should have taken a moment to try and reason with him, Leo wouldn't have hurt him! Also I wouldn't have tried jumping on a moving train, hiding in the house would have seemed better!
Yes i am too bothered by Leo's route where he'd gone cray cray like what the hell is happening in that demn town. I really do want to see Chase and Leo together again or at least a Good ending, i don't want to see that " So, are we just going to say goodbye forever?" That just broke my heart ;-;
i see where you're both getting from, but remember that everyone was telling chase not to get together with leo, since he was quite literally obsessed with chase to an extremely unhealthy amount- chase only saw a glimpse of leo being better, and since he would obviously have trust issues, especially from reading his phone (if you chose to do that, im not sure what happens if you don't), and simply being kept away from the group. i think chase did the right thing to agree to not speaking again, otherwise leo would have reverted to his previous state. if he did stay down, and not jump on a moving train, he would have been stuck with leo, and for all they know, could have been targeted because of that. everyone else would have left, and leo would have been free to really do whatever he would want with chase, due to his size.
I don't actually remember the others telling Chase not to get back with Leo!
Yeah Leo had an extreme obsession with Chase, and that truly is bad. But I feel that Leo didn't deserve to be abandoned to the depression he went through. There had to be a way for Chase to send him a message through someone else! He could have told him they weren't good for each other and at lest needed to stay apart for a while. Although getting on the train they only had a moment, Chase really should have followed up and tried not to cause Leo so much pain! Also I really don't think Leo would have hurt Chase. Yeah he was flipping out and obsessed, but under that was real love for Chase.
im not sure who else did (though i do think someone else did), im sure flynn said something about not getting back with leo, or it's a mistake, or something.
as for leo - i don't think chase wanted to, but he had to, for survival. leo didn't deserve to be left, but the group panics for a second once they realize leo didnt make it onto the train, flynn shouting fuck, for example. they didn't want him to be left back, but since leo left, with no one knowing, they didn't have a chance to bring him back. it was a matter of survival for everyone, leo just so happened to have gone through a traumatic episode in the small second, and that trumped his adrenaline to get onto the train.
there should have been a way to contact leo, but then again, we've already seen chase and how he acts when he's in an awkward situation, he becomes silent, as he did with leo when they broke up. he was young, and he uses that excuse frequently, because he knows he doesn't know how to handle it otherwise.
i do agree that chase should have said something else, but i can see why he said it! he was under a lot of pressure, pain, adrenaline and stress. he didn't have time to think, and probably said whatever was first on his mind: yes, i'll stay with you in echo, or no, i've voiced my opinion on echo.
if chase did decide to stay, leo's obsession with him was already getting out of hand, especially with the hysteria the town was going through, leo would have eventually gone to hurt chase, accidentally or 'on purpose' (because of the insanity). normally leo wouldn't, i agree with that, but the many factors along with no one to stop him, leo wouldn't have had anyone to stop him from doing whatever he wants with chase. he 100% had real love for chase, but the obsession would overrule his love.
Yeah, it would be nice if they got back together. But they both had some big issues and never got a chance to work them out!
My thought is that Leo was taken by the hysteria and his problems where greatly exaggerated!
That was truly sad that they might never speak to or see each other again when they where once such good friends! I have real life experience in that the person who was my childhood best friend I have not spoken to in 15 years! I mean if Leo and Chase decided to stay aprt for a while to heal, that would be good. But the possible goodbye forever is just too sad!
Is it supposed to send me to a different site?
??? as far as im aware, there shouldn't be anything that sends you to a different site ...
Oof it took me to a different site I decided to download it anyways probably gonna get a virus
i'd um. get that checked haha
I mean I have the game nothing wrong with it my phone isn't lagging I think I'm the clear
it takes me to media fire I think I'm good
(SPOILERS: LEO'S ROUTE)
(edit; what's the point of downvoting bro it's just letting the authors know there are mistakes that could be fixed :pensive:)
A different comment, definitely needs a grammar check; just between TJ's route and one of Leo's, I've encountered plenty of mistake, such as Kudzu being called 'Kduzu' when at Leo's house with Carl, TJ, Chase and Leo, other chatboxes having improper grammar, such as Kudzu starting with lowercase letters in certain parts (though I can't remember). Some just don't end with periods, which is oddly unsettling, such as Leo saying "How" (i think) when they're at the motel, about to find TJ, Chase saying "Wait, Leo, clint hasn't done anything to us since this started, just--". Flynn also refers to Kudzu as 'Kduzu' when they're going to the train. Unlike every other time (that i've noticed), Chase says 'Oh my god', instead of 'Oh my God' when talking to Leo in the same scene.
Jenna says "I know that sounds bed" instead of bad in her route as well.
Woohoo, Flynn's route time!!
Janice is literally missing her name on her chatbox when Chase and Flynn choose what they're having to eat.
"Habistat", huh, Flynn?
when chase wakes up in Jenna's route, he says 'whinging'.
when talking to jenna about yaoi and bara, he says 'i cant turn my head curiously towards her.'
I noticed a couple of those too. As a writer myself I've found I make the same kind of mistakes and also spellchecker doesn't always work!
of course! people playing it and pointing it out is definitely for the best, though
Yeah, it's good.
i'm not gonna lie! i read some comments and i brushed it off; i read someone say they wish they had more control over TJ's route, and i now get that completely! i wish i had significantly more control over the ending, and hope in the future that we get good/neutral/bad endings, because tj's really fucked me up! i finished it last night and i've been pretty upset since because i got really attached to him, i wanted to build a good relationship, but then that had to go and happen?? i'm sorry?? please at least give me a happy ending where tj and i get to spend the rest of eternity together consensually PLEASE oh my god i can't STAND the current ending it's so upsetting. i haven't and probably won't complete routes for a few weeks because tj's fucked me over so mentally lmfao, but everyone seems.. so real. they're real people in a game, which not many games can reaaaaally say.
I agree, TJ's route was just really bad! Like I couldn't believe it ends like that!
Yeah, TJ is soo cute and fluffy! But I don't even know how to describe how I feel about that ending! I like your idea of three ending for each of them, that would be good. Leo already has a bad ending and a neutral ending.
I got that feeling too that they all truly seem real, and I felt sad when bad things happen to them.
I was immediately gunning for TJ's route- expecting it to be kinda sad, like he gets physically hurt or something, but nope! Of course, this game isn't meant to be happy-go-lucky, as it gives a warning, but I do hope that they make other endings for everyone! I feel like 1 ending for certain characters isn't satisfying enough, plus it would add a lot more replayability and feel like you're in control rather than choosing one route, and then nothing else matters because you're already on the path to that one ending. I hope they take into consideration this suggestion, likely not, though
Totally agree! A good, bad and neutral ending for all the characters is a great idea! I'll even implement it into my visual novel whenever I get started on it...
Anyway, I wonder if the Echo writers ever see these comments?
To be a truly great author, you should take into account what others think. And I don't see a reason adding happy endings would really change what the story is about! Like Chase and Leo could get back together, but the town is ruined, Chases project is ruined and maybe he won't be friends with one or more of the others anymore? Actually in a "happy" Leo ending I think things won't turn out good for Flynn!
I'm sure they probably receive notifications, but if I had to guess, they don't have many staff members, so it's hard for them to get to the comments? I've seen them comment on one of the comments multiple weeks ago, they're busy people, I'm sure they want to read, but don't have the time. I guess for TJ's Good/Bad/Neutral, Neutral could be just a plain friendzone, or it leaving off with TJ struggling to figure his sexuality out, Chase helping him along. Good could be them getting together and working on the project, taking hikes, etc. and Bad would be his current ending- I haven't completed anyone else's routes, working on Leo's right now, actually, so I can't add onto anyone else's routes.
Yeah, makes sense their busy. Interesting ideas for good and neutral routes.
Oh, I see. When your down with leos route, you can read my fanfic about an alternate way it ends.
I'll be done with all the routes in Echo soon, so I was wondering if there's any order to follow to play the other Echo games or can we just play the 3 other gamers in any order? Maybe play The Smoke Room first out of the 3 since it's a prequel?
The smoke room first and then route 65.
SPOILERS:
I just finished playing the Flynn route and have found that there really isn't a lot of talk about it at all. I feel that as a character there is a lot that is left unspoken that should be said, and I have a bit of confusion on the ending, as I saw somewhere that it was finished, but the TBC showed up after it went dark.
SPOILER FOR FLYNN ENDING!
That is because that ending leads into the sequel game that takes Flynns route as "canon" i think. "Arches" is about the Bear and Fox couple that Chase meets in this ending and thats why i think it it says TBC. The Echo story itself is finished(except Jenna).
All imma say is my boy Flynn better be ok and or with Chase. I've started one of the Leo routes and I can even tell that he cares about Chase more than the others. I find that Chase probably reminds him of Sydney. Also I feel so bad for Flynn because while Leo and Chase had each other, Flynn was gay and alone, had to lose his best friend, and cover up a murder. He is in so much conflict that I hope he gets some resolution to.
Even though i agree that Flynn is probably one of the guys who care for Chase the most (i would even go as far as to say he probably loved Chase) i don't see a future with him ok. He turned into the Monster of Echo becoming a timeless being. The most i can imagine is Chase and his monster form facing eachother in the sequel and Chase like sacraficing himself to safe the two new main protagonists from his old friend. Also Flynn liked Chase way before Chase was possessed. Flynn did imply he liked Chase alot more when Chase was snarky and had a sharp tongue as a kid. Leo only really started liking Chase after he was possessed so Flynns love is more true to the real Chase.
So is it confirmed(ish) that flynn does become the monster? I guess part of me was hoping it was hysteria and he just isn't mentioned afterward
Flynn's route has the worst ending! So he's domed to forever be all burned and mutalated and wonder through time D: Not to mention Carl and Dax might have seen him transform into the monster, I wonder how mentaly scared they are from that?!
Flynn's route is kinda confusing in how the point of view switches from Chase to Flynn! Although I did like actually seeing Chase in the game, he's so cute! But anyway Flynn's ending was gruesome and tragic and it was hard to tell if he was hallucinating or if all that really happened to him! I hope this isn't the "true" ending as it truly is horrifying what happened to Flynn! Also I don't like how Leo and Chase end up not talking to each other in this one.
Spoiler!
It's implied that Leo actually loved what was possesing Chase and not actually him! Thats just sad.
Leo seems to love what possesses himself.
Spoiler!
Not that whore cougar ghost.;) But yes, it's still sad.
Yeah.., I guess I was hoping that would get an ending where he and Chase could be happy together because Leo is such a handsome fluffy wolf! Plus it's just far too sad that he cried everyday over Chase! I got the impression that his life is ruined and he might never find love again!
Hope the Echo Project would give Leo and Chance a good ending in Jenna's route. Probably let the player choose between Leo and Jenna.
That is an awesome idea! Really, that would be very clever for them to do. Jenna's route starts with you choosing her or Leo, it would be pretty interesting if it ends the same way. Like in her route you get to know her more, but I actually kinda find her annoying! Plus Leo seems really aggressive in her route, maybe thats his way of telling Chase that he's hurt to see him hang out with Jenna? It would make sense if the route goes like this; Chase tells Jenna he's bi and gets together with her in the end. Chase tells Jenna he's gay and gets back with Leo in the end, working out their problems. Thats what bothers me about Leos ending, him and Chase never got time to even try to work out their problems and arguments. They have that one conversation, but it didn't help their relationship. Maybe in Jenna route Chase will see how much Leo is actually hurting?
Just found out about this game and think i did the TJ ending? not sure what considers which ending. Also confused how to even get to each ending, it seems like i made only 3 choices, 2 of which i thought had no impact myself. But i do want to explore the other endings, and for that do i just create a new game? is there anyway that the save files interact with gameplay or if youve done previous runs they interact?
Also i see in a previous comment that there appears to be 6 endings so far with Jenna's being the 7th in the making, but is that for certain?
Excited to go thru the storylines, real interesting game that is making me feel real outta it lol
Also wondering that if the Jenna route isnt completed, how can i avoid delving into it and focus on the other endings (without spoilers)
I don't believe that your existing save files have an effect on other routes. And you do make very few decisions throughout these stories, the lack of control seems to bea big part of Echo.
The routes themselves exist in isolation from each other, so doing the other routes won't give spoilers to Jenna's route (i.e. the situations faced during the TJ route are very different to the ones faced in Carl's route, so you won't get any tj spoilers by doing carls route)
The route you do is determined by your response after Flynn causes a scene and storms off, and some routes have multiple endings while others do not (listed below). You do not need to start a new game if you make a save at this choice since the introductory section remains the same no matter what and the storylines only branch from there, so you can just load that 'choice save' and start a different story. (you may need to make 1 new game to get back to this choice however)
TJ: find TJ (1 ending)
Flynn: Go after Dlynn(1 ending)
Carl: Sit with Carl (multiple endings)
Leo: Follow Jenna and Leo > Go to Leo (multiple endings)
Jenna: Follow Jenna and Leo > Stay with Jenna (no endings yet)
Just curious how many endings are there? like multiple endings per character.
the first round was TJ. I wish I could change this ending. At least have more control.
Some characters have two endings, some have one. I could be wrong but here is what I found. TJ has one, Carl has two, Leo has two, Flynn has one.
Jenna's route is not finished yet, so no endings!
I believe Jenna's is planned to have two endings
Alright then, interesting.
i came here to see who's traumatized by this VN today, LMFAO. Sorry echoproject but I'm not playing your games ever again they gave me depression and anxiety lol, but they're good af don't worry.
I'm not really traumatized, just got hit really hard by the "goodbye forever" endings as it happened to me in real life with my old friends!
You know, I think we should consider the possibility that the story is cursed. Like those Japanese ring movies from some years back.
Oh great! Just wonderful...
Heh..
I really want to see the whole story though! I'm going to finish all the routes and make my own theories about what happened. Plus my fanfiction with a better Leo ending.
Man Adastra and This just killed me
Honestly, this is a warning to anyone wanting to read this story. I was so engrossed in it, I think I've gone a little insane for a while, like actually slightly psychotic.
Granted, I've been under huge pressure from other things at the same time, but this story.. I could never have imagined the impact.
I'm not used to having feelings for guys, being bi and never really explored this side of myself outside some alcohol fueled nights. Now I've explored this side of myself through this story, and I'm left having lost touch with reality a bit. What have you done to me? Just to put things into context I'm 34, and honestly never expected to be this affected by a story.
Totally baffled, and obviously a huge hats off the the creators, but fair warning - it really is true when people say that this story isn't for the faint of heart.
Ikr? One of the bests VN's I ever played, if it's not the best.
(sorry my bad english I'm brazilian)
Happened to me too! I was trying to imagine what Sams voice sounds like in Chase's head, and now I hear him telling me things!!!!
I'm just two years younger then you, I thought I could handle whatever this vn had in it, and the horror isn't too bad it's those ending that keep me up a night!
Yeah, anyone new who wants to try it, take the warning seriously please!
It's not even funny anymore! It's these characters, man. You come to care about them so much, and then it all ends in tears. And for me, it's also the intense yearning to get to know them IRL, which is obviously impossible, creating some sort of mini disassociative psychosis. Holy shit man - and from a f...... VN. No doubt I am a very sensitive person, which I guess you'd have to be, to get hit so hard by this.
Even now, I want to go back and read more, but I have to stop. I'm starting a new job in less than two weeks, and I feel like I damn near had some sort of breakdown. THAT'S how much this story affects you. Or at least me.. I've actually become fearful of reading other stories now. HAH! It's patheticly, morbidly funny, when it isn't happening to YOU!
Oh, is Sam the voice that speaks to Chase? I guess I missed something, but it's up for interpretation if it's some sort of demonic version of the characters themselves, which is part of their personality, or if it's something else entirely. Spooky. Are you seriously hearing a voice in your head? If that's the case, then that's really scary. If it continues, please talk to someone about it, no matter how silly it may feel.
Yeah, it really is well written. Maybe too well?
I think in Tj's or Flynn's rout (I forgot) it is heavily implied that the voice is Sam as it mentions things only he would know!
I heard it for just one day yesterday, nothing today so I think I'm good.
Ok I didn't really do Flynns route, tried, but I thought he was too much of an asshole. I've only done TJ's, and Leo's route. If I ever feel like having another mental break, I'll come back and check it out.
I think the whole point of Flynn's route is to cause people mental breakdowns! The most horrific ending out of all of them....
Echo just stands out! I've never had such an emotional experience with any kind of novel, game or movie! It's one of very few thangs to have made me cry! But the "good" ending with Leo, that really bothers me!
(spoiler warning!)
Even if I had an ex boyfriend who was going crazy I would not have left him alone during some crazy event! If I saw Leo not getting on board the train, I would have jumped back off! When I imagined myself in the story, I just couldn't have left him there! Kudzu and the others would have been safely away Leo would be all alone with who knows what kind of evil entity and towns people gone insane! Even if I was having some serious disagreement and relationship brake up problems with him, I could never have left him there! I'd have faced whatever evil was in the town rather then leave a friend behind alone! Especially if he was having some kind of mental trauma! I'm actually planning a fanfic with a third or even fourth option at the end of Leos, route!
I dunno, I think it's thematically more appropriate leaving him there. It was his choice to stay behind, and he's the one with the gun. And coming back would have gone against the choice of telling him that it is over. It also doesn't fit with the earlier decision about the positive of being with Leo vs the negative of being in Echo.
Yeah, that makes sense. I guess it's just my own nature to not want to leave a friend behind in danger. Being angary with them and braking up with them is one thing, leaving them in mental distress and in danger is another thing to me! I especially wouldn't want to lose a friend I'd known for my whole life, in real life I have! Just a bit passionate about this since I can relate to it very well. Also in the story I'm kinda not impressed with Kudzu....
But to be fair, Kud was a side character and we didn't get to spend much time with him. I'm liking him so far, I just wish/hope he'll be in the side stories or prequels or in the other paths.
I guess Kudzu just came off as a little forced to me. He is an interesting character, I just would have tried to mend an old friendship and help an old friend first.
This is such an amazing game there aren't enough words aloud to describe how great this is an every horror furry fan needs to play this!!
This story... It grabs you.
I did TJ's route, and I don't know if I can do another.
Of the VN's I've been reading/playing over the past week, this was the one that felt the most real. Some of the others really touched me as well, but this one.. Boy. Is it just me, or does it feel like betrayal to go through the story again, with another character?
I have a lot of love for this, even if it was emotionally difficult.
EDIT: I went through the Leo timeline.
Why does this story hit me so hard??
Is it the medium, or the story, or both? Holy shit.
I want to know what happened in the other timelines, but I can't take any more.
I think Leo's route is the most sad! Poor guy just wanted his love back, and messed it up then never got a chance to make things right! Plus I might have found a couple plot holes in his route!
Spoiler!
The whole train escape doesn't actually make sense. Why can the train leave the town and cars can't? Why would they believe a druggy and try such a dangerous stunt as jumping onto a moving train, even slow moving!?
Also they seem able to snap their friends out of the hysteria by talking to them and touching them, but nobody tried to comfort or reason with Leo! At least not a serious try. Chase although understandably having mental and emotional stress, didn't even try to tell Leo he was possibly having hallucinations even though it shouldn't be that hard to guess what was happening to him! Yeah Leo was being unstable and dangerous, but surly his life long friends could have taken a minuet to try and help him!
Yeah, leaving Leo behind was gut wrenchingly awful, and it broke my heart. I really appreciate how realistic the break was, and the conversation that happens two years later - it felt real, not like something out of a Hollywood movie.
Well, the train was sent through echo, and unrelated to the crisis. 'It' wasn't trying to escape echo, but just passing through, therefore it was able to do so. At least, this is how I perceived it, and I accepted it without too much effort.
Why didn't they attempt to snap Leo out of it, tell him to his face that he was hallucinating?
Well, I think they reacted in a realistic way considering everything that was going on, and how traumatized they were. I was feeling a similar desperation like you - Why the hell can't chase or Kudzo just tell Leo he's going crazy?
But you know, they all were. I think we'd be surprised with our own inabilities if we were in the situation they were in. We all act differently, but we don't know how we will act. I've been through things myself, where I've gone into shock, and I can attest to this.
I was sort of assuming they talked to Leo though, when Chase was in the trailer with Kudzo and Jenna.
I didn't think of the train just passing through so not being affected like that. Still seems kinda odd to me though, and not something I would do unless I had been chased towards the train! Honestly I would just hide and leave the town after!
Yeah, I understand that. I guess it's just my own experience losing childhood friends that would make me want to do anything I could to help then rather then leave them! Also I watched another friend having to brake to brake off a relationship for way worse then anything Leo did! I guess if I had a friend like leo who was under some kind of mental influence I'd rather stay with trying to help them rather then take risk like train jumping! And that goes back to the "why listen to what a druggy says" thats something I wouldn't do ether. That reminds me, years ago not to far from where I live some guy really did get mangled trying to get on a moving train, and it was moving pretty slow too!
You remember how they tried to drive out of echo in the van, right? (In the Leo timeline)
I too made the decision to break off with Leo, because he's become psychotic. I had a feeling it might take away his hope and purpose, but I just did not want to lie to him. It was his decision to stay behind, after all, and the relationship had already died at that point, and taken a backseat to pure survival. It was heartbreaking! But as such, a good example of the writing that nearly broke my mind, although along with other things I was experiencing as well, at the time.
Oh no.. that's horrible. Did he survive?
Yeah, it does make sense the way it ends. But it's just so sad after seeing how they got together in route 65! Also very sad when Chase visits Leo two years later, he just seems totally broken! Like he's only living and has no hopes or anything to look foreword too! He says he's getting better, but he doesn't enjoy his life and seems he would just end up some old hermit all alone!
No the guy did not survive! A good reason I'd never have tried getting on that train in Echo!
(Spoiler maybe?)
I didn't think the game was going to be that emotionally intense when I saw the warning, but I still cried a the end of TJ's route, poor guy... (first route I finish, as well). Please take that comment as a second warning.
This game is amazing though, like really, really good, it's going into my favorites.
Currently midnight when writing this, so I better be going to bed, but let me ask first: should I do the other routes before playing the 2 other Echo games? I really need to know, I want to play absolutely everything.
Yes, each route have a hint and lore to The Smoke Room/Route 65.
LEGIT HAVE STARTED HAVING DREAMS ABOUT CHARACTERS FROM THIS GAME. VIVID TOO. PLAY AT OWN RISK.
When you realize the town was based off of Ebay. AKA Echo Bay, Nevada - a ghost town right off the coast of Lake Mead. Gonna visit it when The Virus cools down, and explore the old motel too.
In conclusion, the town exists in real life and has a weird history too...
All in all 10/10 IGN would recommend, wack but amazing.
-a non-fury
Came back to say that only the town name is the same, the history and stories are all created by the Echo Project. I was not trying to discredit the creator because they make beautiful games. Anyways thats it. Thank you Echo Project for existing!
Yeah I'm totally shook up by this, not even joking
(SPOILER WARNING... MAYBE?)
I LOVE the story honestly and I find it terrifying that I can (somehow) relate to Chase in some ways, especially when I took Leo's route. Leo reminded me of a friend of mine back in the days that gave me hints of liking me, and I just ignored it. And I left the school we enrolled in because of a bad incident that made me learn my lesson. That's one I can find similar but anyway, it doesn't matter, isn't it?
Right after playing the game, I literally stared into space for five minutes trying to process everything. Even if it has no good ending, knowing both of them are literally bad endings in some ways, I find the story very interesting. And it lived up to its horror theme which I loved the most. For me, horror is meant to be tragic (apologies for being dark... fufufu).
Kudos to Echo Project and for their magnificent work! Keep up making people inspire!
You know, I saw the bit at the top about "Echo" not being for the faint of heart and thought "oh hey, it's just a VN, it can't be that bad"... oh boy how wrong I was.
To clarify, when I say that, I don't mean the VN is bad; on the contrary in fact. I fucking LOVE the writing here. I simply mean that this VN is very taxing. It seems crazy to me even typing that out but I am honestly so drained from the experience I have so much to say and yet it's just so difficult to articulate without just delving into plot points (which I will do shortly I just wanted to go spoiler free for a second and give general thoughts on the VN to where I've played).
SPOILER WARNING BELOW READ WITH CAUTION!
Ahhh, where do I begin. Honestly I feel almost bad writing this now having only finished one of the routes (currently halfway through another) but I severely doubt my views on the game will change over the routes. The first route I played was TJ's. I think he's definitely one of the more genuine characters with a very interesting conflict which is probably why I gravitated towards him first. As I said previously, my experience of the game is incomplete so forgive me if I simplify stuff to what I understand as of now.
The presence in Echo, I don't know what to call it. From what I could tell, there is some supernatural entity with the ability to make people hallucinate and give them delusions, which cause them to do bad things and sometimes go insane. It's equal parts devastating and horrifying to see this entity warp the MC as he's interacting with TJ. Chase's kiss in the woods took a lot out of me.
The death of Flynn in that route shook me to my core; I found myself actually crying as it happened. It occurred to me then that only two VNs have elicited that kind of reaction from me, this one, and, wouldn't you know it, Adastra. Damn you EchoProject! Of course, the tears came in very different circumstances but still it was such an incredibly tragic moment.
To left turn a bit, after finishing the TJ route, I've moved on to Leo. Oh boy, he's insane. I've not yet completed the route but I found my heart drop when you find that he's been intentionally isolating you from the group. I almost wished it wasn't true. I already feel sorry for Clint; I know something bad has clearly happened. Despite everything, I feel he's probably not that bad of a guy from what I can tell. I read a comment below saying something like "Leo is a psychopath" so I can't wait to get to that part. Just clarifying, I wasn't reading for spoilers, I just happened to glance at the wrong comment. Still an incredible experience, albeit an emotionally exhausting one. This VN keeps you on your toes, despite not actually having too much intractability (not necessarily a complaint, I don't mind not having to worry about whether I've made the wrong choice constantly).
Bruh I was playing, got scared Shitless in the Jenna route. Big brain me goes "Yo I'll just finish it so it doesn't haunt me tonight and I get a resolution" and then I get hit with that "To be continue....." Ima go curl up into a bawl and forget everything now.
Oh hey I've been wanting to join the EchoProject discord server but I've been wondering: Do you have to be a Patron to join it?
nope, here's the invite tho https://discord.gg/wYXTCQcZ
Imagine if Echoproject made some kind of rom-com for once. "The body started shaking. Joan reminded him of the harlem shake. It was very amusing."
I'm telling you, if echo project stop abusing their MC and make romantic comedies or something, they'll earn like ten times more.
I really don't think so. These narratives are unique in my opinion.
Indeed, and I don't think they have to stick to horror themes.
And they don't, actually. Adastra is another visual novel from the echo project which is not horror themed and I enjoyed it as much as the other ones. It does have drama and crude moments as well though, kinda their signature in my opinion and I don't think these vns would be half as good without those elements. Just my humble opinion :p
I just got done binging through the TJ and Flynn routes for hours on end and I must say that I am emotionally drained. Echo is without a doubt the most emotionally invested I’ve ever been into a single piece of media in my entire life. Sure I know that sounds pretty rich coming from a 19 year old.
I still gotta say that Echo does such a good job at sucking you into the world and it’s characters. Despite it being a rather average visual novel visually with some expressive still work and some CG work here and there, it is absolutely carried by the story and the framing of every scene. You can tell that who ever sequenced the music/sound and scenes paid a lot of attention to what type of emotions they were trying to get across to the reader.
I especially was impressed with how the game handled the horror elements. When I was searching for “gay furry visual novels” to play and saw Echo I really thought that the horror aspects would just take a back seat to a dating sim story. However, the opposite is true with the dating sim aspects coming on hard at first only for things to get progressively more miserable as the story carries on.
I love how scenes will change so dramatically without warning when going into a dream sequence or back into reality. I recall during the TJ route when Chase is playing never have I ever with TJ and Carl, out of nowhere being confronted with three choices to brutalize Sydney with that droning horror music seeping in while still having the regular cheerful music playing in the background. When you pick your poison the scene just reverts back to normal as if nothing had just happened. It made me question my sanity and also made me laugh by just how jarring it was.
There’s so many moments in this game that I just want to gush about how the implementation of horror and framing pair so well together to create a cacophony of psychological instability. It was entertaining through and through and I don’t regret spending hours partaking in the two stories. I plan to finish the rest, but the TJ and Flynn routes were the ones that called out to me the most.
If you haven’t played this game yet, definitely give it a download. I’ve played a few gay furry games such as Tennis Ace, Four Letter Word, Nekojishi, Blackgate, Amorous, Dawn Chorus, Far beyond the World, and Beyond the Harbor but I must say that this game takes the cake for me. I never thought I’d get so invested in a game and it’s characters from something on itchio, but damn look at me now typing a long winded “review” on my phone.
Sorry if my points aren’t too coherent I just got done playing and it’s 4 in the morning lol I just really felt the urge to give this game a bump and what better way to leave a review after a fresh play through. If you got to the end of the wall of text many blessings to you ;)
I also finished TJ's route a few days ago, and just finished Flynn's today (also being 4am when I did so haha). And I must say, the story pulled me in so much that I did stay up this late to read it. I noticed that at the end of Flynn's route it said to be continued, so I can't wait for it to do so!
lol i felt the same when i saw it.
Same here!
But guys, imagine if you had an ability to enter in any games depends on their character appearance (beast-man, etc.) Means, as any appearance you want. What will you do "IF" you have this ability?
If you ask me. I will enter on "Echo" to have fun, relax, be friends with the main characters, solved the mystery there (that I/you know what will happen, and you can stop and change it). As an Wolf.
To Echoproject, or is it just Echo? I don't know, anyway.
I'm new here, and first of I just want to say that Adastra, made me see a new light of things, a lot of things. Playing it was just a roller-coaster of emotion and I kid you not, sometimes I instantly turn my phone off because I instantly get assaulted with emotions, both the good and the bad. One night, I was binging till 3am and decided to stop for a bit and rest, but I couldn't, I stayed awake as my mind was just being blendered with these emotions over and over again until I realised that the sun was rising, it instantly reminded me of the title screen, and I both laughed and cried. Adastra reflected a lot of things in life, like strife and happiness, pain and healing, and the known dread of furthest reaches of existence, like the Parents,and the Other, that bit was nightmare fuel to me.
Seeing as how the relationship unfolds with everything around you, the character, learning some morals and a bit of wisdom to be honest, and the most memorable moments for me is with Amicus. I have never experienced what it's like in a relationship, single since birth basically but I don't mind it, although with the carnal urges and also the confused selection of which sex to choose (I'm Bi) but playing Adastra, made me realize something that I already knew, basically I just vibe checked myself like heck, and I realize, I'm just so lonely. Adastra gave me a bit of hope that anywhere and some day, there will be that someone that you just want to do everything with, a moment which I hope will happen (Parent forbid, lol). Speaking of Parents, them able to see the future kinda reflected me a bit, when I'm making big decisions I always try to imagine every possible outcome and pick the most favourable, but Adastra, as I said, major vibe check, reminded me that life is just weird, and that seeing of what's already to happen is boring, like watching that one movie all over and over again, because knowing of what's to come next in life, is like your life has already ended as color that is worth painting on the canvas is just, gone.
To summarise all this, Echoproject or Echo, I thank you for this game, Adastra, and I hope that you will read this and get as much as the love I have felt for it. As I go to sleep in emotional content, excited to continue the story tomorrow. Thank you😘🤗
Also having just finished reading Adastra, being bi, and feeling everything you just said, I want to say thank you also. I could not have been able to word my feelings as you just have.
Just started reading Echo today, hoping for that same amazing storytelling!
Chase possess by Sam's Ghost
Flynn become that Rake-like monster, also possess by Sam's Ghost as well
Carl possess by James's Ghost
Jenna possess by John's Ghost
(I don't know, if the "POSSESS" is the right word to call it)
Correct me if, I'm wrong..
after reading several comments saying things like, "the game destroyed me", "it was painful to play", "it destroyed my heart", "traumatized me," "I cried with fear", I am really worried about what will come of this game, a part of me says to stay away of this game but my curiosity spoke louder so I'm downloading the game, I hope I don't regret it
Lmao, what do you think?
Did you know?
This recurrent song in the game is Clean Soul by Kevin Macleod
Man.... It's kinda funny to me to see the background of Adastra, and name of Amicus in Echo..😂
Ikr? They even revamped the story to make amicus "Straight"... I think
This novel is making me feel things. I’m not sure if that’s good or not but i am sure the writing is great. I just don’t know if i have the strength to return for more.
Is there only one ending with Leo? Am I missing something or he's just fucking psychopath?
You mean end up with Kudzu right? So it's actually one.. fuck I love Leo but it's way too insane.
Either Kudzu or your life. 😔
So...uh, what are the FINISHED route of Echo? Please tell me!
Every route is finished except Jenna`s route and Flynn`s epilogue
thank you for telling me, my friend
Np
Hey could you guys stop writing this well? Hard to do anything but wanna read more.
Same haha, I stayed up until 4am reading this today, I need to be awake soon haha. (glad I did though, the story is so compelling. It's so good!)
Incredibly good (and by good I mean it broke my heart and I can't listen to the title screen music without feeling like shit anymore). Can't wait for Jenna's route to be finished and the epilogue game.
I took Leo route and tried the bad and good ending.... Im just lost of words.... I don't know anymore....... :(
I definitely had to step back and process it all. The same with Flynn's route. Breaks my heart