You should acknowledge the fact, that Echo is not a dating sim, even though Chase is gay it doesn't define anything. We are here for the plot, not horny furry husbandos (well, most of us, Leo fanclub, lets connect ourselves!)
btw spoiler for others
I think Carl is not gay, he is the most probably straight or eventually BI. Sex with Flynn and make out with Chase is only his experimenting / seeking his sexuality / pure curiosity, idk tbh ;)
I'm not playing the game for the sex or love, this was pure humor-
I'm just saying I got surprised by his ending is all
Also I remembering him saying he wouldn't want to label his sexuality, so I guess he just doesn't give a shit about it (Which definitely sounds like Carl xD)
I greatly enjoyed playing this VN. I think this game was well-made. Each of the different routes does a good job of providing a different plotline and experience for the player. Every route sheds light on a different aspect of the town, the characters involved, their pasts, and their relationship to one another, leaving the reader engaged and wanting to play each route to learn more.
I think that the plotlines of each route were well-written. The routes each have their "WHAM" moments where something is revealed that totally changes one's perception of the characters, or things go from 0-100 real quick. TJ's route is an example of this, and the last few scenes were shocking due to how quickly things escalated. I did not expect that. These revelations also help keep the reader engaged, and definitely left an impression with me.
This VN deals with some heavier themes such as trauma, abuse, drug use, and suicide. It does not pull punches in that regard.
Echo does a good job of creating a tense atmosphere when needed through the use of music, dialogue, and its art. One part that really stood out to me was when Dark Chase just walks onto the screen, all animated and such, in contrast to how characters in Ren'Py usually come and go. That was pretty unsettling, well done.
Although there is a fair share of romance in Echo and there are a few sex scenes that are written out, but not shown, I think that this game can be enjoyed both by furries and non-furries alike.
I liked the game's soundtrack, particularly circles3 and the theme that plays whenever action takes place.
As far as things I didn't like go, there are a couple. In Jenna's route, Flynn and TJ stumbling upon the characters towards the end and the train that the group boards at the end of Leo's route just happening to be the last of 3 trains that were being moved to a museum seem like a plot contrivance, though, to be fair, that one is foreshadowed throughout Leo's and other routes. However, these things occur towards the very end of their respective routes, so they don't ruin the reader's engagement with the story that much. One MIGHT argue that the monster saving the characters in Jenna's route was a Deus Ex Machina, but, given what is revealed about it in other routes, it makes sense from a story perspective. The part where Chase is saved from the mines as he was about to get shot by Brian is a bit iffy in that regard. Maybe it's something that is going to be explored in The Smoke Room or Arches?
TL;DR: Great VN. There are a couple minor things I didn't like, but overall, I would recommend this.
It's been almost a year since I read it now. I had a breakdown afterwards. Sure, there were a couple of other things in play as well, but Echo was a big part of it. I'm still digesting what happened to me, tbh. I was seriously forever changed by reading a VN. It's for real.
leo has what are called a good and bad ending, but they're really both bad, depending on what you reply in that last scene in the train yard, tj only has one ending
i'd highly recommend doing jenna's after carl and flynn, particularly if you're a leo love, her good ending is also the best ending in the game, if you're sane, unlike me, i favor leo's bad ending
Well, I wouldn't call it "fun", it's more like emotionally wrecking rollercoaster, but hey! If you like to cry quietly in the corner of your room after playing game, then you will be on cloud nine :)
Are you truly enjoying something if you don't end up an emotional wreck, staring at a wall in your room at 2 in the morning, wondering what it was you just experienced...
I got Chase and his friends made it out of the nightmare (or something), Chase and Carl doesn't follow up the relationship in that dream. So, is it the good ending or not?
FINALLY DONE. Christ, going through this game was trippy as all hell, and the noise I made during Jenna's Route when Tulpa-Chase WALKED onto scream was something I will never be able to replicate.
For anyone reading this, seriously take the warning messages to heart. Going through Carl's bad route completely on accident for my first play-through fucked me up for way longer than I could've anticipated.
In a way, this VN hit me in the exact opposite way of Adastra. Adastra had me falling in love with Amicus so hard that when the game was over, I felt completely empty and emotionally-drained, while the ending to Echo (specifically Carl's Bad Route Ending, which was my first) left me feeling like I was packed to the brim with emotions and approximately 10 seconds away from vomiting all over my desk. Still, this game was really enjoyable! And I can't thank the team enough for making a really great game.
I really liked both jenna and leo good endings a whole bunch ^^ ! That game is great although really fucked up. Definitely not for everyone but it's one of my favorites furry VNs !
yeah, things went quite well for chase, but leo...
the man who knew he wanted to protect his friends before he even knew english, saying "i like to do things on my own these days" and "it's best if i stay away from people for now"... that's not leo. that's not healthy.
yeah, things go well for chase in leo's so-called good ending. but leo, the leo we love, dies. i'd take those few hours together in his room over all the time in the world with kudzu any day.
i dont know how chase can live with himself after leo's good ending.
btw i know this is probably just me being too in love with leo, i just want other people who are feeling the same way to know they're not alone
I think there are some issues, but I was relatively satisfied.
I was satisfied with Chase ending up with Kudzu because I liked their relationship arc throughout the story and I think that Leo's obsession with Chase could be a bit too overbearing (though I know some of it has to do with Echo itself). However, I don't really like how Chase gets off scot-free considering that it seemed like he was very callous when he broke up with Leo. He never genuinely apologizes or has to consider what he did. I think it would be nice for them to stay supportive of each other instead of Chase just straight-up leaving Leo at the end (though I do like the symbolism of the train scene, it's not good of Chase to just abandon Leo again rather than try to fix up their relationship, even if he doesn't want it to be romantic anymore considering how they were great friends.) I think that Leo deserves better but Chase might not actually be better. Hell, maybe the writers' intention is that Chase is somewhat manipulative (or, to be more generous, too confused about his feelings?) so he and Leo don't really "work" for each other because Leo is too sincerely intense and Chase is too casual or impulsive. There's also a sort of issue stemming from how Leo is lonely, but he doesn't leave the area he grew up in so, by the end of his route, he's not really putting himself out to anyone or forming new connections on his own. Maybe they both need to learn a few things.
intellectually i mostly agree, emotionally mostly just, fuck chase he's the worst i hate him lmao
I can't really disagree about chase and kudzu's relationship arc, and on their own i think they work well together, but since chase is our protagonist in a vn it's hard not to take his romantic failing with leo personally.
i definitely think that leo is too obsessive and intense for bland, noncomittal chase, but it's one of the things that i love most about him, being rather the limerent myself
im glad im not the only one who thinks of leo's good ending as his friends abandoning him for what we can think of as a sort of poor mental health episode, that's fucked up, he deserves better friends (me)
LEO! DOES! DESERVE! BETTER! THAN! CHASE! (again, me ;3)
given the events of tj's route, and the texting thing we find out about in jenna's, i think actually manipulative is spot on
objectively, yes, leo should put himself out there and make more friends and stuff, but like... i just want him all to myself and to be wholly his, personally. I love him how he is now
Even when the VN is about Chase, let's face it, he is not even close to be what Leo needs. Staying in contact would mean that maybe they would end up trying everything all over again and with just how weak and pathetic Chase can be, he would just wreck even more the wolf. True enough the Leo we love is dead, and still this "I don't want to see you anymore" thing is the cry for help from him. He wants to heal and there is not a future in which these two will be together. Heck that was the whole trigger for everything that happened. And now, let's go back to Leo. He is not perfect either with just how possessive and dangerous he can get. Even when he can protect Chase and make him feel that way. He always ends up creating more problems than he can handle. His impulsiveness always ended up in a dangerous or troublesome situation. They need love? Yeah, only someone else's love. I agree with Jenna, I don't think they should be together even when I was deep down hoping for it.
agreed, agreed, love the possessiveness and dangerousness tho, especially considering i dont think that dangerousness extends to chase (/theoretically me)
I'm not totally finished the VN, but am really enjoying it! It's rare for me to find a piece of media (especially one with so many major characters) where I enjoy reading about pretty much everyone!
One sort of... factual error that's bugging me (having finished Leo's route) is that Clint is described as a "polecat" a few times. Considering that he's called a "ring-tailed cat" or "cat" at other times, this confused me as to what species he was supposed to be. I would say definitely not a polecat from how he looks, as "polecat" is a non-specific word for some similar ferret or weasel-like species (and Clint looks nothing like, say, Duke). He could pass as a sort of domestic cat, but I'm guessing that he's supposed to be a ringtail/ring-tailed cat considering his large, sideways-facing ears, black-and-white (though noticeably much less fluffy) tail, and the fact that they're a species native to the southern U.S.
Alright, I'm checking it out again. Clint is definitely introduced as a ring-tailed cat, but I found the two times where I saw Clint referred to as a "polecat" in Leo's route and it seems to be in Chase's neutral narrative description of him, not as an insult: when he shows up a Brian's trailer, and later when Chase and co. find him at Leo's place.
Click on the echo project in the description. He added it, its just not part of the original game it is its own little minnie game. The even have a story for when everyone is still in high school. Before they go there separate ways.
im confused why chase condemns flynn. Especially after I took every action to get closer to the guy. Was Chase having like a psychosis moment and it wasn't really him? or is Chase really just a manipulative bastard?
So there are a few things that might be spoilers if you haven't finished the game yet, so I'll answer as spoiler free first and then spoilers afterward.
When Chase condemns Flynn don't forget that you were only given the one choice to condemn Flynn. This occurs no matter what previous choices you made on the route and it stands out. Keep also in mind the weird moment previously where Chase was hiding in the bathroom and the point of view shifted. As for Chase being a manipulative bastard/having a moment... People like to argue about that. My stance is Chase wasn't really himself at that moment, but I understand why people would think he is a manipulative bastard.
SPOILERS
It is sort of revealed throughout Flynn's route, but heavily explained in Jenna's route, that Chase was possessed by a spirit that is sort of Sam from The Smoke Room (I say sort of cause it gets complicated what exactly it is). Jenna's route further explains that whenever Chase is indecisive (Which he frequently is) Sam would step in and make the choice for him (with us essentially acting as Sam by making the choice). This also means that the choices presented are not fully Chase's but options given to him by Sam/the Player. What Chase does after a choice is made is somewhat his own actions, but its hard to say how much of Chase's actions are really his own due to the possession.
I found Carl's route and Leo's route to be the most natural feeling.
I just can't hate Leo though... I can't hate Chase either.
I found Jenna's route to be the most unnatural feeling. Like you said she's manipulative and such. Her route did change my view of her somewhat and it does tie lots of things together and has the best ending. But I still don't like Jenna very much.
Each route is insanely great, with side characters just enhancing the story in a beneficial way. Not a single character written poorly by any means. Me gusta. I can't believe there are no more updates to this game. It's honestly so great. I wish there were more :( but after all, there has to be an end.
It's been a bit since I played the game through in its entirety, but I remember taking a couple of weeks reading it for between 2-4 hours a night. I would say there is at least 30 hours worth of reading material, though its probably close to 40 if you play all routes and try to get all the endings.
Going through one route though should take between 8-10 hours, with subsequent playthroughs being shorter as you can skip over the first 2.5 days, until you reach the point the story initially branches.
Jesus this is the best visual novel I've played to date (and probably for long after), first entry into the horror side for me, and I may now have an addiction for the unknown. Man I loved Jenna's route. Sad its ended but lets hope we get to see the characters again in new releases!
I'm... wow. Flabbergasted by just how incredible this VN is. After playing though every route, I can say with certainty this is the best VN that I have ever played, and probably ever will. That said, heed that content warning; this is not for everyone. If you could be potentially triggered by sensitive subjects, themes, or images, you must put your own health first and keep yourself away from this. It goes to some incredibly dark places.
With that in mind, I'd like to, without spoiling anything, convince you to play this if you feel capable of doing so. Firstly, I must sing the praises of the writing, as of course that is the crux of any good visual novel: the writing is stellar. Very minimal grammar mistakes and typos, firstly, and beyond that surface-level, there is so much depth behind the writing. This is paced beautifully. Within I'd say 15 minutes, this story had its hooks in me. Its introduction has a way of feeding you just enough information to get your curiosity piqued, in probably the most natural way I've ever seen any VN do so. The narration feels very genuine, natural, like one's own inner monologue, and every new piece of info from the narrator is mentioned as if it's already understood, leaving you, the reader, with oodles of questions that spur you further into the narrative, seeking answers.
Then we have all of the characters... and wow. Every single one is extremely well-rounded and expertly written. You can feel and understand every one of them, their actions and behaviors consistent with their own personalities and the situations they're put in at every moment, and each one, including those that are minor and seemingly inconsequential, are deeper than they first seem. You will fall in love with at least the main cast if you play through all routes, which you will need to in order to fully understand the underlying story, which brings me to my next point.
You're always moving in circles. This is the thematic center of this game... and you as a player are forced to embody it, if you wish to get to the bottom of this story. You will have to return to the beginning, you will have to retrace your steps, you will have to move yourself and this world in circles if you want any chance at understanding it... and it is brilliant. I first properly picked this game up around 2 weeks ago... and I wasn't comfortable leaving it untouched for more than a couple days, because Echo has this insidious draw to it. And I adore that. Let this game suck you into it, and let yourself get captivated by the town of Echo. This game will leave a lasting impact on you, in my opinion for the better.
As a final note, my personal recommendation for the order of character routes is as follows: Carl, Leo, Flynn, TJ, Jenna. Carl's route is a more gentle descent into madness than the rest, and it should tell you whether you're interested in the rest of the routes, and then Jenna's ending is probably the best, most positive send-off you could hope for from this trying experience. But of course, your journey through the town of Echo is your own... and you'll come back. They always do.
The evil of Echo took advantage of his need to seek the truth, in the end he became Socket man and began to, sort of, travel through time. Every time you see Socket man, well.... That's Flynn....
Ok, let me recapitulate a bit (I may be a little bit off tracks 'cause I only went through it once.
He went to the mines, got burned, saw all echo, somehow got transported back when salamander boy saw him and he tried to rescue him, then got taken to the lake and that's when TJ saw him just before what happened to Sydney, then got transported waaaay back when Carl's ancestor pinned his crimes on his lover and his lover got hanged. Basically the evil was just transporting him here and there taking his conscience, Flynn sometimes remembering who he was, but mostly was not in a sort of auto-pilot. At least that is what I gathered. Don't know if that answers....a bit at least haha.
Someone told me that before playing TSR, it's good to play this VN first. Actually I don't know for sure what the reason is but I'll keep playing it...hehehe
So, do you guys have any suggestions, which character route should I play? Please?
I don't think I'll ever be forgetting how much this has affected me. Something about Leo's route, the entire thing really but especially the finale parts; it stuck with me. There's just a certain level of tragedy to it all that produces this uneasiness I can't seem to shake off, even a damn week later. Not sure whether I actually liked some decisions this went with or not, but I truly would not wish this dark depressing feeling this shit gives you on my worst enemy.
I suppose you're right. Even still though, I'm not sure the ending really gave the closure I was hoping for, if that makes sense. It felt like I was in the final act and then it just... ended. I guess it just felt really unfulfilling to me, especially with what happened with Leo.
Personally, even though Leo was acting all toxic, controlling everything and outright lying to you, I felt something for the wolf and yes, I felt horrible at the idea of Chase never talking to him ever again. But then again, it's something that must happen for a healing to begin
It's a matter of perspective. Like, I see the message it was trying to convey with having them separate, but I still felt discomforted by it. Sure, being apart will help them both, but is that really it? No other choices? That ending gave a sense of complete hopelessness that I just can't understand. It just leaves this awkward bitter taste in my mouth.
Route 65 is short prequel to Echo that gives a bit more background to what happened to the group. The route you choose in 65 is supposed to lead in to your choice of person to follow in Echo.
The events of Echo take place during Spring break of 2015 (So likely mid March). I mention this as some people's ages could be affected if they had an early birthday.
Chase is 21 years old, and in the events of Route 65 he is 15 during November 1st, 2008. It is likely Chase has a birthday between Late April and November and was born in 1993. (The wiki says he is 22, but that conflicts with him stating that he is 21 in a few scenes and some stuff Carl says)
Leo is 23 years old, and I believe that there was a scene where it was mentioned that he chose to celebrate Carl's birthday on Wednesday as Carl's is the closest, with Leo's already having passed and been a month prior. If this is correct, Leo was born in either January or February of 1991.
Jenna's age is not stated outright, but when the group was in school together, she was a year above Chase and year below Leo. She is likely 22 or 23 during the events of Echo. I can't make a guess as to what month she was born, but it likely is later in the year and not in March or April and was born in either 1992 or 1993.
TJ, baby of the group, is 19 years old. He is stated to be 2 years younger than Chase and is finishing up his first year of College when the game takes place. This is also brought up in Route 65, where TJ is only 13 years old. He was likely born in 1995, though he could be a 1996 baby instead.
Flynn is the oldest member of the gang and is 25 years old. This is reinforced with the events of Route 65 with Flynn already working with his Aunt and not being in High School, most likely having graduated in 2007. Depending on what month he was born, Flynn was born in either 1990 or 1989.
Carl is the only member who birthday is relatively set, being around late April (stated to be the end of next month, so this assumes the game takes place in mid March). Most likely Carl was born late April of 1993, however there are a few conflicting details. According to the wiki Carl is 21, however, there is a scene where Carl mentions that he cannot legally drink alcohol yet. This also conflicts with Carl being Chase's age, as being 20 would make Carl a year younger than Chase and likely put him in a grade lower. In Route 65, Carl mentions looking forward to driving, which would happen next year if he was 15 in 2008.
MINOR SPOILERS for the next Person
Sydney was shown to be either Chase and Carl's age, or a year younger than them, meaning he was likely born in 1993 or 1994, depending on when his birthday was. While I cannot give you an exact month for his birth, I can give an approximation for his death. In Route 65 it is mentioned by Chase that the group had to go back to school after Sydney's funeral. As they had been swimming in Lake Emma it is likely that Sydney drowned in Early to mid August of 2003. This would also match with the information that his father died 6 months prior on a hunting trip. When we are shown the hunting trip, it is described as a colder time of the year and Sydney and his father have to put on warmer coats. Mr. Bronson likely died in February of 2003.
I have only finished two of the routes so far and can say I'm loving the experience. I won't write a review just yet but I will Voice one gripe with Leos route. There seems to be only one character picture of Kudzu. Considering how emotional and crucial his role is, The default arms crossed stance clashes with many moments where the slightest inflection of an eyebrow or change of stance would express so much more. Could this be considered for future updates? Pretty please. He's really important to the feels.
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WAIT A GOD DAMN MINUTE
You can't actually date Carl, even if you finish his route with the good ending?
You should acknowledge the fact, that Echo is not a dating sim, even though Chase is gay it doesn't define anything. We are here for the plot, not horny furry husbandos (well, most of us, Leo fanclub, lets connect ourselves!)
btw spoiler for others
I think Carl is not gay, he is the most probably straight or eventually BI. Sex with Flynn and make out with Chase is only his experimenting / seeking his sexuality / pure curiosity, idk tbh ;)
Carl definitely seems bi, however, I'm pretty confident that TJ is asexual so I think that's the most "straight" you can get.
I'm not playing the game for the sex or love, this was pure humor-
I'm just saying I got surprised by his ending is all
Also I remembering him saying he wouldn't want to label his sexuality, so I guess he just doesn't give a shit about it (Which definitely sounds like Carl xD)
I greatly enjoyed playing this VN. I think this game was well-made. Each of the different routes does a good job of providing a different plotline and experience for the player. Every route sheds light on a different aspect of the town, the characters involved, their pasts, and their relationship to one another, leaving the reader engaged and wanting to play each route to learn more.
I think that the plotlines of each route were well-written. The routes each have their "WHAM" moments where something is revealed that totally changes one's perception of the characters, or things go from 0-100 real quick. TJ's route is an example of this, and the last few scenes were shocking due to how quickly things escalated. I did not expect that. These revelations also help keep the reader engaged, and definitely left an impression with me.
This VN deals with some heavier themes such as trauma, abuse, drug use, and suicide. It does not pull punches in that regard.
Echo does a good job of creating a tense atmosphere when needed through the use of music, dialogue, and its art. One part that really stood out to me was when Dark Chase just walks onto the screen, all animated and such, in contrast to how characters in Ren'Py usually come and go. That was pretty unsettling, well done.
Although there is a fair share of romance in Echo and there are a few sex scenes that are written out, but not shown, I think that this game can be enjoyed both by furries and non-furries alike.
I liked the game's soundtrack, particularly circles3 and the theme that plays whenever action takes place.
As far as things I didn't like go, there are a couple. In Jenna's route, Flynn and TJ stumbling upon the characters towards the end and the train that the group boards at the end of Leo's route just happening to be the last of 3 trains that were being moved to a museum seem like a plot contrivance, though, to be fair, that one is foreshadowed throughout Leo's and other routes. However, these things occur towards the very end of their respective routes, so they don't ruin the reader's engagement with the story that much. One MIGHT argue that the monster saving the characters in Jenna's route was a Deus Ex Machina, but, given what is revealed about it in other routes, it makes sense from a story perspective. The part where Chase is saved from the mines as he was about to get shot by Brian is a bit iffy in that regard. Maybe it's something that is going to be explored in The Smoke Room or Arches?
TL;DR: Great VN. There are a couple minor things I didn't like, but overall, I would recommend this.
I know this is just a joke, but is it for real? I mean, I don't want to ruin my feelings
It's been almost a year since I read it now. I had a breakdown afterwards. Sure, there were a couple of other things in play as well, but Echo was a big part of it. I'm still digesting what happened to me, tbh. I was seriously forever changed by reading a VN. It's for real.
Honestly, yes it is true!
I've only done leos and tj's ending, both very sad and left me kinda empty, im not complaining tho I enjoyed it a lot
but like, without spoiling anything for me, is there a "good" ending? Or just a better "bad" ending? Maybe like a "true" ending?
leo has what are called a good and bad ending, but they're really both bad, depending on what you reply in that last scene in the train yard, tj only has one ending
Dang, that "good" leo ending had me more sad than the bad one.
Thank you so much for the help! Im gonna just do carls and flynns route then play the prequel and sequel
i'd highly recommend doing jenna's after carl and flynn, particularly if you're a leo love, her good ending is also the best ending in the game, if you're sane, unlike me, i favor leo's bad ending
I would too if poor chase didn't lose his feet over it. But yes ill take note and do jennas last, thank you so much for the help!
i mean, i dont really like walking anyway, and i know leo would take good care of me~
Hey can someone please explain extactly what happens in TJ's bad route?
It's more fun to read it
Indeed it is.
Well, I wouldn't call it "fun", it's more like emotionally wrecking rollercoaster, but hey! If you like to cry quietly in the corner of your room after playing game, then you will be on cloud nine :)
Are you truly enjoying something if you don't end up an emotional wreck, staring at a wall in your room at 2 in the morning, wondering what it was you just experienced...
Crying makes the experience even better! :)
There is no bad or good route, but this one in my personal opinion is the most psychologically fucked up one.
Good to see this games still catching more attention, didn't do all routes, I felt too much a emotional connection with them👍
I just finished Carl's route.
Spoiler alert...
I got Chase and his friends made it out of the nightmare (or something), Chase and Carl doesn't follow up the relationship in that dream. So, is it the good ending or not?
ye that's the good ending
FINALLY DONE. Christ, going through this game was trippy as all hell, and the noise I made during Jenna's Route when Tulpa-Chase WALKED onto scream was something I will never be able to replicate.
For anyone reading this, seriously take the warning messages to heart. Going through Carl's bad route completely on accident for my first play-through fucked me up for way longer than I could've anticipated.
In a way, this VN hit me in the exact opposite way of Adastra. Adastra had me falling in love with Amicus so hard that when the game was over, I felt completely empty and emotionally-drained, while the ending to Echo (specifically Carl's Bad Route Ending, which was my first) left me feeling like I was packed to the brim with emotions and approximately 10 seconds away from vomiting all over my desk. Still, this game was really enjoyable! And I can't thank the team enough for making a really great game.
Did not like how Chase just stood there dumbstruck (poor Leo...) when his shadowclone was jutsu'ed there.
I really liked both jenna and leo good endings a whole bunch ^^ ! That game is great although really fucked up. Definitely not for everyone but it's one of my favorites furry VNs !
i hate leo's """good""" ending so, so much
yeah, things went quite well for chase, but leo...
the man who knew he wanted to protect his friends before he even knew english, saying "i like to do things on my own these days" and "it's best if i stay away from people for now"... that's not leo. that's not healthy.
yeah, things go well for chase in leo's so-called good ending. but leo, the leo we love, dies. i'd take those few hours together in his room over all the time in the world with kudzu any day.
i dont know how chase can live with himself after leo's good ending.
btw i know this is probably just me being too in love with leo, i just want other people who are feeling the same way to know they're not alone
I think there are some issues, but I was relatively satisfied.
I was satisfied with Chase ending up with Kudzu because I liked their relationship arc throughout the story and I think that Leo's obsession with Chase could be a bit too overbearing (though I know some of it has to do with Echo itself).
However, I don't really like how Chase gets off scot-free considering that it seemed like he was very callous when he broke up with Leo. He never genuinely apologizes or has to consider what he did. I think it would be nice for them to stay supportive of each other instead of Chase just straight-up leaving Leo at the end (though I do like the symbolism of the train scene, it's not good of Chase to just abandon Leo again rather than try to fix up their relationship, even if he doesn't want it to be romantic anymore considering how they were great friends.)
I think that Leo deserves better but Chase might not actually be better. Hell, maybe the writers' intention is that Chase is somewhat manipulative (or, to be more generous, too confused about his feelings?) so he and Leo don't really "work" for each other because Leo is too sincerely intense and Chase is too casual or impulsive. There's also a sort of issue stemming from how Leo is lonely, but he doesn't leave the area he grew up in so, by the end of his route, he's not really putting himself out to anyone or forming new connections on his own. Maybe they both need to learn a few things.
intellectually i mostly agree, emotionally mostly just, fuck chase he's the worst i hate him lmao
I can't really disagree about chase and kudzu's relationship arc, and on their own i think they work well together, but since chase is our protagonist in a vn it's hard not to take his romantic failing with leo personally.
i definitely think that leo is too obsessive and intense for bland, noncomittal chase, but it's one of the things that i love most about him, being rather the limerent myself
im glad im not the only one who thinks of leo's good ending as his friends abandoning him for what we can think of as a sort of poor mental health episode, that's fucked up, he deserves better friends (me)
LEO! DOES! DESERVE! BETTER! THAN! CHASE! (again, me ;3)
given the events of tj's route, and the texting thing we find out about in jenna's, i think actually manipulative is spot on
objectively, yes, leo should put himself out there and make more friends and stuff, but like... i just want him all to myself and to be wholly his, personally. I love him how he is now
Yes, but actually no.
Even when the VN is about Chase, let's face it, he is not even close to be what Leo needs. Staying in contact would mean that maybe they would end up trying everything all over again and with just how weak and pathetic Chase can be, he would just wreck even more the wolf. True enough the Leo we love is dead, and still this "I don't want to see you anymore" thing is the cry for help from him. He wants to heal and there is not a future in which these two will be together. Heck that was the whole trigger for everything that happened. And now, let's go back to Leo. He is not perfect either with just how possessive and dangerous he can get. Even when he can protect Chase and make him feel that way. He always ends up creating more problems than he can handle. His impulsiveness always ended up in a dangerous or troublesome situation. They need love? Yeah, only someone else's love. I agree with Jenna, I don't think they should be together even when I was deep down hoping for it.
agreed, agreed, love the possessiveness and dangerousness tho, especially considering i dont think that dangerousness extends to chase (/theoretically me)
I'm not totally finished the VN, but am really enjoying it! It's rare for me to find a piece of media (especially one with so many major characters) where I enjoy reading about pretty much everyone!
One sort of... factual error that's bugging me (having finished Leo's route) is that Clint is described as a "polecat" a few times. Considering that he's called a "ring-tailed cat" or "cat" at other times, this confused me as to what species he was supposed to be.
I would say definitely not a polecat from how he looks, as "polecat" is a non-specific word for some similar ferret or weasel-like species (and Clint looks nothing like, say, Duke). He could pass as a sort of domestic cat, but I'm guessing that he's supposed to be a ringtail/ring-tailed cat considering his large, sideways-facing ears, black-and-white (though noticeably much less fluffy) tail, and the fact that they're a species native to the southern U.S.
Questions:
Who called him as such?
What is the context?
Possibly an insult?
Alright, I'm checking it out again.
Clint is definitely introduced as a ring-tailed cat, but I found the two times where I saw Clint referred to as a "polecat" in Leo's route and it seems to be in Chase's neutral narrative description of him, not as an insult: when he shows up a Brian's trailer, and later when Chase and co. find him at Leo's place.
I LOVE ECHO
DONT BE MEAN TO LEO (hes my daddy)
same, mood, wig, other relevant slang
I'm not being mean to Leo...
What is this???
you are BACK OFF *show craws*
⠀⠀⠀⡯⡯⡾⠝⠘⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢊⠘⡮⣣⠪⠢⡑⡌ ⠀⠀⠀⠟⠝⠈⠀⠀⠀⠡⠀⠠⢈⠠⢐⢠⢂⢔⣐⢄⡂⢔⠀⡁⢉⠸⢨⢑⠕⡌ ⠀⠀⡀⠁⠀⠀⠀⡀⢂⠡⠈⡔⣕⢮⣳⢯⣿⣻⣟⣯⣯⢷⣫⣆⡂⠀⠀⢐⠑⡌ ⢀⠠⠐⠈⠀⢀⢂⠢⡂⠕⡁⣝⢮⣳⢽⡽⣾⣻⣿⣯⡯⣟⣞⢾⢜⢆⠀⡀⠀⠪ ⣬⠂⠀⠀⢀⢂⢪⠨⢂⠥⣺⡪⣗⢗⣽⢽⡯⣿⣽⣷⢿⡽⡾⡽⣝⢎⠀⠀⠀⢡ ⣿⠀⠀⠀⢂⠢⢂⢥⢱⡹⣪⢞⡵⣻⡪⡯⡯⣟⡾⣿⣻⡽⣯⡻⣪⠧⠑⠀⠁⢐ ⣿⠀⠀⠀⠢⢑⠠⠑⠕⡝⡎⡗⡝⡎⣞⢽⡹⣕⢯⢻⠹⡹⢚⠝⡷⡽⡨⠀⠀⢔ ⣿⡯⠀⢈⠈⢄⠂⠂⠐⠀⠌⠠⢑⠱⡱⡱⡑⢔⠁⠀⡀⠐⠐⠐⡡⡹⣪⠀⠀⢘ ⣿⣽⠀⡀⡊⠀⠐⠨⠈⡁⠂⢈⠠⡱⡽⣷⡑⠁⠠⠑⠀⢉⢇⣤⢘⣪⢽⠀⢌⢎ ⣿⢾⠀⢌⠌⠀⡁⠢⠂⠐⡀⠀⢀⢳⢽⣽⡺⣨⢄⣑⢉⢃⢭⡲⣕⡭⣹⠠⢐⢗ ⣿⡗⠀⠢⠡⡱⡸⣔⢵⢱⢸⠈⠀⡪⣳⣳⢹⢜⡵⣱⢱⡱⣳⡹⣵⣻⢔⢅⢬⡷ ⣷⡇⡂⠡⡑⢕⢕⠕⡑⠡⢂⢊⢐⢕⡝⡮⡧⡳⣝⢴⡐⣁⠃⡫⡒⣕⢏⡮⣷⡟ ⣷⣻⣅⠑⢌⠢⠁⢐⠠⠑⡐⠐⠌⡪⠮⡫⠪⡪⡪⣺⢸⠰⠡⠠⠐⢱⠨⡪⡪⡰ ⣯⢷⣟⣇⡂⡂⡌⡀⠀⠁⡂⠅⠂⠀⡑⡄⢇⠇⢝⡨⡠⡁⢐⠠⢀⢪⡐⡜⡪⡊ ⣿⢽⡾⢹⡄⠕⡅⢇⠂⠑⣴⡬⣬⣬⣆⢮⣦⣷⣵⣷⡗⢃⢮⠱⡸⢰⢱⢸⢨⢌ ⣯⢯⣟⠸⣳⡅⠜⠔⡌⡐⠈⠻⠟⣿⢿⣿⣿⠿⡻⣃⠢⣱⡳⡱⡩⢢⠣⡃⠢⠁ ⡯⣟⣞⡇⡿⣽⡪⡘⡰⠨⢐⢀⠢⢢⢄⢤⣰⠼⡾⢕⢕⡵⣝⠎⢌⢪⠪⡘⡌⠀ ⡯⣳⠯⠚⢊⠡⡂⢂⠨⠊⠔⡑⠬⡸⣘⢬⢪⣪⡺⡼⣕⢯⢞⢕⢝⠎⢻⢼⣀⠀ ⠁⡂⠔⡁⡢⠣⢀⠢⠀⠅⠱⡐⡱⡘⡔⡕⡕⣲⡹⣎⡮⡏⡑⢜⢼⡱⢩⣗⣯⣟ ⢀⢂⢑⠀⡂⡃⠅⠊⢄⢑⠠⠑⢕⢕⢝⢮⢺⢕⢟⢮⢊⢢⢱⢄⠃⣇⣞⢞⣞⢾
Don't screenshot me ninja
lmao i think they're just a troll
am i the only one that was really disappointed when chase and carl didnt end up together at the end of carls route?
Yes.
Click on the echo project in the description. He added it, its just not part of the original game it is its own little minnie game. The even have a story for when everyone is still in high school. Before they go there separate ways.
im confused why chase condemns flynn. Especially after I took every action to get closer to the guy. Was Chase having like a psychosis moment and it wasn't really him? or is Chase really just a manipulative bastard?
So there are a few things that might be spoilers if you haven't finished the game yet, so I'll answer as spoiler free first and then spoilers afterward.
When Chase condemns Flynn don't forget that you were only given the one choice to condemn Flynn. This occurs no matter what previous choices you made on the route and it stands out. Keep also in mind the weird moment previously where Chase was hiding in the bathroom and the point of view shifted. As for Chase being a manipulative bastard/having a moment... People like to argue about that. My stance is Chase wasn't really himself at that moment, but I understand why people would think he is a manipulative bastard.
SPOILERS
It is sort of revealed throughout Flynn's route, but heavily explained in Jenna's route, that Chase was possessed by a spirit that is sort of Sam from The Smoke Room (I say sort of cause it gets complicated what exactly it is). Jenna's route further explains that whenever Chase is indecisive (Which he frequently is) Sam would step in and make the choice for him (with us essentially acting as Sam by making the choice). This also means that the choices presented are not fully Chase's but options given to him by Sam/the Player. What Chase does after a choice is made is somewhat his own actions, but its hard to say how much of Chase's actions are really his own due to the possession.
I guess that makes sense. Still sucks, I wanted an actual good end with Flynn but I guess that can't be done if he killed syd? Shucks
The good ending is with Echo Interactive Short Story: Benefits.
I heard it's short, is it the same length as Route 65?
Try it out?
he does not DEVERSE a good ending HES RACIST
You can answer that last question on TJ's route.
BECAUSE FLYNN is a consertive that WAY
I mostly agree.
I found Carl's route and Leo's route to be the most natural feeling.
I just can't hate Leo though... I can't hate Chase either.
I found Jenna's route to be the most unnatural feeling. Like you said she's manipulative and such. Her route did change my view of her somewhat and it does tie lots of things together and has the best ending. But I still don't like Jenna very much.
I finally have enough free time to play this VN.
Any suggestions on which route I should play first? And how many days do I have to play? a week?
I would suggest to play Carl's route first and leave TJ and Flynn's route for the last, the rest of them, play at hearts content
Oh okay, do you know where the route split starts?
the fight at the river, also i'd recommend playing leo before jenna
Okay noted, thanks
Make a save before the split.
Also, I don't recommend Leo's route unless you're prepared for major mindfuckery.
Personally my favorite is Leo, Carl's and Flynn's route where very good too. Haven't finished the other characters yet.
Yeah take the warnings seriously...
Imma play this when i have more space for my phone...
anyone knows how to read it in ios?
Girlboss Gaslight Gatekeep
Each route is insanely great, with side characters just enhancing the story in a beneficial way. Not a single character written poorly by any means. Me gusta. I can't believe there are no more updates to this game. It's honestly so great. I wish there were more :( but after all, there has to be an end.
Meanwhile, Arches...
Got anymore cute pictures to share, good sir? 😎😎🤔🤔
Awwww😍😍😍 thank you, you made my morning. 🙂🙂
+600mb? How many hours this VN have? (Just asking to be prepared...)
It's been a bit since I played the game through in its entirety, but I remember taking a couple of weeks reading it for between 2-4 hours a night. I would say there is at least 30 hours worth of reading material, though its probably close to 40 if you play all routes and try to get all the endings.
Going through one route though should take between 8-10 hours, with subsequent playthroughs being shorter as you can skip over the first 2.5 days, until you reach the point the story initially branches.
Oh, alright! Thanks! You're awesome!
How is it that each time I do a new route it makes me feel worse on the inside then the last one?
I'm going to have to find a new VN to cheer me up. If anyone has any good suggestions I'd love to hear them!(maybe something a little more upbeat?)
ps. I'm still crying...
how about... Tennis Ace?
I won't spoiler any from here, but i can promise its more upbeat than that (still have some sad scenes, but not as much as Echo)
and this vn is still in development so its not completed yet.
also i know that you asked for it a month ago, but i still wanted to help (somehow)
So, hope it helped!
Glory hounds
Jesus this is the best visual novel I've played to date (and probably for long after), first entry into the horror side for me, and I may now have an addiction for the unknown. Man I loved Jenna's route. Sad its ended but lets hope we get to see the characters again in new releases!
could someone explain to me the dead leaf meaning in Leo's route?
Me playing Echo was like: OMG!! I'm officially disturbed at all and I want to cry.
Me playing Adastra was like: My feelings have been destroyed and I am now burning inside. I am not hurt. I am destroyed!!
Echo Project, how is it that you know how to destroy us?
my download file says it's forbidden :(( aaa can anybody help me?
Mine says it too, what works for me is that I keep trying, eventually my device gives in. 😂😂
I'm... wow. Flabbergasted by just how incredible this VN is. After playing though every route, I can say with certainty this is the best VN that I have ever played, and probably ever will. That said, heed that content warning; this is not for everyone. If you could be potentially triggered by sensitive subjects, themes, or images, you must put your own health first and keep yourself away from this. It goes to some incredibly dark places.
With that in mind, I'd like to, without spoiling anything, convince you to play this if you feel capable of doing so. Firstly, I must sing the praises of the writing, as of course that is the crux of any good visual novel: the writing is stellar. Very minimal grammar mistakes and typos, firstly, and beyond that surface-level, there is so much depth behind the writing. This is paced beautifully. Within I'd say 15 minutes, this story had its hooks in me. Its introduction has a way of feeding you just enough information to get your curiosity piqued, in probably the most natural way I've ever seen any VN do so. The narration feels very genuine, natural, like one's own inner monologue, and every new piece of info from the narrator is mentioned as if it's already understood, leaving you, the reader, with oodles of questions that spur you further into the narrative, seeking answers.
Then we have all of the characters... and wow. Every single one is extremely well-rounded and expertly written. You can feel and understand every one of them, their actions and behaviors consistent with their own personalities and the situations they're put in at every moment, and each one, including those that are minor and seemingly inconsequential, are deeper than they first seem. You will fall in love with at least the main cast if you play through all routes, which you will need to in order to fully understand the underlying story, which brings me to my next point.
You're always moving in circles. This is the thematic center of this game... and you as a player are forced to embody it, if you wish to get to the bottom of this story. You will have to return to the beginning, you will have to retrace your steps, you will have to move yourself and this world in circles if you want any chance at understanding it... and it is brilliant. I first properly picked this game up around 2 weeks ago... and I wasn't comfortable leaving it untouched for more than a couple days, because Echo has this insidious draw to it. And I adore that. Let this game suck you into it, and let yourself get captivated by the town of Echo. This game will leave a lasting impact on you, in my opinion for the better.
As a final note, my personal recommendation for the order of character routes is as follows: Carl, Leo, Flynn, TJ, Jenna. Carl's route is a more gentle descent into madness than the rest, and it should tell you whether you're interested in the rest of the routes, and then Jenna's ending is probably the best, most positive send-off you could hope for from this trying experience. But of course, your journey through the town of Echo is your own... and you'll come back. They always do.
Could someone help me clarify what happened at the end of Flynn's route? I am so confused. 🤔🤔
Spoiler
The evil of Echo took advantage of his need to seek the truth, in the end he became Socket man and began to, sort of, travel through time. Every time you see Socket man, well.... That's Flynn....
Right, but what happened to him before that? He was at the Lake then...Confusion.🤔🤔
spoiler
Ok, let me recapitulate a bit (I may be a little bit off tracks 'cause I only went through it once.
He went to the mines, got burned, saw all echo, somehow got transported back when salamander boy saw him and he tried to rescue him, then got taken to the lake and that's when TJ saw him just before what happened to Sydney, then got transported waaaay back when Carl's ancestor pinned his crimes on his lover and his lover got hanged. Basically the evil was just transporting him here and there taking his conscience, Flynn sometimes remembering who he was, but mostly was not in a sort of auto-pilot. At least that is what I gathered. Don't know if that answers....a bit at least haha.
Do I want to read it? Yes.
Am I to scared to finish it? Absolutly yes.
Overall realy good writting from what I manage to read, but it's gonna take me few more months to finish since I need to brave up a bit.
Holy cow!
I did NOT expect to see that thing MOVE, IT SCARED THE LIFE OUT OF ME!
Someone told me that before playing TSR, it's good to play this VN first. Actually I don't know for sure what the reason is but I'll keep playing it...hehehe
So, do you guys have any suggestions, which character route should I play? Please?
I suggest to leave TJ and Flynn’s route at the end, otherwise you can play whatever.
Play Carl's route first, it's not that impactful, but keep in mind what Toasty said.
Okay, thanks guys. I'll keep that in mind.
I don't think I'll ever be forgetting how much this has affected me. Something about Leo's route, the entire thing really but especially the finale parts; it stuck with me. There's just a certain level of tragedy to it all that produces this uneasiness I can't seem to shake off, even a damn week later. Not sure whether I actually liked some decisions this went with or not, but I truly would not wish this dark depressing feeling this shit gives you on my worst enemy.
It's all about detachment, sometimes you just need to let go something that it's clearly hurting you.
I suppose you're right. Even still though, I'm not sure the ending really gave the closure I was hoping for, if that makes sense. It felt like I was in the final act and then it just... ended. I guess it just felt really unfulfilling to me, especially with what happened with Leo.
Personally, even though Leo was acting all toxic, controlling everything and outright lying to you, I felt something for the wolf and yes, I felt horrible at the idea of Chase never talking to him ever again. But then again, it's something that must happen for a healing to begin
It's a matter of perspective. Like, I see the message it was trying to convey with having them separate, but I still felt discomforted by it. Sure, being apart will help them both, but is that really it? No other choices? That ending gave a sense of complete hopelessness that I just can't understand. It just leaves this awkward bitter taste in my mouth.
There are ‘good’ endings depending on which route you are on. It really depends on what you define as good if the ending will be good or not.
I’m curious as to which ending broke your heart. I have a few guesses but I don’t want to ruin any of the routes for you.
Spoilers
Typically most people agree that one of the endings of Jenna’s route is good, though it’s not a perfect ending for everyone in story.
There may not be a "good" ending in a route, you must face this like it is. A journey through hell into madness.
He is a wolf and if the good ending got you like that, I don't know what will the bad ending do to you...
Baby Boy by Hot Freaks is so """good""" ending Leo
Just a fair warning, this game is way more fucked up than I thought it would be. The trigger warning should be taken seriously.
I'm guessing you reached Leo's Route bad ending...
Sooooo are they planning to develop part 2 of Echo?
Yeah, it's called Arches. The prequel is called The Smoke Room. Both aren't finished yet.
what about route 65 is it before or after Smoke Room
Route 65 is short prequel to Echo that gives a bit more background to what happened to the group. The route you choose in 65 is supposed to lead in to your choice of person to follow in Echo.
is there official ages or birthdays for the characters?
The events of Echo take place during Spring break of 2015 (So likely mid March). I mention this as some people's ages could be affected if they had an early birthday.
Chase is 21 years old, and in the events of Route 65 he is 15 during November 1st, 2008. It is likely Chase has a birthday between Late April and November and was born in 1993. (The wiki says he is 22, but that conflicts with him stating that he is 21 in a few scenes and some stuff Carl says)
Leo is 23 years old, and I believe that there was a scene where it was mentioned that he chose to celebrate Carl's birthday on Wednesday as Carl's is the closest, with Leo's already having passed and been a month prior. If this is correct, Leo was born in either January or February of 1991.
Jenna's age is not stated outright, but when the group was in school together, she was a year above Chase and year below Leo. She is likely 22 or 23 during the events of Echo. I can't make a guess as to what month she was born, but it likely is later in the year and not in March or April and was born in either 1992 or 1993.
TJ, baby of the group, is 19 years old. He is stated to be 2 years younger than Chase and is finishing up his first year of College when the game takes place. This is also brought up in Route 65, where TJ is only 13 years old. He was likely born in 1995, though he could be a 1996 baby instead.
Flynn is the oldest member of the gang and is 25 years old. This is reinforced with the events of Route 65 with Flynn already working with his Aunt and not being in High School, most likely having graduated in 2007. Depending on what month he was born, Flynn was born in either 1990 or 1989.
Carl is the only member who birthday is relatively set, being around late April (stated to be the end of next month, so this assumes the game takes place in mid March). Most likely Carl was born late April of 1993, however there are a few conflicting details. According to the wiki Carl is 21, however, there is a scene where Carl mentions that he cannot legally drink alcohol yet. This also conflicts with Carl being Chase's age, as being 20 would make Carl a year younger than Chase and likely put him in a grade lower. In Route 65, Carl mentions looking forward to driving, which would happen next year if he was 15 in 2008.
MINOR SPOILERS for the next Person
Sydney was shown to be either Chase and Carl's age, or a year younger than them, meaning he was likely born in 1993 or 1994, depending on when his birthday was. While I cannot give you an exact month for his birth, I can give an approximation for his death. In Route 65 it is mentioned by Chase that the group had to go back to school after Sydney's funeral. As they had been swimming in Lake Emma it is likely that Sydney drowned in Early to mid August of 2003. This would also match with the information that his father died 6 months prior on a hunting trip. When we are shown the hunting trip, it is described as a colder time of the year and Sydney and his father have to put on warmer coats. Mr. Bronson likely died in February of 2003.
If I have anything wrong, let me know and I'll fix this post! Also feel free to check the wiki, but beware of spoilers: Echo (Visual Novel) | Echo Project Wiki | Fandom
I have only finished two of the routes so far and can say I'm loving the experience. I won't write a review just yet but I will Voice one gripe with Leos route. There seems to be only one character picture of Kudzu. Considering how emotional and crucial his role is, The default arms crossed stance clashes with many moments where the slightest inflection of an eyebrow or change of stance would express so much more. Could this be considered for future updates? Pretty please. He's really important to the feels.
Replaced the mediafire download link with an itch.io one. Should fix your issue. - McSkinny