The biggest question adventure fans will have when considering “Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern” will be “how does it stand out from other adventure games such as the Myst Series?” Many games seem to completely copy the entire Myst premise but gamers will be happy to know that this isn't the case for this game. Echo is different because it takes a realistic--with some reservation--and educational approach to the Paleolithic period. After finishing the game, my overall impression is that it is a great game for both younger gamers and fans of the adventure genre who do not want to spend a bundle.

You are Arok, a teenager who, while hunting a stag (an adult male deer) one day encounters a mountain lion. The mountain lion was originally hunting the same stag that you were. You are forced to take shelter in a nearby cave in fear of the beast. The lion has you cornered and your first objective is to find a way to deter the lion from attacking and to drive it away. While looking for supplies and materials in the cave, you discover a painting on the wall which is very familiar to you. An image you have on a stone that was given to you by a man named Klem when you were at a much younger age matches the image in the cave. Flashbacks remind you of this cave painter and drive you to explore other caves in the area. This sudden increase in inspiration causes you to continue your exploration and in no time you're hot on Klem's trail. Not only are you searching for Klem but this is your first time away from your band of people. You learn how to provide for yourself and also pick up a new painting hobby. This is a time in history where common language was absent and paintings and drawings were often used to communicate.

“You learn how to provide for yourself and also pick up a new painting hobby.”

Gamplay
Echo is a standard point-and-click adventure game with pre-rendered graphics and a multitude of puzzles. You begin the game alone but later encounter a few other characters along the way. One of the biggest things that impressed me with the game was the load times. I'd fire up the game to start up where I left off and I was taken to that save point almost instantly. That being said, the majority of your time will be spent solving puzzles in this game.

 

While some of the puzzles can be rather confusing and somewhat time consuming, others are extremely simple. One of the things that bugged me a little was the fact that sometimes I knew what I needed to do, however my character needed to “learn” how to do it first. It wasn't too much of a problem but when it comes to making something as simple as a spear or slingshot, I would think it would be common knowledge in the particular era the game is set in. While there is a largely realistic aspect to the entire game, many of the puzzles are quite the opposite. There are many occasions where you will have to move, flip and change the colors of certain paintings on the walls of caves. Many of these paintings also move around on the walls when you finish them. This is kind of the point of the game – to bring forth “the spirits” from the cavern walls--but it definitely takes away from the realism that is presented.

In game you have access to an informational area as well as a journal. The journal is good to look back at in case you forget what you are involved with; for instance, if you load a save point after not playing for a long period. The info area gives you educational materials on the actual historic findings of the Lascaux cave and other things related to the Paleolithic time period. While some of the information can be helpful--you can read as much or little as you please in this menu--it is interesting to see how realistic the caves and the paintings are to the real thing.

“...when it comes to making something as simple as a spear or slingshot, I would think it would be common knowledge in the particular era the game is set in.”

As you progress through the game you find and collect different items that you will usually later need. You have access to these items through an inventory menu which is simple enough to operate. Another thing that frustrated me in Echo was the construction of certain objects. To put simple tools, weapons, and such together you need to select objects from the inventory and put things down--usually on a flat rock--in a certain order. It wasn't clear why or what the order always was and there wasn't much help if you were missing a piece.

Graphics
Similar to other first person point-and-click adventure games, all of the graphics are pre-rendered. While some people might consider this to be the old way that adventure games are done, Echo comes off looking very nice overall. I did notice that some things such as fire, water and additional things further in the distance look a little hazy or grainy but it didn't distract me from the overall picture. Even though Arok looks a little strange, the other characters and modeling are well done.

“...Echo comes off looking very nice overall.”

Not only are the graphics in the game good but the cutscenes, with the exception of one, are quite impressive. The one that really didn't look the greatest was right at the beginning when your character sees the stag running and then sees the mountain lion in pursuit of it. There was something in the scene that just didn't quite look right insofar as the movement of the animals' legs. It gave me a questionable impression before even starting the game. The rest of the videos proved me wrong, though, and I found myself looking forward to them as I ventured through the caves and the countryside.

 

 

Another thing I noticed right away was that the resolution on the intro scenes and in the videos seemed higher than most games. It definitely added to the game and I'm glad that more game developers are rolling out footage in these higher resolutions. One of the many advantages that PCs have over the current consoles is that they are able to produce “high definition” images if the user has the correct monitor and connection.

Also (before I forget) it is important to note how accurate the in-game cave paintings are to the real thing. There doesn't seem to be an overflow of information, (after a quick Google search) but checking the wikipedia page on the Lascaux cave and comparing it to the paintings in the game you can begin to understand what kind of research went in to creating Echo.

Sound
I thought that all of the sounds and music were very well done throughout the entire game. The in-game music was a semi-prehistoric rendering that was appropriate for the certain settings in which the game takes place. The music that stands out the most to me was present in the meadow area. It gave a relaxed feeling and added to the visual beauty of the place. I also noticed that the sounds from bugs, fire, and water (just to name a few) were realistic and furthered my overall impression.

“The in-game music was a semi-prehistoric rendering that was appropriate for the certain settings in which the game takes place.”

Replay Value
I had to give out a low replay value score because of how surprisingly short Echo is (please note the price--below--however). The storyline is pretty straightforward and there isn't anything different that the player will catch if he or she decides to play it over again. If the game was longer or if the story had more depth, had more challenging encounters, and more characters I would be much more forgiving here.

Overall, the game is a straightforward puzzle game. Once you solve the puzzles there doesn't seem like much of a point in returning to them again.

Conclusion
As I stated above I got the feeling that the game would be great for a younger audience, probably those that are twelve to seventeen, because of the realistic information that is presented. I also think that most adventure fans would be able to enjoy this short but good game by Kheops Studios. At a price of only twenty dollars, I think the game is worth it to these groups of people. I enjoyed the game for the most part and I consider myself to be a fan of the adventure genre.

Echo does set itself apart from the common Myst clone and has many characteristics of a great game.

“At a price of only twenty dollars, I think the game is worth it...”