ECHO: Secrets of the Lost Cavern Critic Reviews

The game presents an epic storyline of knowledge and history, breathtaking music and ambiance, and a beautiful, photo-realistic world to explore steeped in a rich back-story of factual information from one of the earliest time periods in human civilization.

Perhaps the most unique addition toEcho is its documentary database.

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

It is a charming title that is far from flawless but will provide 10-15 hours of gaming that will be unique and enjoyable from the beautiful graphics to the novel puzzles to the striking soundscapes.

The premise is totally original and the presentation is flawless, and you can’t help but leave the game knowing more about prehistoric man and the time in which he lived.

For twenty bucks you could do worse. Get it, play it, and enjoy it. Heck, you might even learn something.

Sadly this particular adventure seemed to be on the short side. Keen adventurers will probably polish this one off on only a few sittings.

Playing Echo is fun, but the game is fairly short, and the puzzles aren't always interesting, although many of them are engaging.

It is beautifully crafted, with only a few noticeable issues. If there were one real flaw to the game, it would be its length – it's too short! It was over somewhat abruptly, and I found myself wanting more.

As Myst-style adventure games go, Secret of the Lost Cavern is certainly one of the better ones, and some may find the puzzles a little more approachable than in that venerable series, even if the visuals are a little less fantastic.

ECHO is polished and technically well done. The prehistoric setting is new in adventure games, and although the game's educational slant may not appeal to everyone, most of the background reading is optional. If you like your games puzzle-heavy and story-light, ECHO is for you.

Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern doesn't stretch the boundaries of game making, and there is nothing really new to be encountered, but it is a polished and well made product that provides good solid gaming and a pleasant weekend adventuring.

It plays it too safe and as a results is just a little too familiar and uninspired.

Secret Of The Lost Cavern is an interesting and inspiring environment with stunning visuals, but sadly there is very little gameplay hidden beneath these lovely looks, which is after all, the crucial aspect of any decent game.

For 99% of the game, each and every puzzle feels absolutely wonderfully worked, giving you the right amount of pleasure, for just the right amount of thought and work required. But this concentration on the puzzle aspect has only served to the detriment of the storyline, which is alarmingly simplistic and lacking on that depth that the likes of Still Life and Fahrenheit have in abundance.

In Echo, people are open and straightforward, concealing nothing. As a fan of human complexity, I would find such a world dull. I take a perverse pleasure in those moments when the mask slips off. If I have to live in a world devoid of newspaper articles about cross-dressing senators, let the aliens have it all.

A by-the-numbers adventure game...and a pretty short one at that.

The only thing that separates Echo from any other adventure title is the setting. Everything else is exactly the same, boring, uninspired, and good ol'sleep inducing fun.

It’s not a terrifically engaging or lengthy experience, but with its compelling puzzles and interesting atmosphere you could certainly do much worse if you’re looking for some adventure.

Utterly standard adventure devoid of novelty.