This game is soooo good. I can't put it into words how dedicated I felt to all the characters and wanted the main gang to do well. On my first route I went for TJ and I'm not entirely sure how I felt about the ending and was gonna delete until I read a comment about how heart breaking Leo's route was and had to play again. I was kinda expecting a simular experience but it's completely different and there's just so much effort put into this game that I had to experience everything. Now I think I've seen pretty much everything there is to see (There's one for each character exept Leo who has two I think but if there's somehow more please tell) and now I'm probably gonna obsess about them all an unhealthy amount. I loved the references to Adastra btw and this game has inpired me to try and get back into art again (definitely tons of Leo fan art). Sorry for this long ass rant but it comes from the heart.
I would say Carls was good for Chase and Carl, but noone else, Jenna's route is the best ending IMO, Leo and Chase end their relationship for good, Jenna is moving on, Flynn is moving on, Carl is struggling but will move on with the help of Flynn, TJ is moving on.
the feelings are hitting again, i love leo so much, fuck chase and fuck both leo's endings for breaking him in different ways, i feel like i was meant to be his just as he is
obvi great game tho im not saying its not and objectively his route is good it just makes my heart hurt
I wish he got a better ending. Leo has problems but I don't think its anything a therapist couldn't fix. I wish they gave you a option to talk Leo just getting Leo to jump on the train
i don't know where else to put this so i will put as little spoilers as possible....... in "Carl-Mansion2.rpy:0291 there is a spelling error "I looks up in time..."
if there is a better place to send these kind of things lmk but i couldn't find anything
MAAAAAAN it's so well done, the music, the drawings, de characters. It's everything so well used for creating tense atmosphere(and destroying it lol). I still didn't finished my first go, but hell there are so many mixed feelings in my brain. 10/10 One of the best visual novels I ever played (if not the best). PD: if you didn't play it yet, be careful with this comments section for spoilers ;)
i think i might go after tj next but i'll wait a week. i need to recover from getting my legs chopped off by a train.
i also want to try and forget the feeling of wanting to reach through the screen and slap chase across the face when he lied to lynn but eh whatever i suppose.
Oh yeah, that ending. That one got me depressed and disturbed. And don't think about why you have feelings for the lizard. You will end up having feelings for everyone.
ya well... it wasn't really the ending the disturbed me too much. ending of leo's route... it was mainly all the lying that chase has done, at least relatively speaking that is mostly what was disturbing to me.
i swear he couldn't have gone 3 seconds XD without either straight up lying or lying by omission, it just happened to be particularly annoying to me when he lied there to lynn though that isn't really a major point where things could have been different.
From my experience with Echo I went into it with this impression that felt as though people were saying things about one particular character or another. But the more time I spent with it, the more I realised how the town itself ... the darkness that pervades it, like an indelible mark, manipulating and taunting all of the characters in various ways, it really was the one in the driver's seat. I came to end up pitying and empathising with all of the characters and what they went through. So many terrible scenarios and situations beating them down over and over. It's a wonder they did as well as they did for so long.
I don't really blame any of them, I know if it were me I'd have left as soon as anything freaky or terrible happened. Echo seems like a nightmare to live. One way too many never escape.
Hi guys! I just finished all routes (this took a few sleepless nights, energy drinks and missing assignments in college but I guess it's worth it??). I wanna make sure I understand the story completely so I have some questions. If someone could explain a few things to me - would be great! Spoilers, obvi.
So, first of all. Did TJ actually remember Chase drowning Sydney but decided not to tell anyone... or did he really "forget" that because of how traumatic this experience was for him? I just find it weird that he never mentions this except for Flynn's route.
Another thing. That pinkish flat-faced monster with holes for eyes and mouth?? I just don't know how to call it. Is it actually Flynn? Near the end of his route he gets burned alive in the cave... And both TJ and Jenna mention that this monster looks like a burned person. And because we basically see "through monsters eyes" during Flynn's route it makes it kinda obvious, but still... How is that even possible? Why is he still "alive"? What's even his purpose?
And one last thing. The most important one for me, I think. When TJ finally tells the story about how Sydney drowned, he mentions this "burned man". Well, our monster. And if I understand it correctly, the monster appears and prevents the murder of someone who's dying unjustly. Like, when Brian tries to kill Chase in the cave, or when Brian tries to hang Micha. Pretty sure there're more examples but I can't remember. So. If it actually appeared while Chase was drowning Sydney... Why didn't it kill Chase? It killed no one, so why did it even appear? Why was it necessary to mention it's apperance if it did nothing?
So so sorry for my awful grammar, my first language is Russian. Hope you didn't have a stroke reading this. Thank you in advance for replies.
I highly recomend you either replay the game or look back on scenes that confuse you or both because that shit helped me a lot and i recommend you try to come up with your own conclusions as well.
1. the thing with TJ is MOSTLY ambiguous wether or not he remeber what happened or not since the game is well know for letting the reader put the peices together themselves, I think he doesn't remember what happened to sydney but he knows the version of it he told wasnt true. In flynn and (especially)Leo's route after he almost drowns and chase saves him (which he doesn't in flynns route) he begins remembering what happened and starts looking at chase weird. In flynns route his reason why he didn't tell what he actually remembers was because he saw the socketman ( thats what the fanbase calls the monster) and he did tell people what happened but no one beleived him because of him seeing this monster so he never bothers. In TJ's route I think an incident that happens to TJ off screen that not only causes him to make the scavenger hunt but also seems to make him remember what happen (most likely a possesion of some sort).
2. so the whole flynn thing is still tough the explain, the gist of it is that flynns going through what could be interpreted as time travel or a eternal vision/limbo like state that isn't actually real or a combanation of both where he's seeing all of these fucked up things that happened in the town and the significance of this is his desire to know what happened gets taken advantage of and he get into this situation where he's now able to see everything about the horrors of echo and esentially becomes appart of the hystaria in the town but is denied seeing what actually happened to sydney, the whole reason why he went this far in the first place. I say it's tough to explain because both possibilitys of flynn being or not being socketman have contradictions and it's intentionly not supose to be fully understood since even flynn himself has no clue what's going on but just goes with the ride hoping to get to the truth.
3. socket mans motive is never understood or mentioned if it has one. I think that socket man is a amalgamation of all or most the people who have ties with echo and died in the town (flynn becoming one of them at the end of his route) and some times random people control it. What seems to be the biggest idea with the fans is that every time the gang gets there asses saved by socketman is that it's flynn from the end his route.
1.- TJ remembers, but decides to keep quiet to "prevent more troubles". Remember that he is just against any sort of violence. That and the fact that Sydney was basically killing him and Chase saved him.
2.- Yeah Socket man is Flynn, there is not really a purpose of his own, although he do regains control every now and then. But the "evil of echo" is mainly in control. (There are theories that this evil might be "the other" mentioned in Adastra series.)
3.- And no, I don't think he is there to prevent someone to be unjustly killed, he did not prevented Carl's predecessor to kill his lover, and in Leo's route he does not prevent Chase's death. He exists to protect Echo secrets, the evil and curse of Echo exists because of them, and as long as those exists, the evil can feed.
At least that is my understanding of things. If I misunderstood something please correct me.
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!
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I did TJ's route first.
When I tell you T R A U M A, I mean it.
What a fantastic VN.
I’ve just finished my first playthrough. I don’t think I’ll be going again. That was a lot, I just wanted him to be happy
FLYNN, OH FLYNN
I'm so sorry! I played with your emotions, and I feel so bad right now
This game, it broke me and i feel like a fail this people
im not into visual novels or atlist wasnt given this is my first, im without words how good this is.
i finish flynn story, my reptile man needs more love that ending hurt emotionaly and phisically
I did Leo's route first. Of course! Poignant.
I'm in Jenna's route. WTF?!?!!?!?!?!
I think I'll do Flynn next. Edit: Oh...oh,my. Such...feelings. i cried. Hard.
It just keeps getting worse!
Carl is next.
This game is soooo good. I can't put it into words how dedicated I felt to all the characters and wanted the main gang to do well. On my first route I went for TJ and I'm not entirely sure how I felt about the ending and was gonna delete until I read a comment about how heart breaking Leo's route was and had to play again. I was kinda expecting a simular experience but it's completely different and there's just so much effort put into this game that I had to experience everything. Now I think I've seen pretty much everything there is to see (There's one for each character exept Leo who has two I think but if there's somehow more please tell) and now I'm probably gonna obsess about them all an unhealthy amount. I loved the references to Adastra btw and this game has inpired me to try and get back into art again (definitely tons of Leo fan art). Sorry for this long ass rant but it comes from the heart.
jenna and carl both also have two endings
i'm new to Echo and i'm wondering: is there an ending where you can get out madness-free of this horrible town
The closest to that is in Leo's good ending and by what others say (haven't done it myself) Jenna's good ending.
SPOILERS
========
Carl's is pretty 'good', I mean, like, no one's dead, crazy, missing, and there's generally a positive mood.
SPOILERS (duh)
I would say Carls was good for Chase and Carl, but noone else, Jenna's route is the best ending IMO, Leo and Chase end their relationship for good, Jenna is moving on, Flynn is moving on, Carl is struggling but will move on with the help of Flynn, TJ is moving on.
I guess Jenna's ending is the best one. Leo's good ending can make you feel like sh$t if unprepared
What is this game screen size?
Is it really a square or my pc is broken?
Square with black to the left and right? That's normal i think.
the town of echo reminds me of a combination of Oklahoma, big bend national park, and Arizona.
the feelings are hitting again, i love leo so much, fuck chase and fuck both leo's endings for breaking him in different ways, i feel like i was meant to be his just as he is
obvi great game tho im not saying its not and objectively his route is good it just makes my heart hurt
I wish he got a better ending. Leo has problems but I don't think its anything a therapist couldn't fix. I wish they gave you a option to talk Leo just getting Leo to jump on the train
i understand the thematic reasons why the didnt, but it doesn't make it any less upsetting
i don't know where else to put this so i will put as little spoilers as possible....... in "Carl-Mansion2.rpy:0291 there is a spelling error "I looks up in time..."
if there is a better place to send these kind of things lmk but i couldn't find anything
MAAAAAAN it's so well done, the music, the drawings, de characters. It's everything so well used for creating tense atmosphere(and destroying it lol). I still didn't finished my first go, but hell there are so many mixed feelings in my brain. 10/10 One of the best visual novels I ever played (if not the best).
PD: if you didn't play it yet, be careful with this comments section for spoilers ;)
holy fuck that intro. that sense of mystery has gripped on me like a leach holy fuck
It's been a long time since reading something has griped me as hard as this has, holy shit. 10/10 I think I need to rest my mind.
i thought my first time through was bad.
well second time through is bad in a different way i guess.
eh, why do i have to have feelings for that damn lizard :(
anyways... i suppose i should take a break while i think about who my next target should be.
i think i might go after tj next but i'll wait a week. i need to recover from getting my legs chopped off by a train.
i also want to try and forget the feeling of wanting to reach through the screen and slap chase across the face when he lied to lynn but eh whatever i suppose.
Oh yeah, that ending. That one got me depressed and disturbed. And don't think about why you have feelings for the lizard. You will end up having feelings for everyone.
ya well... it wasn't really the ending the disturbed me too much. ending of leo's route...
it was mainly all the lying that chase has done, at least relatively speaking that is mostly what was disturbing to me.
i swear he couldn't have gone 3 seconds XD without either straight up lying or lying by omission,
it just happened to be particularly annoying to me when he lied there to lynn though that isn't really a major point where things could have been different.
From my experience with Echo I went into it with this impression that felt as though people were saying things about one particular character or another. But the more time I spent with it, the more I realised how the town itself ... the darkness that pervades it, like an indelible mark, manipulating and taunting all of the characters in various ways, it really was the one in the driver's seat. I came to end up pitying and empathising with all of the characters and what they went through. So many terrible scenarios and situations beating them down over and over. It's a wonder they did as well as they did for so long.
I don't really blame any of them, I know if it were me I'd have left as soon as anything freaky or terrible happened. Echo seems like a nightmare to live. One way too many never escape.
Hi guys! I just finished all routes (this took a few sleepless nights, energy drinks and missing assignments in college but I guess it's worth it??). I wanna make sure I understand the story completely so I have some questions. If someone could explain a few things to me - would be great! Spoilers, obvi.
So, first of all. Did TJ actually remember Chase drowning Sydney but decided not to tell anyone... or did he really "forget" that because of how traumatic this experience was for him? I just find it weird that he never mentions this except for Flynn's route.
Another thing. That pinkish flat-faced monster with holes for eyes and mouth?? I just don't know how to call it. Is it actually Flynn? Near the end of his route he gets burned alive in the cave... And both TJ and Jenna mention that this monster looks like a burned person. And because we basically see "through monsters eyes" during Flynn's route it makes it kinda obvious, but still... How is that even possible? Why is he still "alive"? What's even his purpose?
And one last thing. The most important one for me, I think. When TJ finally tells the story about how Sydney drowned, he mentions this "burned man". Well, our monster. And if I understand it correctly, the monster appears and prevents the murder of someone who's dying unjustly. Like, when Brian tries to kill Chase in the cave, or when Brian tries to hang Micha. Pretty sure there're more examples but I can't remember. So. If it actually appeared while Chase was drowning Sydney... Why didn't it kill Chase? It killed no one, so why did it even appear? Why was it necessary to mention it's apperance if it did nothing?
So so sorry for my awful grammar, my first language is Russian. Hope you didn't have a stroke reading this. Thank you in advance for replies.
I highly recomend you either replay the game or look back on scenes that confuse you or both because that shit helped me a lot and i recommend you try to come up with your own conclusions as well.
1. the thing with TJ is MOSTLY ambiguous wether or not he remeber what happened or not since the game is well know for letting the reader put the peices together themselves, I think he doesn't remember what happened to sydney but he knows the version of it he told wasnt true. In flynn and (especially)Leo's route after he almost drowns and chase saves him (which he doesn't in flynns route) he begins remembering what happened and starts looking at chase weird. In flynns route his reason why he didn't tell what he actually remembers was because he saw the socketman ( thats what the fanbase calls the monster) and he did tell people what happened but no one beleived him because of him seeing this monster so he never bothers. In TJ's route I think an incident that happens to TJ off screen that not only causes him to make the scavenger hunt but also seems to make him remember what happen (most likely a possesion of some sort).
2. so the whole flynn thing is still tough the explain, the gist of it is that flynns going through what could be interpreted as time travel or a eternal vision/limbo like state that isn't actually real or a combanation of both where he's seeing all of these fucked up things that happened in the town and the significance of this is his desire to know what happened gets taken advantage of and he get into this situation where he's now able to see everything about the horrors of echo and esentially becomes appart of the hystaria in the town but is denied seeing what actually happened to sydney, the whole reason why he went this far in the first place. I say it's tough to explain because both possibilitys of flynn being or not being socketman have contradictions and it's intentionly not supose to be fully understood since even flynn himself has no clue what's going on but just goes with the ride hoping to get to the truth.
3. socket mans motive is never understood or mentioned if it has one. I think that socket man is a amalgamation of all or most the people who have ties with echo and died in the town (flynn becoming one of them at the end of his route) and some times random people control it. What seems to be the biggest idea with the fans is that every time the gang gets there asses saved by socketman is that it's flynn from the end his route.
Jeez, ok here it goes
1.- TJ remembers, but decides to keep quiet to "prevent more troubles". Remember that he is just against any sort of violence. That and the fact that Sydney was basically killing him and Chase saved him.
2.- Yeah Socket man is Flynn, there is not really a purpose of his own, although he do regains control every now and then. But the "evil of echo" is mainly in control. (There are theories that this evil might be "the other" mentioned in Adastra series.)
3.- And no, I don't think he is there to prevent someone to be unjustly killed, he did not prevented Carl's predecessor to kill his lover, and in Leo's route he does not prevent Chase's death. He exists to protect Echo secrets, the evil and curse of Echo exists because of them, and as long as those exists, the evil can feed.
At least that is my understanding of things. If I misunderstood something please correct me.
Considering you can see Adastra's palace on a TV screen (I don't remember when or where exactly), it would be fun if the Socketman was the Other xD
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*
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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!