Oh yes, I believe you that Leo's route is the darkest one. It is the route I played. I didn't even know that the others are available as routes, it didn't seem like it. (I know I said that before)
So, you had the ending were Chase looses his legs and after this accident (...) he wokes up beside Leo in Leo's bed and Leo says he loves him amd will protect him or so something. This is pretty much everything.
This is so surreal and unrealistic and unlogic. That's what I dislike about this VN. Not only that scene of course.
I don't quite see the difference between “darkness“ and “horror“. if you mean that their minds get tortured and not their bodies, something like that, then I agree. It is as if they were in a simulation of some kind, captured in their own brains. I have no idea how to describe it. The whole story, city and characters seem almost, yes, surreal. There's a possibility that Echo is seperated from the real world in a way, like in Blackgate and Stranger Things too and once they are there they can't leave. Another idea would be Chase is only dreaming, though this “solution“ is too boring and lame. The developers could also say Echo is cursed, idk.
Echo _is_ really dark. It focuses on horror and not a love story.
In my opinion Adastra is much better anyway, what I wrote on their Patreon side. I tried to make it look like I appreciate the work and creativity, what I do, but think it is not what the fans want to see. (No one responded...)
I do wonder how the developers came to the conclusion let's do a completely different type of genre in our next game with actual funny characters and sence.
The artstyle of the characters in Kiligan's Treasure is very cartoony.
I wonder what other things will happen in and around Echo, their universe. Since Echo is finished (I am nearly certain about it) the only option we have are more prequels/sequels. I think it would make sence if the prequel would be just like the main game, but with different characters and events. Although I don't think it would turn out any better.
I don't have much faith in this game.