Echo Level Nova performs like a dream. By that, I do not imply that it is a responsive, satisfying FPS with a whole lot of intuitive and good motion tech (it’s that too, by the way in which), however the act of taking part in it seems like diving by way of somebody’s desires after they performed far an excessive amount of Titanfall, Tribes and Minecraft journey maps. Regardless of drawing inspiration from a few of the greatest within the style, this one hits completely different, in an excellent manner.
Launched within the final week of September, Echo Level Nova is the second sport from Greylock Studios, the one-man-band outfit that gave us the superb bullet-time shooter Severed Metal. The household resemblance is evident sufficient, with Echo Level Nova seemingly utilizing the identical shiny and (optionally) ray-traced voxel engine as its predecessor, however in some ways inverts the design. The place Severed Metal was about optimizing a path by way of a good sequence of corridors and rooms and infrequently blowing a gap by way of a wall, Echo Level Nova provides you the skies and a pickaxe that obliterates the whole lot however strengthened metallic.
There is no story right here, exterior of ‘there’s highly effective artifacts on these floating sky-islands, guarded by generic Unhealthy Guys, shoot and seize’. The few characters that often seem in voiceless plot nodes you’ll find across the islands are principally simply there to level you in the direction of the following goal or break the fourth wall, reminding you about mechanics you may need forgotten. There isn’t a drama, there aren’t any stakes. This can be a sport you play purely for the enjoyment of play itself. Which is sweet, as it is a totally joyful expertise, punctuated with some spectacular mega-vehicle bosses that it’s a must to board and tear down from the within.
Gotta catch ’em all
So what is the draw? A way of escalating journey and chaos. Throughout the first twenty minutes you will get your primary toolkit—a handful of weapons, grenades, a hoverboard that permits you to frictionlessly slide throughout any wall or straight up vertical surfaces, and a grappling hook that permits you to swing from something (together with clouds). You begin highly effective, and enemies really feel fragile—the whole lot grows from right here. Successful multi-wave area fights, exploration and secret-hunting rewards a drip feed of recent weapons, upgrades for them (earned by hitting a kill goal for that weapon), perks to customise your character builds, and hats which look fancy and additional enhance your perk capability. It is a compelling loop even earlier than you begin the hideously moreish hunt for Crackdown-style Agility Orbs, additional growing your skill to remain airborne.
By mid-game you will be a fragile but unstoppable god of warfare, capable of triple-jump, triple-grapple and launch your self 50 toes skyward with deployable jump-pads. With a run-up, a ramp and a bit ingenuity, you’ll be able to virtually fly, weaving effortlessly by way of gunfire. The character of Echo Level Nova’s fight (principally in opposition to human-sized enemies, with bullets which have journey time) signifies that the quicker you go, the extra talent you will have to land these pictures, making it a pleasant steadiness. Positive, you might decelerate, however the place’s the enjoyable in that?
This can be a sport that nearly by no means says ‘no’ to the participant. Other than just a few aims that require a sure energy from a boss to entry, you are free to go and do something if you happen to’ve received the talent and motion tech. Assume you’ll be able to plot a sequence-breaking route by grinding off floating rocks then grappling off a cloud and triple-jumping your manner throughout the abyss? Go for it; the sport will gently trace that you just reset to your final checkpoint as you are getting manner off the crushed path, however it is going to by no means cease you.
Pleasant skies
Whereas a good time solo, Echo Level Nova is even higher in multiplayer. You possibly can roll (hover?) with as much as three buddies dropping in or out freely, with enemy spawns robotically scaling to the dimensions of the group. The overwhelming odds signifies that demise can come fast, however slightly than forcing the group to search for and revive a fallen teammate, the survivors can deliver a fallen buddy again into the battle by killing a set variety of enemies, encouraging much more daring play beneath strain. A easy system, nevertheless it makes each second spent in spectator mode all of the extra thrilling.
Whereas I’ve loved the sport most with the issue cranked as much as excessive and with no assists, Echo Level Nova is simply as hardcore as you need it to be. On prime of a selection of issue settings, there is a bunch of accessibility choices, as much as and together with good auto-aim that leads transferring targets for you and a toggle to make the bosses stationary, robotically melee something inside vary, and forestall you from falling off ledges. It is an impressively full package deal for a solo developer, and given the years of free updates that Severed Metal received, I can solely see it enhancing. Oh yeah, and there is a degree editor too.
I am already itching to get again to the sport and proceed my chaotic kick-flipping co-op journey by way of the clouds, however for now, I go away you with a wholehearted advice: In case you’ve ever dreamed about zooming by way of an FPS, gliding throughout partitions and thru the sky, you have to test Echo Level Nova’s demo, on the very least.