Episodic Echoes to reverberate later this year

Written by Jack Allin — May 29, 2016 at 13:51

Many of the greatest obstacles in life are those we create in our own minds. That makes probing the human pscyhe ideal for video games, providing a rich setting with unlimited possibilities. The latest developer to dig into this fertile psychological soil is UK studio Thermo-Dynamic Games with its upcoming episodic adventure, Echoes.

Although specific story details are being kept under wraps for now, Echoes promises to follow "a patient’s journey through counselling and overcoming their mental issues." The first episode, Diagnosis, will introduce the character and establish the "unique 'mind break' game mechanic where players will have to overcome challenging and alien sections of the environment in order to progress and discover the story behind it all."

The first screenshots and trailer highlight the game's minimalist art style in delving the subconscious, although some parts of the game will include a more realistic look as determined by the story. Players must explore various dream states, solving puzzles along the way to reveal more of the truth behind the character's troubled mental state, with gameplay ranging from "charming to challenging" as you progress.

The complete Echoes experience will comprise between three and five episodes in total, though the final number has yet to be determined. Nor is there a firm release date yet for the series launch, but we can expect to see Diagnosis available for Windows and Mac sometime later this year. In the meantime, you can follow its progress through the official website.