If you’re looking for restraint, you won’t find it Echo Point Nova. Within the first 30 minutes of the game, you’ll be equipped with a skateboard that can climb any vertical surface, a hook that can attach to clouds, and a triple jump. This game does not hold back goods.
Echo Point Nova is an open-world FPS offering almost complete freedom. Once you have the basic equipment, you can freely explore the huge map of hundreds of floating islands and enemy bases. There is a story conveyed via text pop-ups in the world, but you’ll probably miss most of it as you soar over an iceberg trying to dive-bomb a giant robot. It’s a fantasy with unlimited power.
The freedom to explore comes to mind Breath of the Wild – honestly, you’ll be amazed at what this game can do – although don’t expect to be completely wowed by the presentation or graphic design. Stylistically, it has more in common with early 21st century arena shooters, with some details Unreal tournament mood. But unlike multiplayer-focused shooters, Echo Point Nova is more interested in providing you with a rewarding journey that will quickly turn you into a god.
The single-player campaign involves jumping from one island to another, clearing out nests of enemies. For each one you pass, you can unlock a modern weapon – expect standard ones like submachine guns, grenade launchers, and sniper rifles – or a modern perk, like the one that lets you punch enemies in the butt with a gigantic explosion. There are dozens of these challenges, enough to keep you busy for a few hours, and completing each one makes you even more incredibly powerful. After just five hours, I had about 15 different weapons and 10 bonuses to choose from. I was drowning in means by which I could inflict punishment.
However, enemy bases expand to match your capabilities. As I delved deeper into the game, I found myself taking on 50-foot mechs and flying tanks. There are even Shadow of the Colossus-style boss fights where you jump on top of a giant moving monster and try to eliminate tender spots while avoiding an endless rain of enemies.
This all worked surprisingly well on a relatively low-end device (in this case, a Steam Deck) where the game ran at an incredibly sleek frame rate. When playing on the deck or with a controller, the game had a lot of target locking capabilities, allowing me to land some amazing mid-wall grind style headshots that made me look much more talented than I actually was.
Heck, you can even take a friend with you to witness your splendor, thanks to online co-op throughout the campaign. I noticed that this function also works without any problems, despite the speed of the game and several thousand kilometers separating me from my compatriot. It’s straightforward to see why some people might miss the cruise Echo Point Nova when it first dropped in September. First of all, the title is terrible. But secondly, there isn’t really an equivalent for this game. It’s sort of its own mash-up of some of the best games ever made, with so many toys to play with that you’d think the end result would be just chaos. But then you start wondering: Yes, why jargon I’m struggling with the clouds Breath of the Wild?
Echo Point Nova was released on September 24 on Windows PC. The game was played on a PC using a copy of the game purchased by the author. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased through affiliate links. Additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy can be found here.
