the visual novel database

Report an issue on this page.

Review of Echo

SubjectEcho
ByHelpfulness: 0
Vote: 10
Shad0ww0lf92 on 2023-06-03
ReviewWow... Just... Wow...
I have been a part of the furry community for many years, but I have never read a VN that emotionally traumatized me more than Echo...
When I tell you the horror aspect is all too real, and the details are in depth, I have never read one that remotely compared to the masterpiece that is Echo.
Join Chase, an otter on a school trip to make a documentary about his old stomping grounds' history. Using this trip as an excuse to get the guys back together for a reunion of sorts, he and his friends have their unique lives and backstories fleshed out in such relatable characters that you will never forget them.
Each route, vastly different from the next.
Each one with a different type of horror, and believe me, they pulled it off phenomenally. To understand Echo, you need to play through each route. Each route had its own unique "aha" moment that cleared up something in all of the others. Some routes are definitely more horror-esque, some creepy, some twisted, some more psychological... But all are beautifully written and composed! There were several moments when playing through the routes that suddenly someone else's route made more sense. Things become clearer, even as the mysteries continue to dive further down the rabbit hole that is the town of Echo. I will say the only two that were quite similar to each other was Leo and Jenna in terms of their unique horror. But even then, I could understand more of someone else's route.
The music, writing, suspense, and terror was captivating. There were a couple routes in particular that when I finished, I legit cried. I put my phone down and stared at the wall for ten minutes before I had the will to continue doing anything with my life that day.
The characters are beyond relatable. Each character feels like a friend I know personally. Their motives, antics, behaviors, and traumas all recognizable and distinct. I have even been telling my nonfurry friends to read this. One of whom I feel like one of the characters was completely modeled after. I went to work and told her I found her as a furry and she starts joking about her traumatic past, and deadpan I went, "Yep... That happened to the character too..."
I will forever sing the praises of this VN and I have yet to find another that comes close to being as amazing as this one...
As mature as it is, if you have a trigger warning, it probably touches that topic. However sexually, it is pretty SFW. Not much sex involved, and the little that is, is more implied than anything. It's the rest of the story that gets you. I went in thinking "dating sim" and changed that view a few hours in.
For extra fun, have the headphones on and the lights off...
Remember, we all have secrets... Which secrets control you?
0 points
#1 by Ileca
2023-06-03 at 18:23
< report >You forgot to address the most important point: did you like Carl's route? I guess you did like you have no negative points?