Making an attempt to explain Echo Level Nova, a newly launched PC shooter, is a tough factor. I might describe it as a sport that mixes Titanfall’s motion, fashionable Doom’s gunplay, Minecraft’s destructibility, Skyward Sword’s floating islands, and depraved rad hoverboarding into one oddball bundle—although that most likely simply makes it sound like a horrible mess. However belief me, Echo Level Nova isn’t a large number. As a substitute, it’s among the best shooters I’ve performed in years.
Right here’s the setup for Echo Level Nova: You’re a cool soldier with a candy hoverboard and grapple hook. You crash on a planet that’s nothing greater than tons of of floating islands. The place has been invaded by a big group of asshole mercenaries seeking to exploit the traditional expertise that probably led to the planet’s destruction within the first place. To cease them, you’ll must journey across the numerous islands utilizing your aforementioned hoverboard and grapple hook whilst you unlock new weapons, upgrades, and perks to tackle greater fights and big bosses.
On paper, I’ll admit that Echo Level Nova doesn’t sound like a lot. However when you begin enjoying this new FPS, you’ll shortly uncover a shooter that provides a ton of freedom and choices, all of that are enjoyable and awesome-looking.
I misplaced observe of what number of instances I zipped up a wall utilizing my hoverboard, spun round, killed some enemies with my assault rifle, grappled towards a distinct wall, triple-jumped to an enemy mech, after which killed it with a grenade launcher earlier than slowing down time and sniping some flying baddies from afar whereas the other way up. It sounds difficult, it seems to be spectacular, however Echo Level Nova’s controls and gunplay are silky clean, tremendous responsive, and simple to grasp.
It is a sport that’s extra enjoyable to play if in case you have somebody behind you watching you do wild acrobatics as you struggle off waves of enemies to unlock new upgrades or weapons. And since it’s an open world, you management how laborious or straightforward you need issues to be. You’ll be able to concentrate on simpler outposts first or goal difficult missions to get higher gear. It’s as much as you! You see that enormous floating desert within the sky, you’ll be able to go there.
But it surely’s not simply Echo Level Nova’s fight and motion that gained me over. The sport has eerie and unusual vibes. You’ll be hoverboarding throughout tiny little islands floating within the sky after which attain a half-buried temple. You’ll be able to discover it, utilizing your choose axe to mine out a tunnel ala Minecraft, or simply hold transferring on to your subsequent goal. Different instances I encountered large valleys, hidden underground bases, deserted navy outposts, or unusual structure that appeared virtually medieval. And out of doors of the large fights, until you play in co-op, you’re on their lonesome on this big open world of floating islands and forgotten locations.
It’s an odd combo, Doom-like FPS motion with empty and lonely alien vistas, nevertheless it works very well in Echo Level Nova— particularly as a result of exploring these locations occurs at 200 MPH whereas on a candy hoverboard.
Echo Level Nova has just a few tough edges, like the primary large boss struggle being a ache within the ass and the well being system feeling a bit too punishing for gamers who won’t be down with flying round like maniacs on a regular basis throughout main fights. Nonetheless, I believe Echo Level Nova is price enjoying because it’s one of many weirdest shooters I’ve ever performed, but additionally among the most enjoyable I’ve had in a online game in 2024.
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