Echoes of Aetheria Reviews
Played on its own, without worrying about whether it effectively changes up the hallowed tropes of early JRPGs, or conversely, sticks a little too closely to them, Echoes of Aetheria is fun.
Echoes of Aetheria's dated, cliche-laden narrative and garish overworld sprites are a shame when you consider the rest of what the game has to offer: fun, strategic combat, gorgeous in-battle art and a surprisingly masterful soundtrack. If you can get past some of its less-polished elements, you'll probably have a great time.
An enjoyable, light jaunt that is best played while Netflix binging.
Echoes of Aetheria weaves narrative, combat, and exploration together wonderfully, with no one aspect of the game overshadowing another. However, dialogue is occasionally cheesy and design flaws cast a shadow on what is meant to be a tactical combat experience.
Echoes of Aetheria does what any good story driven role playing game should do; it tells an epic fantasy story with an array of characters from different backgrounds, and features a deep and engaging battle system. Though, the games narrative lacks any real innovation and is full of tropes typical of JRPG games of yesteryear, it's still a fun 15 hour adventure worth playing through.
Echoes of Aetheria is a surprisingly dense and engaging title, despite its visual simplicity. The throwback to old-style RPGs brings on a sense of nostalgia whilst remaining fresh and unique, with a deep storyline and thoroughly fleshed out characters to bring the game to life. Combat is varied and challenging, and crafting the right items can be a gamechanger. Dancing Dragon Games have succeeded in providing another charming and story-driven adventure to their repertoire.
It’s debatable how well the title stands up next to higher profile releases, but it offers an enjoyable way to wile away some hours.