Making an attempt to explain Echo Level Nova, a newly launched PC shooter, is a tough factor. I may describe it as a recreation that mixes Titanfall’s motion, trendy Doom’s gunplay, Minecraft’s destructibility, Skyward Sword’s floating islands, and depraved rad hoverboarding into one oddball package deal—although that most likely simply makes it sound like a horrible mess. However belief me, Echo Level Nova isn’t a multitude. As an alternative, it’s top-of-the-line 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 lots of of floating islands. The place has been invaded by a big group of asshole mercenaries trying to exploit the traditional know-how that seemingly 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 when you unlock new weapons, upgrades, and perks to tackle larger 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 rapidly uncover a shooter that provides a ton of freedom and choices, all of that are enjoyable and awesome-looking.
I misplaced monitor 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 wrong way up. It sounds difficult, it seems to be spectacular, however Echo Level Nova’s controls and gunplay are silky easy, tremendous responsive, and simple to grasp.
It is a recreation that’s extra enjoyable to play when you’ve got 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 simple you need issues to be. You may deal with 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 received 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 may discover it, utilizing your choose axe to mine out a tunnel ala Minecraft, or simply preserve transferring on to your subsequent goal. Different instances I encountered large valleys, hidden underground bases, deserted army outposts, or unusual structure that appeared virtually medieval. And outdoors of the massive fights, until you play in co-op, you’re on their own on this big open world of floating islands and forgotten locations.
It’s a wierd combo, Doom-like FPS motion with empty and lonely alien vistas, but it surely works rather 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 a couple of tough edges, like the primary massive boss struggle being a ache within the ass and the well being system feeling a bit too punishing for gamers who may not be down with flying round like maniacs on a regular basis throughout main fights. Nonetheless, I feel Echo Level Nova is price enjoying because it’s one of many weirdest shooters I’ve ever performed, but in addition a number of the most enjoyable I’ve had in a online game in 2024.
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