Somber Echoes Review – A Solid Yet Unremarkable Metroidvania

Platform: Microsoft Windows
Developers: Rock Pocket Games, Lav Games
Genres: Action game, Adventure
Publisher: Bonus Stage Publishing

If you’ve ever been a fan of the indie scene, then there are genres of games that won’t surprise you. Roguelites, retro platformers, and of course…Metroidvanias. Why do these seem to be the most popular genres? Who knows. Especially for Metroidvanias, where a map has to be intentionally created and curated to funnel the player down a particular path. Yet somehow, despite it sounding the most difficult to make, Metroidvanias may be the single most represented indie game genre there is. So when another one comes across my game library, I immediately wonder what makes this one special. Enter Somber Echoes, a Metroidvania with a great aesthetic and a couple of interesting aspects. As for what makes it stand out, let’s discuss.

STORY

The story opens with our main character, Adrestia, waking up aboard the Atromitos with few memories but one goal: stop her twin sister, Harmonia, from destroying the universe. A simple premise, but it doesn’t take long to see that there’s more to this story. Lost memories slowly being uncovered, a lover’s bitterness hidden within their intentions, gods that can only deal in absolutes, and more are woven into this narrative. The setting is a unique blend of horror, sci-fi, and Greek mythology that all meshes well to create a unique aesthetic. As such, you’ll come across some of the more famous figures like Hephaestus and Hermes. While the game does more name-dropping than actual appearances, it doesn’t take away from the story being told. A story that, from start to finish, is bleak. The chance for a happy outcome hardly seems high, though there are four different endings here. And don’t worry—the main game is about four hours long, so seeing every ending isn’t too monumental a task.

My only gripe with the story is how it’s presented. Much of the story is told by the models looking at each other with minimal movement, while the narrator tells you what’s going on. While it’s a step above character stills, it still isn’t the most potent way to present a story like this. Throughout the world, there are also blurbs you can read from the other members aboard the Atromitos that add some more depth to the setting. However, they’re just text logs, which, coupled with the already minimalist way the main story is told, doesn’t inspire people to engage with them. Thankfully, they’re usually short and sweet, so if you do choose to read them, it won’t take much of your time. The lack of voice acting is also a bit annoying, but I can only assume the budget didn’t allow for it. Still, a little more lively animation might have really done the game some favors. Still, the story is engaging enough that the presentation wasn’t a major hindrance—just an annoying one.

GAMEPLAY

Metroidvanias are more or less defined by “the gimmick”—the game mechanic that makes them special or more enticing than others. It can be an environmental gimmick like swapping dimensions or stopping time, mechanical gimmicks like stealing enemy powers or a collection of trinkets that give you your own game-wrecking powers, or movement gimmicks like turning into a ball to hit tight spaces or omnidirectional dashing. Somber Echoes went the movement route and gives you the ability to turn into a ball of light so you can dash anywhere you please. At first, it’s just to help you reach high places or ride through tight corridors, but as the game progresses, the dash gets stronger, and you can do more of them. It’s pretty cool to be able to ride on electrical panels as a ball of light, no matter how many times I end up doing it. To go with this power, the world is designed with verticality in mind. Playing around with this power in open spaces may reveal a new secret here or a place just out of your reach there. It’s a gimmick I expected to grow old, but it never did.

As for the combat in the game, it’s pretty good. You get a variety of weapons, including a sword, an axe, and a spear, each of them upgradable with some materials you find out on the map. You also have a block and parry mechanic thanks to your shield. You can even reflect bullets with a sword slash. Fights can be frantic, with enemies being able to shave away your life bar if you aren’t paying attention. Often, fights will happen in tight corridors and demand that you keep your wits about you so you don’t die to a random enemy. I do have a small problem with combat, but we’ll get to that a little later. On the whole, the game’s focus on fast encounters and precision works well to keep the combat engaging. Even boss fights don’t last too long, which is fine by me since this is combat I could see easily overstaying its welcome.

VISUALS

The Atromitos is a varied ship, filled with different sorts of scenic biomes. Some are cold and mechanical, some are brimming with life and botanical, and some have a nice regal look with plenty of marble and statues to go around. The setting definitely sells the Greek mythology sci-fi look it wants to get across.

That said, I think the biggest downside to the visuals is how dark it is. I understand it’s for the horror aesthetic, but the dark palette this game goes with sometimes comes with some annoyances. I can handle some details being obscured, but not enemies. Too often for my liking, I was hit by a hanging enemy’s ranged attack because I couldn’t tell it apart from the environment. This is only exacerbated by the tightness of the corridors. For a game wanting me to go fast, knowing that this can, and will, happen forced me to slow down often.

Speaking of monster designs, they look like proper monstrosities. Throughout the story, you’ll read many accounts of people being scared of these creatures, and the designs definitely sell that. Flesh spiders, monsters with what I can only describe as a “flesh axe,” floating eyes, and more grotesque creatures are littered around the map. Thankfully, there’s also a good variety of them. The floating eyes may be the most used enemy type, but even they aren’t used so much that I’m wishing to see more. There are plenty of horrid creatures to fight here. The character designs for the rest of the cast are alright. Outside of Adrestia and her space Greek warrior look, none of the designs really jumped out at me as interesting. Not bad, just alright.

AUDIO

When it’s at its best, the music really helps tie this world together. Often, the score is more ambient, but it gives players this blend of electronic and orchestral music that fits this world’s blend of mythology and sci-fi. When it stops trying to make that blend, typically in big boss encounters, it leans more on the orchestral side. Which isn’t bad, but I wish it kept it up in the more tense moments. Still, the music is good, though I doubt you’ll be rushing to listen to it after you’ve beaten the game.

The sound design of this game is just as good and well-blended. Monsters are often groaning, clicking, and making noises as ugly as they are. Noises like your footsteps appropriately echo depending on the size of the environment. Combat sounds especially impactful, particularly if Adrestia gets hit. She’ll scream bloody murder. The only oddity with the sound design is the sound of the sword. It sounds more like getting hit with a blunt object than a sword, but it gets the point across that an enemy is getting wailed on.

CONCLUSION

I like Somber Echoes, but I’m not in love with it. For such a bloated space, it’s definitely one of the better ones. I enjoyed my time with it and wouldn’t have a problem recommending it in a list of good indies. However, I don’t expect it to become the next indie darling. It’s a good game, but nothing about it can be called “best in class.” The story is good, but it’s told in a bland way. The gameplay is solid, but it’s nothing that’ll blow your mind. The game looks and performs great, but the dedication to a darker look can sometimes work against it. Still, if this was a game you were looking forward to, then you won’t be too disappointed. If you’re a Metroidvania mega-fan and just love the genre? You won’t be disappointed, either. Everyone else? Worth a try, but no need to rush.

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