Echo Generation is a turn-based RPG developed by Cococucumber. The game features heavy 90s nostalgia, a hilarious story, and a fun turn-based combat with quick-time mini-games to help you in fights. Initially released in 2021, Midnight Edition adds a few features to improve upon the original release. Its whacky humor and fun combat make for a short but sweet adventure.
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Your character is a teenager living in a 90s suburban neighborhood. The beginning parts of the game have your character solving quests like finding something for your sister or giving candy to a baby in exchange for a comic book. However, you quickly discover that strange things are happening in this neighborhood, like aliens crashing into a nearby field. While exploring that alien ship, you find your dad, and it’s up to you to solve the various mysteries in the town. A lot of progression involves collecting items that can be exchanged for other items that can help. For example, a plot point involves your school principal being a kidnapper. To prove he is guilty, you steal a doll from his house to give to someone else, and later, you get his basement key to free a kidnapped child while fighting the principal. The game features a lot of item collecting and backtracking, but exploring the world is very relaxing.
Combat is also fun. It is turn-based, with some added mini-games to deal additional damage. Most of these mini-games are just timing when you press buttons in various ways. Such as pressing certain buttons in order or quick time events. Timing these perfectly will deal more damage with your skills and take less damage from enemy attacks. Combat is simple, and the enemies you fight are, for the most part, easy to deal with. As you explore the world, you will encounter comic books, giving you access to stronger skills, such as a hockey charge or a backstab attack. These comic books correspond to the different party members you recruit.
Stranger Things
The first thing you notice about the game is that it takes a lot of inspiration from Stranger Things. Echo Generation also leans into the nostalgic themes that Stranger Things leans into. The other thing you notice about the game is that this game is very strange, but strange in the best way. Your party members include your pet cat, a robot, and a raccoon you pick up along the way. The enemies you fight, from mutant rats to buff raccoons to aliens. It’s like a kid’s imagination ran wild and turned into an RPG. The 3D voxel art style is unique and fun to look at. The soundtrack is relaxing and cozy. Everything about this game has a quirky charm that is delightful to experience.
Echo Generation: Midnight Edition is an upgraded version of the original game. This time, the game offers some quality-of-life features, like fast travel, which came in handy when traversing the world. The quest tracker is a new feature that is nice when collecting many items. It’s nice to know who wants which item. There are changes to combat, balance, and bug fixes in the new edition, but these changes highlight what Midnight Edition offers fans looking to return to the game. It’s also a great jumping-off point for people looking to play a fun RPG.
Aliens Exist
Echo Generation: Midnight Edition is quirky, hilarious, and fun. It perfectly blends turn-based RPG combat with waves of nostalgia. Fans of RPGs, indie games, or just looking for a trip back to the 90s will have a blast with this game. My only gripe is that I wish the game were a little longer.
