Echo Generation 2 Preview
Although it seems like there are endless possibilities, making any kind of art or entertainment comes down to one choice: the same or different. Do you repeat yourself or the ideas of others, or try something new? Either decision carries risks and rewards. It’s certainly true in games, where the landscape is littered with sequels that simply rehash old ideas. This brings us to Echo Generation 2, developer Cococucumber’s follow-up to their 2020 turn-based RPG Echo Generation.
Changes at the Heart
If you missed the first game, it’s a turn-based adventure puzzle game/RPG with attractive voxel-ish art, set in a seemingly normal suburban neighborhood. But in the best tradition of mystery and horror, appearances aren’t what they seem. There are weird characters, dark secrets, and supernatural undertones. While the game looks — and is, generally — family-friendly, the tone and subject matter are occasionally a little more grown-up. For example, the main character’s father has mysteriously gone missing.
Both critics and players responded positively to Echo Generation but didn’t necessarily love the combat, which could be predictable and too reliant on limited, powerful attacks. Additionally, some players thought that the game was too dialogue-heavy. So for the sequel, the developer made a bold choice and scrapped the first game’s combat system entirely. The new game also contains, as the developer said, “4x less dialogue.”
It’s in the Cards
With the desire to make combat faster and more flexible, the team has switched to a card battle/deck-building system. With over 100 cards to take into battle and upgrade, the potential for experimentation seems wide open. My discussion with the developer was brief, so I wasn’t able to get many specifics about the cards or combat, but the folks at Cococucumber are excited by what they’ve done to mix things up.
In terms of story and presentation, Echo Generation 2 is both a sequel and a prequel to the first game. While the characters are new, the two games are linked by the absent father, Jack, whose story is central to the new game. Players will find out where he went, an unsolved mystery in Echo Generation. There will be a bit of voice acting this time around, but it sounds like Echo Generation 2 will be less of a puzzle adventure than the first game.
The art style retains and evolves the aesthetic of the first game, which was colorful and attractive. The new game looks just as colorful, if a little darker and more menacing. The homage to 1980s visual style remains potent, and the game’s blend of voxels, pixels, and particle effects looks great.
I really enjoyed my time with Echo Generation, and I look forward to diving into the sequel sometime in 2026.
