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Echo Point Nova is an open world FPS with hoverboards, floating islands and sledgehammersLatest demo includes a boss, new weapons and Steam Deck support
Latest demo includes a boss, new weapons and Steam Deck support
Image credit:Greylock Studio
Image credit:Greylock Studio
Aside from pistols, shotguns and rifles, you’re equipped with a grappling hook, an aerial dash and a jet-powered hoverboard. These traversal tools allow no end of ramp jumps, aerial combos and in my case, wall-running desperately around the rocky undersides of islands after missing a handhold. They also come in handy when fighting the mercenary opposition - you can ram people off ledges, snipe them while skating backwards and slow-mo kill them in mid-air.
If the Zelda comparisons don’t ring true, a better summary is perhaps “Doom Eternal, but you can fall off”. Here’s an unofficial gameplay trailer, care of EreNyn3, who may have chosen the perfect soundtrack.
This game is a movement player’s one-tap heavenWatch on YouTube
This game is a movement player’s one-tap heaven
In a pleasing flourish, you leave a trail of orange energy while using the hoverboard, reminiscent of the title character’s swirling red scarf in Shinobi on PS2. I wonder if developers Greylock Studios have considered letting players decide how long they want the energy trail to last. There’s the makings of the first “FPS + light painting game” here!
Like the looks of it? Surf your merry way over tothe Steam pagethen, which includes a demo. Live since last autumn, the demo has been updated for this week’s Steam Next Fest. It now includes a boss fight on top of new weapons, islands and an overhauled UI with full gamepad and Steam Deck support. There’s some “experimental” PvP friendly fire options in there too, forco-opplayers who like to turn traitor: the developer advises that you search for a module beneath one of the islands that enables one-hit-kills.
The game is described as “open world”, with hidden treasure rooms and seemingly optional challenge-room-style “kill X of Y” fights, but this doesn’t feel like an Ubitrudgefest. The floating island setup means that exploration always involves some kind of platforming puzzle and there’s a pinch ofMinecraftin the ability to batter through select surfaces with a sledgehammer. I like the bright, breezy aesthetic, too. You can almost feel that stratospheric chill. Bracing.
