Welcome to the Underrated Gems, a brand-new review series for underrated games. Every other week, along with College Football, I will be reviewing a game I consider to be Underrated between all the games that are released. These games would be considered not that well known in the mainstream media, hidden gems, and most importantly: just Underrated. All these games will be reviewed on my Steam account unless otherwise stated. This week, it’s time to be either joyriding all the way to the top or keep on falling down.
You know about FPS shooters nowadays? Usually, they take place in a single secluded area that focuses on one place. Robobeat was an example of this type of gameplay, but it got a pass due to its rhythm mechanic. But most single-player FPS games follow that kind of format, and really only stay in one area or environment. But for this game released on September 24th, 2024, you’ll either fly up or go down trying. Creators of another FPS game, Served Steel, Greylock Studios released Echo Point Nova, a game that possibly revolutionized the entire FPS genre.
Synopsis
You wake up after a crash landing, having no idea where you are. You soon realize your landing is on another world, where a mercenary force is exploiting ancient technology and using it for their craft. The good news, you are also able to use this new technology to stop them and each one of their new projects. As you discover new weaponry, equipment, and abilities, you’ll take on this force head-on, or even with four players in Co-op. Or you know…you can just explore this world at your own pace. It is an open-world FPS shooter by the way.
Gameplay
Echo Point Nova isn’t like your traditional single-player FPS shooters. Instead of limiting yourself to left or right, you have to go up! The open-world aspect of the game has you climbing each little island above the sky, slowly finding ways to get to the next stage. Whether it leads you to use your grappling hook or even use a hoverboard to propel yourself, the motion and movement feel extremely fluid.
The islands within this majestic world are full of different biomes, landscapes, challenges, and enemies. You’ll be able to parkour across multiple islands, getting that one bit closer to either the top or bottom. Yet discovering different islands comes with its own challenges. Either you’ll be seeing helicopters flying across the stratosphere or even vehicles of destruction coming right at you. Also included are challenge arenas where hordes amongst hordes of enemies keep on coming and leaving you or others fighting to get out. Whether it is, hopefully, you get an entire arsenal of weapons and other special abilities to take down this army coming right at you. And don’t worry, soon you’ll realize once you master these concepts, no matter what kind of enemies they throw at you, the movement and combat make you feel like you’re able to do many things at once…and that’s when you realize you just wiped out an entire brigade.
Overall
What Echo Point Nova does is take the traditional ways of fast-paced FPS shooters and expand them, literally. Going up and down instead of side to side gives a refreshing take on the genre, having to actually manage your way to get up. Combined with the fluid movement, and insanely fun combat, Echo Point Nova is an outstanding, brilliant game in the genre, with hopefully more updates to come. And when I tell you the movement and combat is that fluid, I mean being able to use your hoverboard to curb stomp each enemy, while blasting others in the sky with your RPG if they ever get too close.
