Lone Echo II

Last updated
Lone Echo II
Lone Echo II Game.jpg
Developer(s) Ready At Dawn
Publisher(s) Oculus Studios
Director(s) Ru Weerasuriya
Nathan Phal-Liff
Writer(s) Ru Weerasuriya
Cory Lanham
Composer(s) Jason Graves
Platform(s) Oculus Rift, Oculus Rift S
ReleaseOctober 12, 2021
Genre(s) Adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Lone Echo II is a 2021 virtual reality adventure game which serves as the sequel to 2017's Lone Echo , both developed by Ready at Dawn and published by Oculus Studios. [1]

Contents

Gameplay

Lone Echo II features similar gameplay to its predecessor, revolving around zero gravity locomotion, with the player grabbing and pushing off various objects in the environment. Players are equipped with wrist thrusters and an EVA booster that gives them full mobility in the zero gravity environment. The gameplay is based around puzzle-solving through interaction with objects in the game world, such as cranes, doors, socketing items, holographic maps, etc. Players have access to a variety of tools including the scanning and cutting tools from Lone Echo. The game differs from Lone Echo in that there are enemies which the player has to avoid and distract.

Plot

After the events of Lone Echo, Captain Olivia "Liv" Rhodes and Echo One "Jack", the player controlled android, find themselves 400 years in the future. They discover they are aboard a mysterious space station that seems to be abandoned. They uncover that the biomass they encountered in Lone Echo has evolved into a mobile form called "ticks" that are attracted to energy sources. Liv and Jack must solve the mystery of this future space station if they want to find their way home.

Development

The game was announced at Oculus Connect 5 with the release of a six minute VR trailer experience. [2] The Lone Echo II: Trailer Experience was a VR Awards Finalist for VR Marketing of the Year. [3] For Lone Echo II, Ready at Dawn focused on expanding the game world and building upon the game mechanics of Lone Echo. Lone Echo II added new tools, more complex puzzles, and new enemies for players to avoid. The studio talked about the challenges of adjusting tracking for the game due to the inside-out tracking of the Oculus Rift S. It will be the studio's third virtual reality game. [4]

At E3 2019, Ready At Dawn released a demo on the show floor as a part of the Oculus Studios booth. The demo gave players their first look at the newly developed gameplay mechanics and a glimpse into the story. It was announced at E3 2019 that the game was delayed from 2019 to Q1 2020. [5] [6] In a blog post released by Ready At Dawn, they discuss the impact Covid-19 had on the development of Lone Echo II and the further delay of the game's release, but said they still expected a 2020 release. [7] In June 2020, Ready at Dawn was acquired by Facebook. [8]

Reception

Lone Echo II received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic. IGN stated "Lone Echo 2 is an enjoyable space drama with striking details and fun movement mechanics, but it lacks innovation and struggles to justify its eight-hour runtime." [12] While enjoying the world the game was set in, Road to VR criticized the lack of challenging gameplay in the title, writing "Lone Echo II just never asks that much of you, and subsequently doesn’t ever manage to raise the level of tension". [13] Windows Central praised the improved sound design and visuals, "the enhanced visuals are stunning, and the animation on Liv's face is nothing short of movie quality". [14] UploadVR disliked the pacing of the game, feeling it took too long to explain basic concepts to the player, "Characters sluggishly reach conclusions that you’ve come to minutes before they’ve finished a monologue, or deliver objectives to pull switches or scan items long after you’ve already completed them". [15]

Lone Echo II was awarded with "Immersive Reality Technical Achievement" and "Immersive Reality Game of the Year" at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, and was nominated for "Best VR/AR Game" at The Game Awards 2021. [16] [17]

Related Research Articles

Ready At Dawn Studios LLC (RAD) was an American video game developer located in Irvine, California, and is composed of former members of Naughty Dog and Blizzard Entertainment. Formed in 2003, the company was closely affiliated with Sony Computer Entertainment, developing games in the God of War series and Daxter. Ready At Dawn had a satellite campus in Portland, Oregon, to assist with future PC and console game development, but closed the office in 2022 as they adapted a hybrid work model. The studio was acquired by Oculus Studios as of June 2020. On August 7, 2024, Ready at Dawn was closed by Oculus Studios.

Superhot is an independent first-person shooter (FPS) video game developed and published by Superhot Team. Though the game follows traditional first-person shooter gameplay mechanics, with the player attempting to take out enemy targets using guns and other weapons, time within the game progresses at normal speed only when the player moves; this creates the opportunity for the player to assess their situation in slow motion and respond appropriately, making the gameplay similar to strategy video games. The game is presented in a minimalist art style, with enemies in red and weapons in black, in contrast to the otherwise white and grey environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reality Labs</span> Virtual and augmented reality products company

Reality Labs, formerly Oculus VR, is a business and research unit of Meta Platforms that produces virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) hardware and software, including virtual reality headsets such as Quest, and online platforms such as Horizon Worlds. In June 2022, several artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives that were previously a part of Meta AI were transitioned to Reality Labs. This also includes Meta's fundamental AI Research laboratory FAIR which is now part of the Reality Labs - Research (RLR) division.

<i>Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin</i> 2017 adventure game

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is a virtual reality adventure game developed and published by Double Fine Productions. It was released for the PlayStation 4 through PlayStation VR in February 2017 and on Microsoft Windows in April 2018. The game's story bridges the events between Psychonauts and Psychonauts 2.

<i>Robo Recall</i> 2017 video game

Robo Recall is a virtual reality first-person shooter game developed and published by Epic Games for Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest platforms. The game was released for the Oculus Rift on March 1, 2017, and an Oculus Quest version titled Robo Recall: Unplugged was released on May 21, 2019. Players that activate their Oculus Touch virtual reality controllers with its software are able to download the game for free.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Survios</span> American virtual reality game developer and software publisher based in Los Angeles, California

Survios is an American virtual reality game developer and software publisher based in Los Angeles, California. The company develops virtual reality software and games, including the titles Raw Data and Sprint Vector. Survios was created by graduates from the University of Southern California's Mixed Reality Lab, where they worked together on Project Holodeck. The company has raised over $54 million in venture funding led by Shasta Ventures, Lux Capital and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

<i>Lone Echo</i> Virtual reality adventure game

Lone Echo is a 2017 virtual reality adventure game developed by Ready At Dawn, and published by Oculus Studios. Set aboard a space station orbiting Saturn, it allows players to move in zero-gravity by grabbing and pushing off of the environment. In addition to the narrative single-player game, the title includes a team-based multiplayer sports mode called Echo Arena, which was also released as a stand-alone game. A sequel, Lone Echo II, was announced in 2018 and released on October 12, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual reality game</span> Video game played in virtual reality

A virtual reality game or VR game is a video game played on virtual reality (VR) hardware. Most VR games are based on player immersion, typically through a head-mounted display unit or headset with stereoscopic displays and one or more controllers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oculus Rift S</span> Virtual reality head-mounted display

Oculus Rift S is a discontinued virtual reality headset co-developed by Lenovo Technologies and Oculus VR. Announced in March 2019 and released that May, it is a successor to the original Oculus Rift CV1 model, with noted changes including a new "inside-out" positional tracking system with cameras embedded inside the headset unit, a higher-resolution display, and a new "halo" head strap.

<i>Five Nights at Freddys: Help Wanted</i> 2019 video game

Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted is a 2019 virtual reality (VR) survival horror video game developed by Steel Wool Studios and Scott Cawthon. It is an anthology of different minigames based on the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise, where the player must complete tasks without being jumpscared by homicidal animatronic characters. The minigames include VR adaptations of the main entries in the series and several new experiences. Hidden inside the levels are coins that allow the player to unlock collectable objects and cassette tapes that provide insight into the game's metafictional plot.

<i>Stormland</i> (video game) 2019 video game

Stormland is a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Oculus Studios for the Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) headset. The game put emphasis on both exploration and combat as the player character, an android gardener named Vesper, traverses an alien planet from a first-person perspective. The game received generally positive reviews from critics upon release.

<i>The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners</i> 2020 video game

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is a virtual reality first-person shooter survival horror game for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Oculus Quest, Oculus Quest 2, and Oculus Rift, developed by Skydance Interactive in partnership with Skybound Entertainment. It is based on the comic book series The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman. Initially released on Steam and Oculus platform on January 23, 2020, it was released on PlayStation VR in May 2020. Additionally, the title was ported to Oculus Quest in October 2020, alongside PICO 4 in January 2023.

<i>Asgards Wrath</i> 2019 video game

Asgard's Wrath is a 2019 action role-playing game developed by Sanzaru Games and published by Oculus Studios for the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. In the game, the player assumes control of a Norse god who must guide several mortal heroes to fulfill their destinies. The game received generally positive reviews. Asgard's Wrath 2 was released on the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3 in 2023.

<i>Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife</i> 2021 video game

Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife is a virtual reality survival horror video game developed and published by Swedish studio Fast Travel Games, released in 2021. It is based on White Wolf Publishing's 1994 tabletop role-playing game Wraith: The Oblivion, and is part of the larger World of Darkness series. The game was released for Oculus Quest & Rift, Steam VR, PICO 4 and PlayStation VR, with support for the VR headsets HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, PlayStation VR, and Valve Index.

<i>Jurassic World Aftermath</i> 2020 video game

Jurassic World Aftermath is a 2020 virtual reality stealth game for the Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2. It is based on the Jurassic Park franchise. It was developed by Coatsink Software and published by Oculus Studios. It takes place on the island of Isla Nublar, two years after the events of the 2015 film Jurassic World. For much of the game, the player is hunted by velociraptors while proceeding through a facility on the island.

<i>Crisis on the Planet of the Apes VR</i> 2018 video game

Crisis on the Planet of the Apes VR is a 2018 action and virtual reality game. It was developed by Imaginati and published by FoxNext for PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows. It is based on the Planet of the Apes reboot film series, taking place between Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

The D.I.C.E. Award for Immersive Reality Technical Achievement is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. This award "celebrates the highest level of technical achievement within an immersive reality experience through the combined attention to gameplay engineering and visual engineering. Elements honored include but are not limited to technology features specifically associated with the immersive medium, artificial intelligence, physics, engine mechanics, and visual engineering".

The D.I.C.E. Award for Immersive Reality Game of the Year is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. This award recognizes "the single game released on an immersive reality platform that best utilizes the attributes of the platform to entertain users. Elements of design, direction, and narrative are factored into the title selection".

References

  1. Feltham, Jamie (2018-09-26). "Lone Echo II Officially Announced For The Oculus Rift". UploadVR. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  2. Lang, Ben (2018-09-26). "Oculus Announces 'Lone Echo 2' with Immersive Trailer Available on Rift, Go, & Gear VR". Road to VR. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  3. "VR Awards 2019 Finalists". VR Awards. Archived from the original on 2019-12-30.
  4. Takahashi, Dean (May 21, 2019). "Lone Echo II interview — What Ready At Dawn has learned from its third VR game". VentureBeat . Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  5. Jagneaux, David (2019-06-12). "E3 2019: Lone Echo 2 Is A Bigger, Longer, And More Involved Sequel". UploadVR. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  6. McCarthy, Caty (May 21, 2019). "Lone Echo 2 Continues Its Android-Human Companionship VR Adventure in Early 2020". USgamer . Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  7. Lang, Ben (2020-03-18). "'Lone Echo II' Further Delayed Beyond Q1 2020". Road to VR. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  8. Verdu, Mike (2020-06-22). "Welcoming Ready At Dawn to Facebook". Meta. Archived from the original on 2020-11-28. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  9. "Lone Echo II for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  10. Oloman, Jordan (23 October 2021). "Lone Echo 2 Review". IGN . Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  11. Denzer, TJ (12 October 2021). "Lone Echo 2 review: Continuing conundrums of space & time". Shacknews . Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  12. Oloman, Jordan (23 October 2021). "Lone Echo 2 Review". IGN . Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  13. Lang, Ben (2021-10-12). "'Lone Echo II' Review – A Long Wait for a Safe Sequel". Road to VR. Archived from the original on 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  14. Nicholas Sutrich (2021-10-12). "Lone Echo 2 review: The Rift goes out with a sonic boom". Windows Central. Archived from the original on 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  15. Feltham, Jamie (2021-10-12). "Lone Echo 2 Review: A Gorgeous But Glacial Sequel". UploadVR. Archived from the original on 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  16. "'Lone Echo II' Wins Immersive Reality Game of the Year at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards". Meta. 2022-02-28. Archived from the original on 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  17. Bankhurst, Adam (2021-12-10). "The Game Awards 2021 Winners: The Full List". IGN. Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2022-04-18.