From the moment the first musical notes are struck and the beautifully rendered in-game artwork appears, it becomes obvious that Fossil Echo is going to be a special experience. Controlling the unnamed protagonist, you make your way up a huge, mysterious tower, sneaking past (or attacking) the guards and sentry robots that oppose you while slowly uncovering what brought you there in the first place. The game is at times quite challenging, especially in the optional "moon phase" rooms, but the game controls very well, and because the action takes place in small self-contained rooms death is a minor setback rather than a crippling punishment. Fossil Echo's greatest weakness is its overall length. Experienced platform gamers will be able to complete the game in less than two hours. But, similar to other short atmospheric platformers like LIMBO and Another World, it's about the journey rather than ultimately how long it takes to arrive to your destination. Highly recommended.
