Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern
A Paleolithic adventure game following a young hunter's journey.
Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern, released in Europe as Secret of the Lost Cavern, is a 2005 computer adventure game. It was created by Kheops Studio and released by The Adventure Company. The game's interface and gameplay closely mirror those of the studio's earlier title, Return to Mysterious Island. Players control Arok, a 15-year-old European Homo sapiens from the Paleolithic era. The story takes place around 15,000 B.C., beginning when Arok, a young hunter, finds a cave marked with an unusual symbol. This symbol reminds him of Klem, a charismatic traveler and shaman who visited Arok's clan years earlier. Klem is a painter and sorcerer who can speak with spirits through his cave paintings. Fascinated by Klem's art and stories, Arok decides to abandon his clan and follow the path of his mentor. According to the review site Metacritic, the PC version received mixed or average reviews. Mark Smith of Game Chronicles praised it as a refreshing change from poorly designed adventure games, while Bodo Naser of 4Players criticized generic puzzles that seemed to pad the game's length. Charles Herold of The New York Times described the game as "painfully sincere," noting its story serves mainly as a vehicle for puzzles and basic anthropology lessons.
- Developer
- Kheops Studio
- Publisher
- The Adventure Company
- Release Year
- 2005
- Genre
- Computer adventure game
- Setting
- Paleolithic period, circa 15,000 B.C.
- Protagonist
- Arok, a 15-year-old European Homo sapiens
Quick Facts
- Title
- Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern
- Developer
- Kheops Studio
- Publisher
- The Adventure Company / Coladia Games (Mac, iOS)
- Released
- Windows / GER · June 11, 2005 · NA/UK · July 5, 2005Mac OS X / November 2008 / iOS / 2010
- Genre
- Adventure
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- Windows, Mac OS X, iOS
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern is set in the Paleolithic period around 15,000 B.C. The player takes the role of Arok, a 15-year-old European Homo sapiens. Arok discovers a cavern marked with a strange symbol that reminds him of a charismatic traveler named Klem, a painter and sorcerer who visited his clan years before. Klem possesses the gift of speaking with spirits through cave paintings. Fascinated by Klem's creations and stories, Arok decides to abandon his clan and follow the path of his mentor.
Reader's Guide
The game is very similar to previous Kheops Studio games, with an interface and gameplay almost identical to Return to Mysterious Island. The PC version received 'mixed or average reviews' according to Metacritic. Mark Smith of Game Chronicles thought the game offered a breath of fresh air in a category of boring and badly designed adventure games. Bodo Naser of 4Players noted that generic puzzles had been included to artificially lengthen the game's play time. Charles Herold of The New York Times called the game 'painfully sincere' and found that its story is a perfunctory vehicle for puzzles and a little anthropological teaching. The game's significance lies in its attempt to blend adventure gameplay with a prehistoric setting and anthropological themes, though critical reception was divided on its execution.
Did You Know?
- The game is known in Europe as Secret of the Lost Cavern.
- The protagonist Arok is a 15-year-old European Homo sapiens from the Paleolithic period.
- The game's interface and gameplay are almost identical to Return to Mysterious Island.
- The PC version received 'mixed or average reviews' according to Metacritic.
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