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Echelon

aka: Echelon: 3-D Space Flight Simulator
Moby ID: 424
box cover
Released
1987 on Commodore 64
Credits
10 people
Releases by Date (by platform)
Publishers
Developers
Moby Score
6.1
#21,625 of 25.6K
Critics
69% (10)
Players
(10)
Review Ranking
Collected By
19 players
Genre
Action
Simulation
Perspective
1st-person
Gameplay
Puzzle elements
Vehicular
Flight / aviation
Setting
Sci-fi / futuristic
Commodore 64 Specs
Media Type
Cassette Tape, Floppy Disk
Input Devices Supported/Optional
Keyboard
Number of Players Supported
1 Player
[ view all 45 specs ]
Buy on DOS
$21.78 used, $129.79 new on eBay
Buy on Windows
$1.49 new on GOG.com
Note: We may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made via eBay, Amazon and GOG links (prices updated 11/20 12:11 PM )
See Also

Description official descriptions

Echelon is a space combat simulator with wire-frame graphics. Fly around an alien planet, looking for clues to a "mysterious event" in the planet's past.

The game has a feature that allows people to play without concerning themselves with battle, or turn off the "exploration" and concentrate solely on combat.

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (Commodore 64 version)

10 People

Game Design
Illustration
Software Graphics
Writers
Data Base Layout
Documentation
Play Testing

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 69% (based on 10 ratings)

Players

Average score: 1.9 out of 5 (based on 10 ratings with 1 reviews)

Starglider/Elite as an atmospheric-flight puzzle game

The Good

  • Took depth and real work to translate the ancient language found on innumerable pieces of wreckage and artifacts you had to beam up to read

  • Took even more investigating to unravel the order events and the flight path necessary to complete the game and solve its puzzles.
  • Enemies could be "turned off" or "turned up" - Puzzle solving without fighting, moderate amounts of both, or all action were available.
  • Collected pieces were saved in a convenient journal

    **The Bad**
  • Randomly scattered Nuclear Bombs replaced some of the artifacts, destroying the ship with no warning and no chance to save.
  • Docking with the Space Station to refuel / rearm took godly patience.
  • No way to upgrade the ship, just mix/match the 3 weapons
  • No time compression, so flight between sectors could take forever
  • Collecected objects didn't affect gameplay or alter the ship

    **The Bottom Line**
    Spaceflight action puzzle game - fly around blasting enemies, collect dozens of useless but necessary futuristic pottery shards, and reconstruct the flight path to solve ancient mysteries.

    • DOS · by Matt McLaine (51) · 2001

    Trivia

    C64 version

    The Commodore 64 version of Echelon shipped with the "Lip Stik", a headset and microphone that purported to take voice commands, but in reality just acted as a firebutton. It plugged directly into the joystick port.

    References

    Unmarked even on the Hint Map were several unusual locations and structures, including a McDonalds, the Golden Gate bridge, and others. They could be blown up, and the bridges could be flown under and through (lengthwise).

    Sound

    The game uses Access' "Real Sound" technlogy - digitized sound through the standard PC speaker.

    Information also contributed by Matt McLaine

    Analytics

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    Related Sites +

    Identifiers +

    • MobyGames ID: 424
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    Contribute

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    Contributors to this Entry

    Game added by Robert Morgan.

    ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC added by Martin Smith. Apple II added by Terok Nor. Commodore 64 added by Servo. Windows, Macintosh, Linux added by MAT.

    Additional contributors: jean-louis, Patrick Bregger, ZeTomes.

    Game added November 14, 1999. Last modified August 2, 2024.