{"id":1051911,"date":"2026-01-18T14:02:46","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T14:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.polygon.com\/?p=486735"},"modified":"2026-01-18T14:02:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T14:02:46","slug":"behold-an-fps-breath-of-the-wild-with-a-hoverboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/behold-an-fps-breath-of-the-wild-with-a-hoverboard\/","title":{"rendered":"Behold an FPS Breath of the Wild with a hoverboard"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Reloading
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re looking for restraint, you will not find it in Echo Point Nova. <\/em>Within the first 30 minutes of the game, you\u2019ll find yourself equipped with a hoverboard capable of climbing any vertical surface, a grappling hook that can latch onto clouds, and a triple jump. This game does not hold back the goods.<\/p>\n

Echo Point Nova<\/em> is an open-world FPS that offers nearly total freedom. Once you\u2019ve got your basic loadout, you\u2019re free to explore the enormous map of hundreds of floating islands and enemy bases. There is a story, delivered via in-world text popups, but you\u2019ll likely miss much of it as you\u2019re soaring over an ice mountain trying to dive-bomb a giant robot. It is an untethered power fantasy.<\/p>\n

The freedom to explore calls to mind Breath of the Wild<\/a><\/em> \u2013 really, you\u2019ll be astonished at what this game allows you to do \u2013 though don\u2019t expect to be totally bowled over by the presentation or art design here. Stylistically it has more in common with arena shooters of the early 2000s, with definite Unreal Tournament<\/em> vibes. But unlike those multiplayer-centric shooters, Echo Point Nova<\/em> is more interested in providing a satisfying journey that quickly turns you into a god.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The game\u2019s singleplayer campaign has you bounding from one island to the next, clearing out nests of enemies. For each one cleared, you might unlock a new weapon \u2014 expect standard fare like SMGs, grenade launchers, and sniper rifles \u2014 or a new perk, like one that allows you to butt-slam enemies in a large explosion. There are dozens of these challenges, enough to keep you busy for several hours, and completing each one makes you even more impossibly powerful. I found myself strapped with around 15 different weapons and 10 perks to pick from after just five hours. I was drowning in resources with which to dish out punishment.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n