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Well the internet sleuths are in full force and Destructoid reported that someone has stumbled across what was the initial concept work for Echochrome and it is called OLE Coordinate System. The best part is you can play it right now by downloading it here.

Of course since this was one of the most interesting games to come out of E3 I was quick to jump on it and give it a try.

The project page explains that OLE stands for Object Locative Environment which certainly describes what we’ve been seeing from Echochrome game play so far. The author also explains the goal of allowing us all to play in Escher like worlds.

“While M.C. Escher is famous for his “trick of the eye” works, this piece enables users to create and experience their own Escher-esque worlds.”

The page then goes on to describe the various mechanics of the game:

• Subjective Translation - Where the player can change their view so that a character can navigate across gaps between objects that are not continuous in their old view
• Subjective Landing - Where a character can fall from an object and land on the same object at the same height as what they fell from
• Subjective Existence - Where the player can obscure the view of a gap to make it not exist such that the character can cross the gap unimpeded
• Subjective Absence - Where things the player cannot see (such as holes) no longer exist to impede or effect the character
• Subjective Jump - Where a character can jump and land on things that would not appear to be within the arc of the characters movement

What’s available for play is mainly a level editor where you can create your own Escher like levels and try out the mechanics of the game. Sadly there’s now way to save your levels from what I could find but I’d love to see screen shots of what other people came up with. Here’s a video showing off the OLE Coordinate System in action for those who don’t aren’t into checking it out first hand.

All of it seems very metaphysical and definitely gets the mind jogging. We’ve seen a couple of the mechanics before such as in Super Paper Mario having the ability to flip to 3D mode and move around pipes and such blocking the way. The holes also remind me of the upcoming game Portal in Orange Box and the portals in Prey a bit. But certainly all of these things haven’t been put together into such a mind bending package before and I really think that’s where the fun will come from once Echochrome drops. I’m definitely looking forward to Echochrome being released as I can see this making a fantastic puzzle game.