3DActionPlanet
Review by William Harms, 70%. "There is some good fun to be found in Echelon, but it's hidden behind too many problems and unpolished gameplay."
ActionTrip
Review by Branislav Babovic, 70%. "Echelon's main problem is that it appeared too early. It looks as though the programmers just rushed to wrap the game up, eliminating any possibility to get a good background story, and incorporating only the basic Multiplayer options."
Game Club Central
Review by David Washington, 3.5/5. "If there was ever a game that has potential to become great, then Echelon is that game. But in its current state, it is not yet ready to go up against the big boys in the industry."
Game Industry News
Review by Todd Hargosh, 4/5. "Aside from the difficulty I had with the control, the game is very intense."
Game Revolution
Review by Shawn Sanders, C. "Echelon is a disappointment. I expected your character to play a more integral role in the story. ... I expected better AI from a game that has been in development for this long."
GameRaiders
Review by Twogunsshy, 74%. "Despite the great graphics and decent story line, Bethesda Software still has a ways to go in finalizing their product. The lack of a dedicated online game server tends to take away from its multiplayer feature."
Gamers Today
Review by Nate Heasly, 4/5. "Once you get the hang of the controls and get used to the slightly more realistic flight engine the game is plenty of fun to play."
GameSpot
Review by Scott Osborne, 7/10. "The gorgeous graphics are quite a sight, and the gameplay gives you a fairly enjoyable 'Top Gun meets Star Wars' experience that straddles realism and arcade-style gameplay, while emphasizing the latter. In aiming to meld the two, it doesn't quite get either right, and substance takes a backseat to style."
Gamezilla
Review by Ben Piazza, 66%. "There is absolutely no progression of personal growth nor will the fundamental storyline leave you wanting more. If there was anything that saves it from the trash it would be its thrilling graphics that go beyond normal second rate flight simulations."
GameZone
Review by Michael Lafferty, 75%. "And if the visual elements are so strong as to draw you back again and again, in spite of the shortcomings, then this must be a decent program."
IGN.com
Review by Steve Butts, 72%. "You'll play it, you'll enjoy and, ultimately, put it aside for more traditional games that offer a lot more sparkle."
Maximum3D
Review by Scott, 4/5. "I found Echelon to be an extremely fun game, with its unique aircraft, excellent visuals, and the mind-blowing rush of low-altitude combat."
Science Fiction Weekly
Review by Eric T. Baker. "Echelon is an easy game to learn, but a hard one to master. ... The lack of control over your wingmen is very annoying in the later scenarios, and the flying really is much better with a joystick."
The Armchair Empire
Review by Omni, 83%. "The environments look great, the action is fast, and most of the missions can be taken on the third or fourth try."
The Junkyard
Review by Ryan Matthews, 7/10. "If you're looking for a flight sim that has a pretty face, handles extraordinary and isn't your run of the mill space shooter, Echelon is your game."