Alter Echo tells the story of a futuristic world where psychics, known as shapers, can use a special substance called Plast to form anything from weapons to buildings.

The world's greatest shaper, Paavo, has made a breakthrough on a faraway planet, creating a new, more powerful Plast called EchoPlast.

The player, a young shaper named Nevin, is stranded on the planet with his two friends when Paavo shoots their ship down.

As the game progresses, the player earns experience points to improve their combat forms, health, and other attributes.

A multiplier is recorded at the top portion of the screen and applied when the player waits too long between attacks.

[20][21] Jeff Gerstmann, writing for GameSpot, commented: "It would have been nice to have seen some more variety in the environments, and the instances of backtracking through areas you've already visited are disappointing.