Sorting through the puzzling versions of Echochrome

With one name and many different versions, Echochrome’s release is almost as confusing as one of the L ranked puzzles. If you haven’t been playing Echochrome, rank L is the most difficult level of puzzles in the Japanese PSP version. Now that we know Echochrome is coming to North American PlayStation 3s and PSPs in May, I created a handy guide explaining what’s different between Echochrome and well… Echochrome. Here we go.

Echochrome: Jokyoku / Echochrome: Primal (Asia)

System: PlayStation 3

Region: Japan / Asia

50 puzzles

Solo play only

Level sharing over the PlayStation Network

Maximum level size is 38 x 38 blocks

Price: 1,800 yen ($18) on the PlayStation Store

Echochrome / Echochrome Plus (coined by SCEH)

System: PSP

Region: Japan / Asia

96 puzzles, 50 are from Jokyoku/Primal

Three modes of play: solo, pair and others, difficulty extends to rank L

Ad-hoc level sharing only

Maximum level size is 18 x 18 blocks

Price: 3,980 yen ($40) as a retail package

Echochrome

System: PlayStation 3

Region: USA

56 puzzles different from the US PSP release

Modes other than solo are unconfirmed

Level sharing over the PlayStation Network

Maximum level size is 38 x 38 blocks

Price: $9.99 on the PlayStation Store

Echochrome

System: PSP

Region: USA

56 puzzles different from the US PlayStation 3 release

Modes other than solo are unconfirmed, difficulty limited to rank G

Ad-hoc level sharing only

Maximum level size is 18 x 18 blocks

Price: $9.99 on the PlayStation Store

This list is a good start, but it overlooks a key detail: if the US and Japanese puzzles differ. I have the Asian PSP version of Echochrome and it hooked me in. However, looking back at the purchase I have buyer’s remorse. I wish I got the PlayStation 3 version because retrieving user created puzzles over the PlayStation Network personally outweighs portability even though I play Echochrome on the train.

Choose your version wisely.