Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future

"The most challenging game in videogame history..."

Ecco...The defender of Earth's future... (And cause of my many broken Dreamcast controllers) No way! A dolphin saving the world, underwater? Yup, it's true. Appaloosa has come up with another great title that is a sequel to the SEGA genesis series, Ecco: The Dolphin. In this installment the game sticks to the series' basics. A game that uses unbelievably great visuals and sound with a difficulty to kill. This game may not have the high score that others give it but it is definitely a great game...

Graphics: 10/10
Never have I seen such great underwater visuals than in this game. The environments are mouth watering and wonderful. The sea creatures are fluent and realistic in their movement. The dolphins especially are wonderfully poised in this masterpiece with their realistic models. The environments range from the natural looking sea floor to the debris filled underwater caverns. I don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful game.

Audio: 9/10
Okay. There aren't a lot of music tracks in this game due to the fact that most levels use the natural sound of the ocean which is stupendous. The sound effects are just as perfect as this underwater atmosphere. The tracks that are in this game are mysterious and serene. Just wonderful overall.

Story: 4/10
The story I am sorry to say is crappola. Ever hear of a dolphin saving the world? Ever imagine such a thing? I don't think so. So how can a dolphin which is limited to the oceans of the Earth save the planet from flying ships? You'll have to find out...but the idea isn't very ingenious. However, it isn't awful either but the creator could have definitely improved the story. A 4 is more than generous for this peculiar plot.

Gameplay: 5/10
The gameplay isn't fun. It lacks in many categories. First the controls for Ecco is disastrous. He's clumsy, kinda awkward when it comes to moving in a direction. The areas are huge and impossible to navigate without getting lost. The puzzles are overly difficult and can make the player feel infuriated to the point he/she may break the controller he/she is using. Also the fact that you are guessing through 98% of the puzzles in this game can make this game look unattractive.

Difficulty: High (++)
The difficulty cannot be matched by any other game in videogame history. The puzzles, lack of direction and confusing settings makes this game the most intricate game ever. I doubt I will ever play this game again due to the frustration I get from playing it.

Replayability: None
There isn't any replay factor in this game due to the difficulty so forget even looking here. Oh, and if you decide to beat this another time than pat yourself on your back cause you have just survived Hell.

Buy or Rent: I don't know. I bought it because I did enjoy it when I rented it but later found out that beating it would be almost impossible.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/11/02, Updated 07/11/02