Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future

"Tough as old boots, but far better looking...."

Following two very successful Mega Drive titles, a kid friendly spin-off (Ecco Jr) and conversions to Mega CD and PC, Ecco pretty much disappeared for four years, with no appearance on the Saturn. However with the announcement of the Dreamcast, soon came news of a brand new Ecco title - and in early 2000 it arrived... In a typically new age story, dolphins and humans lived in harmony, however when a terrible flood hit earth most of the humans and dolphins travelled to another world to start afresh, leaving just a few dolphins behind. Ecco is one such dolphin. However an alien force destroys an intelligent crystal which protects the earth and will invade earth if Ecco doesn't travel through the ocean to literally pick-up the pieces.

Let's just say from the outset, that Ecco is a beautiful game, in terms of atmosphere, graphics and sound. Ecco himself looks incredible and quite how they got such unbelievably good animation without motion capturing a dolphin defies belief. The rest of the graphics are just as gorgeous too - the coral reefs, sunlit bays, other dolphins and creatures such as sharks, tortoises and whales are astounding. All in all, it's light a trip to the Sea Life Centre only more realistic! The sound is possibly the best I've ever heard in a game. The soothing music is awesome and fits the atmosphere perfectly, whilst the sound effects (particularly when Ecco uses his sonar to sing to other creatures) have to be heard to be believed.

So then, aesthetically it is certainly impressive, but what is the gameplay like? Most levels involve solving puzzles whilst battling various nasty things (i.e. - SHARKS!). Ecco can talk to other dolphins using his sonar and gradually learns to sing to other creatures in order to have various controls over them. For instance at an early point in the game, Ecco can use his sonar to distract sharks for a second or too which gives you the oppurtunity to attack them before they can do the same to you. You can also get shoals of glow-in-the-dark fish to follow you into dark caves to light your way, whilst others will protect you from deep sea piranhas. All in all, the gameplay is extremely immersive - the way in which you interact with your surroundings is totally believeable - and you'll soon be totally engrossed. The game is huge too, with over 30 enormous levels for you to play through...

...which leads us to the game's perhaps only flaw - it's way too difficult. The second level is extremely tough (you'll die hundreds of times in the caves) and it gets even more tough. Ok, you have unlimited lives and there's plenty of restart points throughout the stages, but even so it is relentlessly difficult to the extreme. Inspite of this near vertical difficulty curve though, there's no denying that Ecco is a truly special game - you'll really believe you are in an underwater paradise. Just don't expect an easy ride!

GRAPHICS - 9/10 - Stunning! Appaloosa have created a living breathing world beneath the surface of the ocean. Prepare to lose yourself...

SOUND - 10/10 - Perhaps the most aurally stunning game ever created. The soothing music is hypnotic and the sound effects are equally magical.

GAMEPLAY - 7/10 - Whilst original, enjoyable and immersive, it is unbelievably tough and will test your patience/sanity to the limit. All in all though, it tends to be worth the effort.

LIFESPAN - 8/10 - Absolutely enormous! But will you have the patience for it..?

OVERALL - 8/10 - Would have easily been 9 or even 10 out of 10 had they just not made it so bloody tough! Providing you can muster up the patience though, Ecco is a wonderful and rewarding game and is definitely something everyone should experience.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/10/02, Updated 12/10/02