Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future

"Politicians have made such a hash of ensuring peace and love that it's time to ask a noisy dolphin for help"

Ecco the Dolphin, you might (and should) remember, was a staple Sega character in the early pre-Playstation 90's, appearing predominantly on the successful Genesis machine. He was never in the same league as, say, Sonic the Hedgehog, but his aquatic exploits earned him an iconic status among sad Sega stalwarts. At the height of his fame, Ecco disappeared from public life, some say clubbed to death by poachers or caught in tuna fishnets, but the truth was far less sinister. Ecco was taking time out before appearing in a new adventure, Defender of the Future.

The game begins with a protracted story-telling sequence, in which it's revealed that a mysterious planet-threatening force known as the Foe has opened a can of 'whupass' on Earth's human and porpoise inhabitants. But Bruce Willis is apparently too busy to help. perhaps he's counting the cost of a failed restaurant chain. Or a failed marriage and subsequent divorce. Maybe the recent wave of romantic 'comedy' roles has softened up the former movie hardman. Because when Earth needs a hero, it's the affable Ecco who steps (swims actually) into the fray.
It's utterly preposterous, I know, but the laughter soon subsides once the stunning in-game graphics fill your television screen. The enormous 3D environments created for Ecco to explore are simply incredible, each crammed with a vast array of superbly animated sea life. Swim down to the ocean floor and you'll discover schools of semi-translucent fish gliding through the murky water, sea turtles swimming in unison along the coral reefs and a humpback whale with a calf floating lazily on the ocean surface. Ecco himself is particularly impressive, jumping and splashing in the rippling water with quite unbelievable realism - it's mesmerizing. Together with the bubbling water and whale song audio, it makes for one of the most relaxing and subliminally soothing game experiences ever.
Shame then, that several frustrations ruin the peaceful ambience.
I'm prepared to forgive the irritation of scenery glitching and occasional slow-down, given the overall splendour of the in-game graphics. But impatient players will soon become irritated by the lack of direction. Sure, I often criticize games for their linear gameplay and beg for a greater element of freedom to roam and explore as I see fit. But Ecco takes it a step too far. The first level, for example, gives you no objective from the outset; you're left to swim and explore for several minutes before you're made aware of what needs to be done. So you instinctively think you've done something wrong, when the truth is that you've been abandoned without fully understanding what's required of you.

The tasks themselves aren't particularly inspired and vary enormously in terms of difficulty. Some early levels can take hours to complete, while a few of the later missions offer no more than 20 minutes of gameplay. You'll also find yourself retreading the same old ground several times, not intentionally, but as a result of the difficulty in navigating the environments. It's hard to know where you've already been, since there are few distinguishing features in the sea bed to use as a guide, so you find yourself returning to the same areas several times. The adding of a compass would be a nifty idea I say.

Weapons, unsurprisingly, are in relative short supply, which makes fending off the shark/jellyfish attacks a hazardous pursuit. Luckily, Ecco picks up a trick or two along the way. Beyond his basic abilities, such as the attacking high-speed nose butt, Ecco learns sonar 'songs' that can be used to communicate with and manipulate other creatures.
Complete a specific task and Ecco may be rewarded with the 'Song of the Shark', which stuns the dolphin predator, while the 'Song of the Turtle' can be used to coax the sub-aquatic tortoises into movement. Obviously I'd prefer an AK-47, but it wouldn't be in keeping with the vibe of the game.

The actual control of Ecco is particularly well done. I had my doubts; other gaming veterans Sonic and Mario have suffered from awkward controls as a result of the move from 2D to 3D, but not Ecco. Directional control is smooth and responsive, allowing you to propel Ecco through the water at terrific speed. More advanced manoeuvres, somersaults and tail walks, also come in handy for surveying the world above sea level, and for showing off your gaming skills to less proficient mates.

In fact, few games are guaranteed to draw the stares of amazement that accompany screenings of Ecco, and this goes some way to making up for the game's deficiencies. Later levels, such as the submerged city of Atlantis, are simply stunning, and the rippling water effects never fail to impress. It's not for everyone; adrenaline junkies will find little to satisfy their cravings. But Ecco presents an absorbing experience quite unlike anything I've played before. It's a beautifully crafted and entertaining game, which is spoiled slightly by the unbalanced learning curve and lack of purpose. Still, there's nothing else quite like it.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 12/20/02, Updated 12/20/02