The beloved classic, Ecco the Dolphin, is set to make a splash once more. Ed Annunziata, the mastermind behind the original games, has announced in an interview on Xbox Wire that not only are remakes of the iconic titles in the works, but a brand new third installment is also being developed. Annunziata, who is reuniting with the original team, shared his excitement about remastering Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time, and teased fans with the promise of a new game that will incorporate modern gameplay and graphics.
While there has already been a third game, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, released on the Dreamcast in 2000, Annunziata was not involved in its creation. Furthermore, a planned sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, which would have continued the story from Defender of the Future, was unfortunately cancelled.
Fans have expressed their enthusiasm and nostalgia, with one stating, "I just want to finally be able to enter my secret password from the end of Tides of Time. I still have it written in the codes section of the game manual," while another highlighted the quirky nature of the series, saying, "I wonder how many people know how completely bonkers the plot of the games are."
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While no specific release date was provided, a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website indicates that we have about a year to wait, as it's set to expire in 8,508 hours.
Originally launched in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Ecco the Dolphin introduced players to the titular character on a mission to navigate through perilous waters and reunite with his pod after a devastating environmental event. The sequel, Ecco: The Tides of Time, followed in 1994, expanding on the underwater adventure. The series also included "edutainment" titles, Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt, released in 1995, focusing on educational gameplay.
Previous attempts to revive the series have had mixed results. The 2000 remake was described as, "Ecco the Dolphin is a classic from SEGA. But sometimes classics should stay in the past." In IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review of the 2007 remake, it was noted, "For those who have played Ecco before, there's really no reason to come back to it. There are no extras offered and the Achievements are junk. If you've never played Ecco, then you may want to give it a go. It really is one of the more innovative titles of its time. But, again, that time has long passed, and Ecco's gameplay doesn't stand the test of time like Sonic's."
On a more positive note, the last mainline game, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, received a score of 7.6 from IGN's Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future review, which praised the game's visuals and story, saying, "If you thought Flipper had personality, wait until you get a load of Ecco the Dolphin. Experience amazing visuals and an engrossing story, and defend the ocean that is rightfully yours."
