

If you like creative action games or just plain unique games in general, this game deserves a spot in your collection. This means fans of exploration/adventure games should find Ecco a captivating game that is a refreshing change from the norm. I don't want to describe the puzzles too much lest I spoil one of the most pleasant highlights of this game, so suffice it to say that you can touch the glyphs to get hints about how to achieve each level's objective, and sometimes all it takes is sonar in the right place ) The game is quite difficult, but the difficulty lies more in figuring out what to do, than something that requires superhuman reflexes.

There are many surprises in the game, and the blend of adventure-style puzzles is tasteful and seamless. Freedom of movement, unlike platform games, is almost unlimited: most of the time you can take the time to explore the huge level, taking in the sights and sounds while avoiding the dolphin's natural predators and other dangers. The game features over 25 levels of undersea exploration, each of which is beautifully rendered. To do this, you have to travel through 100 milion years of time and space via the Atlantean time machine. As Ecco, you are the only dolphin who is able to save the life of Asterite, your mystical mentor who has been shattered by the Vortex queen. In contrast to most action games, the storyline in Ecco is actually quite interesting and unfolds with exciting twists and turns along the way. Undoubtedly the most unique game SEGA ever created, Ecco The Dolphin is a charming action/adventure game that calls itself a "dolphin simulator" and largely succeeds: you can do just about everything a dolphin does in real life such as catch fish, surface to breathe, use a cool biological sonar, and perform above-water acrobatics to amaze friends and foe. But that task will be not be an easy one, as you will have to travel through time and space with the Atlantean time machine, and meet the mystical Asterite in order to defeat the Vortex Queen.Įcco The Dolphin is the rare Windows version of SEGA's first game in a classic series that began life on the SEGA Master System in 1992 and is still going strong, with sequels appearing on the Playstation 2 and Dreamcast consoles. The five shining stars on your forehead show that you are the chosen one to save them. As Ecco, you are the only dolphin who managed to escape from a giant whirlpool which sucked down your entire pod. The storyline is actually deeper that one may think by looking at the box illustration. Indeed, you can do pretty much everything a typical dolphin does, including eating fish, surfacing in order to breathe, using your biological sonar and of course, jumping out of the water to amaze your friends. Travel through time along with Ecco the dolphin, in the only game that could call itself a "dolphin simulator".
