Ecco the Dolphin

Ecco the Dolphin is a series of action-adventure video games developed by Appaloosa Interactive (previously known as Novotrade International) and published by Sega. They were originally developed for the Mega Drive/Genesis and Dreamcast video game consoles, and have been ported to numerous systems. The story follows the eponymous Ecco, a bottlenose dolphin, who fights extraterrestrial threats to the world. The games are known for their high difficulty level.[1][2] Ecco was created by Ed Annunziata,[3] who also produced Chakan: The Forever Man.

Ecco the Dolphin
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Developer(s)Appaloosa Interactive
Publisher(s)Sega
Creator(s)Ed Annunziata
Platform(s)Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Microsoft Windows, Game Gear, Master System, Virtual Console, Cloud (OnLive), Steam, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 3DS
First releaseEcco the Dolphin
23 December 1992 (1992-12-23)
Latest releaseEcco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future
16 June 2000 (2000-06-16)

Games

Ecco the Dolphin
Main article: Ecco the Dolphin (video game)

Released in 1992, the original game followed the exploits of a young dolphin named Ecco as he searched the seas, and eventually time itself, for his missing pod.

Ecco: The Tides of Time
Main article: Ecco: The Tides of Time

Released in 1994, the sequel follows Ecco's exploits after the conclusion of the original game as he travels the oceans, the past, and the future in his quest to save the planet once more.

Ecco Jr.
Main article: Ecco Jr.

Released in 1995, this title was intended as edutainment and lacked the sophistication and difficulty of the previous two titles in series. When Ecco and his friends find out Big Blue, a wise and famous whale, is near they must do favors and break crystals in order to pass the stage and find Big Blue.

Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt

Released in 1995, an edutainment game similar to Ecco Jr. on the Sega Genesis, this title was released on the Sega Pico. In this game, Ecco and his friends explore the ocean and the ruins that lie within to find various treasures. This game distinguishes itself by utilizing stylus control for the gameplay.

Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future
Main article: Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future

Released in 2000, this title reenvisioned the Ecco mythos in a new Earth with a new premise.

Storylines and ports

The Ecco the Dolphin games can be divided into two distinct storylines: the Mega Drive/Genesis games (Ecco the Dolphin, Ecco: The Tides of Time, and Ecco Jr.) and the Dreamcast game (Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future).

Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time were both re-released for the Sega CD, Master System and Game Gear, and Defender of the Future was originally released for the Dreamcast and later re-released for the PlayStation 2. The Sega CD version of Ecco the Dolphin was ported to Microsoft Windows in 1995. Ecco the Dolphin was also re-released on the Game Boy Advance as part of the fourth Sega Smash Pack. All of the Mega Drive games have been released on Valve's Steam platform,[4][5][6] as well as being ported to Nintendo's Virtual Console[7] and the first game was ported to Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade.[8]

Two six-part comic book series of Ecco the Dolphin stories based on the first game were featured in Sonic the Comic. Series one was written by Woodrow Phoenix and drawn by Chris Webster in 1993. Series two followed in 1995. Archie Comics Sonic the Hedgehog series later featured a Dolphin character named Echo thought to be a tribute to this series, though this character was humanoid and female.

In late 2016 series creator Ed Annunziata reached a settlement with Sega regarding the legal rights to the franchise. The attempt to regain the intellectual property rights, in part, arose from Annunziata's unsuccessful attempt to make a spiritual successor called The Big Blue funded through Kickstarter which could not use the Ecco name. Although the exact details of the settlement were unclear, it was believed by media outlets including Venture Beat that it could pave the way for a new installment in the franchise by Annunziata.[9] Soon thereafter Annunziata himself talked about wanting to revive the series for the Nintendo Switch.[10]

Soundtrack
Songs of Time
Soundtrack album by
Spencer Nilsen
ReleasedSeptember 3, 1996
GenreElectronica
Ambient music
Length64:17
ProducerSegaSoft

Ecco: Songs of Time is a soundtrack album which contains the original soundtrack from the Sega CD versions of Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time.[11] It was released on September 3, 1996. The music is composed by Spencer Nilsen. The music is atmospheric and ambient, heavy on high-quality synthesizer, low-frequency percussion and various samples, including dolphin squeaks and squeals.

Track listing

Tracks 1-11 from Ecco: The Tides of Time, tracks 12-18 from Ecco the Dolphin

No.TitleLength
1."Abyss"4:41
2."Botswana"3:14
3."The Desert Below"2:43
4."Deception"2:04
5."Deep Marjimba"3:14
6."Blue Dream"3:25
7."St. Gabriel's Mask"4:30
8."Heart of the Giant"2:39
9."Transcended"3:18
10."Mountains Below"3:36
11."Treefish"3:48
12."Aqua Vistas"4:24
13."Lonesome Search"1:49
14."Friend or Foe"6:09
15."Motion E"4:08
16."The Machine"3:25
17."Sounding Echo"3:10
18."Time Forgotten"3:59
gollark: You're not meant to do it manually, that would be stupid.
gollark: I mean, if they complain I say "just look it up or use this command".
gollark: I also offer it preinstalled on free demo computers, because it's THAT GREAT!
gollark: Actually, you can install potatOS without knowing.
gollark: Or they just say in advance "it did [unexpected thing], this is a virus, how do I uninstall it" *then* complain.

References
  1. Goldstein, Hilary (2007-08-17). "IGN: Ecco the Dolphin Review". IGN. IGN. Archived from the original on 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
  2. Thomas, Lucas (2006-12-13). "IGN: Ecco the Dolphin (Virtual Console) Review". IGN. IGN. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
  3. "Interview with Ed Annunziata". The Arkonviox Network. Archived from the original on 2009-12-26. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  4. "Ecco The Dolphin on Steam".
  5. "Ecco - The Tides of Time on Steam".
  6. "Ecco Jr. on Steam".
  7. "SEGA games for Wii's VC found on ESRB website". Codename Revolution. Retrieved 2006-09-12.
  8. "Ecco the Dolphin - Game Detail Page". Microsoft. Microsoft. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-08-23. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
  9. Takahasi, Dean. "Ecco the Dolphin creator settles lawsuit with Sega, possibly paving way for series' rebirth". Venture Beat. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  10. George. "Ecco the Dolphin creator wants to make new Ecco, Mr. Bones and Three Dirty Dwarves entries on Nintendo Switch". Sega Bits. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  11. "News Bits". GamePro. No. 95. IDG. August 1996. p. 17.
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