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Ecco the Dolphin
Defender of the Future
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Review by famine
  Ecco the Dolphin (Defender of the Future..to give it its full title). As many of you will remember Ecco started of life a few years ago on the Sega Megadrive and then later on Sega's megaCD. Well now it's back on Sega's wonder machine and it's looking better than ever in all its 3D glory. The story behind Ecco is humans and dolphins have lived in harmony for over five hundred years. They had built a paradise which was protected by the guardian crystal. The crystal earth from all enemies....until now. An enemy known only as the foe had been waiting for a chance to conquer earth and know there time had come. They struck and the guardian crystal was shattered. This is where Ecco's adventure begins for he must reunite the pieces of the crystal and save the future. Just in case anyone is interested the story behind the game has been written by science-fiction author David Brin. I cant say i have ever read any of his work but after playing this game i might try and get hold of some.

Gameplay-7/10

For those familiar with the original games you will feel right at home with Ecco's gamplay. generally in each level you are given a few tasks to complete. Upon completing each task you will be given a new ability or item to help you in your quest. The only complaint i can make is that some of the riddles you are given do not make things very clear on what you have to do. As a result of this you quite often find yourself swimming around just admiring the scenery.

Controls-9/10

The controls are somewhat complicated to begin with but after playing for about half an hour they become quite intuitive. The buttons perform various actions, the D-pad controls the camera, and the analog stick controls your movement.

Graphics-9/10

The graphics in this game are some of the best i have seen on the dreamcast. Appaloosa have really outdone themselves. The textures on the rocks are nothing short of breathtaking. While the animation on the sharks and dolphins will make you feel like you are watching a documentry on the discovery channel. I have subtracted a mark from this catagory because if you bring Ecco above the surface of the water you can notice quite alot of pop-up in the scenery. however this does not affect the way the game plays in any way.

Sound-9/10

The sound is vey good. Tom Baker of Dr. Who fame provides the voice over for the intro. Ecco's sonar sounds perfect underwater, and you will fall in love with the character when you hear him clicking when you take him out of the water. The music although not to my taste suits the game perfectly.

Overall-8/10

Anyone who liked the original Ecco will love this game because it retains all the charm and looks alot better. Anyone who has never played an Ecco before should take a look at it as it will provide hours of entertainment. It does take some work to make your way through the game, but for those that persevere they will find a retro level bringing you straight back to your megadrive days!
 
Reviewer's Score: 8 / 10

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