Sega
DC
Available Now
8/18/2000
 
 
 
 
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future


Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future serves as a solid reminder that Sega still has “It.” “It,” being the ability to produce some of the most unique, fun games in this bizarro business, which seems to survive on countless numbers of mediocre titles. From the moment the title screens blinks on your television, to the time you finally force yourself to slap your dorsal fin on the “off” switch, you’re bombarded with brilliance and visual splendor the likes we’ve haven’t seen in ages.

Everything you’ve heard about Ecco’s difficulty is true. It is hard…mind-numbing, pull-your-hair-out-in-frustrated-rage hard. This is one of those rare games that actually makes you work for the pay-off; and because the game itself is the phenomenal pay-off--the return of a great character, an engaging story, refreshing play mechanics, and orgasmic graphics--you’ll consider every hour of brain-racking intrigue spent with Ecco an hour very well spent.

In the far-flung future, an evil alien race known as “The Foe” has exploited the sole weakness of planet earth, now a paradise shared by humans and dolphins, by destroying the Guardian. Pieces of the broken-down Guardian are strewn across not only the planet’s oceans, but in different time splits. Ecco may be bright, but he’ll need to constantly seek out the advice of the Guardian shards to find out what he must do next—and these clues range from clever to downright cryptic. Instead of holding your little hand and telling you it’s all gonna be okay, Ecco forces you to dust off the ol’ thinking cap and get things done the old-fashioned way: Hard gaming.

Those who spent their youth with Ecco on the Genesis will already have an idea of how to get around in the big blue. When danger strikes and Ecco must strike back, he can charge forward to deliver a powerful ‘bonk’ with his bottlenose. The charge attack can also get you through corridors quickly, which is helpful when oxygen is scarce. To talk with the other sea dwellers, Ecco fires off his sonar, and the chitter-chatter begins. Ecco also has special powers, like Vigor, that he must learn if he wants to…well, defend the future.

However, you’ll often find yourself just soaking in the gorgeous environments, instead of pursuing the mission at hand…and that’s okay, too. Fortunately, there’s no time limit looming over Ecco, so you can have worriless fun, reacquainting yourself with the beloved dolphin from Sega’s past. Ecco puts a heavy emphasis on freedom--and the freedom to leisurely explore the amazing world that Appaloosa has created is so incredible that you have to forgive the occasional brainbuster puzzles, which are the result of these vast environments. There’s something both wonderful and soothing about darting through the coral reefs, or getting Ecco to balance on his tail fin just above the surface. Very zen.

Astounding game play aside, what will seriously blow your hair back are the magnificent visuals. From the look of things in Ecco, life is definitely better down where it’s wetter. Some sights are so deliriously beautiful, like the water tunnels that zoom across the sky or the desolate temples of Atlantis, that you will literally stop whatever you’re doing just to stare. But it’s not just the set pieces that amaze; the other sea creatures are so perfectly realized--from the ghostly jellyfish to the menacing sharks--that a trip to the local aquarium might no longer be necessary. Ecco himself is so damn elegant that you cannot help but to wonder why everybody is crowing about the consoles of the future, when the Dreamcast is so capable of conjuring wondrous sights itself.

What absolutely floors me about Ecco, though, is the emotional investment players will make in the game. When you’re enjoying an afternoon in the bay with a playful Ecco, you cannot help but to feel pleasantly relaxed. You have so much fun with Ecco, that his quest takes on a personal nature, and you find yourself quietly (or not so quietly) urging Ecco to rescue the baby whale, dodge the luminous minefield of jellyfish, or beat the nefarious Foe. In fact, a friend of mine was playing Ecco, completely delighting herself by swimming with the dolphins. Suddenly, a shark cruised in and whacked Ecco with its nose. The girl screamed and threw the controller in the air. When a game makes you react that strongly, it has succeeded.

According to the science books, after humans, dolphins are supposed to be the smartest mammals on the planet. However, dolphins don’t set cars on fire after basketball championships, so perhaps we deserve to take a back seat to our aquatic friends. Do your part to take back the top spot on the food chain by purchasing Ecco--you’ll be the smartest mammal of all.

- Levi Buchanan


   
 

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