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May 21, 1999

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 First Impressions: Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future

The return of Ecco looks to usher in a new era for Sega adventure gaming. Nearly 20 Screens!

May 21, 1999


Man, I thought I was blown away when I saw Sonic. I actually convinced myself that I was impressed when I witnessed Shen Mue. But after a few seconds with Appaloosa's Dreamcast rendition of the 16 bit classic, I must confess that I am completely at a loss as to how the world has gone without for so long.

Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future may have been present in demo mode only at this year's Electronic entertainment Expo, but after what I saw today, I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that this one could change the way you look gaming. The character animations are simply amazing and the environments are as engrossing as they are beautiful, with a level of detail that brings the familiar landscape of the sea to life in a way that simply cannot be put into words.

The model of Ecco himself is sheer genius. I mean, it's not like you're looking at a polygonal model of a dolphin… This is Ecco, and he is amazing. Both vibrant and fluid, each character in the game really comes alive on the screen. We saw several cool characters, from fellow dolphins to octopi and jellyfish, and they all screamed of realism never before seen on home console. Viewing this game is more like watching a National Geographic special than a video game.

Despite the fact that viewing this one was all I got to do, I did see a bit of gameplay present, even in the demo mode. There is an instance where Ecco must find a certain area in the ocean, then you are called on to lead other dolphins into the same area. This is but a small example of the quests that appear to be in the works, but from what I am looking at, this game has all the tools to take the Ecco into the next generation.

We'll be back in the near future with as much dirt as we can dig up, so be sure to check back on IGNDC for all the goods on what is sure to be one of the most impressive DC titles ever made.



 
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May 21, 1999 - Headlines

First Impressions: Max Payne
Rockstar has a "Remedy" for action fans in Payne
Shen Mue Demo Exposed!
We've got a new look at Sega's upcoming Virtua Fighter RPG.
Rayman 2 Unveiled
We've got the first images of the Dreamcast version. Check them out here.
First Impressions: Supreme Snowboarding
Infogrames first snowboarding looks impressive.
First Impressions: Furballs
Bizarre is set to knock the stuffing out of the competition.
First Impressions: Alone in the Dark 4
The DC may have Resident Evil, but it's about to get some company…
First Impressions: Maken X
Atlus' first-person slasher gouges its way onto Dreamcast.
IGNDC's E3 Extravaganza
Click here for the most comprehensive Dreamcast E3 show wrap-up on the web.
Bioware Unleashes New MDK2 Screens
Over 20 new high-res shots of this hot DC action title
Geist Force Canceled
DC shooter is no more thanks to Sega quality control
Sink Your Teeth Into Castlevania Resurrection
Get the big picture on Konami’s upcoming DC vamp hunter with the first batch of images!
No Cliche Posts New Screens of Toy Commander
Dreamcast 1.5 developer comes out to play with over 20 new screens



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