ECCO THE DOLPHIN: DEFENDER OF THE FUTURE
Publisher: SEGA
Developer: APPALOOSA
SCORE: 9 out of ten Buy it now \@ GAMEPLAY

If Sega are to be believed, dolphins figure strongly in the future of humankind. Steve Fulljames sleeps with the fishes

What is it that dolphins actually do? Apart from get caught in tuna nets and pass as entertainment in second-rate Florida theme parks, that is. They're considered to be one of the smartest lifeforms on the planet, so you have to wonder what kind of maniacal schemes they might have come up with if only they had hands. Maybe they're just biding their time, and us puny surface-dwellers will be first against the wall when the revolution comes. On the other hand, their association with the tedious new age end of the hippy spectrum might suggest our finny friends have a more benevolent worldview.

After all, you couldn't imagine Flipper flying into a drunken rage if a fellow cetacean spilled his pint or looked at his missus a bit funny. But there's still potential there for mischief, despite your basic dolphin being digitally challenged. Definitely enough for Sega to want to make a game about them. And as we all know, Sega has more oddball game ideas than anyone else - even the freaky kids who write to us in green crayon.
Labelling Ecco The Dolphin: Defender Of The Future as 'oddball' is actually a massive injustice, though.