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If dolphins are so intelligent then why do they...

By Stiva, posted on Wed, 14 Jun 2000 14:13:28 GMT
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Ecco the Dolphin

Ecco for Dreamcast will leave you squawking and whistling for more.

I have a confession to make. Most people in the office know. Some close friends know. But now I feel I can share it with you all. I have always wanted to be a dolphin since a childhood outing to Windsor Safari Park. I know I should have left my desires behind in the playground, those whimsical dreams of bobbing about on the crest of a wave and all that, but there you go. I have a job and a roof over my head and what I fantasized about has always been just that - a harmless fantasy - until now. Now I can fulfill my true destiny in one of the best graphical games ever (in my humble opinion). The game has a few glitches, but the playability and sheer beauty is enough to leave every other DC title looking like Horace Goes Skiing.

Watch out for the nets

So let's cut to the chase. It's gorgeous. That's the first thing that hits you. Not only are the graphics stunning, but the way Ecco skims through the water and the sexy moves you can make mean that it's also an entertaining game despite a fairly linear story. I challenge all of you to a game of catch-the-fish or to take on 3 sharks at once, and I'd like to see you squawking whilst dancing on your tail out of the water. The sea and surrounding coast are well executed and the various sea creatures that you can interact with are ace.

So what's the story? you holler. Well, it doesn't really matter because you can just have a lot of fun swimming around performing tricks... But here goes, anyway. I got a bit bored waiting for the prologue to roll through, but basically some meteor has hit the earth and destroyed a crystal; the world is threatened and only one dolphin - Ecco - can save the globe from destruction. Sound weird and far-fetched? Who cares? Get on with hunting the sharks!

Mmm, dolphin friendly tuna

On the first level you have to learn a few basic tricks - jumping, chasing fish and the like, your normal dolphin fare - then release a baby whale from a rockslide post-meteor impact. All very good fun, but the real action kicks in when you get through the waterfall and into the coral reef for level two. Here you get an idea of the skill it'll take to complete the game as you take on multiple sharks and start to learn your songs. Yes, Ecco is a right little crooner with a galaxy of hits, like Song of the Fish (they'll follow you anywhere), Song of the Shark (stun those deep-sea nasties), and Song of the Turtle (the most pointless song in his repertoire, I can tell you. The thought of being followed by a dumb looking turtle left me a bit cold, I have to say). As you go through the coral you get to meet interesting chaps in the form of Great Whites and weird nipping dog things in caves - Jacques Cousteau never had it so good. Not a drift net in sight, and John West is a distant nightmare.

Dolphins have be known to help drowning humans

So what are the downsides? Well, there are a couple. There were several times where I got stuck on rocks or on sandbanks and got increasingly depressed watching my air supply bubble away. My favourite gaffe was when I was trying to trap the Great White in a tunnel only to see him lodge himself in a wall. Seeing his tail poking out of solid rock was quite hilarious, but then I realised that I had to stop him to move on in the game. So I started butting his tail - only for him to reappear behind me and eat me in one snap. Now, my knowledge of shark attacks might be limited, but this has to be the first recorded use of one of 'em them hiding within a solid object to get a meal - at least, it never featured in any of Spielberg's movies.

Verdict: All in all, though, a top title and one that's completely addictive. The audio is wonderful and matches the graphics, though the storyline is fairly pointless, and there's a certain childlike quality to it that could annoy but was fine with me. Overall, the sheer look and playability means that minor glitches are forgotten. A belting game, fairly unique I reckon, and a beautiful addition to anyone's game library.

Score: 92%
Publisher: Sega
Number of players: 1
Age range: 3+

 
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