The creator of Ecco the Dolphin, Ed Annunziata, has thrilled fans with the announcement of not only remakes of the original games but also a new "third" installment in the series. In an interview featured on Xbox Wire, Annunziata discussed ocean conservation and his career, culminating in the exciting revelation about the future of Ecco.
Annunziata stated, "Me and the entire original team are going to remaster the original Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time games. Then we will make a new, third game with contemporary play and [graphics] sensibilities. Stay tuned." This news comes as a surprise to many, given that the last mainline Ecco game, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, was released on the Dreamcast 25 years ago in 2000, without Annunziata's involvement. Furthermore, a planned sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, was canceled.
Fans expressed their excitement and nostalgia on social media. One fan wrote, "I just want to finally be able to enter my secret password from the end of Tides of Time. I still have it written in the codes section of the game manual," while another reminded us of the games' uniquely bizarre plots.
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Although Annunziata didn't specify a release date for the new Ecco projects, a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website indicates that fans have about a year to wait, as it is set to expire in 8,508 hours.
The original Ecco the Dolphin game launched in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, followed by Ecco: The Tides of Time in 1994. In 1995, the series saw the release of "edutainment" titles, Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt. In Ecco the Dolphin, players guide the dolphin through various aquatic environments to reunite with his pod after a devastating event.
Previous remakes have received mixed reviews. The 2000 remake was described as satisfactory, but the 2007 version didn't fare as well, with IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review stating, "Ecco the Dolphin is a classic from SEGA. But sometimes classics should stay in the past. For those who have played Ecco before, there's really no reason to come back to it. There are no extras offered and the Achievements are junk. If you've never played Ecco, then you may want to give it a go. It really is one of the more innovative titles of its time. But, again, that time has long passed, and Ecco's gameplay doesn't stand the test of time like Sonic's."
In contrast, the last Ecco game, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, received a more favorable reception, earning a 7.6 score in IGN's Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future review, which praised the game's visuals and engaging storyline, saying, "If you thought Flipper had personality, wait until you get a load of Ecco the Dolphin. Experience amazing visuals and an engrossing story, and defend the ocean that is rightfully yours."
