The iconic Ecco the Dolphin series is making a splash again, with exciting news from its creator, Ed Annunziata. In a recent interview on Xbox Wire, Annunziata shared that he and the original team are not only remastering the classic games, Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time, but they are also developing an entirely new third installment. This upcoming game promises to bring contemporary gameplay and graphics to the beloved franchise.
Fans of the series will remember that there was already a third game, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, which hit the Dreamcast 25 years ago in 2000. However, Annunziata was not involved in its creation. A planned sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, intended as a direct follow-up to Defender of the Future, was unfortunately canceled.
The anticipation among fans is palpable, with one expressing their eagerness to use a secret password from the end of Tides of Time, while another highlighted the famously intricate plot of the Ecco series. Annunziata did not disclose a specific release date for the new projects, but a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website suggests a wait of about a year, as it is set to expire in 8,508 hours.
Originally launched in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Ecco the Dolphin captivated players with its innovative gameplay. The sequel, Ecco: The Tides of Time, followed in 1994. Educational spin-offs, Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt, were released in 1995, focusing on learning rather than the action-adventure of the main series.
In Ecco the Dolphin, players guide the dolphin through a devastated underwater world, navigating through tropical reefs and polar ice floes to reunite with his pod. The 2000 remake received mixed reviews, with IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review in 2007 stating that while the game was innovative for its time, it did not hold up well. Conversely, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future was more warmly received, earning a 7.6 from IGN's review, praised for its engaging story and impressive visuals.
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