| Ecco the Dolphin | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action-adventure |
| Developer | Appaloosa Interactive |
| Publisher | Sega |
| Creator | Ed Annunziata |
| Platforms | Sega Genesis,Sega CD,Microsoft Windows,Game Gear,Master System,Dreamcast,PlayStation 2,PlayStation Portable,Game Boy Advance,Nintendo 3DS |
| First release | Ecco the Dolphin December 1992 (1992-12) |
| Latest release | Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future 16 June 2000 (2000-06-16) |
Ecco the Dolphin is a series ofaction-adventurevideo games developed byAppaloosa Interactive (previously known as Novotrade International) and published bySega.
Appaloosa Interactive was founded in Hungary in 1983; the firstEcco the Dolphin game was developed by an entirely Hungarian team, originally for the European market.[1]Ecco the Dolphin series was released in part due to Nintendo's exclusive deal with the company Capcom.[2] In the early 1990s, Capcom signed a deal with Nintendo preventing Sega's console from carrying two popular games at the time,Street Fighter I andFinal Fight. As a result, Sega created Ecco the Dolphin to develop a competitive advantage against Nintendo by having their own interactive game series. The games were originally developed for theSega Genesis andDreamcastvideo game consoles, and have beenported to numerous systems. Ettore Annunziata envisioned and conceived the game, while László Szenttornyai, József Molnár, and Zsolt Balogh programmed the game.[3] The story follows the eponymousbottlenose dolphin, who fightsextraterrestrial threats to the world. The games are known for their high difficulty as well as their pacifist nature, which is common for Hungarian games.[citation needed] Hungarian animated games often[citation needed] feature animal protagonists likeCaesar the Cat, a game released in 1983 for the Commodore 64.[4][5][6]Ecco the Dolphin was seen as a continuation of the use of animal protagonists in Hungarian content.[3]Ecco was created byEd Annunziata,[7] who also producedChakan: The Forever Man, which was also released in 1992.
| 1992 | Ecco the Dolphin |
|---|---|
| 1993 | |
| 1994 | Ecco: The Tides of Time |
| 1995 | Ecco Jr. |
| Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt | |
| 1996 | |
| 1997 | |
| 1998 | |
| 1999 | |
| 2000 | Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future |
Released in 1992, the original game followed the exploits of a young dolphin named Ecco as he searches the seas, and eventually time itself, for his missing pod. The game was originally developed for the European market, but localization producers such as Ryoichi Hasegawa adapted the game for the Japanese market. For example, Hasegawa adapted the Western cover for Ecco, "a macho looking dolphin", into a cute-looking dolphin.[1]
Released in 1994, the sequel follows Ecco's exploits after the conclusion of the original game as he travels the oceans, the past, and the future in his quest to save the planet once more.
Released in 1995, this title was intended asedutainment and was less difficult than the previous two titles in series. Edutainment refers to educational entertainment where media is intended to teach and make learning more enjoyable for younger viewers.[8]Ecco Jr. demonstrates this through introducing players to echolocation as well as an introduction to marine life animals.
Ed Annuziata created this game specifically for his daughter and anyone who wanted to enjoy a game not filled with violence.[9] Different from the other games in the series, this game does not have enemies and does not include weapons. Additionally, the puzzles players complete throughout the game are less challenging and have lower complexity making it a more simplified and accessible gameplay style. The Entertainment Software Ratings board (ESRB) rated Ecco Jr. as “E for everyone.[10]” Ecco Jr. also includes a “Parent’s Menu” where guardians can decide the difficulty or select the level.[11]
Unlike other games in the series, the player can switch between two other marine animals in addition to Ecco. When Ecco and his friends find out Big Blue, a wise and famous whale, is nearby, they must do favors and break crystals in order to pass the stage and find him.
The last level ofEcco Jr. is titled The Endless Sea. Singing to Big Blue will cause the whale to ascend toward the surface. After enough attempts, Big Blue will reach the top of the water and blow out of its blowhole. This signals the completion of the level and triggers the end of the game.
Released in 1995, an edutainment game similar to Ecco Jr. on the Sega Genesis, this title was released on theSega Pico. In this game, Ecco and his pals explore the ocean and the ruins that lie within to find various treasures. This game distinguishes itself by utilizing stylus control for the gameplay.
Released in 2000 for theDreamcast and later ported toPlayStation 2, this title re-envisions the Ecco mythos in a new Earth with a new premise.[12]
A sequel toDefender of the Future was in development in 2001, but was cancelled due to thedecline of the Dreamcast. The game was developed as a sequel to Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, the Ecco game developed by Hungarian company Appaloosa a year prior.[13] The designer of the game, Mihaly Saranski, stated that it was designed as a "continuation ofDefender of Future, but with a more coherent storyline...would have been more linear and comprehensible, instead of all that time-travel mess."[9] Mihaly Saranski built and managed the levels, including the "3D objects, lights, rocks, plants, animals, cutscene animations, special effects, and interactions."[9][14] A playable build of the game was leaked online in 2016.[15]
In a May 2025 interview,Ecco creator Ed Annunziata stated that a newEcco game, as well as remasters ofEcco the Dolphin andTides of Time, were planned, with the original team being in charge.[16][17][18] This announcement followed a new trademark Sega had filed earlier in the same year.[19]
Ecco the Dolphin andEcco: The Tides of Time were both re-released for theSega CD,Master System andGame Gear, andDefender of the Future was originally released for theDreamcast and later re-released for thePlayStation 2. The Sega CD version ofEcco the Dolphin was ported toMicrosoft Windows in 1995.Ecco the Dolphin was also re-released on theGame Boy Advance as part of the fourthSega Smash Pack.Ecco the Dolphin,Ecco: The Tides of Time, andEcco Jr. can be found on the PlayStation 2 andPlayStation Portable gameSega Genesis Collection. All of the Mega Drive games have been released onValve'sSteam platform,[20][21][22] as well as being ported toNintendo'sVirtual Console[23] and the first game was ported toMicrosoft'sXbox Live Arcade.[24]
Two six-partcomic book series ofEcco the Dolphin stories based on the first game were featured inSonic the Comic in 1993 and 1995. Series one was written byWoodrow Phoenix the first two issues were drawn by Chris Webster,Steve White provided art for the remainder of the series.Alan Mckenzie wrote series 2.
In late 2016 series creatorEd Annunziata reached a settlement with Sega regarding the legal rights to the franchise. The attempt to regain the intellectual property rights, in part, arose from Annunziata's unsuccessful attempt to make a spiritual successor calledThe Big Blue funded throughKickstarter which could not use the Ecco name. Although the exact details of the settlement were unclear, it was believed by media outlets including Venture Beat that it could pave the way for a new installment in the franchise by Annunziata.[25] Soon thereafter, Annunziata himself talked about wanting to revive the series for theNintendo Switch.[26] In a 2019 interview he addressed theBig Blue project, commenting "I still very strongly believe in the story and the mechanics, but it really can't be a spiritual successor to Ecco, it has to be Ecco! One thing I can say is in the future, people are playing this game. I never give up!"[27]
| Songs of Time | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | September 3, 1996 |
| Genre | Electronica Ambient music |
| Length | 64:17 |
| Producer | SegaSoft |
Ecco: Songs of Time is asoundtrack album which contains the original soundtrack from theSega CD versions ofEcco the Dolphin andEcco: The Tides of Time.[28] It was released on September 3, 1996. The music is composed bySpencer Nilsen. The music is atmospheric and ambient, heavy on high-quality synthesizer, low-frequency percussion and various samples, including dolphin squeaks and squeals.[citation needed]
Tracks 1–11 fromEcco: The Tides of Time, tracks 12–18 fromEcco the Dolphin
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Abyss" | 4:41 |
| 2. | "Botswana" | 3:14 |
| 3. | "The Desert Below" | 2:43 |
| 4. | "Deception" | 2:04 |
| 5. | "Deep Marjimba" | 3:14 |
| 6. | "Blue Dream" | 3:25 |
| 7. | "St. Gabriel's Mask" | 4:30 |
| 8. | "Heart of the Giant" | 2:39 |
| 9. | "Transcended" | 3:18 |
| 10. | "Mountains Below" | 3:36 |
| 11. | "Treefish" | 3:48 |
| 12. | "Aqua Vistas" | 4:24 |
| 13. | "Lonesome Search" | 1:49 |
| 14. | "Friend or Foe" | 6:09 |
| 15. | "Motion E" | 4:08 |
| 16. | "The Machine" | 3:25 |
| 17. | "Sounding Echo" | 3:10 |
| 18. | "Time Forgotten" | 3:59 |
