A short introduction for to Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, the latest game in the Ecco world.
Six years after The Tides of Time were released, the world had finally seen the return of Ecco on the Sega Dreamcast. The technologies of the console promised a rewarding game for the long time fans had to wait. What they got is one of the most beautiful games in existence, but after such a long time it meant also many changes which may not please everyone.
Let's start with the good stuff. The game is completely in 3D and is said to have the greatest graphics on the Dreamcast. When you play it really feels like you're in an underwater environment. Textures are based on pictures from National Geographic, the level designs and creature models look very realistic. And you will explore again many different places, coral reefs, caves, man made factories and other alternate realities which all got their own unique touch.
Once again, you will get help by other dolphins, unfortunately Orcas have been kept out this time. Glyphs make a return throughout the game, and even though they have a different origin in this game, they still got the same purpose and cryptic messages you know from the previous games.
There are also new kinds of power up glyphs which give Ecco special abilities he will need to fight, defend himself and solve puzzles with. These powers will last only for a short amount of time but will give him more strenght, a sonar blast, invisibility and higher air capacity.
So once again, while Ecco has to save the world he always has to keep an eye on his oxygen level, so you will need to find air pockets and surface every now and then.
Fish are still the main source of health for Ecco, and it's still sometimes as tricky as before to catch them.
The controls are quite tricky. You really need to take some time to get used to control Ecco. There are some manouvers you need to master to get good at fights, but once you've become good at it, it's really fun!
Ecco's main actions have been kept, sonar, charge and speed up. Added to that is basically just what you need to be able to control him in the 3D environment.
So, once again you get a great game which is probably the best you could think of if you wanted Ecco in 3D. Also the riddles are as tough and unique as you knew them from the old games. You get an awesome soundtrack, which again sets you right underwater. It's ethereal and supports the atmosphere in a great way! Now what's different?
Unfortunately the story doesn't have anything to do with the previous games. You can't even put it in the same universe, it rather feels like they took Ecco and put him in this - yet beautiful - but completely different world. You don't see any of the old characters return, like the Asterite, or old places like the good old town of Atlantis. Instead you get some replacements which do their job, but sometimes you'll think it could've been better.
Still, the game is good in every way. The story, a bit dull, is nicely being told. The whole world with all its details looks awesome. You get eyecandy and earcandy when you play this game, and once you know how to move Ecco it goes really fluently.
Still you need to be a really patient player, because some riddles take time and many tries, you'll die often at some points. And you need brains very often, some puzzles are not so obvious, and require trial and error as well.
Though, if you can live with all of that, you're in to a nice experience, once again!