Ecco the Dolphin Reboot, Including an All-New Original Game, in the Works

The creator of Ecco the Dolphin has revealed that not lone are determination remakes of the archetypal games underway, but a "third" instalment is besides successful development.

Revealed via a little station connected Xbox Wire, Ed Annunziata — the archetypal creator of the famed, and fiendishly difficult, action-adventure games — was interviewed astir raising consciousness astir water conservation, his beingness arsenic a developer, and, close astatine the end, dropped this bombshell revelation:

"Me and the full archetypal squad are going to remaster the archetypal Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time games. Then we volition marque a new, 3rd crippled with modern play and [graphics] sensibilities. Stay tuned."

There is, of course, already a "third" game. As the past mainline Ecco instalment, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future was released connected Dreamcast 25 years agone successful 2000. However, creator Annunziata wasn't involved. A further sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, which had been written arsenic a nonstop sequel to Defender of the Future, was cancelled.

"I conscionable privation to yet beryllium capable to participate my concealed password from the extremity of Tides of Time. I inactive person it written successful the codes conception of the crippled manual," wrote 1 fan, portion different reminded us: "I wonderment however galore radical cognize however wholly bonkers the crippled of the games are."

Annunziata didn't supply immoderate further details arsenic to erstwhile we'll get to beryllium reunited with Ecco, but a countdown connected the authoritative Ecco the Dolphin website is acceptable to expire successful 8,508 hours' clip — that's astir a twelvemonth from now.

Ecco the Dolphin primitively launched successful 1992 connected the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, and was followed by a sequel, Ecco: The Tides of Time, successful 1994. Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt were released successful 1995, though they were "edutainment" games and chiefly developed arsenic learning tools.

Ecco the Dolphin sees you play arsenic the titular dolphin, arsenic your underwater satellite has been devastated by a swirling gust of aerial and water. You indispensable assistance him navigate backmost done treacherous tropical reefs and freezing polar crystal floes to reunite him with his dolphin pod. We thought the 2000 remake was okay, writing: "Ecco the Dolphin is simply a classical from SEGA. But sometimes classics should enactment successful the past.

"For those who person played Ecco before, there's truly nary crushed to travel backmost to it," we wrote of the 2007 remake successful IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review. "There are nary extras offered and the Achievements are junk. If you've ne'er played Ecco, past you whitethorn privation to springiness it a go. It truly is 1 of the much innovative titles of its time. But, again, that clip has agelong passed, and Ecco's gameplay doesn't basal the trial of clip similar Sonic's."

The past Ecco the Dolphin crippled fared overmuch better, getting a 7.6 people successful IGN's Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future review, saying: "If you thought Flipper had personality, hold until you get a load of Ecco the Dolphin. Experience astonishing visuals and an engrossing story, and support the water that is rightfully yours."

Vikki Blake is simply a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's besides a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her astatine BlueSky.