The creator of Ecco the Dolphin, Ed Annunziata, has exciting news for fans of the classic series. In a recent interview on Xbox Wire, Annunziata disclosed that not only are remakes of the original games in the works, but a brand new "third" installment is also being developed. This revelation came as part of a broader discussion on ocean conservation and Annunziata's career in game development.
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 announcement is particularly intriguing as there is already a "third" game in the series, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, released on the Dreamcast in 2000, though Annunziata was not involved in its creation. Additionally, a planned sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, intended as a direct follow-up to Defender of the Future, was unfortunately cancelled.
Fans have expressed their excitement and nostalgia online. One fan remarked, "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 noted, "I wonder how many people know how completely bonkers the plot of the games are."
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While Annunziata did not specify a release date for these new Ecco projects, a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website suggests that we might see them in 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 was followed by Ecco: The Tides of Time in 1994. The series also included "edutainment" titles, Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt, released in 1995. In Ecco the Dolphin, players guide the titular character through perilous underwater environments to reunite with his pod after a devastating natural disaster.
Previous remakes have received mixed reviews. The 2000 remake was described in IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review as, "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, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future received a more favorable review, scoring a 7.6 in IGN's Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future review. The review praised the game's visuals and story, stating, "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."
