Ecco the Dolphin Reboot: New Game in Development

The iconic Ecco the Dolphin series is making a splash back into the gaming world, as announced by its creator, Ed Annunziata, on Xbox Wire. In an interview that touched on ocean conservation and his journey as a developer, Annunziata unveiled plans for not just remakes of the classic games but also a new addition to the series. He 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 news comes as a surprise to fans, especially since there's already a "third" game in the series, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, which was released on the Dreamcast in 2000 without Annunziata's involvement. Plans for a direct sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, were unfortunately cancelled. The anticipation for these remakes and the new game has sparked excitement and nostalgia among the fanbase, with one fan writing, "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 reminded us of the series' famously outlandish plot.

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While Annunziata remained tight-lipped on specific release dates, a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website suggests we might see these new projects in about a year, as it's set to expire in 8,508 hours.

Originally launched in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Ecco the Dolphin was followed by its sequel, Ecco: The Tides of Time, in 1994. The series also saw the release of "edutainment" games, Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt in 1995, aimed at educational purposes.

In the original game, players guide Ecco through treacherous waters and ice floes to reunite him with his pod after a devastating vortex disrupts their world. While the 2000 remake was met with mixed reviews, with our take being, "Ecco the Dolphin is a classic from SEGA. But sometimes classics should stay in the past," the 2007 version received criticism for lacking innovation and meaningful additions, as noted in IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review: "For those who have played Ecco before, there's really no reason to come back to it... 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."

However, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future fared better, earning a 7.6 score from IGN's review, which praised its engaging story and stunning visuals, saying, "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."