RPGamers Network > Reviews > Game Reviews > Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future
Battle System: 3/10
The battle system is involves defeat an enemy by charging at them or throwing objects at them - -charging the object or hitting it with your sonar. It is not one of my favorites in battle systems, because of the large spaces for error. You must charge at or sonar it in just right place for it to hit. Of course it doesn't help much when Ecco doesn't start out with much health and the enemies take a large chunk of HP when they hit.
Gameplay: 8/10
Gameplay is quite easy and fun. Ecco moves and acts like a real dolphin, and you can do various tricks like back-flips, cartwheels, twists, and turns. It is really quite beautiful to watch. Some levels require you to solve a puzzle or defeat a foe, so it isn't just get to the end of the level to continue. One other gameplay factor I should mention is air. Ecco is a dolphin and he must breathe, so from time to time he must surface or find 'bubbles' to replenish his air. This can sometimes be annoying and frustrating. The levels can be out in the open sea, or in underwater caves, varying in size and complexity.
Music: 10/10
Music was simply beautiful! It always fit the place and time. Some were sad and haunting, others were lively and happy, and still others were serious.
Originality: 6/10
As far as originality goes, I will say it's somewhat original, but you may decide for yourselves how original it is.
Plot: 6/10
The story was not all that good, I mean they had some nice twists here and there, but in all you never knew anything about who you were fighting. They only named the aliens as 'The Foe'. The story is pretty much summed up as: The Foe want earth for some unknown reason, so they destroy the Guardian--a crystal that protects the planet--and then go back in time to change history. Ecco must travel to 3 different times and defeat the Foe in each. One where the dolphins are gullible and the humans dominate, another where some evil dolphins have taken over, and the last where the Foe were successful in invading Earth.
Replay Value: 4/10
The only replay value I can think of is going back and finding all of the vitalits, or replaying a favorite level. Not much else.
Sounds: 8/10
The Sounds are high quality. There are bubble sounds and underwater sounds and splashes and even birds and other dolphins. Any sound you would expect in the area you are in.
Visuals: 9/10
The scenery is very realistic, but in an almost cartoony sort of way. Regardless, it is still breath taking and some of the levels are gorgeous; such as the level "Hanging Waters" it is set high, high above the mainland. I have no words that would do it credit. It is just beautiful. Sometimes though the sameness of some of the underwater caverns can be confusing. Luckily they give you sonar 'map', but it costs air to use it.
That is it for Ecco. I hope you have gained something by reading this. If you need help, direct questions to my feedback link and I shall do the best I can. (I haven't collected all those vitalits for nothing you know).
| Game Stats | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Adventure |
| Platform | Dreamcast |
| Format | GD-ROM |
| # of Players | 1 |
| Released Jap | 01.25.2001 |
| Released US | 08.16.2000 |
| Released EU | 06.16.2000 |
| Aprox. Length | 10 hrs. |
| Reviewer Rankings | |
| Battle System | 3.0 |
| Gameplay | 8.0 |
| Music | 10.0 |
| Originality | 6.0 |
| Plot | 6.0 |
| Replay Value | 4.0 |
| Sound | 8.0 |
| Visuals | 9.0 |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Overall | |
| 6.8 | |
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future
By: Appaloosa InteractiveReviewed By: The Black Dragoon
Welcome to my reviews for Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future on the Dreamcast.Battle System: 3/10
The battle system is involves defeat an enemy by charging at them or throwing objects at them - -charging the object or hitting it with your sonar. It is not one of my favorites in battle systems, because of the large spaces for error. You must charge at or sonar it in just right place for it to hit. Of course it doesn't help much when Ecco doesn't start out with much health and the enemies take a large chunk of HP when they hit.
Gameplay: 8/10
Gameplay is quite easy and fun. Ecco moves and acts like a real dolphin, and you can do various tricks like back-flips, cartwheels, twists, and turns. It is really quite beautiful to watch. Some levels require you to solve a puzzle or defeat a foe, so it isn't just get to the end of the level to continue. One other gameplay factor I should mention is air. Ecco is a dolphin and he must breathe, so from time to time he must surface or find 'bubbles' to replenish his air. This can sometimes be annoying and frustrating. The levels can be out in the open sea, or in underwater caves, varying in size and complexity.
Music: 10/10
Music was simply beautiful! It always fit the place and time. Some were sad and haunting, others were lively and happy, and still others were serious.
Originality: 6/10
As far as originality goes, I will say it's somewhat original, but you may decide for yourselves how original it is.
Plot: 6/10
The story was not all that good, I mean they had some nice twists here and there, but in all you never knew anything about who you were fighting. They only named the aliens as 'The Foe'. The story is pretty much summed up as: The Foe want earth for some unknown reason, so they destroy the Guardian--a crystal that protects the planet--and then go back in time to change history. Ecco must travel to 3 different times and defeat the Foe in each. One where the dolphins are gullible and the humans dominate, another where some evil dolphins have taken over, and the last where the Foe were successful in invading Earth.
Replay Value: 4/10
The only replay value I can think of is going back and finding all of the vitalits, or replaying a favorite level. Not much else.
Sounds: 8/10
The Sounds are high quality. There are bubble sounds and underwater sounds and splashes and even birds and other dolphins. Any sound you would expect in the area you are in.
Visuals: 9/10
The scenery is very realistic, but in an almost cartoony sort of way. Regardless, it is still breath taking and some of the levels are gorgeous; such as the level "Hanging Waters" it is set high, high above the mainland. I have no words that would do it credit. It is just beautiful. Sometimes though the sameness of some of the underwater caverns can be confusing. Luckily they give you sonar 'map', but it costs air to use it.
That is it for Ecco. I hope you have gained something by reading this. If you need help, direct questions to my feedback link and I shall do the best I can. (I haven't collected all those vitalits for nothing you know).
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