This game blew me away when it came out. It was a constant rental for me until my Stepdad got it for me at Christmas time. He was an Intellivision guy and Arkanoid expert but even he couldn't believe how realistic the graphics were. I never could get through it without codes but it was a fun and calming play for me.
I always loved playing it on my cousin's Genesis whe i visited him or he came to the cityi live in. I had an NES as a kid and grew up in a Nintendo family for the most part, but I always loved Sega and this game.
This is objectively a great game. I understand why a lot of people don’t like it, but when you consider the factors of quality for a game it has most of them.
It is actually IMO one of the best 16 bit games ever made. Back in the day it was so immersive with the best music from any western developer for the system.
It's the closest thing to Super Metroid on the Genesis, at least until Life on Mars came out. I still prefer Ecco 1 & 2 just due to the nightmare fuel alone.
@@jasonlee7816 I think he is implying that if you want to play something comparable to Super Metroid on the Genesis, Ecco is the closest thing. I actually think it's a fair comparison. While Super Metroid is the better game, there are a lot of parallels with Ecco.
I remember walking into a Software Etc., and on display they had Ecco. I thought man they’re making Flipper games? Then someone there said, “hey it’s really good you should get it.” I’m glad I listened because it was amazing. Man 1993 was a big year for gaming thinking back on it.
I find it hard to be objective here, but I think you're right. The soundtrack is eerie, and since the last third of the game is sci-fi horror, the OST really shines. Still, after loving it so much that I also got the Sega CD version, that OST is in my all-time top 20 and it's hard to go back to the Genesis version.
I agree with this, too. The soundtrack is eerie, moody and memorable. Some tracks have a Pink Floyd quality - akin to Shine on You Crazy Diamond. The Sega CD tracks by Spencer Neilson are high quality, but they are less melodic washes of sound , not as hummable or memorable. Maybe people are playing this in emulation and the sound doesn't translate as well as on real hardware through a TV or stereo system.
Your spot on, and TBH the standard Mega drive version is just so much better than the Mega CD one - that's not to say the CD Redbook audio was bad, far from it, but most had too many layers added that just made it far too complicated and some, like Pteranadon Pond, were just massively inferior on the CD version. Still, each to their own in that regard.
@@sunderark The Genesis OST was perfect on its own, is one of the best soundtracks not because of personal tastes, but because it was perfect for what the game was trying to achieve.
Exactly my experience! I got it around the same age, maybe 14 years old, and was really excited to play it. The difficulty pushed me away almost immediatly, but I think I might need to revisit Ecoo.
I have never seen this game before (until now), and I owned MegaDrive in the past and played a lot of games. Even now when I got this time Genesis model 2, I find this game very difficult to play, since I have no idea HOW to play it. But it`s very interesting and I will definetly spend some serious time for learning & playing.
This is the most faithful and honest review I saw for Ecco the Dolphin in years, idk why the sudden hate, if the genre doesn’t appeal to you that’s fine but many “reviews” nowadays consider it a bad game which is not true.
One of the greatest survival-horror games of all-time. Ecco and the Tides of Time are two "must-own" titles for the Sega CD...two of the very best soundtracks in the Genesis library.
I got the Sega CD version as soon as it came out. I actually didn't even remember what the music and sounds on the Genesis version sounded like...nothing in this video sounded familiar. I still play it sometimes with Picodrive.
Same here. As the soundtrack is recorded as an external track on the CD of the Sega-CD version, I ripped it and still listen to the tracks. I still have the game saved.
The Game is masterpiece in every aspects, I admitted that back in the day when there was no internet available to every household I was a stucker at the Game.
Echo the Dolphin for the Sega Genesis was an absolute gem! It took us on an unforgettable undersea journey, diving into the mysteries of the deep blue sea. The game's mesmerizing visuals, challenging mazes, and unique gameplay made it a standout in my childhood. Echo the Dolphin wasn't just a game; it was a doorway to a different world, where each level brought a sense of achievement and joy. It holds a special place in my heart, reminding me of the magic of gaming.
It was and is a great game, I still hate GEMS, and I wish it was a 24 meg cart, it could have been a way better looking game. That extra size could have added enemy animations, and better sound, it would have been a game changer for SEGA.
@@greenkoopalmao I was thinking the same thing 😆 It felt like i was reading an ai generated review on the game… or like it was a review plucked right off the back of the games case
@@greenkoopa It's quite amusing how some individuals assume that exceptional writing skills and fluency in English can only be attributed to AI. It appears that there is simply a need to enhance your interpersonal communication abilities. As someone who has been crafting reviews for over 25 years, including writing on behalf of others, it's clear that writing prowess can indeed be achieved by humans. Ultimately, though, it's up to each person to believe what they wish.
DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO START THE ACTUAL GAME!? IT TOOK ME MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT THAT IT WASN’T JUST SOME SORT OF SWIM SIMULATOR!
Ecco the Dolphin on the Sega CD is one of my all time favorite games. Masterpiece. I have not played through the genesis version, but the Sega cd version is one of the best games I’ve ever experienced and beaten. Tides of Time on Sega CD is equally as brilliant. Defender of the Future on Dreamcast was a rushed product with tons of glitches and a serious lack of direction for the player. It had potential, but was a deeply flawed game. However, the ps2 version of Defender of the future came out two years later and fixed all the glitches and problems of the Dreamcast version. They added the L3 button that pointed Ecco towards the next objective without giving away the puzzle, and it worked like z-targeting in boss battles. The ps2 version of Defender of the Future was the 3D Ecco game I always wanted, and I’m so happy I gave the game a second chance on that console.
It’s still not what I wanted. You know how Zora link controls in Majora’s Mask? Ever since I had played that I wanted Ecco in 3-D to control kind of like that, and I thought that the color use on Defender was a little lacking. It wasn’t terrible, but I was a little disappointed even with the PS2 version.
@@Thor-Orion(I am the guy you replied to just now, and this is my new account.) I played Majora’s Mask about 20 years ago, and I forget how Zora controls. All I remember about Majora’s Mask was that it was tedious, repetitive, and no where near as good as Ocarina of Time. But that’s a whole other conversation.
I remember Ecco being a game I really wanted to play. I grew up a Nintendo Kid but I use to get lots of magazines and look at every system's games. I now own every Ecco title. The first one I found was Ecco Jr 😂
Thank you! I wasn't expecting a video from you today...your videos are quickly becoming comfort food for me, because it brings back memories of playing the Genesis back in the early 90's
The song for Ice Zone is one of my all-time favorite pieces of music. It's so perfect. I haven't heard the CD version yet, but I doubt anything could top the Genesis version of that song.
If only Sega could embrace Silicon Graphics that early on the Sega Genesis they could turn Ecco the Dolphin into something seen in Donkey Kong Country. Those Enguarde underwater levels were spectacular and controls quite well and would make an Ecco game looks ten times better than what it already was.
As Sega Lord X hinted at, Ecco is one of those games that really requires a lot of time invested before you get to truly understand how great it is. The puzzles are hard and cryptic almost immediately from the start. The difficulty is admittedly way too high for its own good. However, with patience you eventually figure out the the rhythm of the puzzles and get to experience some unique things the game has to offer. I remember when finally meeting the Big Blue after what felt like an eternity was so exciting. Then you get to meet the Asterite, explore the ruins of Atlantis, travel back to prehistoric times, and finish the game aboard a creepy alien spacecraft (The Machine was so brutally hard!) I didn't have a big collection of games as a kid. I played whatever few I did to death, and games like Ecco were meant to be ground through to enjoy.
You're making me want to actually put some time into this game! I had it as a kid, and was really excited to get it, but the difficulty turned me off, despite thinking it had fantastic graphics and gameplay. As a "mature" adult, I think I'd appreciate revisiting this game. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Ecco! 👍
I loooooved this game immediately as a kid! I was 9 (almost 10) when it came out, and I rented it many times before acquiring it years later. I re-purchased it in 2010 and spent that fall and winter trying to beat it. I got as far as The Tube and couldn't beat that stage till I plugged the game in a few years later, and got stuck in Welcome To The Machine and just stopped playing. Tried to beat that level again a couple of years ago, and got further, but still haven't managed to beat that level! I keep a Post-It note on one of my gaming TVs with a list of all games I have begun but not finished, and Ecco still stands 13 years after I began my first real attempt to beat it. I will get there eventually! You are spot on that Welcome To The Machine is brutally hard! The constantly shifting auto-scroll, and those vile aliens constantly popping out from offscreen or behind the foreground machinery frustrated and killed my poor Ecco more times than I can count!
@@Fluoride_Jones Well, my current list of incomplete games includes the following (ones I haven't beaten before I will mark with asterisks): 1 - Chrono Trigger 2 - Donkey Kong Country 2 3 - Donkey Kong Country 3 4 - EarthBound 5 - Secret Of Mana 2*** 6 - Super Mario World 7 - Yoshi's Island 8 - Super Mario RPG 9 - Super Metroid Zero Mission*** 10 - Terranigma*** 11 - The Guardian Legend*** 12 - Zelda: Outlands*** 13 - Tecmo Super Bowl 14 - GoldenEye 007 15 - Goldfinger 64*** 16 - Hexen 64 17 - Zelda: Ocarina Of Time*** 18 - Mario Kart 64 19 - Super Mario 64 20 - The Final Fantasy Legend***
@@lawrencemcstephens308 Wow! So, at some point in the past, you've actually beaten the games without asterisks? Also, you appear to be an adventure and RPG fan.
The sequel Tides of Time is probably my second favorite genesis game. It fixes the repetitiveness of the first game and the level environments are more interesting.
So, I had some friends over, and they spotted this game's box art when I was 22. They asked, "What's up with this stupid dolphin game?" Little did they know, this game is pure gold! First off, the soundtrack is just mind-blowing! You know those games with tunes that get stuck in your head forever? Yeah, "Ecco" nails it! And the level design, oh boy, it's something else. You're underwater, exploring the ocean's depths, solving puzzles, and facing various challenges. It's like you're on a crazy adventure with our dolphin hero! And here's the kicker - Ecco moves at lightning speed! It's like he's the Sonic of the Sea! You blast through the levels, zipping around like there's no tomorrow. It's such a rush! The first game is all about Ecco taking on aliens to save his pod. Yeah, it's as epic as it sounds. Something about the early 90s that just sprung ideas that only a high programmer and his team could contrive. What else is cool is that you can upgrade Ecco's abilities by completing side missions within the levels, which is always welcome, especially in the early 16-bit era. After beating the first game for them within an afternoon, that night, I popped in "Ecco: The Tides of Time." Time travel, baby! You're reconstructing some DNA helix thingy - how cool is that? Time-bending dolphin, saving the day. My friends watched me beat both games, and I'm happy to know that I've changed their perspective of the game. Seriously though.., if you've never tried "Ecco the Dolphin," you're missing out on one heck of a ride. My only regret is not playing it on the Sega CD, which also has a fantastic soundtrack. It's a hidden gem, and it's totally worth diving into! 🐬🌊
The music was inspired by Pink Floyd. A level is even called 'Welcome to the Machine". The music is airy, cold and mechanical, which suits the vibe they were going for.
I think it’s my favorite series ever. When you count every game, there are actually tons of different Ecco games. Like the Japanese cartridge is the best cart version, the Game Gear with best colors, Ecco Jr. has the most cheerful song, the Pico game with music maker… and PC game is the ultimate! :)
Ecco The Dolphin was one of those games I ALWAYS really appreciated for its incredible art design, music, ambience/atmosphere, etc. I just couldn’t STAND to actually play it (which is really a SHAME because I remember once using a code just to see what the LATER STAGES looked like and the final stages in the second game ESPECIALLY start to mutate into these very H.R.-Giger-esque, almost “Lovecraftian” hellscapes of alien-looking origin).
I remember renting this from blockbuster upon release and never getting beyond the first level however mesmerized by the look, feel and the minimalist soundtrack
An excellent review of an iconic game. I was fortunate to have played it through on the Mega CD the first time. Spencer Nilsen's soundtrack was pure magic, I would often use the disc to just play the music tracks on a CD player. It was years later when I heard the Mega Drive soundtrack and yeah... pales in comparison.
I was fascinated by this game and the sequel as a kid. I still remember my bad telling me back from school that a dinosaur time travelled him to the past. It sounded the coolest thing ever Open Ocean had an awesome theme. The game was just... Eerie? The sequel was more accessible. God I loved it
I've never beaten any of the Ecco games, but I can't help but picking them up and playing. The graphics and soundtrack just make them into an EXPERIENCE worth having, even if you don't make much progress.
I could never get far in this game at all. It was so frustrating I had no idea what I was supposed to do and man it made me so mad because of all the praise it got and how others were able to beat it. I was the only kid I knew who had a Genesis in my rural Tennessee town so I didn't have anyone to ask and of course the internet didn't exist yet.
I don't understand the hate this game gets. I had the Game gear version and the puzzles in it were turned to eleven. I couldn't stop playing it untill I beat it. The Mega Drive version is a baby's game.
I remember I was terrified as a kid of going deep into the waters [as you well said, Ecco was more similar to a horror game in that regard, even if it was not, we can think of it as being the grandaddy of games like 'Subnautica' or something like that], and rather I preferred to spend hours in the water surface making jump tricks and stuff, LOL. But once you grew a pair and decided to go on the adventure, Ecco easily became one of the best experiences you could've. Truly a masterpiece classic. Also 'EtD: Defend of the Future' is one of the best DreamCast [and later Ps2] games ever made, IMHO, I enjoyed that one a heck of lot too. You should cover it too one day!
Ecco is definitely an odd beast: it isn't a hidden jem as everyone knows it, yet it's rarely something anyone claims to have finished. It usually happens to books many know their title and maybe quote a sentence or two, but very few actually read them. It's pretty hard to get into, but it's a great satisfaction.
Playing Jupiter & Mars in PSVR right now. Getting strong Ecco vibes. Still listening to Ecco soundtracks from Genesis, Sega CD and Dreamcast versions. I think it was an amazing and innovative series of game.
This game has a later unreleased revision (June 29, 1993) that significantly lowers the difficulty by adding checkpoints, doesn't send you back a level at the final boss, and even includes some minor extra levels and music. I think it's the definitive version, since the main problem with this game is the brutal difficulty.
as i understand it, this revision is basically backporting the changes made for the sega cd version, so ultimately it's just a question of which soundtrack you prefer (and both have their own standout tracks)
Did not know the Sega CD was not just the "better soundtrack" version but also a "quality of life update" version with extra checkpoints and so on. Now I know, and I wonder if that version is the one found on re-releases or if it's still the harder original...
I rented this when it came out, and had no idea what in the world I was supposed to be doing. The few times I've tried it out since then, I've had no idea what in the world I was supposed to be doing. What I remember most about this game, however, is how amazing it sounded with headphones, with the Q virtual surround sound. It was the first game, I believe, to have virtual surround, and it was really impressive for the day. In any case, great video, you explained the game to more in a few mins, makes more sense now.
The Japanese version is supposedly less frustrating, especially with the final boss. Maybe the best way to play this, though I'm eager to see your review of the Sega CD games.
Yeah, SoJ resented America so they made our games harder. Nintendo did the opposite with the difficulty because they see us as morons so they made them easier. Konami came in not giving a single fuck though 😂
@@greenkoopathis was a western developed game that was released in the US before being released in Japan. US games tended to be harder because game publishers were worried about the rental market. If a game was easy enough to be beaten over a weekend or two and then returned to blockbuster, there wasn't much incentive to buy it. Nintendo actually successfully lobbied to have game rentals made illegal in Japan back in the '80s, so this wasn't an issue over there. As for Nintendo making their games easier for western audiences this was a myth too. It all stems from Nintendo not releasing the original Super Mario Bros. 2 overseas. They had determined that not only was the game too difficult for fans of the first game, but also that it hadn't done enough to distinguish itself from it's predecessor in style and in gameplay mechanics.
I had this title. I definitely didn’t get very far as it was hard - at least for me. I wandered around aimlessly for hours trying to figure out where to go or what to do.
I really recommend people trying the ecco games out. There is nothing like them on the 16 bit generation. The controls are extremely fluid and satisfying, but the atmosphere and story telling is really what makes them special imo. It is so eerie and psychodelic, the beginning leaves you in shock if you are not expecting it. It is a magical/scifi/horror doplhin adventure that takes itself 100% seriously. Like SLX said, the biggest problem is the difficulty really, it is extremely punishing, I recommend either playing the sega CD version that has a lot of extra checkpoints, or playing with save states or rewind, do both preferably (CD and emulation). There is absolutely no shame about it. I rather people have fun with this gem than dismissing it due to unfortunate difficulty spikes.
It is a 100% hungarian made game and as a hungarian I'm very proud of it. It was one of my favourite games back in '92 when I was 8 year old. It was very hard to beat but I did it tho.
Graphics were a huge deal back in the day. If you look at difference between the first year and last year releases it was an insane difference in what could be possible on the hardware. Now there’s very little of that.
This game blew everything out of the water when it came out (yes, pun intended) and definitely lived up to the hype, one of the few games that was even better than advertised!
During the pandemic in 2020, I had really wanted to get a Sega Genesis Mini and the Sega Genesis Steam collection to mod onto the Mini, but my savings weren't quite enough to make those purchases. My sweet mom offered to make up the difference, so that I'd have the quarantine time to delve into Sega's rich 16-bit library instead of worrying about what was going on in the world at the time. With those purchases made, I consequently ended up owning a game I didn't really care about and had never heard of, Ecco the Dolphin, not once, but twice completely on accident. I very briefly tried it out in the Summer of 2020, and totally made fun of it thinking, "wow, this is really weird" and switched back to the usual 16-bit games I wanted the Genesis for in the first place. Fast forward two Summers later, I had checked out almost all the games that really intrigued me in the Genesis Mini line-up, but still wanted more Sega 16-bit goodness to play. Being forced to be more adventurous and go outside my comfort zone, having already played the "safer" picks in the line-up, I took a second look at Ecco the Dolphin thinking, "this seems like the perfect Summer game" and went ahead and gave it a second chance. What an experience playing it blind was! The beautiful visuals, the lonely harsh world of Ecco's ocean, the tension of the mysterious sinister beings being always seemingly around the corner, the family centered story that resonated with me, the wonderful yet unusual controls with graceful fluidity, and labyrinthine worlds that (to me) were always so satisfying to map out and master made Ecco such a radical departure from the typical 16-bit fare. I have no nostalgia for Ecco the Dolphin, and didn't even know what it was several years ago. So without any bias, I'll say that Ecco the Dolphin is one of the greatest, most unique experiences of not just the Genesis, but the entire 16-bit era. The sequel is also great too! Although I've never played it, I'm sure the Sega CD version is even better yet. Even though I don't own a Sega CD myself, my mom bought me a copy of Ecco CD last Christmas, so that me and my family could all listen to its hauntingly beautiful OST together from time to time. Seriously, it's that good. Definitely has one of my favorite video game OSTs ever with "The Vents" being far and away my favorite individual track. I'm so grateful to this day that my mom helped me get my Genesis, and that Sega decided to include this wonderful game, that I initially didn't look twice at, in their Genesis line-up. I highly, highly recommend every entry in the Ecco the Dolphin series. It was totally worth pushing through that barrier to entry, which was both its brutal difficulty, and how generally foreign the gameplay felt, even as a seasoned gamer. To think that I could've just as easily brushed this game off again, and never known what I was missing! So yeah, if you're on the fence about whether or not to try (or retry) playing through Ecco, do it! The journey that follows might surprise you.
I’m starting to realize that the SEGA “gems” soundtracks (if I’m using that word correctly) is actually something I didn’t mind growing up. It was distinctly SEGA to me. And the weird starkness of the sounds / music is something I appreciated and still do to this day. Not all of the soundtracks were winners but I am fond of this one.
I agree that Ecco was a masterpiece. At the same time, it was one of the games that drew me away from the Genesis, to be honest. The labyrinth-like gameplay and especially the f'n GEMS sound drive were typical and plagued many North American games such as Batman Returns, Taz-mania, and X-men. These were getting so common that I left the platform and never looked back. I still have lots of respect for some of the classics that were on the Genesis and left me wanting for more such as Columns, Sonic, Strider, and Golden Axe. I love to watch your videos because they show me some of the gems I missed. Thank you so much and keep up the good work! 😊
I don’t know why people always say these games are hard. I beat both echo the dolphin and echo the tides of time when I was still a little kid. And I loved them. I replayed them to death because between the soundtrack on the Sega CD, and just exploring the beautiful ocean world, These two games always took me to some other world. It also helped the fact that I had my Sega CD hooked up to our 14 speaker surround sound system and 32 inch monitor. Yes, monitor. So it was an amazing experience to hear the Sega CDs completely reworked soundtrack as I’m literally feeling like I’m surrounded by the ocean through music, and seeing echo in front of Me in 32 inch Sharp Trinitron monitor, it was one hell of an experience. The game did the wonderful job at making the player feel what echo is feeling only through music since echo was a silent protagonist. So the music had to be done in the way that you could feel echoes thoughts . The only game I can think of that comes close to this is Ori and the Will of the Wisps because that game acts the same way in that it uses music to tell us what little Ori is feeling since Ori is a silent protagonist.
Great timing, my copy of this on the Mega CD arrived today (after 3 weeks almost lost in the post). This game is one of the OG horrors (without intending to be) and also the OG Dark Souls in terms of difficulty. Well this and The Immortal. Definitely a cult classic.
This game is super cool if you can get in the right mood. The kind where before you know it, you've been playing for hours. But yeah, not an easy one to jump into if you've got the wrong expectations going in. Great review!
The beauty and problem with things that are unique and different is they don’t always last the test of time. Many times was incredibly unique and innovative for the time is now difficult,clunky and has simply not aged gracefully. Ecco is a very particular game for a very particular person.
ECCO was pretty difficult from the outset, it was visually and thematically great for its day, but I believe the sequel Tides of time improved it immensely, it was much easier to get into and i felt like it had better direction. I never felt lost or confused with tides of time vs the original.
I never could beat this game since it came out, maybe one day. However I think the soundtrack is great. I even programmed that sweeping pad in your first musical example into my Mega FM synth. Thanks for a great review as usual
One of my favourite Sega MD/GEN game for me as a kid when I first got it me too I admit I found it tough and hard this is not a game for impatient or if you get frustrated easy, this is a game where you have to take your time and explore to enjoy it. The only thing I wish they should have added like two game modes for example Easy mode that is a gamer friendly and then a Extreme game mode for hard core gamers that like a hard challenge so both sides of gamers can all enjoy it
The GEMS sound driver wasn't the problem. Its that devs got lazy and just used the provided samples. Tommy Tellarico did great things with GEMs but he took his time to create his own samples.
Tommy Tallarico is not liked much these days, he reckons he helped compose the music to Sonic 2 and he didn't really create his own sound until the Earthworm Jim series. Batman Return Of The Joker/Global Gladiators and Cool Spot sound nearly all the same, then with Aladdin he forgot to put any sort of percussion in it and then there was The Jungle Book which didn't sound much better. Chris Braymen of MK3 really pushed the GEMS driver and included his own sound. Those hi-hat brass cymbals were amazing!
thank you for your review of this game! I’m Hungarian and very proud of the games Novotrade created for the Genesis and Saturn. I’m a Sega fan since the 90s thanks to these guys!
This is the Mega Drive’s equivalent of Super Metroid. Not in game play obviously, and it isn’t nearly as good. But it’s absolutely dripping with atmosphere. It absolutely nails it’s presentation in both sound and vision. It will always stick with me just for that. Even though I don’t think I’ve ever got past level 4.
Just wanted to say: I think if the 2D Ecco games took more of a page out of the “Metroidvania” style of design with a big, sprawling ocean play-space that you could methodically “map out” with your sonar and find hidden health and O2 upgrades and give them the opportunity to unlock new combat/traversal abilities that would open up more of the map to exploration, as well as other standard tropes of that genre, I feel like these games would’ve been a lot more revered NOW as absolute classics. It would’ve also allowed them to ramp up the difficulty curve a bit more gradually since the game designers could’ve “gated off” certain difficult areas until players had acquired specific upgrades/abilities. Honestly, AS I WRITE THIS, I’m kinda amazed no one at Sega has thought to do this by putting out a “modern” 2D Ecco game with Metroidvania elements for like $30-$40 and release it on the digital storefronts.
As a 6 year old kid playing this I'm pretty sure I only got as far as meeting the Blue Whale. Even so, I really enjoyed playing it as a kid. It was sorta like an open sandbox game where you had so much freedom, it was really pretty neat at the time. And yeah, the visuals were incredible. Definitely a challenging game though, and obtuse. It's like the Dark Souls of 16 bit Dolphin games.
Loved how fun it was to control Ecco. I tried so many times to beat this game as a kid. It was only like a couple years ago that I found out it actually is hard as hell. Looking back now I'm kind of surprised I got as far as I did. I might have to give it another try on NSO.
The best word to be used to describe Ecco is "obtuse". It's a game where you either enjoy repeatedly dying for weeks until you stumble and fumble your way to the climax (insert virgins on prom night joke here) that will likely leave you feeling more relieved that it's over than actually satisfied (insert girl at prom night joke here), or stomping off to the store for a guide from a magazine (insert final prom night joke here).
Good to see some positive and fair take on the Ecco game. Too many videos of people struggling at the early stages and giving up early, calling the game trash. Hope to see a review on the other ecco games too, nice to hear your opinion and bring more eyes to these games that now feel a little obscure and hidden to newer generations.
A fair review, Sega Lord X. This game frustrated me to no end as a kid, yet it had a charm that continued to pull me back again and again. I love the Mega CD soundtracks.
I played the SegaCD version as a kid, at first the difficulty was brutal, but when I finally learned the gameplay mechanics it was a blast all the way to the end with outstanding GFX and sound design. Thank you for another great honest video.
With all this current talk about underwater alien bases and ufos, maybe Ecco is who we need to save the world. Loved all 3 games..played the Genesis version the most, until i got the Sega Cd version. Best soundtrack to relax to ever.
Ecco was and always will be one the most unique experiences I ever played. There are very few games that made such an impression on me as a kid. The music is not only good but exceptional, even with the low quality sound.
@@leighdappa it was 16 bit graphics, 12 bit sample audio 💡 video Sony chip so throw away that * because you were discussing sound of Genesis echo game, maybe you played it on Genesis 2 with sound issues 😆
@@leighdappa How, both SNES and genesis are 16 bit graphics (as I stated) but SNES audio is a Sony 12 bit (let's read that 3rd time 12 bit) audio sample channels chip - as you complained about Genesis audio quality (synth). Perhaps you had shitty Genesis 2 model. How many boosters you have lately ?💉 💦 🧠 ☠️
I have the same feeling about games and songs. I try to make my environnement close to the one that existed when I play old games. Playing a game the same month/season that you first played it is a good start.
I played this as a kid. Could swim round as that dolphin for hours just jumping out the water and over rocks. Had a Nes before so the graphics looked real back then. The first few levels felt open world for the time. Had a very small game collection and eventually finished the game. (but only once, maybe twice) That sense of relieve after beating the boss after countless restarts was amazing.
The Mega CD version is the definitive version of Ecco. It looks pretty, the CD music is excellent, it's so unique and overall still a good game. Not quite a top-tier Genesis game for me though, due to the somewhat slow and methodical gameplay lacking the sheer fun factor of the best Genesis games. The revisionist negative reviews are probably from people who lacked the patience to properly get into it and found it difficult.
Great episode as usual, mister Lord X! Just a tiny bit about the sound driver, I think GEMS was not used on Ecco as you stated. Looks like its a Novotrade custom driver. Some patches sounds similar to some defaults on GEMS, which may lead to the confusion. On a sidenote, I think the soundtrack is briliant composed, but of course music preference is absolutely personal. Anyway, GEMS looks like has nothing to do with anything (only on Ecco JR.).
I loved Eco the dolphin dude. When it came out I was 7? Well the difficulty was hard as hell (and I’m positive still holds up today). The graphics and detailed levels is still groundbreaking I do recall using codes in the game and cheating to beat it.
Very fair review. As much as I like this game, it can be flat out brutal. I do love the Sega CD version with some of its QoL fixes (checkpoints on stages), some additional levels, and the amazing soundtrack. Im sad that the 3DS Sega AGES version isn't available anymore, because it did have an easy mode that gave you infinite air and water. Id say, if you can somehow play that version, its definitely the most accessable to play.
What I like about retro games are that they often pushed boundaries of what a game could be. "Ecco" was one such game... "Moonstone" on the Amiga was another. it shared equal amounts of DNA with board games as it did with an brutal action fighting game. I loved the 90's era of gaming because conventions had not really been set in stone yet. And developers still dreamed of what could be done as a video game. This is why I absolutely loved Snake Pass that was released a couple of days ago. I have never played a movement puzzle game where the fun factor is mainly tied to the slithering gameplay mechanics of a snake. How cool is that? It felt like a 90's game idea executed in a modern game engine. :)
Had it for the game gear and beat it 2-3 days after I got it. I couldn’t put it down. Years later I played the genesis version and it’s controls make it brutally more difficult. This game would have been perfect on the master system.
One of the few games I owned for the system, loved it so much. Hell, sometimes I would turn it on just to swim around and chill while listening to the AWESOME SOUNDTRACK!!!!
Totally was blown away by this game, and then my buddy got the Sega CD version. I didn't think Ecco could get better, but that sound quality... Great upload
Great review! Ecco was one of those game that forced you do deal with anxiety since you where always running out of air as you explored. Actually many kids today could benefit from play Ecco just for that. The Sega CD version is the one for me and it was one of those games that made a strong argument for using composite cables to have the colors blend better. What programmers were able to do with the limited color pallet of the Genesis was amazing. I also loved the Sega Dreamcast versions and still wonder why that game was never re-released on modern game consoles. Thanks for this review. This is another one of those games that made me want to become a retro gamer.
This game blew me away when it came out. It was a constant rental for me until my Stepdad got it for me at Christmas time. He was an Intellivision guy and Arkanoid expert but even he couldn't believe how realistic the graphics were. I never could get through it without codes but it was a fun and calming play for me.
I always loved playing it on my cousin's Genesis whe i visited him or he came to the cityi live in. I had an NES as a kid and grew up in a Nintendo family for the most part, but I always loved Sega and this game.
Agreed, such a great game. This is basically the Genesis equivalent to Nights into dreams on the Saturn.
Have you heard of the word subjective?
This is objectively a great game. I understand why a lot of people don’t like it, but when you consider the factors of quality for a game it has most of them.
It is actually IMO one of the best 16 bit games ever made. Back in the day it was so immersive with the best music from any western developer for the system.
I remember losing it because of how real we all thought Ecco looked.
It's the closest thing to Super Metroid on the Genesis, at least until Life on Mars came out. I still prefer Ecco 1 & 2 just due to the nightmare fuel alone.
I love the Sega CD version 👍
@@HereticHydraSuper Metroid is (was) a SNES, Super NES, Super Nintendo game not a Sega Genesis/Mega-Drive game
@@jasonlee7816 I think he is implying that if you want to play something comparable to Super Metroid on the Genesis, Ecco is the closest thing. I actually think it's a fair comparison. While Super Metroid is the better game, there are a lot of parallels with Ecco.
I remember walking into a Software Etc., and on display they had Ecco. I thought man they’re making Flipper games? Then someone there said, “hey it’s really good you should get it.” I’m glad I listened because it was amazing. Man 1993 was a big year for gaming thinking back on it.
30 years ago. You were drinking Pepsi, rewatching Terminator 2 on VHS, and listening to Doggystyle with your Reeboks on.
@@johnnylove2073 This is all correct...except I wasn't wearing Reeboks. I was wearing Ewing's. 😁
Dude you could not be more wrong about the soundtrack. One of the best soundtracks I ever heard. It transcends the game
Are you thinking about the Sega CD version?
I find it hard to be objective here, but I think you're right. The soundtrack is eerie, and since the last third of the game is sci-fi horror, the OST really shines. Still, after loving it so much that I also got the Sega CD version, that OST is in my all-time top 20 and it's hard to go back to the Genesis version.
I agree with this, too. The soundtrack is eerie, moody and memorable. Some tracks have a Pink Floyd quality - akin to Shine on You Crazy Diamond. The Sega CD tracks by Spencer Neilson are high quality, but they are less melodic washes of sound , not as hummable or memorable. Maybe people are playing this in emulation and the sound doesn't translate as well as on real hardware through a TV or stereo system.
Your spot on, and TBH the standard Mega drive version is just so much better than the Mega CD one - that's not to say the CD Redbook audio was bad, far from it, but most had too many layers added that just made it far too complicated and some, like Pteranadon Pond, were just massively inferior on the CD version. Still, each to their own in that regard.
@@sunderark The Genesis OST was perfect on its own, is one of the best soundtracks not because of personal tastes, but because it was perfect for what the game was trying to achieve.
"It's no simple kid's game" No doubt... I was 15 or so when it came out, it was too hard for me. Thanks Lordy! SEEEEEEGAAAA!
Exactly my experience! I got it around the same age, maybe 14 years old, and was really excited to play it. The difficulty pushed me away almost immediatly, but I think I might need to revisit Ecoo.
I have never seen this game before (until now), and I owned MegaDrive in the past and played a lot of games. Even now when I got this time Genesis model 2, I find this game very difficult to play, since I have no idea HOW to play it. But it`s very interesting and I will definetly spend some serious time for learning & playing.
I played it for the first time when I was frickin 4. No wonder I couldn’t get anywhere until years later. Haha.
This is the most faithful and honest review I saw for Ecco the Dolphin in years, idk why the sudden hate, if the genre doesn’t appeal to you that’s fine but many “reviews” nowadays consider it a bad game which is not true.
I played this game so much as a kid...it was too dang hard for me to beat, but I still loved trying.
I eventually beat both Ecco games. Tides Of Time Is my favorite one and the one I play the most.
One of the greatest survival-horror games of all-time. Ecco and the Tides of Time are two "must-own" titles for the Sega CD...two of the very best soundtracks in the Genesis library.
The Sega CD soundtrack still is one of my favorite of all time. The Q-Sound effects were truly impressive.
Everything about that version is awesome. the extra levels, scenes, music, etc. Though I will say the game gear/master system ports are underrated.
Mine too. The music is so beautiful.
I got the Sega CD version as soon as it came out. I actually didn't even remember what the music and sounds on the Genesis version sounded like...nothing in this video sounded familiar. I still play it sometimes with Picodrive.
Same here. As the soundtrack is recorded as an external track on the CD of the Sega-CD version, I ripped it and still listen to the tracks. I still have the game saved.
@@marcoskatsuragi Same...I have that (along with the Terminator Sega CD soundtrack) on the flash drive in my car.
The Game is masterpiece in every aspects, I admitted that back in the day when there was no internet available to every household I was a stucker at the Game.
for me, Ecco the Dolphin fits squarely into the category of “I love everything about it - except playing it”
I feel the same. It's one of the few games I've ever played where I can say I love it and also hate it.
Well said. I loved looking at it. I never really play it to beat it or really try to even get better at it.
Like a really hot chick with a personality you don't click with.
One of my FAVORITE games. Love Ecco! The undercaves music is sooo good.
Echo the Dolphin for the Sega Genesis was an absolute gem! It took us on an unforgettable undersea journey, diving into the mysteries of the deep blue sea. The game's mesmerizing visuals, challenging mazes, and unique gameplay made it a standout in my childhood. Echo the Dolphin wasn't just a game; it was a doorway to a different world, where each level brought a sense of achievement and joy. It holds a special place in my heart, reminding me of the magic of gaming.
It was and is a great game, I still hate GEMS, and I wish it was a 24 meg cart, it could have been a way better looking game. That extra size could have added enemy animations, and better sound, it would have been a game changer for SEGA.
Did you have an ai write this comment? Ecco is ok, it's too cryptic. It looks nice sure, is this the best game you've ever played or something?
@@greenkoopalmao I was thinking the same thing 😆 It felt like i was reading an ai generated review on the game… or like it was a review plucked right off the back of the games case
@@greenkoopa It's quite amusing how some individuals assume that exceptional writing skills and fluency in English can only be attributed to AI. It appears that there is simply a need to enhance your interpersonal communication abilities. As someone who has been crafting reviews for over 25 years, including writing on behalf of others, it's clear that writing prowess can indeed be achieved by humans. Ultimately, though, it's up to each person to believe what they wish.
@@JamesNGamesthat’s not it, it’s just the weird and detached nature of it. It looks like you’re matching the cadence of SLX and it’s funny
DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO START THE ACTUAL GAME!?
IT TOOK ME MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT THAT IT WASN’T JUST SOME SORT OF SWIM SIMULATOR!
I love the soundtrack. Vents so classic. Spooky and cheerful
Ecco the Dolphin on the Sega CD is one of my all time favorite games. Masterpiece. I have not played through the genesis version, but the Sega cd version is one of the best games I’ve ever experienced and beaten.
Tides of Time on Sega CD is equally as brilliant.
Defender of the Future on Dreamcast was a rushed product with tons of glitches and a serious lack of direction for the player. It had potential, but was a deeply flawed game.
However, the ps2 version of Defender of the future came out two years later and fixed all the glitches and problems of the Dreamcast version. They added the L3 button that pointed Ecco towards the next objective without giving away the puzzle, and it worked like z-targeting in boss battles. The ps2 version of Defender of the Future was the 3D Ecco game I always wanted, and I’m so happy I gave the game a second chance on that console.
It’s still not what I wanted.
You know how Zora link controls in Majora’s Mask?
Ever since I had played that I wanted Ecco in 3-D to control kind of like that, and I thought that the color use on Defender was a little lacking.
It wasn’t terrible, but I was a little disappointed even with the PS2 version.
@@Thor-Orion(I am the guy you replied to just now, and this is my new account.) I played Majora’s Mask about 20 years ago, and I forget how Zora controls. All I remember about Majora’s Mask was that it was tedious, repetitive, and no where near as good as Ocarina of Time. But that’s a whole other conversation.
I remember Ecco being a game I really wanted to play. I grew up a Nintendo Kid but I use to get lots of magazines and look at every system's games. I now own every Ecco title. The first one I found was Ecco Jr 😂
Thank you! I wasn't expecting a video from you today...your videos are quickly becoming comfort food for me, because it brings back memories of playing the Genesis back in the early 90's
The song for Ice Zone is one of my all-time favorite pieces of music. It's so perfect. I haven't heard the CD version yet, but I doubt anything could top the Genesis version of that song.
If only Sega could embrace Silicon Graphics that early on the Sega Genesis they could turn Ecco the Dolphin into something seen in Donkey Kong Country. Those Enguarde underwater levels were spectacular and controls quite well and would make an Ecco game looks ten times better than what it already was.
As Sega Lord X hinted at, Ecco is one of those games that really requires a lot of time invested before you get to truly understand how great it is. The puzzles are hard and cryptic almost immediately from the start. The difficulty is admittedly way too high for its own good. However, with patience you eventually figure out the the rhythm of the puzzles and get to experience some unique things the game has to offer. I remember when finally meeting the Big Blue after what felt like an eternity was so exciting. Then you get to meet the Asterite, explore the ruins of Atlantis, travel back to prehistoric times, and finish the game aboard a creepy alien spacecraft (The Machine was so brutally hard!)
I didn't have a big collection of games as a kid. I played whatever few I did to death, and games like Ecco were meant to be ground through to enjoy.
You're making me want to actually put some time into this game! I had it as a kid, and was really excited to get it, but the difficulty turned me off, despite thinking it had fantastic graphics and gameplay. As a "mature" adult, I think I'd appreciate revisiting this game. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Ecco! 👍
I loooooved this game immediately as a kid! I was 9 (almost 10) when it came out, and I rented it many times before acquiring it years later. I re-purchased it in 2010 and spent that fall and winter trying to beat it. I got as far as The Tube and couldn't beat that stage till I plugged the game in a few years later, and got stuck in Welcome To The Machine and just stopped playing. Tried to beat that level again a couple of years ago, and got further, but still haven't managed to beat that level! I keep a Post-It note on one of my gaming TVs with a list of all games I have begun but not finished, and Ecco still stands 13 years after I began my first real attempt to beat it. I will get there eventually! You are spot on that Welcome To The Machine is brutally hard! The constantly shifting auto-scroll, and those vile aliens constantly popping out from offscreen or behind the foreground machinery frustrated and killed my poor Ecco more times than I can count!
@@lawrencemcstephens308 I'm curious, Lawrence, what other games are on your list that you would like to defeat someday?
@@Fluoride_Jones Well, my current list of incomplete games includes the following (ones I haven't beaten before I will mark with asterisks):
1 - Chrono Trigger
2 - Donkey Kong Country 2
3 - Donkey Kong Country 3
4 - EarthBound
5 - Secret Of Mana 2***
6 - Super Mario World
7 - Yoshi's Island
8 - Super Mario RPG
9 - Super Metroid Zero Mission***
10 - Terranigma***
11 - The Guardian Legend***
12 - Zelda: Outlands***
13 - Tecmo Super Bowl
14 - GoldenEye 007
15 - Goldfinger 64***
16 - Hexen 64
17 - Zelda: Ocarina Of Time***
18 - Mario Kart 64
19 - Super Mario 64
20 - The Final Fantasy Legend***
@@lawrencemcstephens308 Wow! So, at some point in the past, you've actually beaten the games without asterisks? Also, you appear to be an adventure and RPG fan.
The sequel Tides of Time is probably my second favorite genesis game. It fixes the repetitiveness of the first game and the level environments are more interesting.
So, I had some friends over, and they spotted this game's box art when I was 22. They asked, "What's up with this stupid dolphin game?" Little did they know, this game is pure gold!
First off, the soundtrack is just mind-blowing! You know those games with tunes that get stuck in your head forever? Yeah, "Ecco" nails it! And the level design, oh boy, it's something else. You're underwater, exploring the ocean's depths, solving puzzles, and facing various challenges. It's like you're on a crazy adventure with our dolphin hero!
And here's the kicker - Ecco moves at lightning speed! It's like he's the Sonic of the Sea! You blast through the levels, zipping around like there's no tomorrow. It's such a rush!
The first game is all about Ecco taking on aliens to save his pod. Yeah, it's as epic as it sounds. Something about the early 90s that just sprung ideas that only a high programmer and his team could contrive. What else is cool is that you can upgrade Ecco's abilities by completing side missions within the levels, which is always welcome, especially in the early 16-bit era.
After beating the first game for them within an afternoon, that night, I popped in "Ecco: The Tides of Time." Time travel, baby! You're reconstructing some DNA helix thingy - how cool is that? Time-bending dolphin, saving the day.
My friends watched me beat both games, and I'm happy to know that I've changed their perspective of the game.
Seriously though.., if you've never tried "Ecco the Dolphin," you're missing out on one heck of a ride. My only regret is not playing it on the Sega CD, which also has a fantastic soundtrack. It's a hidden gem, and it's totally worth diving into! 🐬🌊
I have both the original and the Sega CD version of the first one and the Sega CD version of Tides of Time, thanks to having both Genesis Minis
Who says that about Dolphins? Dolphins are cool.
There should be more video games about dolphins.
The music was inspired by Pink Floyd. A level is even called 'Welcome to the Machine". The music is airy, cold and mechanical, which suits the vibe they were going for.
I think it’s my favorite series ever. When you count every game, there are actually tons of different Ecco games. Like the Japanese cartridge is the best cart version, the Game Gear with best colors, Ecco Jr. has the most cheerful song, the Pico game with music maker… and PC game is the ultimate!
:)
Ecco The Dolphin was one of those games I ALWAYS really appreciated for its incredible art design, music, ambience/atmosphere, etc.
I just couldn’t STAND to actually play it (which is really a SHAME because I remember once using a code just to see what the LATER STAGES looked like and the final stages in the second game ESPECIALLY start to mutate into these very H.R.-Giger-esque, almost “Lovecraftian” hellscapes of alien-looking origin).
I remember renting this from blockbuster upon release and never getting beyond the first level however mesmerized by the look, feel and the minimalist soundtrack
An excellent review of an iconic game. I was fortunate to have played it through on the Mega CD the first time. Spencer Nilsen's soundtrack was pure magic, I would often use the disc to just play the music tracks on a CD player. It was years later when I heard the Mega Drive soundtrack and yeah... pales in comparison.
I remember as a kid loving Echoes' music, I still think it's pretty good 👍
I was fascinated by this game and the sequel as a kid.
I still remember my bad telling me back from school that a dinosaur time travelled him to the past. It sounded the coolest thing ever
Open Ocean had an awesome theme. The game was just... Eerie?
The sequel was more accessible.
God I loved it
Glad i found this channel. Grew up with the Genesis.
I actually really like the music. It has that dark and mysterious quality to it, and really complements the atmosphere.
A classic, but hard and frustrating as hell. That music did calm the nerves though😊
I've never beaten any of the Ecco games, but I can't help but picking them up and playing. The graphics and soundtrack just make them into an EXPERIENCE worth having, even if you don't make much progress.
I could never get far in this game at all. It was so frustrating I had no idea what I was supposed to do and man it made me so mad because of all the praise it got and how others were able to beat it. I was the only kid I knew who had a Genesis in my rural Tennessee town so I didn't have anyone to ask and of course the internet didn't exist yet.
I don't understand the hate this game gets. I had the Game gear version and the puzzles in it were turned to eleven. I couldn't stop playing it untill I beat it. The Mega Drive version is a baby's game.
I remember I was terrified as a kid of going deep into the waters [as you well said, Ecco was more similar to a horror game in that regard, even if it was not, we can think of it as being the grandaddy of games like 'Subnautica' or something like that], and rather I preferred to spend hours in the water surface making jump tricks and stuff, LOL. But once you grew a pair and decided to go on the adventure, Ecco easily became one of the best experiences you could've. Truly a masterpiece classic.
Also 'EtD: Defend of the Future' is one of the best DreamCast [and later Ps2] games ever made, IMHO, I enjoyed that one a heck of lot too. You should cover it too one day!
As a child, Sonic conditioned me to be terrified and anxious when drowning in video games. I barely got past the first few stages of Ecco.
Yep this game scared the shit out of me!
Ecco is definitely an odd beast: it isn't a hidden jem as everyone knows it, yet it's rarely something anyone claims to have finished. It usually happens to books many know their title and maybe quote a sentence or two, but very few actually read them.
It's pretty hard to get into, but it's a great satisfaction.
Playing Jupiter & Mars in PSVR right now. Getting strong Ecco vibes.
Still listening to Ecco soundtracks from Genesis, Sega CD and Dreamcast versions.
I think it was an amazing and innovative series of game.
This game has a later unreleased revision (June 29, 1993) that significantly lowers the difficulty by adding checkpoints, doesn't send you back a level at the final boss, and even includes some minor extra levels and music. I think it's the definitive version, since the main problem with this game is the brutal difficulty.
as i understand it, this revision is basically backporting the changes made for the sega cd version, so ultimately it's just a question of which soundtrack you prefer (and both have their own standout tracks)
Did not know the Sega CD was not just the "better soundtrack" version but also a "quality of life update" version with extra checkpoints and so on. Now I know, and I wonder if that version is the one found on re-releases or if it's still the harder original...
I rented this when it came out, and had no idea what in the world I was supposed to be doing. The few times I've tried it out since then, I've had no idea what in the world I was supposed to be doing. What I remember most about this game, however, is how amazing it sounded with headphones, with the Q virtual surround sound. It was the first game, I believe, to have virtual surround, and it was really impressive for the day.
In any case, great video, you explained the game to more in a few mins, makes more sense now.
The Japanese version is supposedly less frustrating, especially with the final boss. Maybe the best way to play this, though I'm eager to see your review of the Sega CD games.
Yeah, SoJ resented America so they made our games harder. Nintendo did the opposite with the difficulty because they see us as morons so they made them easier. Konami came in not giving a single fuck though 😂
@@greenkoopathis was a western developed game that was released in the US before being released in Japan.
US games tended to be harder because game publishers were worried about the rental market. If a game was easy enough to be beaten over a weekend or two and then returned to blockbuster, there wasn't much incentive to buy it.
Nintendo actually successfully lobbied to have game rentals made illegal in Japan back in the '80s, so this wasn't an issue over there.
As for Nintendo making their games easier for western audiences this was a myth too. It all stems from Nintendo not releasing the original Super Mario Bros. 2 overseas. They had determined that not only was the game too difficult for fans of the first game, but also that it hadn't done enough to distinguish itself from it's predecessor in style and in gameplay mechanics.
Ecco the Dolphin always freaked me out
😂😂
It didn't scare me as a kid but I had absolutely no idea what to do so I just swam around lol
I had this title. I definitely didn’t get very far as it was hard - at least for me. I wandered around aimlessly for hours trying to figure out where to go or what to do.
Yeah because it was SO hard
Scared the shit out of me, the music really creeped me out!
In a world of generic beat em up, shoot em up and platform clones, Ecco was a breath of fresh air.
I really recommend people trying the ecco games out. There is nothing like them on the 16 bit generation. The controls are extremely fluid and satisfying, but the atmosphere and story telling is really what makes them special imo. It is so eerie and psychodelic, the beginning leaves you in shock if you are not expecting it. It is a magical/scifi/horror doplhin adventure that takes itself 100% seriously.
Like SLX said, the biggest problem is the difficulty really, it is extremely punishing, I recommend either playing the sega CD version that has a lot of extra checkpoints, or playing with save states or rewind, do both preferably (CD and emulation). There is absolutely no shame about it. I rather people have fun with this gem than dismissing it due to unfortunate difficulty spikes.
It is a 100% hungarian made game and as a hungarian I'm very proud of it. It was one of my favourite games back in '92 when I was 8 year old. It was very hard to beat but I did it tho.
Graphics were a huge deal back in the day. If you look at difference between the first year and last year releases it was an insane difference in what could be possible on the hardware. Now there’s very little of that.
This game blew everything out of the water when it came out (yes, pun intended) and definitely lived up to the hype, one of the few games that was even better than advertised!
My brother & I used to play Ecco all the time. The genesis was the 1st console we both shared.
During the pandemic in 2020, I had really wanted to get a Sega Genesis Mini and the Sega Genesis Steam collection to mod onto the Mini, but my savings weren't quite enough to make those purchases. My sweet mom offered to make up the difference, so that I'd have the quarantine time to delve into Sega's rich 16-bit library instead of worrying about what was going on in the world at the time.
With those purchases made, I consequently ended up owning a game I didn't really care about and had never heard of, Ecco the Dolphin, not once, but twice completely on accident. I very briefly tried it out in the Summer of 2020, and totally made fun of it thinking, "wow, this is really weird" and switched back to the usual 16-bit games I wanted the Genesis for in the first place.
Fast forward two Summers later, I had checked out almost all the games that really intrigued me in the Genesis Mini line-up, but still wanted more Sega 16-bit goodness to play. Being forced to be more adventurous and go outside my comfort zone, having already played the "safer" picks in the line-up, I took a second look at Ecco the Dolphin thinking, "this seems like the perfect Summer game" and went ahead and gave it a second chance.
What an experience playing it blind was! The beautiful visuals, the lonely harsh world of Ecco's ocean, the tension of the mysterious sinister beings being always seemingly around the corner, the family centered story that resonated with me, the wonderful yet unusual controls with graceful fluidity, and labyrinthine worlds that (to me) were always so satisfying to map out and master made Ecco such a radical departure from the typical 16-bit fare.
I have no nostalgia for Ecco the Dolphin, and didn't even know what it was several years ago. So without any bias, I'll say that Ecco the Dolphin is one of the greatest, most unique experiences of not just the Genesis, but the entire 16-bit era. The sequel is also great too!
Although I've never played it, I'm sure the Sega CD version is even better yet. Even though I don't own a Sega CD myself, my mom bought me a copy of Ecco CD last Christmas, so that me and my family could all listen to its hauntingly beautiful OST together from time to time. Seriously, it's that good. Definitely has one of my favorite video game OSTs ever with "The Vents" being far and away my favorite individual track.
I'm so grateful to this day that my mom helped me get my Genesis, and that Sega decided to include this wonderful game, that I initially didn't look twice at, in their Genesis line-up. I highly, highly recommend every entry in the Ecco the Dolphin series. It was totally worth pushing through that barrier to entry, which was both its brutal difficulty, and how generally foreign the gameplay felt, even as a seasoned gamer. To think that I could've just as easily brushed this game off again, and never known what I was missing! So yeah, if you're on the fence about whether or not to try (or retry) playing through Ecco, do it! The journey that follows might surprise you.
Oh yeah! And great video as always, Sega Lord X!
I’m starting to realize that the SEGA “gems” soundtracks (if I’m using that word correctly) is actually something I didn’t mind growing up. It was distinctly SEGA to me. And the weird starkness of the sounds / music is something I appreciated and still do to this day. Not all of the soundtracks were winners but I am fond of this one.
It was tough as hell, but I have such fond memories of this game
I agree that Ecco was a masterpiece. At the same time, it was one of the games that drew me away from the Genesis, to be honest. The labyrinth-like gameplay and especially the f'n GEMS sound drive were typical and plagued many North American games such as Batman Returns, Taz-mania, and X-men. These were getting so common that I left the platform and never looked back. I still have lots of respect for some of the classics that were on the Genesis and left me wanting for more such as Columns, Sonic, Strider, and Golden Axe. I love to watch your videos because they show me some of the gems I missed. Thank you so much and keep up the good work! 😊
Had really nice graphics for the time 😊😊
I don’t know why people always say these games are hard. I beat both echo the dolphin and echo the tides of time when I was still a little kid. And I loved them. I replayed them to death because between the soundtrack on the Sega CD, and just exploring the beautiful ocean world, These two games always took me to some other world. It also helped the fact that I had my Sega CD hooked up to our 14 speaker surround sound system and 32 inch monitor. Yes, monitor. So it was an amazing experience to hear the Sega CDs completely reworked soundtrack as I’m literally feeling like I’m surrounded by the ocean through music, and seeing echo in front of Me in 32 inch Sharp Trinitron monitor, it was one hell of an experience. The game did the wonderful job at making the player feel what echo is feeling only through music since echo was a silent protagonist. So the music had to be done in the way that you could feel echoes thoughts . The only game I can think of that comes close to this is Ori and the Will of the Wisps because that game acts the same way in that it uses music to tell us what little Ori is feeling since Ori is a silent protagonist.
Great timing, my copy of this on the Mega CD arrived today (after 3 weeks almost lost in the post).
This game is one of the OG horrors (without intending to be) and also the OG Dark Souls in terms of difficulty. Well this and The Immortal. Definitely a cult classic.
This game is super cool if you can get in the right mood. The kind where before you know it, you've been playing for hours. But yeah, not an easy one to jump into if you've got the wrong expectations going in. Great review!
sometimes i find that i admire games more than i actually enjoy them - this definitely goes in that category
The beauty and problem with things that are unique and different is they don’t always last the test of time.
Many times was incredibly unique and innovative for the time is now difficult,clunky and has simply not aged gracefully.
Ecco is a very particular game for a very particular person.
ECCO was pretty difficult from the outset, it was visually and thematically great for its day, but I believe the sequel Tides of time improved it immensely, it was much easier to get into and i felt like it had better direction. I never felt lost or confused with tides of time vs the original.
I never could beat this game since it came out, maybe one day. However I think the soundtrack is great. I even programmed that sweeping pad in your first musical example into my Mega FM synth. Thanks for a great review as usual
I loved this game when i was young. Eco moved like magic. It was a very special game.
One of my favourite Sega MD/GEN game for me as a kid when I first got it me too I admit I found it tough and hard this is not a game for impatient or if you get frustrated easy, this is a game where you have to take your time and explore to enjoy it. The only thing I wish they should have added like two game modes for example Easy mode that is a gamer friendly and then a Extreme game mode for hard core gamers that like a hard challenge so both sides of gamers can all enjoy it
The GEMS sound driver wasn't the problem. Its that devs got lazy and just used the provided samples. Tommy Tellarico did great things with GEMs but he took his time to create his own samples.
Tommy Tallarico is not liked much these days, he reckons he helped compose the music to Sonic 2 and he didn't really create his own sound until the Earthworm Jim series. Batman Return Of The Joker/Global Gladiators and Cool Spot sound nearly all the same, then with Aladdin he forgot to put any sort of percussion in it and then there was The Jungle Book which didn't sound much better. Chris Braymen of MK3 really pushed the GEMS driver and included his own sound. Those hi-hat brass cymbals were amazing!
thank you for your review of this game! I’m Hungarian and very proud of the games Novotrade created for the Genesis and Saturn. I’m a Sega fan since the 90s thanks to these guys!
This is the Mega Drive’s equivalent of Super Metroid. Not in game play obviously, and it isn’t nearly as good. But it’s absolutely dripping with atmosphere. It absolutely nails it’s presentation in both sound and vision. It will always stick with me just for that. Even though I don’t think I’ve ever got past level 4.
Just wanted to say:
I think if the 2D Ecco games took more of a page out of the “Metroidvania” style of design with a big, sprawling ocean play-space that you could methodically “map out” with your sonar and find hidden health and O2 upgrades and give them the opportunity to unlock new combat/traversal abilities that would open up more of the map to exploration, as well as other standard tropes of that genre, I feel like these games would’ve been a lot more revered NOW as absolute classics.
It would’ve also allowed them to ramp up the difficulty curve a bit more gradually since the game designers could’ve “gated off” certain difficult areas until players had acquired specific upgrades/abilities.
Honestly, AS I WRITE THIS, I’m kinda amazed no one at Sega has thought to do this by putting out a “modern” 2D Ecco game with Metroidvania elements for like $30-$40 and release it on the digital storefronts.
As a 6 year old kid playing this I'm pretty sure I only got as far as meeting the Blue Whale. Even so, I really enjoyed playing it as a kid. It was sorta like an open sandbox game where you had so much freedom, it was really pretty neat at the time. And yeah, the visuals were incredible. Definitely a challenging game though, and obtuse. It's like the Dark Souls of 16 bit Dolphin games.
Loved how fun it was to control Ecco. I tried so many times to beat this game as a kid. It was only like a couple years ago that I found out it actually is hard as hell. Looking back now I'm kind of surprised I got as far as I did. I might have to give it another try on NSO.
The best word to be used to describe Ecco is "obtuse". It's a game where you either enjoy repeatedly dying for weeks until you stumble and fumble your way to the climax (insert virgins on prom night joke here) that will likely leave you feeling more relieved that it's over than actually satisfied (insert girl at prom night joke here), or stomping off to the store for a guide from a magazine (insert final prom night joke here).
Fun game. Unique for the time. Found it a little too difficult to complete when it released and I was much younger lol.
Honestly, I've still never played the Genesis version of Ecco to this day. I started with the Sega CD version and never felt the need to downgrade.
I had the Sega CD version of both Ecco games the sound was def upgraded on Sega CD
Good to see some positive and fair take on the Ecco game.
Too many videos of people struggling at the early stages and giving up early, calling the game trash.
Hope to see a review on the other ecco games too, nice to hear your opinion and bring more eyes to these games that now feel a little obscure and hidden to newer generations.
This was probably the one gems ost that I did like. They seemed to work with its limitations really well
A fair review, Sega Lord X. This game frustrated me to no end as a kid, yet it had a charm that continued to pull me back again and again. I love the Mega CD soundtracks.
I played the SegaCD version as a kid, at first the difficulty was brutal, but when I finally learned the gameplay mechanics it was a blast all the way to the end with outstanding GFX and sound design.
Thank you for another great honest video.
11:13 Nice use of the Mega Drive’s Shadow & Highlight mode! (gives the illusion of a transparent color over the tunnel Ecco is exiting).
Rarely disagree with you but this game has perhaps the greatest soundtrack of any megadrive game. A Pink floyd inspired masterpiece
This was Sega’s version of Metroid at the time. A lot of backtracking and exploration involved just like Metroid NES
Very weird game, very deep and atmospheric. Amazing alien shit at the end
this just made me wanna play super metroid the whole time. but i will love to check out this game someday maybe on Switch Online?
With all this current talk about underwater alien bases and ufos, maybe Ecco is who we need to save the world. Loved all 3 games..played the Genesis version the most, until i got the Sega Cd version. Best soundtrack to relax to ever.
Ecco was and always will be one the most unique experiences I ever played. There are very few games that made such an impression on me as a kid. The music is not only good but exceptional, even with the low quality sound.
SNES was 12bit, that's low quality too
@LegendsFlashBack *16-Bit but thanks for trying.
@@leighdappa it was 16 bit graphics, 12 bit sample audio 💡 video Sony chip so throw away that * because you were discussing sound of Genesis echo game, maybe you played it on Genesis 2 with sound issues 😆
I'm glad I was able to correct you in that the SNES is 16-Bit 😆
@@leighdappa How, both SNES and genesis are 16 bit graphics (as I stated) but SNES audio is a Sony 12 bit (let's read that 3rd time 12 bit) audio sample channels chip - as you complained about Genesis audio quality (synth). Perhaps you had shitty Genesis 2 model. How many boosters you have lately ?💉 💦 🧠 ☠️
loved this back in 92, I haven't played it since then however. I'm in two minds as to whether revisit. don't want to taint those happy memories
Quit living in the past and make new memories
I have the same feeling about games and songs. I try to make my environnement close to the one that existed when I play old games. Playing a game the same month/season that you first played it is a good start.
I still love this game! Blew my mind back then, and even now :D
I played this as a kid. Could swim round as that dolphin for hours just jumping out the water and over rocks. Had a Nes before so the graphics looked real back then. The first few levels felt open world for the time. Had a very small game collection and eventually finished the game. (but only once, maybe twice) That sense of relieve after beating the boss after countless restarts was amazing.
The Mega CD version is the definitive version of Ecco. It looks pretty, the CD music is excellent, it's so unique and overall still a good game. Not quite a top-tier Genesis game for me though, due to the somewhat slow and methodical gameplay lacking the sheer fun factor of the best Genesis games. The revisionist negative reviews are probably from people who lacked the patience to properly get into it and found it difficult.
The first time I found out that it was aliens I was in shock!
Great episode as usual, mister Lord X! Just a tiny bit about the sound driver, I think GEMS was not used on Ecco as you stated. Looks like its a Novotrade custom driver. Some patches sounds similar to some defaults on GEMS, which may lead to the confusion. On a sidenote, I think the soundtrack is briliant composed, but of course music preference is absolutely personal. Anyway, GEMS looks like has nothing to do with anything (only on Ecco JR.).
I loved Eco the dolphin dude. When it came out I was 7? Well the difficulty was hard as hell (and I’m positive still holds up today). The graphics and detailed levels is still groundbreaking
I do recall using codes in the game and cheating to beat it.
Very fair review. As much as I like this game, it can be flat out brutal. I do love the Sega CD version with some of its QoL fixes (checkpoints on stages), some additional levels, and the amazing soundtrack.
Im sad that the 3DS Sega AGES version isn't available anymore, because it did have an easy mode that gave you infinite air and water. Id say, if you can somehow play that version, its definitely the most accessable to play.
What I like about retro games are that they often pushed boundaries of what a game could be. "Ecco" was one such game... "Moonstone" on the Amiga was another. it shared equal amounts of DNA with board games as it did with an brutal action fighting game. I loved the 90's era of gaming because conventions had not really been set in stone yet. And developers still dreamed of what could be done as a video game. This is why I absolutely loved Snake Pass that was released a couple of days ago. I have never played a movement puzzle game where the fun factor is mainly tied to the slithering gameplay mechanics of a snake. How cool is that? It felt like a 90's game idea executed in a modern game engine. :)
Had it for the game gear and beat it 2-3 days after I got it. I couldn’t put it down. Years later I played the genesis version and it’s controls make it brutally more difficult. This game would have been perfect on the master system.
One of the few games I owned for the system, loved it so much. Hell, sometimes I would turn it on just to swim around and chill while listening to the AWESOME SOUNDTRACK!!!!
that sega Cd version is just the nuts.Tgat soundtrack on the cd version is haunting and brilliant.
I was too young to beat this one, but definitely love the defender of the future for Dreamcast! Been hoping for a remaster.
Totally was blown away by this game, and then my buddy got the Sega CD version. I didn't think Ecco could get better, but that sound quality... Great upload
Sega CD soundtrack is probably top 10 of all time
Great review! Ecco was one of those game that forced you do deal with anxiety since you where always running out of air as you explored. Actually many kids today could benefit from play Ecco just for that. The Sega CD version is the one for me and it was one of those games that made a strong argument for using composite cables to have the colors blend better. What programmers were able to do with the limited color pallet of the Genesis was amazing. I also loved the Sega Dreamcast versions and still wonder why that game was never re-released on modern game consoles. Thanks for this review. This is another one of those games that made me want to become a retro gamer.