ECCO

The gameplay was essentially side-scrolling, although it scrolled vertically as well, since Ecco is a swimming creature. Attacking enemies was accomplished by making Ecco ram into them at high speeds. Swimming could be made progressively faster by tapping a certain button, and the speed could be maintained by holding it down. Players could perform a purely aesthetic spin in the air when jumping out of the water. Two unique features of the game played on actual dolphin habits. One was a sonar map that could be brought up by making Ecco “sing” (this was also how he talked to other Singers as well as interact with certain things such as clams and Glyphs) and then holding the button down to make the “song” return to him, a la echolocation in real dolphins. The other was the fact that Ecco, being a mammal, had to surface periodically for air, or else find an air vent. Ecco would drown if his “air meter” ran out. His health was measured by a separate meter; it was depleted by enemies or when his air meter had run out, and it was recharged by eating fish, “singing” to clams, or, later in the game, singing to special Glyphs and statues. Ecco's song could be optionally “upgraded” at two points in the game; one allowed it to be used in combination with a charge as a long-range weapon, and the other made singing at a shark temporarily disorient it.The Glyphs were crystals that would respond somehow if Ecco sang to or touched them. Some blocked paths, and a “Key Glyph” had to be found in such cases to pass. Others gave information, and a few in later levels would replenish health and air and give Ecco temporary invulnerability.

The Ecco game was hailed as the first of a new breed of video games which would eschew violence in favor of constructive, thought-provoking gameplay. Ecco is more puzzle game than arcade game, with spectacular water effects and a brilliantly colorful undersea world. Your dolphin's movement is silky smooth, and at first, swimming around in the open sea and jumping out of the water is fun in of itself. The goal of each stage is not immediately apparent, but you'll find hints by “talking” to other sea creatures you run encounter. In Ecco game, you'll open passages, save other dolphins, avoid deadly predators like sharks, and eventually destroy an “ancient evil” in the grand finale.Your 25-stage journey will take you through past worlds, including the lost city of Atlantis. It's fun to see what each new level has in store. The difficulty level is perfect – it provides plenty of challenge but little in the way of frustration, and a password is provided at the end of each stage. In addition to the gorgeous graphics, the music is also amazing. The ominous but relaxing undersea tones are very appropriate.

Ecco the Dolphin is a series of videogames taking place underwater and originally developed for the Sega Mega Drive (in Japan and Europe), the Sega Genesis (North America) and the Sega Dreamcast (worldwide). These games have also been ported numerous times. The games are named after their main character, Ecco, a young bottlenose dolphin. They are known for being unique and highly challenging titles.

Travel through the time along with Ecco the dolphin, in the only game that could call itself a “dolphin simulator”. Indeed, you can do pretty much everything a typical dolphin does (or at least everying that is featured in flipper the dolphin), including eating fishes, surface in order to breath, using your neat biological sonar and of course jump out of the water to amaze your friends.

As Ecco, you are the only dolphin which managed to escape from the giant whirlpool who sucked down its entire pod. The five shining stars on your front show you are the chosen one to save them. But that task will be not be an easy one, as you will have to travel time and space with the Atlantean time machine, and meet the mystical Asterite in order to defeat the vortex queen.

Ecco game includes: