Ecco the Dolphin Reboot, Including an All-New Original Game, in the Works

The creator of Ecco the Dolphin, Ed Annunziata, has exciting news for fans of the iconic and challenging action-adventure series. In a recent interview on Xbox Wire, Annunziata not only announced remakes of the original games but also revealed plans for a new "third" installment. This upcoming game promises to blend contemporary play and graphics sensibilities, marking a significant evolution for the beloved franchise.

Annunziata, along with the entire original team, is set to remaster the classics Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time. Following these remakes, they will develop a new game, which is particularly noteworthy as there has already been a "third" game in the series. Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, released on Dreamcast in 2000, was the last mainline entry, but Annunziata was not involved in its creation. Additionally, a planned sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, was unfortunately cancelled.

Fans have expressed their excitement and nostalgia, with one fan mentioning their desire to use a secret password from the end of Ecco: The Tides of Time, while another highlighted the famously bizarre plot of the series. Although Annunziata did not provide a specific release date, a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website suggests that we might see these new projects in about a year, as it is set to expire in 8,508 hours.

Originally launched in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Ecco the Dolphin was followed by Ecco: The Tides of Time in 1994. The series also includes the "edutainment" titles Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt, released in 1995. In Ecco the Dolphin, players guide the titular dolphin through a devastated underwater world, navigating through tropical reefs and polar ice floes to reunite with his pod.

Previous remakes have received mixed reviews. The 2000 remake was described as satisfactory but not compelling enough to revisit, according to IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review. The 2007 version was criticized for lacking extras and having unappealing achievements, though it was acknowledged as an innovative title for its time. In contrast, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future received a more favorable response, earning a 7.6 score from IGN's review, which praised its visuals, story, and the engaging experience of defending the ocean.

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