Ecco The Dolphin (Xbox Live Arcade) Review
Posted by Greg Bruno on 09.18.2007
The Blue Screen Of Death Is More Exciting Than The Blue Sea Of Dolphin.
There are some games that stand the test of time. Mario, for instance, will forever echo (no pun intended) throughout the corridors of history. There are also games that get better with age. For example, the original Halo seems to get better each time I play it. In the case of Ecco The Dolphin on Xbox Live Arcade, we don’t fall into either of the above game’s categories. Ecco The Dolphin is not anything like a fine wine that has aged to perfection. It is much more like a really warm Natty Lite left out from last week’s party that you would dare someone else to drink, just with a little more dolphin.
Under the sea? No Thanks!
If you’re diving underwater to look at some pretty graphics, you’re playing the wrong game. Originally from the Sega era of gaming, Ecco really feels outdated. Perhaps Sega should have released the Dreamcast version instead. Ecco and his underwater world are made up of mainly blue pixels. Sure, there’s a variety of sea life to look at whilst swimming through the deep blue sea. However, most of the sea life will be repeated over and over. Ecco is animated pretty well while he swims and jumps through the air. For it’s time, Ecco was a good, solid looking Sega title. Now, it’s just old news. Ecco certainly could have used a new coat of graphics.
If you’ve ever played an Ecco game, you know the basics of how it works. You control Ecco, the dolphin with special abilities who must save his pod. You swim and…well, you swim. Perhaps this is the most frustrating part of the game, which also happens to be the most important. Controlling Ecco while he swims is a nightmare. The D-Pad feels clunky and unresponsive, often times sending you sailing into a rock. Using the thumb stick should work much better than it does. You must remember, though, Ecco was released before we had thumb sticks on our controllers. Some of you kids may not remember that. You fight enemies (shells, clams, jellyfish) by dashing into them. Sometimes you miss and sail off into the deep. Ecco can use his sonar to locate some objects and interact with other dolphins. The levels become more like mazes than anything resembling an exciting level. The trickiest part of this is finding air or the end of the level before you drown yourself. This becomes increasingly frustrating, as you need to start the level over if you die. And no, there are no squirming, spastic dolphin drowning animations either. Damn.
You'll be running into these walls. Alot.
The music in Ecco The Dolphin consists of a soothing sea melody. So soothing in fact, that you’ll be switching to your own music within 5 minutes. The sound effects are pretty basic for the most part. Ecco emits a sonar that will quickly bother your ears, that is unless you enjoy high-pitched squeals. I'm not talking about the good kind of squealing, either.
If you play through this game until completion, I applaud you. For you have done something not many mortals can or would want to claim as an accomplishment. There’s really no reason besides nostalgia to go through and finish this game. Ecco becomes boring the moment you are done being amazed by swimming and jumping into the air, which is almost immediately. Sure, there are achievements to gain by playing the game, but I don't know if you'll care that much to get them.
It looks like even Ecco wants to jump out of this game!
The 411
Steer clear of this underwater travesty. Ecco will leave you bored, frustrated, and out 400 Microsoft Points. If you own this on a cartridge, hook up your old Sega to play it. If you’re really dying for an underwater adventure on the Xbox 360, you know where to turn.
Graphics
6.0
Sure it's bright and blue, but it's also old and dated. Couldn't we have gotten the shinier Dreamcast version?
Gameplay
4.0
Increasingly frustrating with both D-Pad and thumb stick. Levels are hard to navigate and get repetitive.
Sound
4.0
You'll change to personal music fast. Sound effects are annoying.
Lasting Appeal
3.0
Unless you are absolutely dying for achievement points, you'll try to play. Even then I doubt you'll want to sit long enough to get any of them.
Fun Factor
3.0
Ecco becomes boring so fast you'll want to jam a screwdriver into your blowhole instead of playing.
