The visionary behind Ecco the Dolphin has confirmed that remakes of the classic games are currently in development, along with an all-new "third" installment.
Revealed through Xbox Wire's exclusive interview, Ed Annunziata - creator of the notoriously challenging aquatic adventure series - discussed ocean conservation advocacy and his game development career before concluding with exciting news:
"Our original team will first remaster Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time. Then we'll create a brand new third game featuring modern gameplay and visuals. Stay tuned for updates."
While technically not the first third installment (Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future launched on Dreamcast in 2000, though without Annunziata's involvement), this marks the creator's official continuation.
"I've been waiting decades to finally use my secret password from Tides of Time - still written in my original game manual," commented one nostalgic fan. Another noted: "Most players don't realize how utterly bizarre these games' storylines actually are."
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Though Annunziata didn't share specifics about release timing, fans noticed an intriguing countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website set to conclude in 8,508 hours (approximately one year).
The original Ecco the Dolphin debuted in 1992 for Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, followed by The Tides of Time sequel in 1994. While 1995 saw educational spinoffs Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt, they were primarily teaching tools.
The classic series puts players in control of Ecco, a dolphin navigating treacherous underwater environments after his pod mysteriously vanishes. While praising the original's innovation, our review of the 2007 remake called Ecco "a product of its time" with outdated mechanics.
The Dreamcast's Defender of Future earned stronger praise in our 7.6 review: "Forget Flipper - Ecco delivers stunning visuals and an immersive marine adventure where defending your ocean home becomes breathtakingly beautiful."
