With the temperatures rising and everybody flooding the beach, I think it's safe to say that summer is here. When I think of summer gaming, the first name that comes to mind is Greendog, the beached surfer dude that Sega tried to turn into an action game hero in 1992. Unfortunately, he only had one game, so I have to go with the second name of summer – Ecco the Dolphin. For a very brief time in the early 1990s (and then another brief time about a decade later), saving a pod of dolphins from space aliens was all the rage. That got me wondering what Electronic Gaming Monthly thought of Ecco and his many underwater adventures.
In case you're curious, EGM reviewed a total of seven Ecco the Dolphin games (and one Greendog release) between 1989 and 2008. This includes all of the main installments and almost all of the ports to other systems. Pretty much the only thing missing is Ecco Jr., which EGM decided not to review in 1995. What we're going to do today is count down the best and worst Ecco the Dolphin (and Greendog) games using Electronic Gaming Monthly's own words and scores. There's no editorializing here, we're going to focus on what the critics said back when these games first came out. So, so go and get as many oxygen tanks as you can find, because we're going underwater for this episode of Electronic Gaming Monthly's Top 8 Ecco the Dolphin and Greendog Games.
Ecco: The Tides of Time (Game Gear)
#8
“Although this is a portable game, Ecco 2 still holds its own as an 8-bit translation. Obviously, this can't be a true translation because of the Game Gear's limitations, so some changes in some of the levels were made to give the adventure a fresh look. Pretty cool, I think. Like the original 16-bit, Ecco's animations are impressively fluid. The control wasn't bad, even though it took some time to get used to.” (6.5 out of 10)
Greendog: The Beached Surfer Dude (Genesis)
#7
“Here is a game with a fresh idea. As a surfer, you get exposed to tons of great tropical scenes and sounds. There are a myriad of power-ups and traps to keep you entertained, but the island's colorful graphics and toons are hindered by an unusual control. With plenty of challenges to perform, it's worth the trip.” (6.5 out of 10)
Ecco: The Tides of Time (Genesis)
#6
“The first Ecco was a mind-blowing game, yet this version takes that feeling and doubles it! This game has some of the most colorful graphics and a beautifully orchestrated soundtrack. The number of puzzles has been reduced (thank you), and there is more action and adventure to keep you busy. The 3D levels are a sight to behold as well. Ecco 2 is a definite must-have for all you dolphin lovers.” (7.25 out of 10)
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future (PlayStation 2)
#5
“Nuts to saving the world. Ecco's got a gorgeous coral-reef home with no humans, boats or six-pack plastic rings as far as the eye can see. Plus, once he gets his little bottle nose into his first few brutally difficult missions, no one will blame him for washing up. Ecco PS2 is indiscernible from the Dreamcast beauty, save for some marginal color and lighting improvements. It sure hasn't gotten any easier, though. Between the unstable camera, gooey controls and fundamentally tough objectives, finishing Ecco is definitely a labor of love. This could have been a sweet remake of a very cool game.” (7.5 out of 10)
Ecco: The Tides of Time (Sega CD)
#4
“Take the Ecco 2 game and add beautiful music and excellent sound effects and you get the Ecco 2 CD. Fans of the dolphin series (like me) will probably love this one, others will probably be converted.” (7.6 out of 10)
Ecco the Dolphin CD (Sega CD)
#3
Ecco is a great game, that much is law, but moving it to CD hasn't made it much better. That's because the only things new with this version are the music and the sound effects. Other than that, it is identical to the Genesis version. So much for CD technology pushed to the edge. A great game, just not very new this time.” (7.75 out of 10)
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future (Dreamcast)
#2
“Ecco raises the bar for graphic quality and detail on the Dreamcast. No other game, except for maybe Resident Evil Code: Veronica, comes close. The visuals are simply breathtaking. The dolphin and sea creature animation is unmatched in its degree of realism. It's so real that I'd scream in pain and jump out of my seat every time I got hurt. Control becomes second nature after a few hours getting used to your new fins. This is a must-play, it's almost enough to make me forgive Appaloosa for those Contra games.” (8.2 out of 10)
Ecco the Dolphin (Genesis)
#1
“This was the ‘top secret' game that Sega was raving about but not showing anything. They were right as this game deserves all the praises that we can dish out. Everything from the animation, to the quest to the sound and graphics is almost perfect. The idea is new and innovative. The hot Sega game this month.” (8.25 out of 10)
