New Ecco II: Tides of Time Prototype!

[Epicenter]

I thought you guys might find this interesting:

A new Ecco II prototype for Genesis/MegaDrive, dated April 13, 1994 (much later than the known pre-alpha build) has been released by Drx of Hidden Palace and I. It's dramatically different from the final version, with never-before-seen stages, major differences in stage design, new music, enemies and much more. With help of Tails151 and Moduvator, I've thoroughly documented the prototype level-by-level here: http://www.ecco-darksea.com/?p=31

Here's some preview videos as well:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tezWr78kZqg
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7lm3n_3SMpU
http://youtube.com/watch?v=k00JFlbdREQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ng9mhwf9Bcc
http://youtube.com/watch?v=eddpHQsQpjo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OyIWSsj-Ofg

I hope you enjoy it!

[Mr Smith]

Wow... just wow.

[The Sports Guy]

I dont understand whats so cool about this, but its cool enough to make me play it. Ill play it tonight!

(NOTE: I missed the Ecco boat when it was cool back in the day)

[Joe Redifer]

Ecco was never cool, it was always "niche" and pretty much ignored by the masses. I didn't like the first game enough to pick up part two.

[TmEE]

Ecoo1 sucks compared to Ecco2... I don't like the 1st game but 2nd is pretty enjoyable.

[Epicenter]

Ecco was never cool, it was always "niche" and pretty much ignored by the masses. I didn't like the first game enough to pick up part two.
Wow, you missed one of the Genesis' best games, then. Ecco 2 blew the first game out of the water in nearly every regard. Uh, no pun intended.

[Mr Smith]

Wow, you missed one of the Genesis' best games, then. Ecco 2 blew the first game out of the water in nearly every regard. Uh, no pun intended.
Agreed. Ecco 2 is a fantastic game that oozes awesome. The masses are clearly wrong as Ecco is one of the most amazing Mega Drive experiences out there.

[Joe Redifer]

Wow, you missed one of the Genesis' best games, then. Ecco 2 blew the first game out of the water in nearly every regard. Uh, no pun intended.
You think so? I rented the Sega CD sequel when it came out, and what I found was a lot of recycled music from the first game with a few new tunes, recycled graphics and some recycled sprites. To me it felt like Ecco 1.5 at best. I hate recycling.

[108 Stars]

I have only played Ecco 1 and found it extremely boring.

[Alianger]

I also liked 2 a lot better, though the annoying first stage kept me from playing it for a long time. One of the most immersive 16-bit games imo.

[The Jackal]

I know this is off topic slightly, but was Ecco Jr ever released in the UK? On the Mega Drive when it first came out?

[108 Stars]

No, Ecco Jr. was not released in Europe.

[playgen]

There is a PAL Australian release though

[TmEE]

I have only played Ecco 1 and found it extremely boring.

it can't be more boring than some typical RPG....

[Epicenter]

You think so? I rented the Sega CD sequel when it came out, and what I found was a lot of recycled music from the first game with a few new tunes, recycled graphics and some recycled sprites. To me it felt like Ecco 1.5 at best. I hate recycling.

Um? I think you might be remembering wrong-- and you should go pick the game up and experience it firsthand. Or download it here:
**Link Removed** (it is my personal opinion Ecco II CD is the best version)

Ecco 2 CD is just like Ecco 2 for Genesis, with a redbook soundtrack and CG videos. ALL of the music is new, and the only leftover tracks from Ecco 1 CD are unused and can only be heard when playing the disc as an audio CD. The graphics are 95% or more new, and only a small handful of tiles are left over from Ecco I. Nearly everything was redrawn...

The only close similarities that exist are between Ecco 1 CD and Ecco 2. The E1CD team added new backgrounds, sprites and objects that were later incorporated into the sequel. The original game never had these.

[Joe Redifer]

I am comparing the CD versions. Screw the cart versions. They are for poor people.

[Epicenter]

Hah. I agree the CD versions are a lot better. E1CDs even added a bunch of stages in addition to the music.

But yeah, comparing E1CD and E2CD-- they're not even similar, E2 is a whole new game and the only common audio tracks aren't used ingame. So .. you should give 'em another look. :)

[Smii]

Downloaded the ROM, will take a look later.

I had Ecco back in the day - my main problem was the repetitive nature of some of the tasks. Also, I couldn't ever just play through the whole thing in order - needed a level select, or passwords. However, it's a nice slow paced game, and I just can't hate a game where a giant alien queen eats up a small cutesy dolphin with a "glomp" noise :)

Also prefer the music from the cart version of ECD1 - it's probably just what I'm used to, but the CD soundtrack isn't so... right.

[Sticky Note]

Ecco was never cool, it was always "niche" and pretty much ignored by the masses. I didn't like the first game enough to pick up part two.


You sure? I have a friend whose one of those "It's not a game unless it has 2.5 quadrillion polygons" people, and the only 2D game he ever gave a nod was Ecco. It really must've been great to get a compliment out of this kid (I wouldn't know, I never had it.)

[The Sports Guy]

When I first played Ecco 1, I was like "Oh, theres a dolphin. Okay. What do I do now. I dont know. Okay, im turning it off."

[Mr Smith]

When I first played Ecco 1, I was like "Oh, theres a dolphin. Okay. What do I do now. I dont know. Okay, im turning it off."
Wow, talk about shallow gaming. Sing to the other dolphins who are leaping and jumping and playing so happily. The atmosphere of Ecco is fantastic and one of very few pre 3D games that effectively captures a mood.

[Epicenter]

In Ecco I you have to jump high in the air to start the game's actual story... an enormous storm sucks up your family and the quest to find them takes you to some crazy places. Including back in time. And to another planet (no shit) It all makes sense if you play through it it fully.

But it's my theory Ecco's creator wanted the game to be difficult so it took a very dedicated player to appreciate it fully. At the end of Ecco II, if you used the debug menu it will nag you to beat the game again without doing so. ;)

[Joe Redifer]

I think the Ecco games are more of a puzzle game than anything else. Portal is better.

[Epicenter]

More like Action/Adventure/Puzzle. It's hard to classify. At any rate there can be more than one puzzle game in the world.

[Joe Redifer]

Shove It is still king.

[TmEE]

Ecco plays more like a shmup, with lots of puzzle stuff in it...