I recently watched some video footage of this game on IGN, and am stunned by the graphics and gameplay!
I would like to pick this game up-except, every review I've read on it complains that it's too hard to tell exactly what you're supposed to be doing in each stage. Bad news to me, since I still have trouble in some current-gen 3D games, figuring out where/what the fook I'm supposed to go/do next.
Any comments on this game? I can't wait for Jaws Unleashed!
"Farewell to false pretension
Farewell to hollow words
Farewell to fake affection
Farewell, tomorrow burns"
I was confused about what to do in Ecco for genesis,But still a great gorgeus game series, I,ve never played the Dreamcast version but I,d reccomend it.
I did great so much water and milk that I threw up when I was little.
I don't think it's any more difficult than the original two Genesis games. Those could be pretty vague with the clues, too. The Dreamcast version is awesome, but I will tell you that there is one level (one of the most beautiful levels in the game, too) that is so frustrating that it may put you off the game. But yeah, cool game, and one that really showed off the DC's power.
We here shall not rest until we have made a drawing-room of your shaft, and if you do not all finally go down to your doom in patent-leather shoes, then you shall not go at all.
Dreamcast/PS2 Ecco is okay at best, gameplay-wise. (but beautiful, I'd give it 10+ for visuals, not to mention a technical marvel for the time it was made) Best Ecco game by far is Tides of Time. gameplay, fun-factor, replay value, level design, puzzle innovation, graphics, music, all 10/10 imo.
Schrodinger's cat wrote:Yeah, "shmup" really sounds like a term a Jewish grandmother would insult you with.
I'd call it a game experience that needs to be played.
But yes seriously hard game, Me and my brother just about beat it without an FAQ, 1 playing the other thinking taking turns. Things like this
SPOILER
'Use a giant to scare a giant' a clue in a level, you have to get passed a mirror, theres a giant tortoise go figure. I thought use the tortoise reflection to scare itself. Actually theres a bloody sting ray on the sand slightly bigger than the others, lure the tortoise towards it, manta swims off reveals stealth glyph!
Harder to figure out than you think, sometimes it not that obvious. the above is simple in solution.
Later on Dave the game requires skill and luck, theres this stage called hanging waters absolutely beautiful, tranquil rainforest in the skies stage with hanging water pipes suspended squids and bubbles to swim in and bounce on. Its very hard to complete although its like heaven to watch.
If you have an FAQ you'll be fine still be seriously hard, I would recommend you play the game regardless of console although I hear DC looks better can't confirm.
Like someone said, the Mega-Drive version was good enough to leave you clueless.
I think I had a friend who owned the 1st Mega-Drive game and I borrowed it from him, as I remember having this game in my house for many weeks, though I never bought it.
I eventually managed to reach the last stage, after banging my head against the wall in many of the different levels. The last level was freaking damn hard, no puzzle there, you have to go through a maze in a vertically forced scroll level, while dodging incoming enemies, and if you make a mistake you go back to the previous level. After you manage to get past the maze (a pain in the ass), you face the last boss, which also was a BIG pain in the ass - and if you die on it, you go BACK to the previous level too.
I wonder how difficulty this could be played in 3D.
I beat Megadrive Ecco without too many problems back in the day. Good game...
The DC version however, is an absolute work of art, and is written by Hugo award winning writer David Brin... (I'm about 3/4 the way through, definitely plan to finish it one day)
"Thunder Force VI does not suck, shut your fucking mouth." ~ Shane Bettenhausen
I'll have to give it a go, I've had a white label promo copy for years and never bothered with it. Never thought much of the Megadrive versions to be honest.
does the dc version output vga? goddamn vga, might as well attach this to my sig so i don't have to type it out everytime the dreamcast enters conversation... "ooh, i'm vga. i look awesome. you'll want to play everything using me."
seriously pretty game, but in the end i couldn't stick with it. as has been pointed out, getting lost is beyond easy. but even as an "experience", its well worth the few dollars you'll throw at it.
fun fact: Appaloosa (ecco's developer) made the best contras of all time.
I've never played the Genesis Ecco's; I'll have to give them a go on an emualtor.
According to this review of the PS2 port, written by someone who also played the DC port, the PS2 port has slightly better graphics, and some extra "helps" for the player:
Get it now! It's one of the best Dreamcast titles out there. Yes, the graphics are stunning and amazing; very bright and sharp compared to most PS2 & Xbox games. I love the music too. It's soothing and relaxing; the type of music you would want to hear while underwater. I myself haven't beaten the game. It is kinda difficult, but that shouldn't be a problem. Ecco can do some neat movements and attacks that will help you get through the obstacles. Besides, you'll be having too much fun swimming around and doing tricks.
Eh... it's a gorgeous game, no doubt, but it's extremely boring. Ecco's gameplay was already suspect (though the Genesis games had enough great moments to make them worthwhile), and the leap to 3D really didn't do it any favors.
sethsez wrote:Eh... it's a gorgeous game, no doubt, but it's extremely boring. Ecco's gameplay was already suspect (though the Genesis games had enough great moments to make them worthwhile), and the leap to 3D really didn't do it any favors.
Agreed 100%, the game is pretty but dull, especially on a system with so many great arcade ports. You're much better off playing Mars Matrix than this crap.
It's an adventure game. It's certainly not the same pace or style as Mars Matrix, but some people like a change of pace from time to time.
We here shall not rest until we have made a drawing-room of your shaft, and if you do not all finally go down to your doom in patent-leather shoes, then you shall not go at all.
"Some people are dumb...heh heh heh" - Beavis and Butthead.
All seriousness aside, I can't support it on that basis, even. There's too much time spent swimming around not doing anything. The game isn't intellectually challenging, really. I might as well sit in front of the TV and drool. This just gives me something pretty to look at.
Meh. A good part of the game is atmosphere. I enjoy (as I'd imagine most of the forum members here do) arcade style gaming more than anything else, but there are also games that are just more of an immersive experience, and Ecco is one of those. I'm not sure if you like Rez, but I'd say it shares that factor. It's not like Ecco takes it easy on you, anyway -- the difficulty level is pretty brutal at times. If you want to compare it to other adventure games, I'd say the gameplay is at least on par with your average Resident Evil game, for example.
We here shall not rest until we have made a drawing-room of your shaft, and if you do not all finally go down to your doom in patent-leather shoes, then you shall not go at all.
I liked it but it lacked direcction, perhaps because the original guy who thought the whole thing up wasn't involved. You have to love the intro with Doctor Who #4's Tom Baker as narrirator.
sethsez wrote:Eh... it's a gorgeous game, no doubt, but it's extremely boring. Ecco's gameplay was already suspect (though the Genesis games had enough great moments to make them worthwhile), and the leap to 3D really didn't do it any favors.
Agreed... It may be beautiful, and a technical marvel, but that third dimension brought an assload of problems, namely play control and level design. I got lost on the first real mission stage for at least an hour. >_<
Schrodinger's cat wrote:Yeah, "shmup" really sounds like a term a Jewish grandmother would insult you with.
It really is a beautiful game. I'm glad I bought it, but I eventually gave up and will probably never complete it. I got very close to the end of the game. There is this very large chamber where there are several clam-shaped enemies that launch homing projectiles at you. Extremely unfair. First you have to get the power sonar glyph to knock all of them out systematically, then get the transformation glyph and touch the small, slow-moving fish with teeth and chew your way through a membrane at the bottom of the chamber. The problem is, the fish is very slow and the clam-shaped bad guys would wake up again and start launching their homing crap at me. Once I'm hit, I turn back into a dolphin. I couldn't figure it out and gave up in complete frustration.
Other than that, it is a very beautiful game and I used a FAQ occasionally. I was able to figure most of it out on my own, and I'm not very good at puzzle-type games like that. The retro-looking 2D levels of the game are extremely beautiful. I just like fish since it's a hobby of mine, so I thought the game was very tranquil and beautiful.
I have no idea how it compares to the PS2 port, or if the PS2 version corrected the very frustrating stage I could not get past.
Undamned is the leading English-speaking expert on the consolized UD-CPS2 because he's the one who made it.
J-Manic wrote:I love the music too. It's soothing and relaxing; the type of music you would want to hear while underwater.
Unless I'm very much mistaken, Tim Follin was responsible for DC Ecco's music, and that fact alone has convinced me to get hold of it at some point, even if only as a souped-up OST.
I'm sure I'll just end up splishing around in the easy sections of the game and enjoying the atmosphere, as I did with the Mega Drive original.
'It's all in your imagination...if you put your mind to it, you can be capable of anything.'
Lol I remember that stage Greg, Transfiguration was it called? the cave with the bats annoyed me, had that problem with those shooting plasma guys, wish they could've been killed.
your 1 level from the heart of the foe, might aswell beat it man see the ending.
Holy shit, I bought Ecco Tides of Time SegaCD from a mom and pop place. I take it home and open it up, the disk is in there, but SO IS ECCO THE DOLPHIN CD! So I got them both now.
"ooh, i'm vga. i look awesome. you'll want to play everything using me."
