| 
| Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future Screenshots |   | The Final Say! | Gameplay
7.5 | Graphics
8.5 | Sound
7.5 | Value
8.0 | Ecco the Dolphin - reviewed by Andrew B
Review Date: 11 February 2002
Review Score: 8.0/10
Distributor: Sony | | | "Dolphins and mankind lived in peace for centuries, respecting and admiring each other from afar. When humans finally reached the intelligence level of the dolphins, a human-dolphin civilization was born and The Golden Age began. They lived in harmony and prosperity until a signal compelled them to leave Earth and move into the vast unknown. Their wise and powerful protector, the Guardian, stayed behind with a handful of dolphins and humans to keep watch over the planet. The Guardian was crucial for shielding the innocents from outside forces and for connecting them with those who had traveled on." "Just as the majority of dolphins and humans had gone on, dark and deadly forces known as the Foe descended upon Earth. They were threatened by the goodness and intelligence they saw in the dolphin-human population and strove to destroy it. They sent a ship back through time to interrupt the moment when humans and dolphins first united, and in doing so tore a fissure in space and time." You are the young dolphin, Ecco who has been given the task of defender of the future! When an alien force attacks Earth, only known as the "Foe", it shattered the dolphins crystal guardian all across the ocean floor. Your prime mission as Ecco is to recover these crystal pieces in order to unite the crystalline dolphin and free the planet. As Ecco, you have a wide range of abilities, such as darting from side to side, super swim and your special dolphin sonar that lets you talk to creatures or as a use command that helps assist in the adventure. The graphics in Ecco the Dolphin are truly outstanding and is probably the closest thing I've seen (computer generated) that actually looks like you are really underwater. Just beautiful! The underwater environment such as rocks, sealife and water effects is very realistic. The only downside to the graphics is that sometimes the framerate drops if you turn or dive all of a sudden. However, watching Ecco swim is almost like watching a real dolphin swim as the character is very fluid. The programmers have even allowed you to dive out of the water and perform a backflip as you dive back underwater. |
