"Ecco the Dolphin Reboot with New Game in Development"

The creator of Ecco the Dolphin, Ed Annunziata, has exciting news for fans of the iconic and challenging action-adventure series. In a recent interview on Xbox Wire, Annunziata not only discussed his passion for ocean conservation and his career as a developer but also unveiled plans for the future of the Ecco franchise. He announced that the original team is working on remakes of the classic games, Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time. Additionally, they are developing a brand new third installment, promising contemporary gameplay and graphics.

This revelation comes as a surprise, especially since there already exists a third game in the series, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, released on the Dreamcast in 2000. However, Annunziata was not involved in that project. A planned sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, intended as a direct follow-up to Defender of the Future, was unfortunately canceled.

Fans have expressed their excitement and nostalgia on social media. One fan wrote, "I just want to finally be able to enter my secret password from the end of Tides of Time. I still have it written in the codes section of the game manual," while another reminded us of the series' unique narrative, saying, "I wonder how many people know how completely bonkers the plot of the games are."

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While Annunziata did not provide a specific release date for the new Ecco projects, a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website suggests that fans might have to wait approximately a year, as it is set to expire in 8,508 hours.

The original Ecco the Dolphin game launched in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, followed by its sequel, Ecco: The Tides of Time, in 1994. The series also saw the release of "edutainment" titles, Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt in 1995, aimed at educational purposes.

In the original game, players guide Ecco, a dolphin, through a devastated underwater world caused by a mysterious vortex. The journey takes Ecco through dangerous tropical reefs and icy polar waters in a quest to reunite with his pod. A 2000 remake was met with mixed reviews, with IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review stating, "Ecco the Dolphin is a classic from SEGA. But sometimes classics should stay in the past. For those who have played Ecco before, there's really no reason to come back to it. There are no extras offered and the Achievements are junk. If you've never played Ecco, then you may want to give it a go. It really is one of the more innovative titles of its time. But, again, that time has long passed, and Ecco's gameplay doesn't stand the test of time like Sonic's."

In contrast, the last mainline game, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, received a more favorable response, earning a 7.6 score from IGN's Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future review, which praised the game's visuals and engaging storyline, saying, "If you thought Flipper had personality, wait until you get a load of Ecco the Dolphin. Experience amazing visuals and an engrossing story, and defend the ocean that is rightfully yours."