As a millennial, I’ve always had a soft spot for the original Ecco the Dolphin games (not so much for the latter entries), so it was great to learn a while back a brand-new project is in development. Now, the wait is almost over, and we’ve already gotten the first details of what to expect.
Via a press release, developer A&R Atelier (led by Ed Annunziata, creator of Ecco the Dolphin) announced Ecco the Dolphin: Complete, a remastered collection that will also include a brand-new title that might be revealed later today if the timer on the official website is what we think it is, so stay tuned for more.
As for what’s included as part of the remasters, “the package includes all versions of Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time”, complete with “built-in speedrunning support, achievements, and leaderboards” that add to the original experiences. The most interesting bit of the press release teases “meta quests” that unify all games in the collection, allowing players to create “custom courses” to “chart their own path through any combination of levels from any game in the franchise and share them with the community.” This may suggest the new game will follow a traditional and speedrunning-friendly structure.
“Ecco the Dolphin: Complete is built by original members of the Ecco development team, reunited after more than 30 years, and includes original creator Ed Annunziata along with members of the original composition, art, and programming teams,” the press release adds. By all accounts, this collaboration between publisher Sega and A&R Atelier sounds like a true labour of love, and I personally can’t wait to see how everything comes together.
At the time of writing, no screenshots or videos of the remasters or the new game (which may or may not be 2D) have been shared. Platforms haven’t been stated either, so it seems we’ll have to wait until the full reveal to get the full rundown of what’s swimming our way.
