The classic Sega game Ecco the Dolphin is set to return some 25 years after its last appearance on the Sega Dreamcast. It was announced that the original 1992 Sega Genesis game, as well as its 1994 follow-up, Tides of Time, will be getting remastered. Better yet, it was announced that a brand new game in the series is in development, adding Ecco to the list of Sega classics set to make a comeback, alongside Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Crazy Taxi, and more. It is unclear at this time if Sega is involved with the Ecco the Dolphin Remasters
This news comes via series creator Ed Annunziata in an interview on Xbox Wire. While the piece focuses on Asian and Pacific Island Heritage Month, and spotlighting several titles, it also features an interview with Ecco and Annuziata’s impact on the industry as one of the pioneers of the industry. It ends asking him what is next for him, to which he states:
Me and the entire original team are going to Remaster the original Ecco the Dolphin and Tides of Time games. Then we will make a new, third game with contemporary play and GPU sensibilities.
This terminology is important as he makes clear the newest title is as third game. Ecco the Dolphin and Tides of Time were initially planned to be part of a trilogy, with a third game planned but never developed. Sega would eventually move forward on an educational spin-off title known as Ecco Jr in 1995, which would itself get a second title on the Sega Pico in the same year. Five years later, the franchise would see an attempted reboot with Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future for the Dreamcast, the first and only title to use 3D environments and graphics. This, too, had a planned sequel that would never see release. The suggestion here is that this new game is set to finally bring a resolution to those original games.
Prior to this, Annunziata announced a Kickstarter for a new project meant to be a spiritual successor to Ecco the Dolphin, entitled The Big Blue. In 2013, this project failed to achieve its $665,000 goal, leading to him announcing plans for another title called The Little Blue, which was planned to have a smaller budget and meant to ultimately garner interest in the original game. Last was noted, The Little Blue was still in negotiation for investing, and it is unclear if that project will still continue following this news, or if these Ecco Projects will replace it, or become it.
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