ECCO 2: THE TIDES OF TIME | MEGA-CD/SEGA CD | 1994

Ecco 2: The Tides of Time

The previous game - Ecco the Dolphin - became an instant classic through its unique style and concept, challenging gameplay and smooth flowing graphics not to mention being backed by the bizarre Ecco Tuna TV commercial. Anyone remember that?

Ecco The Dolphin TV Commercial

Ecco The Dolphin TV Commercial

Ecco 2: The Tides of Time (Ecco 2) is a step up from that game in every way. Developed by Novatrade and released in 1994 for the Mega Drive/Genesis with a slightly enhanced Mega-CD/SEGA-CD version following some months later it was one of the most anticipated games of the year and earned very high review scores.

Note: This feature covers both the CD and cartridge versions as the number and contents of the levels are the same.

In comparison to the first game, graphics are improved with more detail and better animations, and all still flowing super smoothly. A new pseudo-3D intersection puts a new perspective on the swimming and is impressive to see.

Not only is the cartridge version a great game, the CD versions shows great use of the hardware with Redbook audio, FMV and autosave.

There is now an intro sequence, history Glyph Crystals that show scenes from the previous game and cutscenes with computer-generated full motion video in the standard (grainy) Mega-CD quality.

The soundtrack is integral to the Ecco games for creating atmosphere and Ecco 2 provides excellent music albeit feeling out of place with the action compared to the chiptunes in the cartridge version. FM tunes are replaced with Redbook audio (CD audio tracks) and according to the manual, the in-game music and sound effects are recorded with QSound which simulates 180o audio range from two speakers should your system be connected in such a way.

Progress through the game is saved to the internal memory but the password system can also be used.

There are now over 30 levels to play and the gameplay has been tweaked balancing level size, difficulty (puzzle and action) and pace. Not only that but Ecco can also transform into a few other creatures on certain levels.

Unfortunately, the CD version offers little over the cartridge version which is typical of the platform and era so there is little benefit to upgrading. It unfortunate the pseudo-3D sections were not reprogrammed with the improved sprite hardware of the Mega-CD/SEGA-CD in mind.

The cartridge version has been included in some of SEGA retro compilations and Steam. There were 8-Bit versions (detailed below) but unfortunately, there was no enhanced PC port, unlike the first game.

A reboot, Ecco: Defender of The Future was released on the Dreamcast in 2000 and PS2 in 2002 with a prototype for a sequel Ecco: Sentinels of The Universe uncovered sometime in 2016.

Ecco 2: The Tides of Time - European Cases
Ecco 2: The Tides of Time - European Case (Mega-CD) Ecco 2: The Tides of Time - European Case (Mega-CD) Ecco 2: The Tides of Time - European Case (Mega Drive)

"The evil Vortex has returned and Ecco faces a dangerous adventure. With help from beautiful Trellia, guide Ecco through over 25 levels of aquatic action including amazing 3D scenes. See Ecco morph into a shark, jellyfish and even a seagull as you battle to level the tides of time!"

STORY

Whilst Ecco frolics with his pod (family) in Home Bay (as dolphins do) he is unaware of the new danger that now lurks on the seabed. The weakened Vortex Queen followed Ecco back to Earth after being defeated when Ecco saved his pod. The queen takes up root in a deep chasm feeding on the creatures in the sea and spawning more Vortex young.

Meanwhile, in Home Bay, Ecco comes across a teleport ring allowing near instantaneous travel to new waters. Whilst exploring, something happens to him. He loses the powers bestowed upon him by the Asterite – an ancient creature he once assisted.

Dolphins from the future contact Ecco. The timeline must be changed to prevent the Vortex from taking over Earth. With their help, Ecco travels to the future, helps the Asterite of that timeframe and has his powers restored to then fight the Vortex Queen.

Epilogue

Ecco has returned to Earth safely with his pod.

Songs of praise echo throughout the ocean - Ecco is a hero: he saved the earth, and he destroyed the evil Vortex.

Or So he thought.

The Vortex Queen detaches from the hive and falls into the tube behind the pod of escaping dolphins.

She is puzzled by what has just happened: a small dolphin has managed to attack the hive and battle its way to her chamber. The dolphin attacked her during her feed state - she was weak and very surprised.

He beat her.

Now she must follow the pod to the Earth and start a new hive.

GAMEPLAY

Ecco 2 retains very much the same gameplay as the original at its base. He swims around freely in various stretches of ocean and other environments from underground caverns to tubes full of technology. He is solving puzzles and helping other marine animals in exchange for new abilities and collecting information. Part of what makes the Ecco games so great is that they have never been copied.

alt : Cannot see the video?

Video is shamelessly embedded from Youtube. All credit to the video owner. No infringement intended.

Ecco can move in full 360o motion around each level when underwater. When out of the water you succumb to gravity and are pulled back into the water.

The controls in the game are fixed and they are as follows:

Controls

The D-Pad turns Ecco left, right, up and down and by holding any direction for a few seconds will make him swim at a slow speed in that direction.

The Button A is Ecco’s sonar. This is used for communicating with other aquatic creatures, navigation and attacking enemies. Tapping Button A once will release a short wave. Point towards another creature to sing to them. If they also communicate with sonar they will reply. This is also the same as attacking but only certain enemies. On some levels, a Power-Up can be found and will upgrade your sonar to a damaging 5 directional burst.

The sonar is also used to get a map of the surrounding area by means of Echolocation. By releasing a sonar wave and holding down Button A, it will return to Ecco and bring up a map on the screen. The Echolocation map is described in more detail below.

The Button B is for charging – Ecco lunges forwards at speed. It is used for attacking enemies and feeding. It can also be useful for evading enemies quickly. Pressing Button B twice gives a double charge. This is for quickly following up an attack with another as some enemies will require several hits to defeat.

Button C is for building up speed and used in conjunction with the D-Pad. Pressing repeatedly gains more and more speed. When surfacing for air with some momentum, pressing Button C also makes Ecco perform a roll in the air.

Pressing A and B together gives a Sonar Charge. This is basically a sonar wave but can do damage to enemies and objects.

Sonar Charge

On screen at all times is Ecco's status.

Ecco's Status

At the top right of the screen are two rows of 5 bars. The top row, darker blue, represents Ecco’s energy. When there are no bars left Ecco dies and the level is restarted. You are hurt by touching an enemy or a hazard and when so, Ecco makes a shriek.

Health is replenished by charging at schools of fish that appear randomly in each level. Generally, two fish will restore health to full. Some plants on the seabed also release ‘healing bubbles’. By pointing Ecco’s nose at them and singing, blue bubbles will be released which restore health.

The lower set of bars, lighter blue, represents Ecco’s air level. When there are no bars Ecco drowns and the level is restarted. Air is replenished by finding pockets of air or surfacing from the water. A leap out will fully replenish immediately. Poking Ecco’s head out of the water restores air gradually. Underwater, pockets of air are shown as a small stream of rising bubbles.

Enemies throughout each level include sharks, jellyfish, blowfish swarms, crabs, aliens and of their technological devices. Touching Aliens which occasionally appear in earlier levels invariably means instant death.

Hazards vary from falling rocks, spiked shells either stationary or falling, fast flowing water pulls Ecco through small stretches quickly. Being crushed by moving rocks/blocks results in instant death. Poisonous gasses vented from the floor, wrecked ships and some plants appear as orange bubbles.

Some vents have water currents flowing upwards which are too strong to swim through. This is usually overcome having a rock or a turtle on your nose and swimming downwards. Some vents have currents flowing left or right which cannot be swim against so an alternative route will be needed.

There is no time limit for completing a level and there are unlimited lives. A level can be restarted by pausing the game and pressing Button C. The music can be stopped and restarted by pausing the game and pressing Button A.

A level is complete when the area is exit beyond any tasks needing to be completed.

Throughout the course of the game you will also encounter the following:

Ecco 2 Game Objects

Glyph Crystal

Glyph Crystals

These are an essential component of the game and they perform a variety of functions. Some act as doors or keys, give special powers, hold information and give clues, and others act as restart markers. They are activated by either touch or singing to them. Some Glyphs will be broken and their pieces need to be brought together for them to work. Other Glyphs may need to be grouped with others like it.

Sonar Upgrade

Sonar Upgrade

These are Sonar Power-Ups and by collecting these, Ecco's sonar becomes a weapon. By pressing Button A twice, a sonar wave is released in 5 directions. This will damage anything it comes in contact with.

Metasphere

Metaspheres

These are spheres which when touched can change Ecco into another life form. This could be a jellyfish or shark but the really annoying one is a seagull.

Teleport Rings

Teleport Rings

These are blue/white rings making capable the travelling of great distances. By entering one allows travelling a pseudo-3D intersection will begin. All the rules of normal gameplay apply, however, it will be from a face on perspective.

As you swim along additional teleport rings will appear. These can be above or below the surface. Ecco must swim through 5 of these to arrive at the destination. Some of the rings above water can be tricky to reach. Using sonar can deflect a teleport ring away from you. Miss more than 3 rings and you are returned to where you entered the first ring.

Flying Dolphins

Flying Dolphins

These are found on the levels that are set in the future when Dolphins have the ability to fly. They can be both underwater and in the air. When in the air they can carry Ecco when the touches them. They will also talk to Ecco when he sings to them.

Sky Tubes

Sky Tubes

These are lanes of water which extend outwards from the sea into the sky. These are found on levels which take place in the future. Ecco can swim up these to reach high places.

Invincibility

Invincibility

This is granted by certain Glyph Crystals and last for a few seconds. These are rare in the game and require some exploration.

Other Creatures

Other Creatures

Apart from the usual that harm Ecco (jellyfish, Orca's, sharks etc) there are some creatures that have to be manipulated to helping you but can also harm you. For example, on one level there is a barrier that can be broken through by luring the giant worm towards it.

Echolocation Map

The echolocation map is short range only. You are likely to be using it many times on each level as you make progress.

When a location map is on screen, your position is indicated by a flashing dolphin. Items, undersea passages and outlets to the surface are shown relative to this.

Echolocation Map

Map Key

  • Dangers appear as orange circles. These are hazards such as spiky shells.
  • Large bubbles indicate pockets of air. Swim here to slowly stock up.
  • Glyph Crystals are shown as crystals.
  • Teleport Rings appear as circles with arrows pointing inside them.
  • Yellow arrows point towards the exit.
  • Metaspheres appear as glowing solid circles.
  • Pulsars are shown as curves spreading from a point.
  • Rings of stars can be goaded via sonar into smashing through objects like rocks.
  • Dangers such as sharks and jelly fish are represented as sharks and jellyfish.
  • Dolphins are other dolphins. You can usually communicate with them.
Echolocation Map

THE LEVELS (SCREENSHOTS)

There are no options as such. The game has 3 difficulty levels: Easy, normal and hard. The mode is selected when the game is first started and Ecco is inside the cave. Swimming straightforward activates Normal mode. By destroying the two shells above, swimming out through this corridor activates Hard mode where there are some extra levels. Swimming to the exit top-right activates Easy mode. Swimming left takes you to the password screen to resume a previous game.

For the most part, the levels will be identical between the difficulty levels. However, in hard mode, there are a few tweaks such as stronger enemies, faster self-scrolling levels and more hazards.

Each time a level starts you will be given a password. See below for a list of all passwords.

Ecco 2 Screenshots
Crystal Springs

Crystal Springs

Fault Zone

Fault Zone

Two Tides

Two Tides

Skyway

Skyway

Sky Tides

Sky Tides

Tube of Medusa

Tube of Medusa

Aqua Tubeway (Hard)

Aqua Tubeway (Hard)

Sky Lands

Sky Lands

Fin to Feather

Fin To Feather

Eagles Bay

Eagles Bay

Asterites Cave

Asterites Cave

Maze of Stone (Hard Mode Only)

Maze of Stone (Hard Mode Only)

Four Islands

Four Islands

Sea of Darkness

Sea Of Darkness

Vents of Medusa

Vents of Medusa

Gateway

Gateway

Moray Abyss

Moray Abyss

The Eye

The Eye

Big Water

Big Water

Deep Ridge

Deep Ridge

The Hungry Ones

The Hungry Ones

Secret Cave

Secret Cave

Lunar Bay

Lunar Bay

Black Clouds

Black Clouds

Gravitorbox

Gravitorbox

Globe Holder

Globe Holder

Dark Sea

Dark Sea

New Machine (Hard Mode Only)

New Machine (Hard Mode Only)

Vortex Queen

Vortex Queen

Vortex Queen (captured)

Vortex Queen (captured)

Epilogue

Epilogue

Fish City

Fish City

City of Forever

City Of Forever

CHEATS AND TIPS

Level Passwords

Passwords between the cartridge and CD versions differ slightly though some seem to be interchangeable.

Ecco 2 Passwords

Mega-CD / SEGA-CD Version

Normal

Hard

Crystal Springs

MKUYFZEB

MOAXEAFB

Fault Zone

EEFJPGZA

ICVTHJZA

Two Tides

CVDTVAZA

QGFPDAZA

Skyway

QACXWTCB

YEMFLPDB

Sky Tides

MGKATNDB

QYMCLPDB

Tube of Medusa

MGOADEZA

AWVUHJZA

Aqua Tubeway

-

YAWZHJZA

Skylands

AYQVHXEB

CDUNDAFB

Fin To Feather

EUXFCYXA

QSZGOYXA

Eagle's Bay

ODTSWODB

UEFJLPDB

Asterites Cave

SLIDTVXA

SNZLOYXA

Maze of Stone

-

ASJVKPXA

Four Islands

AGPDSFBD

EEPLGGDB

Sea Of Darkness

ICRGFLZA

IMEKDNXA

Vents of Medusa

OXTKJWBB

WVSYVXYA

Gateway

QYKTOAHB

IOTSDAFB

Moray Abyss

YUMUJWXA

KHAIPYXA

The Eye

YGBKMOBF

MGGMVBRE

Big Water

GTLWIRRA

MGKWASGA

Deep Ridge

MBTJCXZD

OSEXOVOD

The Hungry Ones

EUJYIMUE

YCRVOFJE

Secret Cave

WLBMFZZE

MQRHCRPE

Lunar Bay

SLCELQDF

QUOXCRPE

Black Clouds

SZPGPWVE

ASXAYKLE

Gravitorbox

AWBBWWJE

ODJTGAKE

Globe Holder

AWBWGWXE

GJMRGAKE

Dark Sea

SQAOTBPA

QTBRPWAA

New Machine

-

CEWXDYHA

Vortex Queen

WOWTKBDA

KICHPWAA

Home Bay

GEPHKRFA

SUKCNNIA

Epilogue

GIPZZGBA

YBQETFBA

Fish City

OQTKGDFA

CYQFJSBA

City Of Forever

WYFTOXKA

EPWXFJHA

Mega Drive / Genesis Version

Normal

Hard

Crystal Springs

QIAMLAFB

AMQDSXEB

Fault Zone

EYPLPJYA

MEDRXGZA

Two Tides

CNVIUZYA

ORKUVYYA

Skyway

QACXWTCB

GTNNKIDB

Sky Tides

-

CTMCLIDB

Tube of Medusa

EULNSJYA

GZSZKDZA

Aqua Tubeway

-

GPLFKDZA

Skylands

SRVAFVHB

OLVEHIEB

Fin To Feather

ISZDVBAB

SFTATGXA

Eagle's Bay

MCCKGIGB

YSJUPPCB

Asterites Cave

CRDNYNAB

EUZNRYWA

Maze of Stone

-

WPTCQNXA

Four Islands

AOFYBZFB

SZBNJDDB

Sea Of Darkness

ICRGFLZA

OTLSAJXA

Vents of Medusa

OXTKJWBB

IQQMYFYA

Gateway

QYKTOAHB

IEKJAGEB

Moray Abyss

YUMUJWXA

UANQSYWA

The Eye

YGBKMOBF

WVYJCTTE

Big Water

GTLWIRRA

QOZPIJJA

Deep Ridge

MBTJCXZD

MJRFZNRD

The Hungry Ones

EUJYIMUE

MILCJAME

Secret Cave

WLBMFZZE

YMIMQMRE

Lunar Bay

SLCELQDF

AYWUBQRE

Black Clouds

SZPGPWVE

YWXWUYNE

Gravitorbox

AWBBWWJE

WNQWZMME

Globe Holder

AWBWGWXE

MIPGDOME

Dark Sea

SQAOTBPA

UNDRHBDA

New Machine

-

QBUQCXJA

Vortex Queen

ATXVQDOA

CUIZCADA

Home Bay

GEPHKRFA

SUKCNNIA

Epilogue

KWVJWKAA

CEUCWFDA

Fish City

OKOCGLBA

ENDIXICA

City Of Forever

CGVFLUKA

YTFOQYHA

View Ending Sequence (Epilogue)

Enter CEWSXKPA as a password. This works for both versions.

Debug Mode (Both Versions)

Turn Ecco so that he is facing the screen. Do this by pausing the game (by pressing START) during a turn to the left or right.

Press ABCBCACAB. From here you can access any level and play with the music if you really wanted to.

OTHER VERSIONS AND SEQUELS

Neither the cartridge or CD versions have not been ported to other platforms.

8-Bit Versions

Versions of the game were released on the Game Gear and the Master System in 1994.

Ecco 2 Game Gear Version
Ecco 2 Game Gear Version Ecco 2 Game Gear Version
Ecco 2 Master System Version
Ecco 2 Master System Version Ecco 2 Master System Version

Both versions are much smaller with fewer levels and their layouts differing from the 16-Bit versions, in essence, creating a different game.

They suffer somewhat with the controls which are probably related to the scrolling not being as smooth. Some of the text messages are also poorly implemented.

Master System Version is much rarer since it was only an exclusively Brazilian release and is only in Portuguese.

Ecco Junior

Although not an updated game, it was released around the same time for the Game Gear, Master System and Mega Drive/Genesis.

Dubbed Ecco Junior, this game had more cutesy graphics and less difficult puzzles to solve. It also threw in some mini-games.

Ecco Junior
Ecco Junior Ecco Junior

Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future

The next game in the series was Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future on the Dreamcast released in 2000. It is set in a new game universe and has no ties to the previous two games. The game was a full 3D 128-Bit affair with fantastically rendered underwater scenes of great detail. It is known for being challenging yet rewarding.

You are tasked to save the planet against a time-jumping enemy known as the Foe. This has to be done 3 times in different time frames; the present time, one where humans rule, another where evil dolphins are in control and more nightmarishly where The Foe is in control.

Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future (Dreamcast)
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future

It was shortly after this release that SEGA began releasing games on all the platforms of the time thus a version was also released for PS2 in 2002.

EMULATOR COMPATIBILITY

This game can be played with KEGA Fusion, Gens and Gens32 Emulators. These can be downloaded from the Mega CD/SEGA CD Emulators page.

As with the many of Mega-CD/SEGA CD games, the perfect synch option must be enabled.

MISC INFO

LINKS

Caverns of Hope

Is the ultimate in all things Ecco the Dolphin. It is a stunning website with plenty of hard to find information about the whole series of games. Along with the enhanced PC port of the first game, soundtracks can be downloaded.

http://web8.orcaserver.de/ecco/

Dark Sea

Another excellent Ecco The Dolphin fan site.

http://ecco-darksea.com/

An Ecco 2 Review

A favourable review.

http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchreview.asp?reviewid=20157

Ecco at Destructoid.com

An article reflecting some of the aspects of development.

http://www.destructoid.com/location-the-cold-and-the-beautiful-220578.phtml

Soundtrack Overview

There was actually a soundtrack released of Ecco the Dolphin tunes. It can be downloaded.

http://www.ultrace.com/main/soundtest/ecco.html


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