Ecco the Dolphin is one of those games that needs explaining to me. For as long as I can remember, it's always been in video packages and commercials for the Sega Genesis, showcasing its technical prowess and beautiful visuals. But the very first time I turned it on and played it as a child, I thought it was the most lackluster, uninteresting games I had played on the Drive. In my later years, I grew to appreciate nautical indie games like Abzu, which is similar in execution. I figured, "I'll put Ecco the Dolphin in, maybe I'll gain a new appreciation for it". While it's still not quite my cup of tea, it's pretty ahead of its time.

Created by Ed Annunziata and developed by Appaloosa Interactive (known for games like Contra Legacy of War, Three Dirty Dwarves, and Castlevania on the Amiga), Ecco the Dolphin is a game where the eponymous Dolphin battles space aliens. Aliens vacuum away all marine life, leaving Ecco separated from his pod. On his own, Ecco leaves the bay, searching for answers, and finds some animals who provide clues as to what's happened and how Ecco can save the lives of the sea creatures. The game is ambiguous about what it is you have to do, but tinkering around with the controls, you can kinda piece it together. The A button allows him to use his echolocation, when held down briefly, it bounces back and gives you a map. Later on, it can be upgraded into an offensive weapon, which will help with incredibly pesky enemies like spider crabs. B is a dashing bash that's used to defeat enemies. The C button accelerates swimming. By activating keys, Ecco proceeds through various puzzles and hazards. 

I don't think a game needs to have real inherent high octane action in order to be compelling. I loved point-and-click puzzle adventures growing up, and Out Of This World is one of the more creative games I played. As it comes off a little non-linear, it can seem a little confusing to figure out what you need to do in order to proceed, which is activating the key-glyphs that are blocking your way. It does have infinite lives, so you can keep trying to solve puzzle and proceed until the cows come home.

The controls aren't technically bad, I find them a little frustrating, it feels like they should be played on a gyroscope or trackball rather than a d-pad. Ecco maneuvers a full 180 degrees to turn around, often I bump into spikes, jellyfish, or can't out of the way of those annoying pufferfish that zip towards Ecco at 100 miles an hour. I get that they were attempting to simulate dolphin mannerisms and behavior into gameplay, which is something I have no problem applauding. But navigating as best as possible while mitigating any damage I take really eats a lot of time. There isn't a lot of damage invulnerability either, so getting caught in a circle of jellyfish, mines, or what have you becomes dire as hell, and that health bar depletes fast, all while ensuring you don't run out of oxygen. It took awhile for me to learn how to restore Ecco's life bar, I was never sure if it was activating EVERY key-glyph you encounter not. There isn't much in the way of checkpoints, either. When you die, it's right back to the beginning of the stage, so bon appetit! It's not like the puzzles are overly long, but the hazards get pretty stubborn a few levels in.

At least the music is really good. The generally gritty and rebellious metal sound that emanates from the Sega Mega Drive proves it can be a little ethereal and majestic with the composition. The first stage can grate on the ears a bit, but it does sound great in later portions, you can almost hear David Attenborough narrating over it.  

It's beautiful on the eyes, but Ecco the Dolphin is one of those Sega exclusives that certainly has an acquired taste to it with its meticulous execution, or it's rendered a touch obsolete in the wake of indie games like Song of the Deep, a Metroid style explorative title, that have come out over the decades. I don't think it's a game that's aged well, though as an arthouse project, it can be fascinating to indulge.