Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future

Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future (2000)

by Appaloosa Interactive, Acclaim Entertainment, Sega, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Genres:Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Puzzle
Themes:Action, Science fiction
Game modes:Single player
Story:At the dawn of the 30th Century, dolphins and humans had been together in a cross-species society for 500 years. Together, they had set out to explore space, offering peace and friendship to all who would welcome it. But space had its dangers; a violent species known as the Foe decided to conquer Earth. However, the dolphins and humans drove them to the brink of defeat, and so the Foe sought vengeance on Earth. The few caretaker dolphins who had been left behind on Earth were not entirely defenseless; they were protected by their creation called the Guardian—a gigantic, sentient being made of a crystalline substance which projected a forcefield over the entire planet. Undeterred, the Foe made suicide attacks on the field, searching for a weak point.Show more
user avatarAdded by @sergeu78
Vote to bring this game to GOG and help preserve it.
214
Trailers and screenshots
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Stories about this game (2)
What’s your memory of Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future?Share your favorite moments and see what others remember about this game.
user avatar@placeholder

Make sure to follow our Guidelines when adding new Stories.

If not sure what to write:
  • What made this game unforgettable?
  • Who did you play this game with?
  • What made it fun or challenging?
  • Why do you want this game on GOG?
This game came out back when I was a child. I remember being enchanted by the gorgeous, atmospheric soundtrack and environments, and the gameplay of zipping around as a nimble dolphin catching fish, doing tricks just because I could, talking to other dolphins, and playing with other sea creatures - but too daunted by the fourth level, a cave system with few air sources and an exit guarded by a giant eel, to complete it, despite being excited to see what kinds of places and other animals the game would take me to beyond it. I then revisited it about ten years later and found myself staying up to marathon the game in all its twists and turns all the way up to the delightfully imaginative but notoriously tricky precision platforming Hanging Waters level. Maybe now that it's been another ten years, I'd finally be able to push past that level, too, and beat the game fully - and even if I had beaten it previously, it'd be a joy to re-experience. While there are certainly other underwater games out there that provide their own kind of lovely and/or haunting ride, Subnautica has been the only game I've played since that's captured this particular kind of underwater adventure experience and "vibe" for me: tense, surprising, and at times dark and murky and intimidating in a way that never lets you completely forget it once you leave the safety of the starting area, even if there are places after where the danger lets up; but also so beautiful and almost whimsically exciting to be immersed in that you can't help but happily explore and look forward to discovering what it presents you with.
user avatar@ajc242424user avatar@ajc242424
January 29, 2025
An incredible underwater simulation, gorgeous visuals, engaging puzzles, a beautiful Tim Follin soundtrack and some dark, emotional storytelling make Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future one of the best games ever made in my humble opinion. A truly unique experience and one which lovers of the series will greatly enjoy.
Those games also need your vote!
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the PastThe Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a top-down action game with puzzle-solving elements similar to the original The Legend of Zelda. After the side-scrolling and RPG-like gameplay of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, the game is a return to the top-down view and gameplay style of the first installment. It introduces major new items to the series such as the Master Sword and the concept of two different worlds, which was revisited to some extent in Ocarina of Time with two distinct time periods rather than dark and light worlds.
Action
Fantasy
Action
Fantasy
1 464
2
Demon King Chronicle
Demon King ChronicleThere once was a book called “The Story of the Demon King.” The book had no ending. This is an indie RPG with very few cutscenes, but with a fair amount of freedom and a healthy portion of difficulty. Level up steadily. Focus on attack power and rush at the enemy, ready to die honorably. Play the game the way you want to, and bring this story to an end.
8
Red Ninja: End of Honor
Red Ninja: End of HonorAs the power of the samurai class fades, Japan turns to the ninja to uphold political power during chaotic times. One such ninja, Kurenai, lives to avenge her father's death and will go to any means necessary to destroy the Black Lizard Clan. Kurenai is a master of the tetsugen, a wire weapon that can cut off an enemy's head or hang them from a tree, depending on the end attachments used and the length and strength of the weapon's wire. Aggressively employing such tactics as wearing disguises, using womanly wiles, and controlling Ninjutsu powers will help you to escape enemies.
Action
Stealth
Action
Stealth
1 514
23
Starfield
StarfieldIn this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.
Open world
Action
Science fiction
Sandbox
Open world
Action
Science fiction
Sandbox
2 739
6
The Elder Scrolls Anthology
The Elder Scrolls AnthologyFor the first time in the history of the award-winning saga, experience The Elder Scrolls as one extraordinary collection. The Elder Scrolls Anthology features all five critically-acclaimed games, plus official add-ons in a premium collectible box set - beginning with The Elder Scrolls: Arena and concluding with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Legendary Edition. The Anthology also includes a set of five physical maps detailing Tamriel, Iliac Bay, Morrowind, Cyrodiil and Skyrim. Own this essential collection and experience the series that defined the open-world genre.
Action
Historical
Action
Historical
11 776
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight PrincessThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was initially developed with the Nintendo GameCube in mind, but ended up receiving a Wii port when it was released to promote the new console. This version has motion control compatibility for the sword and pointer controls for the menus, the bow and the boomerang. This version of the game has a completely inverted map and locations when comparing with the GameCube release. The change in layout was meant to adapt Link's usually left-handed design to right-handed people, given the motion controls.
Action
Fantasy
Action
Fantasy
1 512
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered - Deluxe Edition
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered - Deluxe EditionThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition includes: - Digital base game - Unique digital Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon Armors, Weapons, and Horse Armor Sets - Digital Artbook and Soundtrack App - Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine story expansions - Additional downloadable content: Fighter’s Stronghold expansion, Spell Tome Treasures, Vile Lair, Mehrune’s Razor, The Thieves Den, Wizard’s Tower, Orrery, and Horse Pack Armor
Open world
Action
Fantasy
Open world
Action
Fantasy
7 833
191
Fez
FezGomez is a 2D creature living in a 2D world. Or is he? When the existence of a mysterious 3rd dimension is revealed to him, Gomez is sent out on a journey that will take him to the very end of time and space. Use your ability to navigate 3D structures from 4 distinct classic 2D perspectives. Explore a serene and beautiful open-ended world full of secrets, puzzles and hidden treasures. Unearth the mysteries of the past and discover the truth about reality and perception. Change your perspective and look at the world in a different way.
Open world
Fantasy
Open world
Fantasy
257
5
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIIIAs a deepening crisis threatens to plunge the floating world of Cocoon into chaos, a band of unsuspecting strangers find themselves branded enemies of the state. With the panicking population baying for their blood, and the military all too happy to oblige, they have no choice but to run for their lives. Join them on a desperate quest to challenge the forces controlling their fate, and prevent untold destruction. Featuring an unforgettable storyline, a battle system blending action and strategy, cutting-edge visuals and awe-inspiring cinematic sequences, Final Fantasy XIII delivers the next step in the evolution of gaming.
Action
Fantasy
Action
Fantasy
1 570
2
Journey
JourneyIn Journey the player controls a robed figure in a vast desert, traveling towards a mountain in the distance. Other players on the same journey can be discovered, and two players can meet and assist each other, but they cannot communicate via speech or text and cannot see each other's names. The only form of communication between the two is a musical chime. This chime also transforms dull, stiff pieces of cloth found throughout the levels into vibrant red, affecting the game world and allowing the player to progress through the levels. The robed figure wears a trailing scarf, which when charged by approaching floating pieces of cloth, briefly allows the player to float through the air. The developers sought to evoke in the player a sense of smallness and wonder, and to forge an emotional connection between them and the anonymous players they meet along the way. The music, composed by Austin Wintory, dynamically responds to the player's actions, building a single theme to represent the game's emotional arc throughout the story. Reviewers of the game praised the visual and auditory art as well as the sense of companionship created by playing with a stranger, calling it a moving and emotional experience. Journey won several "game of the year" awards and received several other awards and nominations, including a Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media nomination for the 2013 Grammy Awards.
Fantasy
Kids
Fantasy
Kids
2 607
5