"Ecco the Dolphin Reboot: New Game in Development"

The mastermind behind the iconic Ecco the Dolphin series, Ed Annunziata, has unveiled exciting news for fans: not only are remakes of the classic games in development, but a brand-new third installment is also on the horizon. This revelation came during an interview on Xbox Wire, where Annunziata discussed ocean conservation and his career before dropping the thrilling news.

"Me and the entire original team are going to remaster the original Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time games. Then we will make a new, third game with contemporary play and [graphics] sensibilities. Stay tuned," Annunziata announced. This new third game will follow the last mainline entry, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, which was released on Dreamcast back in 2000 without Annunziata's involvement. Additionally, a planned sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, meant to continue directly from Defender of the Future, was unfortunately cancelled.

Fans are buzzing with excitement, with one enthusiast writing, "I just want to finally be able to enter my secret password from the end of Tides of Time. I still have it written in the codes section of the game manual." Another fan reminded us of the series' unique narrative, saying, "I wonder how many people know how completely bonkers the plot of the games are."

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While Annunziata kept further details under wraps, a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website suggests that fans might have to wait approximately a year, as it is set to expire in 8,508 hours.

The original Ecco the Dolphin made its debut in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, followed by Ecco: The Tides of Time in 1994. In 1995, "edutainment" titles Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt were released, focusing on educational content. The gameplay of Ecco the Dolphin involves guiding the protagonist through perilous underwater environments, from tropical reefs to polar ice floes, to reunite with his pod after a devastating natural disaster.

Previous remakes have received mixed reviews. In 2007, IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review commented, "Ecco the Dolphin is a classic from SEGA. But sometimes classics should stay in the past... For those who have played Ecco before, there's really no reason to come back to it... If you've never played Ecco, then you may want to give it a go. It really is one of the more innovative titles of its time. But, again, that time has long passed, and Ecco's gameplay doesn't stand the test of time like Sonic's."

On a more positive note, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future received a favorable review from IGN, scoring 7.6. The review praised the game, stating, "If you thought Flipper had personality, wait until you get a load of Ecco the Dolphin. Experience amazing visuals and an engrossing story, and defend the ocean that is rightfully yours."