"Ecco the Dolphin Reboot: New Game in Development"

The creator of Ecco the Dolphin, Ed Annunziata, has announced exciting news for fans of the iconic series. In a recent interview on Xbox Wire, Annunziata revealed that not only are remakes of the original Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time in the works, but a brand new third installment is also being developed. This new game promises to incorporate contemporary gameplay and graphics, offering a fresh take on the beloved franchise.

Annunziata, who spearheaded the original games, emphasized that the entire original team is involved in this ambitious project. This news comes as a surprise to many, especially since there was already a third game, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, released on the Dreamcast in 2000. However, Annunziata did not contribute to that title, and a planned sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, was unfortunately cancelled.

Fans have expressed their excitement and nostalgia on social media. One enthusiast shared, "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 highlighted the quirky nature of the series, noting, "I wonder how many people know how completely bonkers the plot of the games are."

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While Annunziata did not specify a release date for the new Ecco projects, a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website suggests we might see something in about a year's time, as it is set to expire in 8,508 hours.

The original Ecco the Dolphin game was launched in 1992 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, followed by Ecco: The Tides of Time in 1994. The series also saw "edutainment" spin-offs, Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt, released in 1995. In the main games, players control Ecco as he navigates through dangerous environments to reunite with his dolphin pod after a catastrophic event.

Previous remakes have received mixed reviews. The 2000 remake was described in IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review as a classic that perhaps should remain in the past, lacking new content and meaningful achievements. Conversely, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future was more warmly received, earning a 7.6 score in IGN's review, praised for its visuals, story, and engaging gameplay.