Ecco: The Tides of Time

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Ecco 2 Title.png

Ecco: The Tides of Time
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Sega Mega-CD, Sega Master System, Virtual Console, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,8006,800 G-4123
Sega Mega Drive
US
1553
Sega Mega Drive
US
(Mega Hit)
$19.9919.99
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1553-50
Sega Mega Drive
FR
1553-09
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
AU
(Platinum)
FECC01SMC
Sega Mega Drive
BR
046470
Sega Mega-CD
US
4441
Sega Mega-CD
EU
4441-50
Sega Mega-CD
BR
063460
Sega Game Gear
JP
¥3,8003,800 G-3362
Sega Game Gear
US
2541
Sega Game Gear
EU
2541-50
Sega Game Gear
AS
2541
Sega Master System
BR
028630
Wii Virtual Console
JP
600pts600
Wii Virtual Console
US
800pts800
Wii Virtual Console
EU
800pts800
CERO
Missing Parameter!

Ecco: The Tides of Time, called Ecco the Dolphin 2 (エコー・ザ・ドルフィン2) in Japan, is the sequel to Ecco the Dolphin. Initially released in 1994 for the Sega Mega Drive, it was later ported to the Sega Game Gear and Sega Mega-CD. Tec Toy also brought the Game Gear version of the game to the Sega Master System in 1996.

The Mega Drive version of the game has recently been re-released as part of the Wii's Virtual Console service.

New gameplay elements incluie pseudo-3d stages and the ability to transform into animals in certain stages. The graphics have been improved as well.

The game ends on a cliffhanger that has never been resolved.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Master System and Game Gear versions

  • Producer: Jerry Markota
  • Ecco's Creator: Ed Annunziata
  • Developer: Novotrade
  • Director: László Mérõ
  • Software Director: Attila Bús
  • Art Director: Eszter Páris
  • Main Programmer: László Megyeri
  • Artist: Bori Páris
  • Music: Gábor Foltán, Csaba Gigor, László Fazekas
  • Programmer: Balázs Pápai
  • Hardware Support: Lajos Szabó
  • Special Thanks: Andrea Eszterhai, L. Szenttornyai, József Molnár, Mihály Brudnyák, Tamás Csendes, Ádám Jedovszky
  • Lead Tester: Blair Bullock
  • Assistant Lead: Chris Colon
  • Testers: Michael Baldwin, Rachel Bristol, Don Carmichael, Mike Chao, Daniel Cohen, Arnold Feener, Craig Gansheimer, Jeff Kessler, Randy Kreidt, Matt McKnight, Jeff Ng, Randy Norfleet, Ilya Reeves, Kim Rogers, Sam Saliba, Gregg Vogt, Christine Watson, Michael Wu

Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Main article: Ecco: The Tides of Time/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #21: "October/November 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Artwork

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
48 №1, p116/117/118/119
90
73
88
86 №6, p13
81
77 №1995-04, p61[8]
91 №26, p106/107[9]
92 №26, p44/45
60 №2, p100
92 №47, p102/103/104/105
82 №61, p58/59/60
Sega Mega Drive
80
Based on
12 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[10]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
65
[11]
CD Consoles (FR)
48
[12]
Cool Gamer (RU)
70
[13]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
73
[14]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
70
[15]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4 (RU)
50
[16]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
70
[17]
Freak (IL)
89
[18]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
88
[19]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
60
[20]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
85
[21]
Gamer (GR)
95
[22]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
86
[23]
Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 2 (RU)
56
[24]
Joypad (FR) PAL
86
[25]
LeveL (CZ)
75
[26]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
74
[27]
Mega (UK) PAL
92
[28]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
84
[29]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
91
[9]
Next Generation (US)
50
[30]
Player One (FR)
92
[31]
Play Time (DE) PAL
83
[32]
Power Up! (UK)
90
[33]
Score (CZ)
85
[34]
Sega Magazin (DE)
83
[35]
Sega News (CZ)
87
[36]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
82
[37]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
72
[38]
Todo Sega (ES)
89
[39]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
80
[40]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[41]
Sega Mega Drive
77
Based on
33 reviews

Ecco: The Tides of Time

Mega Drive, US
Ecco 2 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Ecco 2 MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Ecco The Tides Of Time MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US (Mega Hit Series)
Ecco2 MD US Box MHS.jpg
Cover
Ecco2 MD US Cart MHS.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
Ecco 2 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
EccoII MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Ecco 2 MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
EccotheDolphin2 MD JP CartTop.jpg
EccotheDolphin2 MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU
Ecco2 MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU
(Sega Platinum Collection)
Ecco2 MD AU Box Platinum.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
Ecco2 MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, FR
EccoII MD FR Box.jpg
Cover
Ecco The Tides of Time MD FR Manual.pdf
Manual

Mega-CD version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
92 №41, p146
76
78
84 №11, p80
87
60 №3, p95
95 №51, p105
92 №16, p92/93
80 №67, p57
81 №44, p56
Sega Mega-CD
83
Based on
10 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
92
[42]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
76
[43]
Freak (IL)
89
[44]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
78
[45]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
88
[46]
Joypad (FR)
87
[47]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
77
[8]
Mega (UK) PAL
92
[48]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
85
[49]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[50]
Player One (FR)
95
[51]
Play Time (DE)
85
[52]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
92
[53]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
80
[54]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
81
[55]
Video Games (DE) PAL
76
[56]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[57]
Sega Mega-CD
83
Based on
17 reviews

Ecco: The Tides of Time

Mega-CD, US
Ecco2 MCD US Box Back.jpgEcco2 MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Ecco - The Tides of Time (U) (CD).jpg
Disc
Ecco2 mcd us manual.pdf
Manual
Ecco2 MCD US RegCard.pdf
Reg Card
Mega-CD, EU
Ecco2 MCD EU Box Back.jpgEcco2 MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
EccoToT MCD EU spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
Mega-CD, BR
EccoToT MCD BR back.jpgNospine.pngEccoII MCD BR Box Front.jpg
Cover

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
92
65
82 №8, p23
85 №51, p105
78 №60, p60
74 №41, p66
Sega Game Gear
79
Based on
6 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
74
[58]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
65
[59]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
55
[60]
Freak (IL)
89
[61]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
85
[62]
Gamers (DE) PAL
67
[63]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
82
[64]
Mega Fun (DE)
66
[65]
Player One (FR)
85
[51]
Play Time (DE) PAL
64
[66]
Sega News (CZ)
100
[67]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
78
[68]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
74
[69]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
55
[70]
Sega Game Gear
74
Based on
14 reviews

Ecco: The Tides of Time

Game Gear, US
Ecco2 GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngEcco2 GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Ecco The Tides of Time GG US cart.jpg
Cart
Ecco2 gg us manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
Ecco 2 GG EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngEcco 2 GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Ecco The Tides of Time GG EU cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, FR
EccoTides GG FR cover.jpg
Cover
Ecco The Tides of Time GG EU cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, JP
Ecco2 GG JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngEcco2 GG JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Ecco2 GG JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, Asia
EccoII GG Asia Box Back.jpgEccoII GG Asia Box Spine.jpgEccoII GG Asia Box Front.jpg
Cover
EccoII GG Asia Cart.jpg
Cart
EccoII GG Asia Manual.pdf
Manual

Master System version

Master System, BR
Ecco 2 SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
EccoII SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 ccb21f98
MD5 3b28a4ddddb6ff6ea3bfb3c8b117522a
SHA-1 82ec466a81b95942ad849c5e2f88781bef28acc8
2MB 1994-06 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 7b1bf89c
MD5 e138c4df98a14625b64aff0f0f435801
SHA-1 cb7d44a40992cff6c31d685866814d6cb85add59
2MB 1994-08 Cartridge (EU)
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 062d439c
MD5 0a18051c31d44d61cbf7a27dfc2a8d32
SHA-1 0ca535d0e0d430c67e413ab904ef867516ce9fad
2MB 1994-06 Cartridge (JP)
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 5af83ecb
MD5 f65406eb4961c0e4d7fad24ef7fb90b2
SHA-1 3c653329c897e369198425e99e76ff53688d245b
2MB 1994-04-29 CD-R disc[71] Page
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 b5d64817
MD5 207aac421f6e9fda4a28b41a452d6e71
SHA-1 6cc1ea0b6c4be29ed7a02cd5e01f9504d272323e
2MB 1994-04-13 CD-R disc[72] Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 8db60749
MD5 267e4ca8fa4303e6ae49f6251ec949f2
SHA-1 3120625e8ff6b289ae6c398b8afe1ab5ff6396e3
2MB 1994-02 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 1d1470ea
MD5 c5f2888a66490430ff71ff960c9e6aee
SHA-1 364523cd30615ce4a94793ebbc189c0db6adc38f
2MB 1994-02 Only difference between this and above ROM is the header. One may be a hack of the other. Page

External links

References

  1. File:SegaMagazine UK 11.pdf, page 86
  2. File:GamePlayers US 0712.pdf, page 10
  3. File:GamePlayers US 0710.pdf, page 12
  4. File:SegaMagazine UK 11.pdf, page 96
  5. GamePro, "November 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 52
  6. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 372
  7. Sega Visions, "December/January 1994/1995" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 126
  8. 8.0 8.1 File:MAN!AC DE 1995-04.pdf, page 61 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MAN!AC DE 1995-04.pdf_p61" defined multiple times with different content
  9. 9.0 9.1 File:MeanMachinesSega26UK.pdf, page 106 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega26UK.pdf_p106" defined multiple times with different content
  10. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 69
  11. Beep! MegaDrive, "September 1994" (JP; 1994-08-08), page 16
  12. CD Consoles, "Novembre 1994" (FR; 1994-xx-xx), page 119
  13. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 76
  14. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 42
  15. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 310
  16. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 105
  17. Famitsu, "1994-09-02" (JP; 1994-08-19), page 39
  18. Freak, "12/94" (IL; 1994-xx-xx), page 1
  19. GameFan, "Volume 2, Issue 11: November 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 32
  20. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 1 January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 67
  21. GamePro, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 104
  22. Gamer, "Fevrouários 1995" (GR; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
  23. Games World: The Magazine, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-10-28), page 13
  24. Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 2, "" (RU; 2001-08-27), page 140
  25. Joypad, "Novembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 92
  26. LeveL, "Leden 1995" (CZ; 1995-01-24), page 40
  27. MAN!AC, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-09), page 69
  28. Mega, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-10-27), page 44
  29. Mega Fun, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-23), page 116
  30. Next Generation, "February 1995" (US; 1995-01-24), page 102
  31. Player One, "Novembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 102
  32. Play Time, "1/95" (DE; 1994-12-07), page 100
  33. Power Up!, "Saturday, November 26, 1994" (UK; 1994-11-26), page 1
  34. Score, "Listopad 1994" (CZ; 1994-11-01), page 58
  35. Sega Magazin, "Dezember 1994" (DE; 1994-11-17), page 78
  36. Sega News, "Listopad 1996" (CZ; 1996-1x-xx), page 24
  37. Sega Power, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-10-20), page 58
  38. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86
  39. Todo Sega, "Enero 1995" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 30
  40. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 13
  41. VideoGames, "February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 78
  42. Consoles +, "Mars 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 92
  43. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 34
  44. Freak, "12/94" (IL; 1994-xx-xx), page 1
  45. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 2 February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 72
  46. GamePro, "February 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 46
  47. Joypad, "Mars 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 56
  48. Mega, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-04-30), page 8
  49. Mega Fun, "03/95" (DE; 1995-02-22), page 73
  50. Next Generation, "March 1995" (US; 1995-02-21), page 97
  51. 51.0 51.1 Player One, "Mars 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 105
  52. Play Time, "4/95" (DE; 1995-03-08), page 105
  53. Sega Magazine, "April 1995" (UK; 1995-03-15), page 92
  54. Sega Power, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-04-20), page 57
  55. Sega Pro, "Easter 1995" (UK; 1995-03-23), page 56
  56. Video Games, "4/95" (DE; 1995-03-22), page 90
  57. VideoGames, "February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 80
  58. Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 24
  59. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 46
  60. Famitsu, "1995-02-10" (JP; 1995-01-27), page 38
  61. Freak, "12/94" (IL; 1994-xx-xx), page 1
  62. GamePro, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 162
  63. Gamers, "Januar 1995" (DE; 1995-01-08), page 38
  64. Games World: The Magazine, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-xx), page 23
  65. Mega Fun, "01/95" (DE; 1994-12-21), page 32
  66. Play Time, "2/95" (DE; 1995-01-04), page 106
  67. Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 36
  68. Sega Power, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-09-29), page 60
  69. Sega Pro, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-29), page 66
  70. Sega Saturn Magazine, "March 1995" (JP; 1995-02-08), page 132
  71. Hidden Palace: Ecco: The Tides of Time (Apr 29, 1994 prototype)
  72. Hidden Palace: Ecco: The Tides of Time (Apr 13, 1994 prototype)



Ecco the Dolphin series
Ecco the Dolphin (3D) (1992) | Ecco: The Tides of Time (1994) | Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future (2000)
Spin-offs and others
Ecco the Dolphin (LCD) (1994) | Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt! (1994) | Ecco Jr. (1995) | Ecco the Dolphin CD (1995)
Unreleased
Ecco the Dolphin (32X) | Ecco the Dolphin (Saturn) | Ecco II: Sentinels of the Universe‎
Ecco the Dolphin related media
Music
Ecco: Songs of Time (1996)
Book
Ecco: The Tides of Time Official Strategy Guide (1994) | Official Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future Perfect Guide (2000)