Everything about this title goes leaps and bounds above its cartridge cousin while still retaining the same great gameplay and feel of the original. The first thing you'll notice (and probably drop a load in your pantalones because of) is the graphics. Everything, and I mean everything, looks and moves exactly like its real world counterpart. Eccos blowhole opens and closes as he breathes, environments look like pictures from a National Geographic magazine, and swim up to tiny specks floating in the dark caves to find that they are detailed, swimming, organisms. Everyting looks clean and crisp in marvelous hi-res. The designers used countless video and photos of natural ocean environments to achieve a realism that pushes the dreamcast to its limits.

The games MANY stages are vast and complex making it easy to lose your way sometimes and fall victim to sharks, jellyfish, octopi, eels, and the occasional alien from outer space bent on universal conquest and total destruction of earth. and all these enemies are going to be a real pain thanks to the games highly advanced AI. The game is really hard. Be warned.

Another aspect of the game worth boasting about is the ambient soundtrack. The music and underwater effects will fade in and out as you traverse from one area of a stage to the next. The tracks are beautifully orchestrated and fit well with the underwater surroundings. As you explore youll hear all sorts of oceanic sounds. Whales in the distance, dolphin whistles and chatters, the quiet hum of machines, and countless other relaxing, soothing sounds that create an inviting underwater experience. But all isnot peaceful and serene in Ecco's world... You'll jump out of your seat the first time you're attacked by a shark, and the second time, and the third, and the fourth, etc. etc. You'll never get used to it and you will be startled again and again. Isn't it great!?

Well so far so good for Ecco. But, as with ALL games, there are a few problems that you will have to get used to. The worst of these is that Ecco seems to get stuck way to easily. If it looks like you should be able to fit between two rocks, but just barely, you probably can't, and you will probably get stuck there and chances are you won't be able to wriggle yourself free fast enough not to drown. It gets annoying sometimes but all in all isn't anything major (you'll learn how to judge what Ecco can and cannot fit through). Another thing you might point out is that it seems that the enemies only eat dolphin, and not just any old dolphin, Ecco the dolphin. Thats it. The other dolphins and creatures can swim around the sharks all day and not get attacked. Well, tis isn't something that is a problem but more of a curiosity. Not something that will hinder gameplay at all.

Well I'm going to get this long, long review wrapped up by saying that Ecco was a fun game and very rewarding (There is a stage later in the game that will make you gasp out loud). With a few hidden surprises like 2D Ecco stages (ala genesis) and dolphin soccer (hidden well) you will have a lot of fun while being amazed by a game that seems to outdo itself again and again, and you'll want to keep coming back for more until you've seen everything and finished what is one of the hardest, most gratifying adventure games to grace a console in a long time. Two thumbs up. -JS