Ecco 2 Prototype

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Origins of the Alpha

  This ROM image was copied from a physical MegaDrive/Genesis Game Cartridge. It is a confirmed, official prototype from the developers at Novotrade. How it reached the public is unknown, but it is most likely is the scenario I propose below.

This scenario is that the data was from an unreturned loaned copy to a magazine or similar entity. These copies would be handed out during development for testing and review purposes, so magazines could hype the game with actual footage, though it was not complete. This copy somehow made it into the hands of a bootleg cartridge manufacturer. It was (and still is) VERY common for cartridges to be pirated in Hong Kong, Korea, Russia, Thailand, et cetera. This prototype was copied and the SEGA logo removed from the startup to make it look a BIT less illegal. Then it was made into new cartridges and sold. One of these cartridges was copied ('dumped') to a binary file which is what is available here today. 		 


Basic Information

  Here are some basic facts about this prototype.

  • The levels have no real order. Most don't exit properly to others, you'll need to use the Debug Menu to get around.
  • There isn't any real story to speak of that is made apparent.
  • Almost nothing has a message attached to it, so dolphins, the Asterite, etc. are usually silent.
  • Ecco uses his sprites from Ecco 1 but there are loads of new sprites as well.
  • Ecco cannot take damage from anything except for a couple of instances.
  • All 3D Stages are (mostly) implemented.
  • Most messages are left over from Ecco 1.
  • So are a lot of sprites.
  • The only music is the music from "The Lagoon" in Ecco 1.
  • The Sonar was being reworked and looks very awkward. Whether things show up on it is entirely random.
  • There are some enemies but most of them are prototype Magic Arms (crabs on strings) or bosses of one form or another.
  • The build is full of programmer tests, easter eggs and placeholders. Crabs replace most things that aren't drawn yet.

 




Ecco the Dolphin and all related indicia are (C) Novotrade International and Sega Ltd. Epic Gaming, Epic Gaming : Dark Sea and all content are Copyright (C) 2005 to Epic Gaming Staff including but not limited to Epicenter (Deven Gallo), Histronic Lizard and Tom41. Layout template (C) to Moduvator. No materials on this page may be reproduced without prior written consent by all relevant staff members. Violation of these terms will result in prosecution. All rights reserved.