Ecco 2 Prototype

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Level 15 Overview: Vortex Future Test Level?

  This appears to be a rush test level just to show off a few things-- namely the new Vortex Future graphics, a robotic dolphin with working (albeit somewhat broken) AI, and some environmental elements. There are also some air sources and poison bubbles thrown in, though the air sources don't work. This level is almost the only place in the game where you can take damage. There is no exit and you need air, even though there's no way to get it.  


 
Here's where you start out. The background is a black and red gradient repeating over and over, the tiles are clearly a mix of used and unused in the Final version.


Proceeding downwards we can see a platform with a cylindrical object which you'll see a lot of throughout the level, what looks like a tube from the Vortex Future in the final version, and a spike attached to a circular hinge. As you approach, the spike extends out and tries to stab you, and the charge emitters on the right side of the platform shoot out electricity. Neither of them can damage you and the electrical bolts don't even make you flash. Note the peculiar bubbles drifting out of the emitters where the electricity comes from-- probably placeholders for some other effect.


The spike can attack you from quite a distance away, even through the tube as well. It can continue to follow you in a 360-degree range, even way over here to the left.


Proceeding upwards, we find this door that will only open from the other side. Time to find another route.


if Ecco touches this corner near the Posion-bubble emitter, he will be damaged by it. It's possible the bubbles appear here and then drift up, and their bounding box is simply too large.


Proceeding upwards, on the left we find a wall object with chrome-colored plating, with holes in it that match the type that would throw damaging objects at Ecco in the Machine levels. And on the right is a cylindrical rod mounted to a wall that shoots poison bubbles at Ecco.


And on the right is a cylindrical rod mounted to a wall that shoots poison bubbles at Ecco. It's the exact same style used by the poison-bubble shooting plants in the Good Future of the Final version.


These identical cylinders are located over to the right, but don't do anything at all when they are approached. Further over on the right, there's more electrical bolts shooting down, with no source this time.


Proceeding down and to the right we find something of a boss arena. Inside is a robotic dolphin that tries to stab you with a spike, charges around with a thruster, all while a crab (placeholder for some piece of machinery, I am sure) throws down exploding barrels at you.


When the barrels blow up, out fly a bunch of green blobs. You can destroy them by charging them.


When defeated, the robotic dolphin seems to teleport away, leaving you alone in the boss arena. The crab is gone too. You're free to explore a little, but there's not much to see. Here's the roof. And here is the floor, the same metallic pattern repeating over and over. The level design here is definitely rushed.


Here's a Sonar map of the level. Note how the rotating spike in the upper-left is the only "hazard" mark on Sonar. When you get near it, the mark vanishes, too.

 




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