< Version 1.5> This FAQ is the product of various contributors and myself. It is freely distributed as long as the credits are kept with the document. Give it to friends, put it at a ftp sites, etc. Thank you for cooperation, Aleksandr Berland. If you have new codes, advice, I'd love to hear from you. Write me at: BCcJ@psuvm.psu.edu ----- Now onto the goodstuff........ The FAQ is divided into these sections as followed: I. Ecco Storyline II.. Ecco Control III. Levels IV. Objects, enemies, and allies V. Questions Answered VI. Quirks VII. Codes IIX. Miscellaneous Junk IX. Credits/Disclaimer I. StoryLine from Booklet: Life was an adventure for Ecco, the young dolphin. The Ocean seemed endless, with rolling breakers to race through! At high speed, Ecco could burst through the waves, leaping through the air ---- almost flying! Then with a deep gulp of breath, Ecco would plunge down into the blue depths, where shelled ones hid in the coral crannies on the ocean floor. Ecco knew that dolphins couldn't breath underwater. Fish and coral stayed below the waves. But Ecco's kind needed air. This was a puzzle, and Ecco wanted to learn the answer. The ocean was full of songs. There were easy ones that came to Ecco naturally. These were the songs for calling dolphins and other singers of the watery world. There were new songs that took time to learn. These songs could open the Shelled Ones and scare off Hungry Ones who roamed near the dolphins' home. And then there were songs about just being alive and free! The dolphins also had sad songs about stinging jellyfish, swift currents and rocky walls that trapped singers deep under- water. But the best ones were the proud, powerful songs about teeming schools of fish that filled the oceans and were good to eat, and about submerged, air-filled caves where a smart dolphin could breath. Five bright marks shone on Ecco's sleek head. No other dolphin had these silvery spots. When the air was dark, the family sing that Ecco's markings matched five shining points far up in the sky. The song said that Ecco was special, a favorite of the ocean. Or maybe it went on, the markings were just for looks, the way some fish had spots. But the broad sky of the dryside also held a hidden terror. One day it attacked, without warning ---- a huge gust of swirling wind like a churning whirlpool of air and water. It tore all life from Ecco's Home Bay. Singers and shelled ones and even the small fish were ripped, helpless, twisting in fright, into the high nothingness beyond. And then they vanished! Only Ecco remained. In the flash of one leap, Ecco's safe home, full of life and song, had become strange and silent. Everything had changed. Now Ecco must fight to stay alive. Deadly hazards fill the wide oceans outside, but Ecco must find the lost dolphin pod. From the rip tides of the southern gulfs to the frozen chill of northern seas, Ecco must search through sunken worlds where razor teeth and poison stingers lurk in the dark depths. Ecco, all alone, faces a treacherous quest to save the family. Only by fighting to survive can Ecco rescue the singers of the sea, and end a disaster that threatens the entire world. II. Ecco Control Start Button ------ Skips the opening sequence or the demo games and goes to the title screen. Exits the title screen and goes to the submerged cavern. Exits password screen and starts the quest from your password's level. Exits the Echcolocatation map and returns to quest Pauses a game during play; resumes a paused game To Turn off music, pause the game and press A. Unpause the game. D Button ------ Controls Ecco's direction of movement. Need I say more? Button A (sonar)-----sends out Ecco sonar (blue shield like projection) Button A held until the sonar returns, will cause the sonar return as Echolocation and a map of the general vicinities will appear. Echolocation Map Orange circles- prowling enemies or dangerous objects Bubbles-Air pockets and energy sources Mini Glyph- Glyph Orange Blocks- barriers moveable rocks and shells More about button A ----- can be used as weapon or to talk to other other dolphins or organisms. Also to clear message screen or any text screen. Sonar as a Weapon After the Lagoon Level , as a reward for rescueing the two dolphins, pressing B and then A will kill jellyfish, Damage other enemies etc. (Note: On Lagoon Level, after the two dolphins ONCE, the "special power" granted can be used any level after it.) The "special power" does not always have an effect on all enemies. Facing the huge vortex head at the end, the sonar can be used to damage it. (More info on defeating it on Levels section) Sonar and Glyphs Glyphs can contain "permission" to get by a tunnel blocked off by another glyph. The finding of the key glyphs is usually the main objective of the levels. Finding them on specific levels is discussed in the Levels section of the FAQ. Send sonar to a glyph and 6 things can happen: 1. It will give you information 2. It will give you permission to pass another glyph 3. If you have the "permission" from the key glyph, it will by(barrier glyph) 4. It will open a passage somewhere else 5. It wil make you invincible for a short period of time and then when over, it will restore your health/air Button B (charge)----- Makes Ecco "dart" through the water for brief moment at a faster speed than usual. It can be used in a few ways: 1. By "darting" at an enemy, you will kill it, or damage it 2. You can use it to build up speed. 3. You can use it to jump higher into the air if used at right time 4. See Sonar As a Weapon Button C (speed swim) ----- Used to build up speed mostly and for jumping. When wanting to build up alot of speed, keep hitting C rather than B or just holding C down. The faster Ecco is going the more spectacular a jump will be. This Concludes ECCO CONTROL Part III. LEVELS The game starts out with Ecco in a tunnel. Going Right will start a new game. Going Left will take you into the Password Menu. Password Menu To enter a password buttons C and B add highlighted letters to the password. Choose the arrows to go back and fix mistakes. Press Start when the code is complete. Conditions: Normal- means that the air is there Abnormal- Means that the air is not there, but should be(in section Quirks read why) Normal2-means that the air is not there, but it shouldn't be anyway Note 1: Combinations of 'N' and "A' can get you practically any level (it just happens that many codes are combinations of 'N' and 'A' ) Note 2: There are, of course, other codes for each of the levels, in each of the "conditions", but the best of efforts has been put in to give you all the codes that are known. Note 3: Normal game processes don't always work if you begin on certain levels while invincible or use a code for no air. They will be discussed in Quirks. Note 4: To Begin a new game with No air bar, for a password enter: LIFEFISH. Tropical Levels 1 Submerged cave-No code- go right to begin game in Ecco's Home Bay, or left to enter a password 2 Ecco's Home Bay-No code- Jump as high as you can to begin the game. 3 Unamed First Level-No Code-You will meet an Orca 4 Undercaves-ANNAAAAA-Normal-LEVELSCT-Abnormal-Octopus on this level on 5 The Vents-AANNAANN-Abnormal-AANNAANN-Normal - You only have to rescue the dolphins once. 6 Lagoon- VTXTVIAG-Normal-SHARKFIN-Abnormal-Octopus on this level 7 Ridgewater-XSGMLFBY-Normal 8 Open Ocean- YGMXLFBE-Normal-KHDBVRIS-Abnormal- just a whole lotta' sharks Ice Levels 9 Ice Zone-YPPMOFBI-Normal-XRGQXRIX-Abnormal 10 Hard Water-ANAANANN-Abnormal-ANANANAN-Normal 11 Cold Water-IOOOOOOO-Normal-LNXHXRLB-Abnormal-HUGE blue whale 12 Island Zone-AANNAAAA-Normal-DVJLURIC-Abnormal 13 DeepwaterI-GKBQLFBY-Normal-OEWSURLC-Abnormal-1st encounter with the Asterite Atlantis Levels 14 Marble Sea-AANAANAA-Abnormal-XYZTNFBG-Normal 15 Library-GFYXNFBU- Normal 16 Deep City-AANNNNAA-Abnormal-AANNNNAA-Normal 17 City of Forever-NAAANANNA-Normal Prehistoric Levels 18 Jurassic Beach-MDEBRCBO-Normal 19 Pteradon Pond-PIDFRCBZ-Normal 20 Origin Beach- AAAANNNN-Normal 21 Trilobyte Circle-DETSWCIY 22 Dark Water-AAAANNAA-Abnormal-NNAANNAA-2nd ecounter with Asterite-you have to fight it 23 Return to DeepWater- EQAAKNLC-Normal 24 Return to City of Forever-ZBPIGPLD-Normal2 Return to Ecco's Homebay-No Code Known 25 The Tube-FIVEPODS/KUVEKMLK-Normal2 26 The Machine-NNNNNNNN 27 The Last Fight- NAAANAAA Here's a list of the levels for the SegaCD version of Ecco. Submerged Cave no code Undercaves EREBBANO The Vents UDFINLDL The Lagoon QZJTNLDS Ridge Water ITCXPWNY Open Ocean YRVAQWNJ Ice Zone UDZEUWND Hard Water YHUTTWNU Cold Water OGNXTWNG Open Ocean IBPTRWNR Island Zone KMTPQWND Deep Water SUJTPWNM Volcanic Reef CEDMRWNV Ship Grave Sea CMPITWNN Wreck Trap MNWETWNB Sea of Silence SKIMTWNY Deep Gate IJBQTWNK Marble Sea OYABSWNO The Library KUFMSWNW Deep City EXTESWNZ City of Forever UVMISWNK Jurassic Beach EPVPVTNE Pterandon Pod OQCMVTNT Origin Beach KMHXVTNB Trilobite Circle UNOTVTNP Dark Water OYOIXTNL Deep Water CSFFAEBJ City of Forever ETVEMSNN beginning ???????? The Tube WUYTJENH The Machine AZTIJENA Last Fight ??????? Here are instructions for levels that people seem to have trouble with: The Vents: You need only rescue the dolphins once EVER, after that you can just leave, by going to the farest tunnel down to the right, ==== Objects: Glyph- crystals that help Ecco on his journey Glyph 1: Glyph gives info Glyph 2: Glyph gives permission to pass another or bounces "key" sonar back Glyph 3: Blocks passage until permisson is granted or "key" sonar is obtained Glyph 4: Makes you invincible and then restore energy/air Glyph 5: Moves something Energy Clam or Shelled Ones- Shelled creatures which Ecco 'sings' to and they release Bluish energy bubble to restore Ecco's life bar. Fish- Any harmless colorful/tropical fish that restores Ecco's life bar--To get them, dart through a school of fish with Button B. Ancient Energy Plant- Pulsating plants that restore Ecco's life bar when Ecco 'Sings' to it. Found in the Prehistoric Levels. Urchin ring- Strange hoop of urchins that can be used to break through rock and other barriers. To move it, use sonar. There IS a time limit. They can be gold or maroon. Loose rocks- Can be used to fight upward currents. Push into the passage in which there is a current, and go down with Ecco's nose to it. Loose Blocks-Same thing as above. Usually Green or Red. Also can be used to get through chains in the Atlantis levels Statues- Similar to Glyphs/ sing to it to use 1. Make you invincible for a short while and then restore Ecco's energy bar completely. 2. Grant Access somewhere 3. Open someplace Spikes- Anything that looks sharp is most likely harmful--see enemies Air Pockets- Places in underwater caverns, where there is an air source. Cone Shell-Glowing spiral-cone shell that can be use to break barriers Time Machine- In the City of Forever, machine that takes you back 55 million years. To get to work move to the middle of the machine between the two Disc like structures and use your sonar. It should bounce back at you and you should begin to spin. Transport Circle- In the City of Forever, circle found in small room that was opened by singing to the statue. Will take you to the Time Machine. This portion will be completed in the near future. Enemies Levels found on Hits to kill Damage % Ecco Notes Jellyfish Jellyfish Blowfish Blowfish Shark Shark Sucker Plant 6 & 13 doesn't die O% swim diagonally with C to escape Octopus 4,6, & 12 doesn't die Spiked Shell Spikes Glyph creatures Diamond things Bad Energy Clam Bad Ancient Plant prehistoric levels Crabs Giant Ice Crabs Coelcanth fish Trilobyte Volcano Plant Moving Ice Blocks Moving Rocks Moving Platforms Nautilus Asterite Lightning Small Vortex Large Vortex Blue Balls (does anybody know some proper names for the enemies on The Tube level?) Allies Levels Orca Fellow Dolphin Blue Whale Asterite V. Questions Answered Here are some common questions asked: 1(q) How do begin the game? 1(a) Sorry for those of you who are more clever, but this is a common problem. The answer is, in Ecco's Home Bay (when you go left in the submerged cave) To build up speed until you can jump about to the top of the screen. You will Know when it happens 2(q) How do I rescue dolphins? 2(a) Alright, when you find a dolphin, swim in front of it. It will jerk unnaturally to follow you. Return it to the Dolphin who asked you to rescue in the first place. YOU CAN ONLY RESCUE ONE DOLPHIN AT A TIME! 3(q) How do I beat The Vents? 3(a) To beat The Vents, rescue the dolphins only ONCE....EVER!!!! Once you've done this once whenever playing this level, just go far right as possible, and use the rock to fight the current until you come to a Glyph. Turn Right Just before it. You are outta' there! 4(q) On the Ice Levels, How do I get anywhere? 4(a) In the Openings to the air in the ice, jump up, and onto the ice. Ecco should slide on his stomache. 5(q) I am stuck at the beginning of Deep City, what do I do? 5(a) That wall to the right that is seemingly impassable is NOT! You must jump over it, and it may take a while, but you CAN get over. 6(q) Is there a secret passage in The City of Forever or do I have to jump over all those walls? 6(a) No secret. There is a passage though, find the statue on the upper right hand corner, across from the glyph on the far left hand side of the screen. Sing to it and it will say "Access Granted" and then go down to where there was a passage blocked off with the green wall, and it has disappeared! Go in and find the purplish ring and swim into it. You should be right below the time machine. Go up to it. Don't worry about all the mazes to the right, just go up to the machine and sing to it. 7(q)How do defeat the Asterite on Dark Water? 7(a) Hit *4* globes of the same color. If you hit one of a different color, you start over again It is very difficult without cheating. 8(q) How do I beat the Giant Vortex Head? 8(a) Step One: Use Sonar and shoot at it's eyes until they pop out (both of them) Step Two: Dart at it's jaw. On the third time it will seem like it popped out. WRONG! It's still there. You'll have to keep hitting it for a while. Make sure you don't get sucked in. Doesn't matter if you're invincible, once you're sucked in you die either way. If you are invincible, your shadow will just float around a bit. And that's no good! Step Three: When the jaw is finally off, go up to the middle of the big 'ol forehead of this sucker and nail it a coupla' times. You Have Beat the game! VI. Quirks There are alot of quirks in Ecco the Dolphin. Here are some of the ones I noticed before: 1. Swimming in strange places-like in rock during a normal game This has happened: A. after meeting the asterite for the first time., sometime you can just swim straight up into the rock! B. After defeating the asterite if you are invincible, and you are on an abnormal level if you go straight to the right into the niche, you will swim into the rock. Also, almost everything, except for Ecco and a few other things is in sort of a negative coloring. Over by the spikes you can swim to, go to the top spike and then downl to the left hand side of the depression. You can leave the rock from there. Jellyfish are orange, coelcanths are pink, blue and white, and a wait till you see the sky! It is pretty cool looking! Have Fun! VII. Codes Code for Invincibility At the title screen for any level (if one doesn't come up, kill yourself) press A and Start. This should start the level with the game paused. If it doesn't kill yourself, and try again. Press A and Start again. Ecco should jerk to a different position. Go to an enemy and lose all your energy. If you don't die once you've lost all your energy, it worked. If you do...... try it again. If it doesn't work after a few tries, go to the Last Fight and try it. It should work, it always seems to work on different copies. Now, try again on another level. It should work. 2. In The Machine, if you are invincible, if you get sucked in too often, the screen will be permanently red (until you reset) and Ecco just keeps swimming nowhere, weaving between things. The really cool code! For an options menu during a game, turn Ecco left and right and pause him while he is facing you. Then Enter: Right, B, C, B, C, Down, C, UP. Ecco and all other characters should disappear and the options menu with these options should appear: Stage Number...................0 to 27 (as labeled in LEVELS) Sound Number.................0 to 65 (if you press B, you will hear that numbers sound, if you press A, you will hear that number's music) Music Tempo....................-120 to 120 Message Number............0 to 54 Unlimited Life..................0 to 1 (on or off) Teleporter X...................0 to 999 Teleporter Y...................0 to 999 Every option is literal down to Unlimited Life. The Teleporters explained: The X and Y are positions in the level. These coordinates in the level can be recorded. You can warp to that position with those numbers. Warning: You can enter correct settings from before and end up inside rock. Sometimes you can swim out of it and sometimes you can hardly move. If you can move, enter the code and set the x or y off a little. A little playing around and you can get into places you might have a hard time doing normally. As stated above, the coordinates aren't always reliable. Also strange things can happen, and with the x and y settings off , and the Stage number set on a certain level, you won't always get to that level for instance, here is code: CODE FOR PLAYING IN THE BEGINNING SEQUENCE (before the picture of Ecco-the title screen) In the Options menu, set the Stage Number to 10. The Teleporter X to 99 and Teleporter Y to 2. Press Start and you will go into the beginning sequence. Other numbers around the ones given above can take you there, with slight differences. The ones given are the best found so far. Also, the password given, won't take you anywhere. Most Wanted Codes I. Debug Code II. Color code (there is rumored to be a code in which you can change color definition- from normal to negative(like the quirk in Dark Water) or change the darkness shades like when you go back in time. III. Access of Password memory IV. Play as enemies/allies VI. Hidden Levels? VII. Change beginning examples of play ------------------------------------------------------------------- IIX. MISCEALLANEOUS JUNK Info/ Contributions I'm looking for: I. In the Really cool code (options menu) a chart etc. of the X and Y mapping stuff II. Do the passwords I gave work? III. Other Codes? IV. Rumours V. Suggestions/contributions etc. VI. Do you like this FAQ? If so a letter suggesting that I am cool to to owner of this FTP site is totally acceptable(if an FTP site is where you found it) VII. Dib I any make Misteaks? IIX. If you think it'll help.....it just might! HINTS: I. If you are looking on how to beat a level and it isn't in what seems to be the obvious places, look elsewhere! Info Is scattered everywhere! II. Don't get fed up with a level....there is always a way out! Also there is TWO reasons why I did not include instructions for EVERY level: 1.It's very hard, maybe in an updated FAQ! 2. Ecco is meant to be challenging, don't ruin your interest in the game by simply cheating, or turning to me for help(I will help though, if you ask) 3. I had something else to say, but it slipped my mind. Oh, Well...later! About Ecco's Life Bar: There are 5 grey rectangles at the upper left hand corner representing Ecco's life meter. It would take 5 hits from the first jellyfish to get one block missing. 3 for the next.. 2 for the third Another 2 for the next one. And finally 3 more to kill Ecco (althought Ecco can *sometimes* stay alive for a VERY short while with no energy left) IX. Credits/Disclaimer People who have contributed to this document so far have been: Aleksandr Berland (Most of it) David Ryan Eric Thorell And I'd like to thank the folks at newsgroup rec.games.video.sega My sources have been: The Ecco Booklet and Secrets of the Sega Sages (Someone sent me some info, but did not include where he got it from, so I am guessing this is where it's from) If anybody has some corrections/objections please don't be mad, the best of efforts for accuracy have been mad, so just write to me about your problem(s) and we'll work it out. Thank You!