From a Narrative Perspective, Ecco the Dolphin Is the Greatest Game Ever Made

In its current state, video games are like pulp fiction. You come in knowing exactly what you're going to get.

For example:
-Space Invaders. Attacking the Earth are invaders. Possibly from space.
-Super Mario Bros. A bright colorful game about rescuing some elusive ungrateful cunt.
-Chakan. The ending reveals that Chakan will probably be doing this vengeance thing forever. This is a plot twist, but it fits the mood established with the backstory and does not cross any genre boundaries.
-Final Fantasy VII. Steampunk. Armageddon. Whining. Chocobos. Plenty of that.
-Gears of War. Some hard ass sees a lot of shit. He's not happy, but somebody's got to do it.

http://web8.orcaserver.de/ecco/downl...c_part_1_2.jpg

Now consider Ecco the Dolphin.

Fantastic graphics, unusual New Age music, unorthodox level structure.

At first, it seems like a nature simulator, designed to explore the life of an underwater mammal. Within minutes, the initial driving mystery of the game is revealed: Where has your pod gone? Why has ocean life been sucked up into the air?

Next, the scope of the game is revealed: You will explore iced-over oceans, an unnatural habitat for dolphins. You will talk to killer whales and blue whales.

The scope is further expanded: you will travel back in time and fix the Asterite. Pterodactyls are your friends. You will explore the lost city of Atlantis. Ecco has now transcended boundaries, crossing over into sci-fi.

During the game's finale, you enter the Vortex's spaceship, obviously inspired by the works of Giger. This can be categorized as horror, both visually and in terms of gameplay (forced scrolling is introduced, in addition to instant kills, and being forced back several levels if you are killed while facing the Vortex Queen, ratcheting up the tension).

What other game has resolved so unlike its initial starting point?

Thanks for all the fish.

Ecco is overrated.

And you're just going to have to live with that comment until I can think of an answer to your challenge. I'm pretty sure if you, I don't know, read the back of the box or some shit you'd figure out it wasn't a "nature simulator."

Shit, in Kotor you start out as a security guard and end up as the Sith lord of the universe.

Just because there's a time-travelling dolphin doesn't mean it has a wonderful narrative. It's not like Turtles in Time has a wonderful narrative. In fact, there's hardly any narrative, really.

If not for that horrid Zelda thread, this might be the worst thread title in recent memory.

How many games have both a protagonist and antagonists that have no ability to speak? If you're narrowly defining narrative as a story that can't be told from a character's perspective, then of course Ecco is at or near the top, because there isn't much, if anything, to which to compare it.

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Originally Posted by Cowutopia

Shit, in Kotor you start out as a security guard and end up as the Sith lord of the universe.

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A security guard surrounded by tons of random alien species and self-functioning robots armed with lasers and people with magic powers. Ending up getting your own magic powers and laser sword isn't exactly the same jump as a regular dolphin that uncovers a conspiracy and battles aliens.

I'm not sure which Ecco Sqoon's referring to here (I prefer Ecco on DC), but I like the idea here.

I love Ecco! But I dunno if I entirely understand.

I mean, I see what you're trying to say, but just to be an ass I'll provide your rhetorical question with some possible answers.

Plot twist - Shadow of the Colossus comes to mind.

Deceptive beginning - Metal Gear Solid 2.

Okay, I quit.

I'm not buying into this argument.

I just remember Ecco being really fun, but brutally difficult. The DC one especially. Just the feeling of being underwater, running out of air, and things trying to constantly kill and eat me made for a very uncomfortable gaming environment.

Shenmue. You start off as a regular high school kid, but to avenge your father you strive, train and sacrifice to become the greatest forklift racer the Yokosuka circuit has ever seen. Ryo's toy forklift trophy case would go on to become the stuff of legends.

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Originally Posted by Salsashark

Plot twist - Shadow of the Colossus comes to mind.

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I wouldn't call it a plot twist exactly.