Finished Ecco DOTF this weekend *spoilers*

My comments:

It was pretty fun to play, but it got a little tedious. Hanging Waters (which was great fun) came along at just the right time, as I was getting tired of wandering around and sonaring stuff. The boss battles were a little disappointing gameplay-wise, especially the final one (sonar, then charge...AGAIN).

It is a fantastic-looking and -sounding game, with some of the most memorable levels I've ever seen. One of my favorite parts was just swimming around checking stuff out...not necessarily a praise of the gameplay, I suppose.

Ecco was difficult, but in a "I-have-no-idea-what-to-do-now" way. Once I figured out what to do and where to go, doing it was actually pretty easy (unlike MDK2, which was simply difficult - "here's what to do, good luck"). This was my major gripe with the game - too often I got stuck because I had no idea what to do and clues that were too vague, and progressed by accident on too many occasions. That, and the fact that Ecco got literally stuck on plants and ledges a little too often.

Despite this, Ecco was definitely worthwhile to play. The soundtrack was great, the levels beautiful, the animation very lifelike and convincing. Heck, it was worth it just for Hanging Waters, which was an old-school platforming blast to play.

Favorite "tourist" level: Atlantis Lost
Favorite gameplay level: Hanging Waters
Best-looking level: Lair of Evil
Favorite boss battle: The Gator
Worst boss: Heart of the Foe (sorry, but it looked like a giant throbbing testicle)

I hated Heart of the Foe... took me a good hour to beat.

The Gator was frikin easy compared to the rest of the game.

Hanging Waters was very tough IMO, having to bounce the precarious dolhpin off those spheres was hell.

IMO, the game is not only vauge and enigmatic, but it is also tough as nails to accomlish some of the things ou need to do.

The game is a fucking mind bender.

I liked it though, and congrats, you just finished what is possibly the hardest game ever.

ºTracer

You dont happen to live in a cave do you?

Z-roe

LOL...nah, that's not me...

Tracer: Yeah, it was hard, but in a completely different way than MDK2 (IMO the hardest ever). In Ecco, most of the challenge was trying to figure out what to do - doing it was pretty easy once you worked it out..at least it was for me. MDK2 put the challenge right in your face and said "OK chump, just TRY jet-packing that four-armed dog to the top of this mile-high pyramid".

The Gator just looked cool....and so did the early Great White. Getting him to chase you was pretty nerve-wracking (I swear, I don't live in a cave, Z-roe!! Coincidence!!).

Quote:

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Originally posted by BioMechanic
LOL...nah, that's not me...

Tracer: Yeah, it was hard, but in a completely different way than MDK2 (IMO the hardest ever). In Ecco, most of the challenge was trying to figure out what to do - doing it was pretty easy once you worked it out..at least it was for me. MDK2 put the challenge right in your face and said "OK chump, just TRY jet-packing that four-armed dog to the top of this mile-high pyramid".

The Gator just looked cool....and so did the early Great White. Getting him to chase you was pretty nerve-wracking (I swear, I don't live in a cave, Z-roe!! Coincidence!!).

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Ah, MDK2! I love this game! Difficult? Yes. Worth it? Hell yes! And the bosses are frikkin' amazing in scope and scale. The very first boss rides in a ship the size of a small moon!

I agree that the game was in your face, but that's what compelled me to beat it. It kept saying, "I'll bet you can't _________," which made me say, "Oh yea?!" And then go on to show it's punk ass up by beating it.

Ecco is a beautiful game, but because of the unabrasive, not telling me where to go bullcrap, I just couldn't do it.

Maybe I'll give it second shot.

I'd say give it a go, Capn, but slowly. It took me six months to beat Ecco - I played it only a couple hours a week, one level at a time. I think I'd have gone mad if I'd played nothing else.

MDK2 is, IMO, the DC's best game, and one of the top 5 I've ever played.

Quote:

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Originally posted by BioMechanic
MDK2 is, IMO, the DC's best game, and one of the top 5 I've ever played.

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ill agree to that. a lil ass whuppin every so often isnt a bad thing :)

IMO Ecco isn't nearly as difficult as most people make it out to be.
It does get wuite tedious towards the end though. Still, I beat it and am really glad I put the time into it.

As for MDK2? That's a damn hard game. One which I stand proud to say I've beaten.

The 8th level jetpack sequence is something I will never forget.

Congratulations on finishing one of the finest and most challenging games ever created. :)

I'm sure to be one of the few who loved almost every aspect of the game (minus the wobbly framerate). I thought the vague hints were the key to the games' focus of exploration and sense of adventure. Some of the levels felt like massive secret tombs waiting to be discovered and charted, each one passed another notch on your belt. I found it neither frustrating in not immediately knowing what to do, nor in getting lost when I did know my course of action. That, IMO, was the designers intent. A very rewarding game if you have the patience, one of my top ten games of all time.

I'll 'echo' those sentiments. Aside from occasional frame rate issues, the game is breathtaking. I felt proud to have beaten it a month after it came out, as it was one of the more frustrating (hanging waters) and rewarding (hanging waters :) )titles I'd played in recent memory.

Some of the most convincing environments ever made; Fu describes it perfectly by adding that several levels felt "like massive tombs". Very mysterious and eerily beautiful. The music, the appearance....just about everything regarding DOTF (sans aforemetioned fps) is solid and delicious. Also one of my top ten game experiences. Maybe not top ten games, but top ten experiences for me.

Ecco is still amazing, and congratulations on tackling it. It looks prettier on your shelf when you can look at it and nod, thinking to yourself, "I finished it". I can't wait for another entry.

Next in line : MDK2,
~Quinn