Ecco the Dolphin
Defender of the Future

Nintendo have Mario and Zelda. Sega have Sonic and Ecco.

Resurrecting the Saturn's biggest game, Ecco is now the 'defender of the future' and out to somehow save mankind from itself by playing fish fetch, performing tricks, helping the big blue whale by finding his little 'un and killing sharks by ramming into them. Alternatively, leave Ecco alone and he'll turn to face you and 'cheep' at you.

The graphics are stunning at first and move at a fantastic rate, particularly with the 60hz option, but you soon get bored finning about and telling tales from topographic oceans, while the soundtrack is a cross between the Free Willy theme and those new age instrumental CDS that cost £15 in 'Feng Shui' shops.

Parents may buy this for their kids because there's not an uzi in sight, but when you have to collect songs to progress in later levels coupled with scores of bizarrely-named levels like "Sleeping Forces of Doom" and "Obscure Ways To Terminus", someone's clearly been on the wacky baccy whilst listening to Yes and Pink Floyd's 1970's back-catalogue.