Ecco II “0429″ Prototype [Build Date APR 29 1994]
Welcome to DARK SEA’s documentation of the Ecco the Dolphin II: Tides of Time prototype build designated “0429″. This section details the differences between this test version of the game and the final version, as well as the previous known prototype build (“X11″). As more information is learned about each build of Ecco II, these sections will continue to grow. If you would like to submit your own discoveries and information, please leave a comment on this page or contact me using the information here. Thanks for visiting and enjoy this artifact of Ecco history.
Note: Though the 0429 prototype has been released, this section’s only about 95% complete– we still have a few things to add. I’ve noted incomplete areas wherever possible, just watch your step. Enjoy! — Epicenter
Download This Build
The provided binary ROM file is compressed in ZIP format. It can run on true Genesis/MegaDrive hardware or an emulator. If an emulator is used, KEGA Fusion is strongly recommended.
Download: ECO20429.zip
Basic Characteristics
Designation: 0429 (Original Filename[s]: ___)
Original Format: Segmented/Compressed EPROM image from official Sega CD-ROM
Build Date/Time: Build designation suggests a date of April 29, 1994. ZIP archive has a timestamp of ___. Time zone unknown.
Origin: Sega of America Quality Assurance/Testing Department
Official Release: Yes
Synopsis
This version of Ecco II comes from an internal CD-ROM belonging to Sega of America’s testing department. These discs contained the source media for EPROM cartridges used by testers to evaluate games and report bugs. It is also believed this build of Ecco II was intended for magazines and other media for review/promotional purposes.
This build seems to have been made just 2 weeks after the “X11″ prototype. Even so, it shows substantial advancement in many areas. All the unique music from X11 is replaced with mostly-final versions of the songs, stages are more developed, there’s some new easter eggs to note, and much more.
Detailed Documentation
This section will contain audio recordings of the prototype running on real Genesis hardware, hidden materials not visible in normal gameplay, and debug information. It is currently a work in progress.
- General Information – Documentation common to all parts of the prototype. WIP
- Audio Documentation – Unique music/sound effects found in the prototype. WIP
- Hidden Content – Hidden content discovered via ROM binary and savestate inspection/hacking. WIP
- Debug Features – Developer features and how to access them. WIP
- Stages -1 to -5 – 3D Stages WIP
- Stage 0 – Boss Entrance
- Stage 1 – Deep Horizont
- Stage 2 – The Eye Incomplete
- Stage 3 – Collect Incomplete
- Stage 4 – Spiral
- Stage 5 – Shark Incomplete
- Stage 6 – Globeholder (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 7 – Selection Scr
- Stage 8 – Between A Times
- Stage 9 – Broken Glyph (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 10 – Medusa Tube
- Stage 11 – Four in a Row (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 12 – A-Maze-ing
- Stage 13 – Home Bay
- Stage 14 – Dark Stage
- Stage 15 – The Begining
- Stage 16 – Medusa Entrance
- Stage 17 – Upstair
- Stage 18 – Asterite Cave (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 19 – Bird Walk
- Stage 20 – Flying Bird
- Stage 21 – Islands
- Stage 22 – Giant Medusa
- Stage 23 – Vortex Arrived (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 24 – Autocamera (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 25 – Fastcamera (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 26 – Csigaboss (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 27 – Asterite Ide (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 28 – To City (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 29 – Atlantis00 (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 30 – Atlantis01 (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 31 – Big-Bug (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 32 – Billiard
- Stage 33 – Fishmorph (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 34 – Future01 (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 35 – Future02 (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 36 – Future03 (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 37 – Entrance Mostly Complete
- Stage 38 – Gravitorbox (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 39 – Vortex on Earth
- Stage 40 – Vortex Entrance
- Stage 41 – Autovortex In Work
- Stage 42 – Escape (appears identical to Build X11)
- Stage 43 – Second01
- Stage 44 – Second02
- Stage 45 – Second03
- Stage 46 – Stomach
- Stage 47 – Downtown
- Stage 48 – Oneway
- Stage 49 – Sarlac (appears identical to Build X11 with Infinite Air Enabled
- Stage 50 – Big Whale
- Stage 51 – Attack (appears identical to Build X11
- Stage 52 – TMachine (appears identical to Build X11
FastCamera is very different from X11:
There are lights to guide your way, the scrolling speed is dependant on the selected dificulty, the easy-mode exit is functional, and the final portion of the stage (in hard-mode) the exit is like the final version, instead of more crazy jumping…
great work, glad I waited a few years for it.
playing with the debugger.
expect PAR codes soon.
Actually, I think that “To City” is new to this build. I certainly don’t recall it being in X11. From what I’ve seen, it’s a prototype version of Epilogue.
Indeed it is, just checked. X11 goes Sarlac->Home Bay->Atlantis00.
Of course, that leaves it as almost identical to final (only real difference that can be there is what the Asterite actually says). Not like there’s much gameplay in that level anyway.
could you at least provide links in the levels the same as x11 to the actual level documentation rather than just to the X11 home page.
i hope this is completed the other two prototypes are still incomplete in places
could you put the link for this build into the ecco prototypes page rather than searching on the main page in the chance that updates will push the news post off
Strange. The Title screen says “(C) Sega of America 1995″. Apparently this prototype came out after the actual game!
Maybe they made a mistake with the copyright date…
The Asterite has a different message in “To City” than it does in the final “Epilogue”. In this version, it just says:
“Your problem is the timemachine (sic)… Go, search and destroy it.”
i want to understand wich emulator i can use for search PAR codes with a debugger (kega fusion is good but i dont like that)
PAR or game genie…