Ecco the Dolphin/Hidden content

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Mega Drive & Mega-CD versions

Debug menu

Ecco MD DebugMenu 1.png

Ecco MD DebugMenu 2.png

While turning left or right, pause the game when Ecco is looking directly at the camera, then press Right B C B C Down C Up[1].

  • Stage Number: Values range from 0 to 27. Press  START  after selecting a stage to jump to it. Some stages are reserved for cutscenes and may crash the game when accessed.
  • Sound Number: A sound test that ranges from 0 to 65. Press A to play a song associated with the selected value, or B to play an associated sound effect.
  • Music Tempo: Values range from -120 to 120, with 0 as the default value. This setting affects the tempo of the currently playing song. Some values will work incorrectly for some songs.
  • Message Number: Values range from 0 to 54. Press A or B after selecting a value to display its associated message. 22, 31 and 32 are empty and 43 grants invincibility.
  • Unlimited Life: When set to 1, Ecco's life and oxygen meters will not decrease.
  • Teleport X/Y: Set the X and Y values, then press  START  to teleport Ecco to the designated coordinates. If the designated coordinates will place Ecco out of bounds, then nothing will happen. If Ecco gets placed into a wall, there will be no way out as he will not be able to move, locking the player out of the debug menu.
  • MasterVol: Adjusts the overall volume. (Mega-CD version only)
  • RedbookVol: Adjusts the volume for the CD audio. (Mega-CD version only)
  • FM Volume: Adjusts the volume for FMV cutscenes. (Mega-CD version only)

Unlimited air and health

Ecco MD UnlimitedAirHealth.png

When the level title card appears, press A+ START  and keep them held until the stage begins and the game pauses. When unpaused Ecco will have unlimited air and health.

Master System & Game Gear versions

Debug menu

Ecco SMS DebugMenu.png

Ecco GG DebugMenu.png

Call up the map screen during gameplay, then press Right Left 2 Up 2 Down 2 Up for the Master System version or Right 1 2 1 2 Down 2 Up for the Game Gear version[2].

  • Level: Values range from 0 to 19. Press 2 after selecting a level to jump to it.
  • Sound: Values range from 1 to 35. Press 2 to play the sound effect associated with the selected value.
  • Music: Values range from 0 to 18. Press 2 to play the song associated with the selected value.
  • Message: Values range from 0 to 64. Press 2 after selecting a value to display its associated message.
  • Unlimited Life: When set to 1, Ecco's life and oxygen meters will not decrease.
  • Key For All: (TODO)
  • Swim Through: When set to 1, Ecco can swim through walls.
  • Control Set: Changes the control configuration between three types (Master System version only):
  • A: Ecco swims slowly with the D-Pad, 1 performs a charge attack, 2 activates the sonar.
  • B: Ecco swims slowly with the D-Pad, 1 activates the sonar, 2 allows faster swimming, 1+2 performs a charge attack. This is the default configuration.
  • C: Ecco swims quickly by double-pressing directions on the D-Pad, 1 performs a charge attack, 2 activates the sonar.

Windows PC version

Message viewer

Ecco PC MessageViewer.png

Press  enter  to pause the game whilst turning around, so that Ecco is looking outwards towards the screen when the game freezes.

Now press Z, X, C, X, C, X, Z, C, X, Z (assuming default keyboard controls where Z=sonar, X=attack and C=speedup).

The game will unpause and the words MESSAGE NUM: 00 will appear in the bottom left corner of the screen.


Press 🡩 or 🡫 to select a message number and C to view the message (Ecco will continue to respond to the button presses you use to select a message). Press 🡨 or 🡪 at any time to exit this mode.

References


Ecco the Dolphin

Ecco Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Achievements | Changelog | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Promotional material | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


Sega Game Gear
Prototypes: 1993-06-14 | EPROM 20

Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: 1993-04-21 | 06-29