Ecco: The Tides of Time (Genesis)

Prototype Info

Debug Menu#

Similar to the first game, a debug menu can be accessed by pausing the game while Ecco is facing the screen and pressing A, B, C, B, C, A, C, A, B. The first seven options are the same as the first game's, and the remaining 5 do exactly as they say. However, the music tempo setting doesn't work, and the message displayer simply quits out of the menu.

Demo Recorder#

This feature is accessible in the 3 prototypes by holding one controller button during start-up, but was disabled for release. It's still possible to access it in the EU build, however, by calling the function at offset 0x0008D64E. One way to do so is using this pair of codes:

0006AC:603E (overrides checksum failure)
086292:D64E (replaces the sonar map function with the demo recorder)

Then, jump out of the water while holding A.

Two Player#

There is a co-op two-player mode that can be activated with the code FFA7B5:01001. This will display a second Ecco that can be controlled with player 2's control pad. This mode is present in prototype versions.

Unused Graphics#

Located in ROM address 0x56C00. A thin tail segment for the thin-bodied segmented enemies in Atlantis, as seen in the earliest prototype. Because these enemies are only ever found chained to rocks in the final game, this isn't used.

Ecco The Dolphin Leftovers#

• Around address 0x4AE00 is the octopus' (AKA "Eight Arms") tentacle.
• Between addresses 0x48800 and 0x48A00 are the segments of the leech enemy that pulls on Ecco.

Unused Level Palettes#

Aqua Tubeway#

Atlantis#

Vortex Future#

Unused Staff Roll#

An unfinished staff roll with obvious placeholder text exists in the final game. Use the following Pro Action Replay codes to replace the sonar map with the staff roll (US version):

0859F0:000D 
0859F2:2F32

The text as it appears in the ROM:

*.      STAFF..
*ROUND ONE.FIGHT.
*WILCOMMEN.IN DER..
*WE LOVE THE.DOLPHINS.
*HASTA.LA VISTA.BABY.
*OPERATING.SYSTEM.
*HOW ARE YOU.
*HELLO WORD

Leftover Vortex Intro#

In the E2A prototype, there's a closeup on the Vortex Queen falling through the atmosphere. The code for it is long gone, but the scene data remains stored in the final builds. Ecco can swim in there because the data is stored as if it were a level, although there's no objects or anything and his palette is messed up, since Ecco wasn't supposed to go there anyways. To reach it, one level block from the game menu has to be replaced by this block. With these Pro Action Replay codes (for the US version), the second level block (It's just 1 level - Globeholder) is replaced by this one, called "bosshead":

08D8A0:001C 
08D8A2:2AC8
08DE08:001C 
08DE0A:2AC8
08E03A:001C
08E03C:2AC8

Then use the debug menu cheat, and go to level 7.

Regional Differences#

The title theme sounds slightly different in the European version, compared to the US and Japanese versions, due to more prominent echoing in the track.

Title Screen#

Japan	International