Ecco: The Tides of Time
Ecco: The Tides of Time — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Ecco: The Tides of Time on?
- Ecco: The Tides of Time was released on Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Sega CD, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Game Gear.
- When did Ecco: The Tides of Time release?
- Ecco: The Tides of Time was first released on August 25, 1994.
About Ecco: The Tides of Time
Ecco must stop the Vortex! He is “the stone that splits the stream of time.” He now faces his most dangerous quest yet. For it is not just his dolphin pod at stake, but the Earth and all living beings!
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Sega CD, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Game Gear
- Developer
- Novotrade
- Publisher
- Tec Toy
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Science fiction
- Series
- Ecco the dolphin
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Master SystemDetails ↓ | 1996 | $95 | $209 | — | — | Medium (look-alike) |
| Sega GenesisDetails ↓ | 1994 | $8 | $22 | $134 | 91/100 | Low |
| Sega CDDetails ↓ | 1994 | $15 | $39 | $62 | — | Medium |
The cheapest way to own it loose is the Sega Genesis version ($8).
Also released on: Linux · Wii · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Mac · Sega Master System/Mark III · Sega Game Gear. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Prices are per version and are not interchangeable, and neither are the reviews: conversions in this era were often built by a different studio than the original, so a score earned on one machine says nothing about how another plays.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Master System · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-28
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a year
- Complete: rarely — fewer than one recorded sale a year
- Sealed: rarely — fewer than one recorded sale a year
Prices marked “few sales” rest on about one recorded sale a year, so treat them as a rough guide: the next copy could sell well above or below. Expect to wait for one to come up.
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-28.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $95 in Jul 2024, and $95 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | $95 | $209 |
| Jan 2026 | $95 | $209 |
| Oct 2026 | $95 | $209 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 1996 | 028.630 |
- Region
- BR
- Released
- 1996
- Authenticity
- Med
The Sega Master System version
A Brazilian-only Master System version of the dolphin sequel, with a price above the middle of the Tec Toy releases.
Ecco: The Tides of Time was Sega's 1994 sequel to Ecco the Dolphin, developed by Novotrade, and it continued the first game's story. Tec Toy brought it to the Master System in Brazil in 1996 as an official release.
How the Sega Master System version differs
Mean Machines Sega said the Master System conversion looks much like the Game Gear version, but found the handheld's screen too small to play it satisfactorily.
Mean Machines Sega praised the conversion for adding a game style the Master System lacked, with a newly designed level layout that tests the player sooner.
Also on other platforms
Genesis · Sega CD · Game Gear
- Game Gear. The Game Gear version was heavily altered: all the levels were redesigned for the handheld's weaker hardware, and several levels and story scenes were removed.
Before you buy
This is the Brazilian Tec Toy cartridge, and it sits above the middle of the Brazil-only releases. As a valuable cart, it is worth asking for clear photos of the cart and its label. The manual is the part most often missing from a complete copy.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardboard box release | — | $28 | — |
| European (PAL) release | $8 | $16 | $49 |
| Japanese release (Ecco the Dolphin II) | $11 | $41 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about 2 times a week
- Complete: about 3 times a week
- Sealed: about 3 times a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $1.40 in Oct 2007, $6.60 five years ago, and $8.03 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $2.67 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $0.75 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $0.87 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $0.96 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $0.87 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $1.12 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $3.99 | $6.24 |
| Jan 2015 | $4.00 | $10.50 |
| Jan 2016 | $3.99 | $7.08 |
| Jan 2017 | $5.54 | $9.95 |
| Jan 2018 | $6.39 | $10.67 |
| Jan 2019 | $5.27 | $9.70 |
| Jan 2020 | $7.59 | $11.92 |
| Jan 2021 | $6.68 | $13.03 |
| Jan 2022 | $6.95 | $16.13 |
| Jan 2023 | $8.68 | $12.16 |
| Jan 2024 | $6.06 | $15.44 |
| Jan 2025 | $8.12 | $16.86 |
| Jan 2026 | $7.99 | $15.55 |
| Oct 2026 | $8.03 | $22 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode | Known board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | November 1994 | 1553 | 010086015539 | — |
| Europe / PAL | 18 November 1994 | 670-5201-50 | — | 171-6329A · MPR-17064-H |
| Japan | 26 August 1994 | G-4123 | 4974365541231 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1994
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega Genesis version
A handsome but demanding underwater sequel that costs little as a Genesis cartridge.
This is the Genesis cartridge of the second Ecco game, known in Japan as Ecco the Dolphin II. Novotrade developed it and Sega published it; it reached Japan on 26 August 1994, then Europe on 18 November 1994 and North America in November 1994. The Genesis soundtrack was composed by Attila Dobos, Andras Magyari, David Javelosa and Andy Armer.
Critics disagreed about its difficulty. GamePro found it more accessible than the first game, while two of the Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewers called it much harder. Next Generation said its graphics and sound surpass the first game by leaps and bounds but thought it still lacks enough action to hold the interest.
What the press said at the time
| Mega Console | 91/100 |
“mix of the side scrolling and 3D perspectives are very cool. Plus, this”
“Fans of the first Ecco . game will want to check it out; the ring-jumping stages are cool indeed.”
Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Genesis version.
How the Sega Genesis version differs
GamePro found the Genesis game kept the best points of the first Ecco while being much more accessible in difficulty.
Electronic Gaming Monthly's four reviewers gave the Genesis version 7.25 out of ten, with two saying it was much more difficult than the first game.
Also on other platforms
Master System · Sega CD · Game Gear
- Game Gear. The Game Gear version is heavily altered: all levels were redesigned for the handheld and several levels and story scenes were removed.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits below the middle, so it is an easy cart to pick up. The European loose cart usually costs about the same as the US one, while a complete European copy usually costs less. The Japanese cart (Ecco the Dolphin II) usually costs more and has a different cartridge shape. A cardboard-box edition is priced separately and a complete copy in it usually costs more than the plastic-case version.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega CD · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-11-02
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release (Ecco The Tides Of Time) | $123 | $266 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a month
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about once a month
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-11-02.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $3.50 in Oct 2008, $19.64 five years ago, and $14.99 as of Nov 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2009 | $3.00 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $2.40 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $2.78 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $1.33 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $5.99 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $4.99 | $9.99 |
| Jan 2015 | $6.64 | $12.90 |
| Jan 2016 | $9.99 | $12.99 |
| Jan 2017 | $10.75 | $17.95 |
| Jan 2018 | $11.91 | $19.49 |
| Jan 2019 | $10.58 | $19.55 |
| Jan 2020 | $12.01 | $25 |
| Jan 2021 | $21 | $26 |
| Jan 2022 | $20 | $36 |
| Jan 2023 | $22 | $31 |
| Jan 2024 | $16.83 | $30 |
| Jan 2025 | $12.75 | $30 |
| Jan 2026 | $9.70 | $29 |
| Nov 2026 | $14.99 | $39 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Nov 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | November 1994 | 4441 | 010086844412 |
| Europe / PAL | June 1995 | 4441-50 | — |
| Japan | 24 February 1995 | — | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1994
- Authenticity
- Med
The Sega CD version
A Sega CD edition of the dolphin sequel that earns its disc with an alternate soundtrack and the exclusive History Glyphs.
This is the Sega CD version of Ecco: The Tides of Time, developed by Novotrade and published by Sega. It reached North America in November 1994, Japan on 24 February 1995 and Europe in June 1995. Where the Genesis cartridge carries its own score, the Sega CD game has an alternate soundtrack by Spencer Nilsen, and it adds History Glyphs, a feature found only in this version.
GamePro called it an excellent sequel with enchanting graphics and sounds, and said the History Glyphs add to the enjoyment. Next Generation agreed that the glyphs are nicely done and charming, noted the improved graphics and music, and gave the disc three stars out of five.
What the press said at the time
“The CD version improves on the cartridge by improving the graphics, adding more depth, and by improving the music over the old.”
“Overall this is a mighty cool Mega-CD product which I for one would be happy to have for my own.”
Also on other platforms
Master System · Genesis · Game Gear
Before you buy
The North American disc sits below the middle on price among North American Sega CD games, while the European disc costs far more, loose and complete. The US disc suits a North American Sega CD and a Japanese disc a Japanese Mega-CD. Ask for photos of the disc's printed side, its data side and the inner ring, and check that the title and catalogue number on the disc match the case.
Ecco: The Tides of Time screenshots
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