This game... This game *sigh*... want to love it, but I know it will only hurt me again. This is an example of a lesson which all should learn, poor level design can COMPLETELY DESTROY AMAZING POTENTIAL. It's beautiful, sounds great, is good handling, and from what I've seen and read, it has an awesome story and a lot of content, but it spend all to much time in cramped caves with currents. The controls seem built for wide open space, but the level design seems to want otherwise. I pushed through the caves, but the vents, how thought the vents were a good idea, "you know what this needs, not just more mazes, but mazes path the push out of the maze" "Did you guys hear bill's great idea, give bill all the funding". I wouldn't be this mad if the rest wasn't this good

Graphics: Beautiful, it has great palette, a nice style, I really like it

Sound: Along with Ristar, the Streets in Rage series, the Sonic games, and Dynamite Headdie, this convinced me of how great the genesis sound chip is, it has a very atmospheric soundtrack which rarely gets old

Addictiveness:  It was engaging, but the vents killed the mood

Story: Looks epic, from what I read on Wikipedia, but the vents broke my spirit along with my will to live

Depth: Read the story one

Difficulty: It didn't just beat me, it hurt on some deep level, it wouldn't be difficult if the level design was better, as it is it should get the subtitle of "Crusher of Men"

In conclusion, Ecco the Dolphin: Crusher of Men would be a prefect storm of greatness, but then the level design comes out from the wood work, smacks his head on the wall and shouts " I'S HELPEDING", and from what I can gather doesn't get better