***====ECCO 2: THE TIDES OF TIME====*** FAQ VERSION 3 This guide was written by Cyber Predator, who resides at http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Chamber/1301 and can be e-mailed at Cyber_Predator@hotmail.com This document is copyrighted by Cyber Predator, as of its original release date (detailed in the Version Information). Any entities used in this document that are copyrighted by anyone else remains the property of the original owner; Cyber Predator is simply giving information about these copyrighted entities that the copyright owners aren't making very public. RULES FOR THIS DOCUMENT'S DUPLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION You may.... ....Store a copy of this document on your home computer, print out a copy and/or show it to friends AS LONG AS you don't make ANY money from doing so AND you don't leave ANY part of the document out or change anything. ....Use this document to research a guide of your own AS LONG AS you credit this document AND specify the author and where a copy of the guide can be found in a credits section. You may not.... ....Use this document to make money in any way, shape, or form. NO EXCEPTIONS!! ....Distribute this document indiscriminately. ....Make copies of this guide and put them in public places (eg Internet, hard-copy game guides) without Cyber Predator's express permission. ....Translate this guide into HTML without Cyber Predator's express permission. ....Link directly to this text-only document. Failure to observe these guidelines is a violation of international copyright law. GameFAQs (http://www.gamefaqs.com) always shows the most up-to-date copy of this document. Authorised copies are ONLY posted at Video Game Strategies at About.com (http://vgstrategies.about.com), Game Winners (http://www.gamewinners.com), GamersXchange (http://www.gamersxchange.net) ====CONTENTS==== INTRODUCTION Version Information Author's Note THE LEVELS Crystal Springs Fault Zone Two Tides Skyway Sky Tides Tubes of Medusa Skylands Fin to Feather Eagle's Bay Asterite's Cave Four Islands Sea of Darkness Vents of Medusa Gateway Moray Abyss Big Water The Eye Deep Ridge The Hungry Ones Secret Cave Lunar Bay Black Clouds Gravitorbox Globe Holder Dark Sea Vortex Queen Home Bay Epilogue Fish City City of Forever CODES Passwords Cheats Game Genie Codes Credits and Taglines ====INTRODUCTION==== ***VERSION INFORMATION*** VERSION 1 - 0734 GMT, 17-Oct-1999 Contains a few select hints from each of the levels in addition to the customary credits, Author's Note and copyright info. VERSION 2 - 0312 GMT, 21-Oct-1999 Added the cheats section, which includes Patch Codes and the level passwords. VERSION 3 - 0654 GMT, 29-Feb-2000 Thanks to Julia, the long-awaited password for Moray Abyss has been added. Julia also pointed out a boo-boo with the invincibility code and an omitted level, so a big thank you to Julia! Also, the copyright info has been made more in-depth. I don't have the password for Moray Abyss. If you can help out, please e-mail me! ***AUTHOR'S NOTE*** I've actually never played Ecco 2, as I read it was be perfectly identical to the original and thus not worth buying. While reading the Requests page at GameFAQs, I found a FAQ for Ecco 2 to be the most requested guide for the system. In my nagging desire to help people out, I dug through my old SWATPro magazine and found (to my surprise) that the Ecco 2 guide of that issue was one of the few guides left in my mag that hadn't become anti-matter. So I transcribed the tips into my own words and posted them on the 'Net to keep the people happy. And can someone please tell me that the star pattern on Ecco's head is NOT the constellation Crux? ====THE LEVELS==== ***CRYSTAL SPRINGS*** Here you must break loose three crystals one at a time, then push them towards the crystal near the ship to build them into one. ***FAULT ZONE*** Push the falling rock to break the rock barrier in the path. Zigzag along the following water way until the earthquake goes off, at which point you should repeatedly use the ram attack to minimise the damage you take. ***TWO TIDES*** After passing the Barrier Glyph, wait for the turtle to swim over the rushing water. Nudge him with your snout until he withdrawls into his shell, then use him as a shield to block the current. ***SKYWAY*** The Key Glyph is above the starting point, the Barrier Glyph being to the left. Continue to the left to another glyph, then go to the right for a Glyph in a water tube. ***SKY TIDES*** This is a forced scrolling level, so your best bet is to memorize everything. Avoid whirlpools at all costs. ***TUBES OF MEDUSA*** You have to move with speed and precision in this level, which is a great exercise in frustration. Medusa is persistent, so just make your way past her. ***SKYLANDS*** The Glyph says you use bubble clumps to climb up, which should be pretty self- explanatory. Use echolocation to see how far you've gone. ***FIN TO FEATHER*** Here you can morph into other creatures. When you transform into a seagull, fly right past the attacking birds and falling rocks to return to your dolphin form and find the Transporter Ring. ***EAGLE'S BAY*** Head right to the meta-sphere, where you'll morph into a bird. Fly left and re- enter the water to find a Key Glyph. Return to your feathered form, fly right and become a dolphin, using your new song to pass the Barrier Glyph. ***ASTERITE'S CAVE*** After repairing the broken Glyph, you'll get the means to pass the Barrier Glyph above it. Ask the dolphin pod for help in flying right and you'll encounter a wierd worm. Force him into the rocks with your sonar to open the path, then you must piece together another Key Glyph to finally reach Asterite. After listening to Asterite, you'll go through a lot of trouble in reaching the exit, mostly thanks to the helix you have to pass through. To make matters worse, an orca requests help in finding her offspring. ***FOUR ISLANDS*** Accuracy is the name of the game, with the water flowing in all different directions. One dolphin offers to be a guide, but stay close to him or you'll have to repeat the process from the top. If you have trouble keeping with him after a few tries, he'll teach you the song needed to pass the stones blocking a path leading to the exit. A second guide takes you beyond that point. ***SEA OF DARKNESS*** This is a nice practise level for the rest of the game. Use echolocation to see ahead, and you'll have to help another killer whale find her lost children. ***VENTS OF MEDUSA*** In this level you become a jellyfish, with little means to defend yourself against the hungry dolphins. Take the first right for a Key Glyph, and if you make it to the top OK you'll become a dolphin again. ***GATEWAY*** Swim around the area until you find the Transporter Ring; when you enter it, a Shadow Ecco makes a strange request. After completing it, use the shells to move against the strong currents but be careful to avoid damage, and quick before your lungs burst. ***MORAY ABYSS*** This level is HARD; avoid the giant spiked shell and red moray eel as you bump off the yellow eels along the walls with your sonar as you proceed down the shaft. When the shell hits the bottom, keep hitting it with your sonar and with any luck you won't have to fight the moray eel. From there, it's simply a matter of following the instructions. ***THE EYE*** {Thanks Julia!} Remember Asterite from the previous game, the giant entity consisting of a heap of spheres in a double-helix? Well, you have to gather up his spheres from passages blocked by Barrier Glyphs. After you recover two of Asterite's spheres and return them, you will be able to unlock a particular Barrier Glyph to access the next two spheres. It's one long frustrating puzzle, but after getting the hang of it you should be OK. ***BIG WATER*** Your objectives here aren't that obvious until you find two of Asterite's spheres. A giant whale helps you out in this department. ***DEEP RIDGE*** You continue rebuilding Asterite in this level, grabbing two spheres at a time and entering the nearest Transporter Ring. Repeat the process until you find all the spheres, getting clues about the story as you go. The exit of this level is well-hidden. ***THE HUNGRY ONES*** Ecco takes the form of a shark in this level, so keep moving to breathe and avoid dolphins to conserve energy. After a series of morphs you'll finish the level as a dolphin. ***SECRET CAVE*** Basically, get the story from the Glyph and swim through the Transporter Rings, but it's hard because a fleet of sharks are after you. Sonar the sharks and leap through the rings when all's clear. ***LUNAR BAY*** If the clawed Vortex alien creature gets a hold of you, you'll warp to a sub- level where you morph into it. At one point in the level two of the alien creatures grab you and warp you to a future world. Escaping involves complex puzzles, giant leaps and backtracking in order to find the Key Glyphs. Take full advantage of the Milestone Glyphs. ***BLACK CLOUDS*** Similar to lunar bay, and quite dark. Use echolocation to help find all the Glyphs and find the exit towards the right. ***GRAVITORBOX*** Keep an eye on the gravity indicator to know when you'll fall down or rocket upwards. ***GLOBE HOLDER*** Use sonar to break the globe free, then keep pushing it into the walls until the tentacles burn off. Remember the darned thing will try and slam you into a wall, so be careful. ***DARK SEA*** A pod of dolphins taking on some Vortex aliens will give you some help, but don't worry about the aliens the pod is fighting. Go through the first gate and use echolocation to find the boxed-in Glyph; keep trying different corridors. ***VORTEX QUEEN*** You have to be wary of the Queen's various attacks and the arm. When she spits the globes, move down to avoid them and hammer her with the sonar before climbing just above the laser beem. You'll have to give the Queen a few rams before she falls. If the Queen swallows you, you'll enter a sub-level as a Vortex alien. When you find the Morph Ball you can return to the main battle. ***HOME BAY*** Defy the current to find the Transporter Ring, then you'll go through a sequence not dissimilar to the Secret Cave....only you're fighting jellyfish, poisonous shells and sharks. ***EPILOGUE*** Asterite explains how time split into two different histories, and how you have to fix it. ***FISH CITY*** After entering the level, you morph into a school of fish under attack by a hungry dolphin pod. When you can, take on stray fish to keep the population high. The Morph Ball is to the right, near the exit. ***CITY OF FOREVER*** This underwater city is home to many strange creatures which zap your life energy like there's no tomorrow. However, you can use some of them to open doors from a safe distance-don't be too far away when you open it or you won't make it through. Keep exploring until you find the exit. Use blocks to fight the current, and you're a stone's throw to another door and the Transporter Ring. ====CODES==== ***LEVEL PASSWORDS*** Crystal Springs: UEPMCVEB Fault Zone: OZUNSKZA Two Tides: KDKINTYA Skyway: SZXHCLDB Sky Tides: OZWIDLDB Tubes of Medusa: QSJRYHZA Skylands: MULXRXEB Fin to Feather: YCPAWEXA Eagle's Bay: YCJPDNDB Asterite's Cave: AOJRDZWA Four Islands: UOYURFDB Sea of Darkness: UQZWIIAB Vents of Medusa: MMVSOPBB Gateway: KDCGTAHB Moray Abyss: YCJXDZZA {Thanks Julia!} The Eye: SXGBPWSE {Thanks Julia!} Big Water: QQCQRDRA Deep Ridge: UXQWJIZD The Hungry Ones: WBQQHMUE Secret Cave: CHGTEYZE Lunar Bay: QYSMHZZE Black Clouds: CLOCVFZE GravitorBox: UIXBGyWxe Globe Holder: SBFPWWJE Dark Sea: MXURVMLA Vortex Queen: YJUWFUAA Home Bay: CSNCMRUA Epilogue: CEWSXKPA ***CHEATS*** IMMORTALITY As you move Ecco left and right, he turns to face you. While Ecco is facing you, pause the game and enter AB Right ACA Down AB Right A (it spells 'abra cadabra'). With this code on, Ecco can neither drown nor be injured to death. DEBUT MENU Make Ecco face you, pause and enter ABCB CACA B. If successful, a debug menu will appear offering Level Select, Sound Test and Invincibility amongst other things. ***GAME GENIE CODES*** I feel I should make it known that because Patch Code devices like the Game Genie alter the data of the game, either your game or machine could get messed up permanently. The companies have a nice little disclaimer saying it's not their fault since you're the one using the thing, and none of the devices are endorsed by Sega. As for me personally, I don't even believe in the use of a Patch Code device because of the risks involved. But like a wise man once said there's one born every minute and there's no way I can stop you if you decision to use one. Consider yourself warned and use these codes at your equipment's peril. The following codes work most of the time: Eating fish won't heal: ADLA-WAD4 Eating fish restores 1/2 as usual: BDLA-WAD4 Eating fish restores double as usual: EDLA-WAD4 Eating fish restores full health: HDLA-WAD4 Infinite air: AKZA-TA7A Infinite health and air: REAA-W6V0 Always have 360ยบ sonar blast: A4KT-2A38 Don't lose rings if you miss gates: ALBA-4A8R Don't lose rings if you shoot gates: AKCT-4A7N The following codes only work in practise mode, where you only see the level. Enter the code to start on the desired level. Sea of Green: AB0A-TAGY Deep Ridge: AF0A-TAGY The Eye: AK0A-TAGY Sea of Birds: AP0A-TAGY Secret Cave: AV0A-TAGY The Hungry Ones: AZ0A-TAGY Convergence: A30A-TAGY Globe Holder: A70A-TAGY Two Tides: BF0A-TAGY The Lost Orcas: BK0A-TAGY Vents of Medusa: BP0A-TAGY Four Islands: BV0A-TAGY Maze of Stone: BZ0A-TAGY Home Bay: B30A-TAGY Sea of Darkness: B70A-TAGY Crystal Springs: CB0A-TAGY Fault Zone: CF0A-TAGY Gateway: CK0A-TAGY Trellia's Bay: CP0A-TAGY Skyway: CV0A-TAGY Asterite's Cave: CZ0A-TAGY Eagle's Bay: C30A-TAGY Fin to Feather: C70A-TAGY Skylands: DB0A-TAGY Tubes of Medusa: DF0A-TAGY Vortex Arrived: DK0A-TAGY Aqua Tubeway: DP0A-TAGY Sky Tides: DV0A-TAGY Moray Abyss: DZ0A-TAGY Asterite's Home: D30A-TAGY Epilogue: D70A-TAGY Atlantis: EB0A-TAGY Fish City: EF0A-TAGY City of Forever: EK0A-TAGY Black Clouds: EP0A-TAGY Vortex Future: EV0A-TAGY GravitorBox: EZ0A-TAGY Lunar Bay: E30A-TAGY Dark Sea: E70A-TAGY New Machine: FB0A-TAGY Inside: FF0A-TAGY Inter: FK0A-TAGY Innuendo: FP0A-TAGY Trans: FV0A-TAGY Vortex Queen: FZ0A-TAGY Big Water: F30A-TAGY The Pod: F70A-TAGY The Machine: GB0A-TAGY ====CREDITS AND TAGLINES==== This information was transcribed (in my own words) from a guide appearing in SWATPro magazine, so thank them for the information. GameSages provided everything found in the Codes section, and Julia provided information about The Eye level and Moray Abyss password. {signed} Cyber Predator 123-926 "Anyone who seeks fame need only become familiar with all that I have acheived." - Claudius Galen The Force will be with you, always