Ecco the Dolphin [Not For Resale]

Sega Game Gear · 1993

Buy on eBay

About this game

Travel through time along with Ecco the dolphin, in the only game that could call itself a "dolphin simulator".

Indeed, you can do pretty much everything a typical dolphin does, including eating fish, surfacing in order to breathe, using your biological sonar and of course, jumping out of the water to amaze your friends.

↓ Read more

The storyline is actually deeper that one may think by looking at the box illustration.

As Ecco, you are the only dolphin who managed to escape from a giant whirlpool which sucked down your entire pod.

The five shining stars on your forehead show that you are the chosen one to save them.

But that task will be not be an easy one, as you will have to travel through time and space with the Atlantean time machine, and meet the mystical Asterite in order to defeat the Vortex Queen.

The main part of the gameplay in Ecco the Dolphin relies on exploring various aquatic levels.

They are usually nonlinear, with submerged caverns and tunnels branching out from the main bodies of water.

The navigation is impeded by islands that must be hopped over, volcanoes that spit hot lava, powerful currents, deadly spikes, and dangerous predators such as octopi and giant eels.

The sonar ability has multiple functions: you can communicate with friendly animals, map out the nearby area (echolocation), activate glyphs, and eventually defeat enemies.

Activating glyphs is necessary because they can unlock unexplored parts of the current level, including the exit that leads to the next area; some of them can even bestow the gift of invincibility on Ecco for a limited time.

You must keep an eye on the life and breath meters.

Dolphins can't stay underwater for a long period of time and must return to the surface for air.

However, the cavern systems may hide the occasional pocket of air as well.

Every time you are hit by spikes, lava, or an enemy, Ecco loses health, and once it reaches zero you will have to replay the level from the beginning.

The life meter can be replenished by e

Data by MobyGames.com

About Sega Game Gear

Sega's Game Gear (1990) was a technically capable handheld competitor to the Game Boy, notable for its full-color backlit screen — a real advantage at the time, offset by famously poor battery life. Its commercial underperformance against Nintendo's handheld means smaller print runs overall, and complete, well-preserved cartridges (the plastic shells are prone to yellowing and cracking) are a genuine niche within retro handheld collecting.

Gamevaro tracks Ecco the Dolphin [Not For Resale] for Sega Game Gear with separate market values for loose, complete-in-box (CIB) and factory-sealed copies, sourced from real eBay sales. Prices also vary by region — PAL, NTSC-U and NTSC-J releases of the same game often sell for different amounts due to print run sizes and regional collector demand.

Adding Ecco the Dolphin [Not For Resale] to a Gamevaro collection takes seconds — search by title or scan the box barcode, and the app fills in cover art, release details and current pricing automatically. This GG release dates back to 1993.

Market values by condition

No price data available yet.

Rarity & condition

No market sales have been tracked yet for Ecco the Dolphin [Not For Resale] — this could mean it rarely changes hands, or simply that Gamevaro hasn't recorded a sale for it yet. Be the first to add it to your collection.

Complete-in-box (CIB) copies typically command a premium over loose cartridges/discs because the original box and manual are more fragile and get discarded or damaged over time — fewer complete sets survive.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Ecco the Dolphin [Not For Resale] worth?

Gamevaro hasn't tracked a market sale for Ecco the Dolphin [Not For Resale] (Sega Game Gear) yet, so no current value is available. Prices are sourced from real marketplace sales, and this page will update automatically once sales data comes in.

Is Ecco the Dolphin [Not For Resale] rare?

No market sales have been tracked yet for Ecco the Dolphin [Not For Resale], which could mean it rarely changes hands or that Gamevaro simply hasn't recorded a sale for it yet.

What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for Ecco the Dolphin [Not For Resale]?

Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. These are tracked as separate market values because the price gap between them can be significant, especially for older releases.