Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future

Glitches

Glitches are actually only little mistakes by the programmers of a game. Mostly they are gaps or little spaces between different wall layers which had not been filled (*due to the failure of the programmers ;P). Defender of the Future has a lot of glitches. We will show you the ones we know about on this site, with detailed explanations and diagrams. By those you will be able to easily find them in the game and try them by yourself! Enjoy!

PERILS OF THE CORAL REEF: escape the level

This one is a bit hidden but very easy to get through! When you start the level, leave the lagoon and go left past the sharks. Leap over the wall and you are at the area where the little dolphin plays with his turtle. Go on and look for the first group ranks of sea grass which come out of the rock and hang in the water. It should be on the right side of the cliff. Swim a little further and then swim back to that sea grass. Now investigate the opposite side of the cliff. You should be able to get through a large gap between sand and rock.
The interesting thing about this is that when you swim through the outer parts of the level you will suddenly see active objects as glyphs, dolphins, corals etc. but no actual walls or sand. When you swim to those object the walls will come back out of a sudden and you are inside the level again. That can only mean that the wall and sand textures are saved in several bunches and only loaded when you reach a different area where the textures are needed. Very obvious when you try to imagine the size of the whole level :)

ROARING FORCES: back to the tube / escape the level

This level has two very nice glitches! First of all, enter the area after the Eel Chase. Become a fish and now you have two possibilities.
First, you can swim back to the place where the chase ended. The rock which close the entrance to the first part of the level can be easily swum through as a fish. When you enter the first area again you will see two eels in the tube! The are non-solid objects though and they move at one place. If you want to become Ecco again, just swim into some air bubbles, but remember that you will only finish the level by dying...
For the second possibilty you will leave the level. Remember you have to be a fish. In the room where you morph into a fish, go to the very bottom and try to swim through the space between two of those columns. You will easily get out of the room by that.
Two thing I recommend you when you are outside of the level are on the one hand look at the part of Atlantis. The one you can actually see through the exit of the level. It's quite nice, there are jellyfish and the whole gate is constructed, whyever :) On the other hand you should go back to the very beginning of the level. I recommend you becoming a dolphin again. At the beginning, investigate the waterfall, it's really interesting, could've been the actual beginning of the level, I think...

ATLANTIS LOST: escape the level / reach the islands top

It is really easy to escape this level, and has some nice results. First, go to the stone gate where you have to use the power of sonar to get a guardian crystal. You don't have to destroy the gate. Take a closer look at the gate, on top of it should be a circle with the image of the sun on it. Swim behind this sign and down towards the level ground. You will recognize that you are already outside of the level.
Outside of the level you will see a lot background patterns like rain forest and stuff. Swim left besides the rock walls until you see the image of the islands top. Try swimming towards it. You will recognize that the water patterns aren't displayed when you swim too far away from the rock. Try staying at the water surface cause as soon as you go underwater you won't be able to see the water surface anymore.
Swim further towards the island background. Make a jump out of the water now and then. After some distance you will recognize that you can swim above the water surface. Now you can swim ("fly") towards the islands top! I've made a diagram to make it visible for you!

MASTER OF FORGOTTEN SKILLS: escape the level

This one is a little tougher than the other glitches cause the gap is this time really small, but you can get through it. When you start the level, swim towards the instruction glyph. You will recognize some giant cracks in the tank's walls with rock behind it, right behind the glyph. (Before starting to search for the gap I recommend you to get the Power of Air which is located in an outside window upper left of this place) This giant crack actually also lead you to a vitalit. The crack is quite circular, try to get behind the wall at the top of the crack, so that you are between the thick metal wall of the tank and the rocks behind the wall.

Now swim horizontally forwards until you see a small triangle of green glimmer - that's the gap. Push forward and move your dolphin body in all directions while pushing. Maybe you get stuck and have to back out until you finally make it trough. Try also the Cinematic View, the shoulder buttons make Ecco roll.
Once you are outside there is a lot to invastigate! Swim right and you will be able to swim through the area where the introducing cutscene of the level was. You can also investigate ending cutscene of this level, where you will find a the dolphin Pilot as a non-solid object who actually also appears on the map but cannot be seen from inside the level.
And you can also swim up to the islands top like in Atlantis Lost but this time you gotta swim a lot faster to reach it, cause the island moves away when you swim towards it. Though it's worth it :)

POWERS OF LEVITATION: escape the level

This glitch is actually a hole, speaking of the size. But it's hard to explain where it is so I drew a small map of the part of the level where it is and by following the red arrow you should be able toeasiely reach the point where the glitch is. It is between sand rock and you have to swim close to the ground to see it, but when you see it you will be amazed of the size.
Though it's nothing special, there is no real background, but you could try to investicate the circular tubes and the rooms from outside. Whenever you need air I would recommend you to follow those long ventilator tunnels. You will be able to get air by the oxygen machines (those bubble thingies).

HANGING WATERS: swim outside the tubes

This glitch is actually hard to explain and it is just as hard to do. I've made a diagram which explains it as easy as possible, but I only recommend this to very patient people and I don't take any guarantee for your Dreamcast or TV since you might want to destroy it :P
Also I happen to be able to get this to work only one time yet, and that was by accident. So, you can call yourself an "Ecco Master" when you are able to make it (or rather "Dude with no life" ;P )