Ecco the Dolphin - Hanging Waters
- April 30, 2003 15:16 PM PST
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Hanging Waters (1)
This is another level where the layout is so huge and awkward that a map would be useless.
As you start this level, you'll be faced with a long water tube. The only thing you have to do here is jump over the jelly walls until you land in a pool of water. Once you're in the pool, your goal is to jump into the newly formed water bubble before it gets too far up. Then, jump from bubble to bubble until you can reach the new water tube.
The strong current in the new tube will add to the challenge, but keep dashing forward (careful not to dash out of the tube) until you are in a new pool. This time, the bubbles don't move and you just have to find the one closest to the pool and jump in it. Make your way up by jumping from bubble to bubble. Eventually, you'll be faced with darker bubbles that you can't jump into. Instead, you'll have to bounce off them to reach the bubbles beyond. After the three bouncing bubbles, you're home free.
Eventually, you'll come upon a fork in the tunnel. Take the left turn that leads to the bubble with the horn inside. Use your sonar on the horn to activate the temporary tube and quickly head back into the tunnel and take the right turn. Dash through the temporary tube and keep heading forward. Once you reach the yellow ring, jump into it (but keep in mind that this time the water is running toward you. Keep dashing and be careful to not dash out of the tube.
When you reach the next horn, jump into the bubble, blow the horn, and quickly get back in the tube to take the temporary connection. At the end of the temporary connection you'll have three choices. Take the one on the right and carefully avoid the revolving rocks.
Soon after the revolving rocks, you'll see another horn. As before, activate it and take the temporary connection. After blowing the horns, you'll be faced with two choices. Take the bottom tube until you get to a water bubble. Leap into the next bubble and make it to the pool below. Enter the tree trunk from the bottom and get ready to face the first of three bosses in Hanging Waters.
Ice and Fire
This boss has the ability to change properties. Whenever it is covered in fire, you want to lead it to the ice at the bottom. When it is covered in ice, lead it to the fire at the top. Whenever the boss approaches either the top or the bottom, it will be bombarded by either blocks of ice or roasted by flames. When this happens, the boss will be temporarily reverted to its normal state, and that's when you should dash attack it.
Hanging Waters (2)
After defeating the first boss, you'll be back in the pool where a new exit has opened up. When you jump into the new tube, you'll be moving very quickly and maneuvering Ecco will be difficult. Try to keep Ecco in the middle of the tube to avoid being thrown out.
The next set of tubes is a puzzle. You must jump between tubes to get past the jelly walls. It doesn't matter how you do it (you can jump up or down into the tubes), but eventually, the far right tube will be free of jelly walls. Jump to that tube, but follow it only until you notice that the first tube (the one on the left) is also free of jelly walls. That's the tube you want to be in. Once you're back in the first tube, beware of the current or you'll have to start the puzzle over.
At the end of the fast moving tube, you'll be thrown into a bubble. Beyond, you'll be able to see a giant squid guarding three tubes. You need to activate three switches to turn off the tubes and send the squid to meet the ground.
To turn off the first switch, take the tube to your left until you're thrown into a floating bubble. Look up and you'll see the three switches (use your sonar to turn one off). After that has been done, jump back into the tube and go back to the bubble in front of the squid.
To turn off the second switch, take the same tube (the one on the left) but this time jump into the first bubble to the left side of the tube. Next, jump into the floating rock. Find your way into the pool on the other side and jump into the bubble that has a horn in it. Blow the horn with your sonar and leap into the temporary tube that appears above you. Follow the tube until you reach the next horn. This one will lead you to a bubble from which you can turn off the second switch.
To turn off the third switch, leap into the nearby bubble (after you've turned off the second switch) and follow the bubble trail until you have to use a single bouncing bubble to reach a far away bubble. It may take you a few tries, but it is not that hard if you aim Ecco's nose high above the bouncing bubble before leaping to it. Once you make it to the far away bubble, the third switch will be above you.
Take the tube below the bubble and ride it back to the bubble in front of the squid (of course, the squid will be gone and so will the tubes). You can now turn the switches back on; they are right above your head. Once the tubes reappear, take the left tube until you're thrown into a floating rock. Swim to the bottom of the pool and take the tube. Once again you'll have to jump from tube to tube until your reach a pool. As before, go under the trunk to meet the second boss.
Abyss of Inferno
This boss likes to play ball, and you should use it to your advantage. The larger balls in this level can be broken to release several glowing balls. The goal is to dash attack the glowing balls into your enemy. Keep in mind, however, the boss will be doing the same thing to you. Don't panic, though, the boss moves very slowly and all you have to do is wait until it positions itself behind a ball before you dash into it.
Hanging Waters (3)
Once again you'll find yourself in a pool with a new underwater tunnel. Swim up the tunnel until you reach the lake. Jump over the waterfall near the top to your right. In this new pool, you must jump into the water bubble sitting in the middle to reach the water tube. Jump into the water bubbles until you reach the two tubes. Take the upper tube and jump into the floating rock.
Exit the floating rock through the top opening and follow the tube. When you reach the split in the tube, take the upper path and jump into the bubble with the horn. Blow the horn and quickly dash back to the tube with the split and take the lower path. Jump from water bubble to water bubble until you reach the two tubes. Take the top tube and jump into the water bubble to your right (just before you reach the end of the tube). Take the water bubbles down (blow the horn when you see it), and jump up at the last bubble. Bounce on the bubbles until you reach the bubble with the horn. After blowing the horn, jump into the tube that goes in the direction of the floating rock. Jump into the rock, head down and use your sonar on the bird.
Head out of the rock through the same opening you came in and follow the tube back to the bubble with the choice of two tubes. This time take the lower path and use your sonar on the bird at the end of this tube to be carried to the third boss.
Mutaclone
This boss starts attacking the moment you enter the level. Don't bother attacking him, he is protected by a shield. Instead, go down to the bottom of the pool and break the glowing rocks (use Ecco's dash attack). After breaking each stone, Ecco's controls will work in reverse for a few seconds. After you break the last stone, the shield protecting the boss will come down and you can attack. A couple of fake bosses will come after you first. Get rid of them and when there is only one left, lead him through the glowing rock. The glow will stun him and this is when the boss is vulnerable. Dash attack him until he folds.
