The intro of the Ecco 2 Beta shows the Vortex queen traveling through space and falling to Earth. Throughout the game are levels infested with tailed crabs that serve as place holders for creatures not implemented yet.
The Vortex future is different from its counterpart in the final version of Ecco 2. There are different types of machines that attempt to kill you and a robotic dolphin who serves as the final boss at the end of the level.
The Ecco 2 Beta was released during a convention as a preview for the media. A notable difference is how the game begins with a prologue and a scene of the Vortex Queen falling from the sky. The next scene shows Ecco and his pod racing, jumping, splashing and doing tricks like the introduction of the original game but with poor sound effect quality.
The game isn't 100% playable; you can't beat levels without knowing the cheat code for it. What's notable is how they use the same Dolphin sprite from the original Ecco.
Just like the final version of Ecco 2 there are 3D levels that are playable except they are unbeatable. The ring meter is not present and jumping through rings does nothing. There is an air meter that is not present in the final version and many of the enemies are not fully implemented.
Certain levels from the final version make an appearance in the beta along with test levels that seem to demonstrate plot elements and effects. There is a level where you meet a dolphin that doesn't allow you to pass unless you give it a fish. The dialog of the dolphin is different from the final: "Who are you? If you want to pass gimme a fish!" In the final version the dialog is: "Gimme a fish."
There are objects in this game that appear to be placeholders for objects and creatures that have yet to be designed. There are crabs with long grappling tails that try to attack you. Glyphs replace air pockets that toss you into the sky like they do in the level "Skylands". There are strange prickly little worms that flex and bend when contact is made with them.
Certain scenes appear in the beta as they do in the final but with small differences. There is an Orca who tells the story of the Asterites death. It shows the Vortex Queen spitting venom on the Asterite but instead of the venom appearing as growing bouncing hooks we see stars in its place.
One notable difference that would make this game unique from the other Ecco games is the final boss in the Vortex Future level. It is a robotic shark that transforms into a dolphin and launches itself towards you with its booster. It attacks with a piercing bottlenose point that stabs anything in its path.
The Ecco 2 Beta is not really a game but a demonstration of what a few well thought out algorithms could do if put into action. The only upset is why were a lot of them left out in the final?
