Even the most die-hard Sony fan would have to concede that rival outfit Sega has produced its fair share of classic games for consoles like the Megadrive, Saturn and Dreamcast. One of the best known and loved has to be Ecco The Dolphin. Now comes a sequel that for the first time bring the aquatic adventure to the Playstation 2 format. Once again the fate of the world rests with Ecco, with an evil alien race travelling back in time to rob dolphinkind of the higher intelligence that is essential to the future harmony of man and dolphin.

Okay, so it's a loopy plot, but what matters is the way the game manages to be simultaneously sooth and excite, the underwater action flowing with remarkable fluidity as Ecco and the other equally brilliantly animated creatures glide through the water. The game still offers one heck of challenge, though, as Ecco travels through alternate timelines, using a psychic harness to operation machinery, his natural sonar abilities to communicate, and his slender form to explore dangerous underwater environments. Best of all, Ecco's adventures are now played out using a full 3D viewpoint. Just watching Ecco move through the water is completely mesmerising.

That there's also a fantastic game to enjoy once the novelty of the mesmerising visuals has worn off almost seems too good to be true.