Title: Ecco The Dolphin Reprint Version（エコー・ザ・ドルフィン新版）
Media: Cartridge
System: Mega Drive
Catalogue: 670-3462
Released: 1993?
Region: NTSC-J
Scans: Cover | Cartridge | Manual Sample | Manual [PDF]
Information:
Now, hear me out... a whole page just for what looks like the same release as the base JP-MD version? For all intents and purposes it is the same game, there is no changes to the board on the cartridge at all, but it's a reissue for sure! This is a confirmed fact from the JP series localiser Ryoichi Hasegawa that the original release of Ecco in Japan was printed with a typo on the front cover as well as the manual.
The original box states:
頭に７つの斑点をもつイルカの"エコー"がThe artwork has the correct number of stars, but the text erroneously gives him 7 instead of 5. The reissue corrects this now by correctly stating:
Ecco, the dolphin with seven stars on his head
頭に5つの斑点をもつイルカの"エコー"がI am a completionist... therefore...
Ecco, the dolphin with five stars on his head
It's actually pretty wild that this wasn't really a known fact—at least actively!—until the interview Hasegawa-san gave spelt it out clearly. I picked up my original copy of Ecco JP-MD back when I was in highschool and it came sealed, had no clue it was a 1st print situation going on, so I'm very happy to have gotten a copy of the reissue as well.
Additional Photos:
Coming soon!