“On these high seas, no one can hear you scream.”

Sega announced today that one of their most beloved characters is returning from the deep. A post on the official Sega America Blog revealed that a sequel to Ecco: Water Wars is currently in the works. Confident of the title’s success, Sega is already bragging that the game is “so good, we didn’t even need a first one.”

Water Wars 2 sees the return of Ecco the Dolphin, who has mastered the art of time travel and weapons of mass destruction. Now the leader in a movement against humanity, the First Porpoise Shooter will see Ecco break free of his circus-like confines, steal human technology, and use it against them. Even against the elderly.

“You know, my mom told me that dolphins are like… like… some of the smartest creatures in the seas,” said Ecco fan x_X_x_SUPERMEGAECCOFAN1991_x_X_x on the SEGA forums. “Who says Dolphins can’t be smart enough to take human technology, improve it tenfold, and then use it against us in an epic fight for freedom? I know I can’t.”

Multiplayer action promises play with up to eighteen-and-a-half dolphin friends. Sega has remained quiet about gameplay modes, other than detailing that one will encourage you to shoot rockets at unsuspecting fishing vessels and cruise ships.

We have to admit that the drastic change in direction for the franchise has us a bit leery. However, this could be just what Ecco needs to vault himself back to stardom. We will be sure to share our impressions when given the opportunity for hands-on play.