During a normal day on Planet Earth, the oceans are subjected to a massive tornado stabbing down from the sky that tears all life from the deep. The phenomeon steals away all dolphin life and several other creatures - save for one Ecco the Dolphin, who is now alone and confused. The dolphin now searches the Seven Seas for answers to their whereabouts, but has not yet found anything. While pondering one day, Ecco is attacked by a group of sharks ("ripteeth") which ambush and gang up on the dolphin. Ecco fights well, but the odds soon get a hold of him and he tires. Fortunately, Ecco is rescued by a killer whale who scares off the ripteeth. Ecco's new friend informs him that he has seen a large jewel, a glyph, in the deep that presented Ecco's face when he touched it. As they travel to it, E