Isolation is what makes Shadow of the Colossus by Team ICO (Japan Studio) an amazing game.
When it was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2006, Shadow of the Colossus broke new ground in the way we play games. The world is stunning, yet in Shadow of the Colossus, apart from your horse you are alone. There is no help, no one else here to assist you. Just your and your faithful horse. And an amazing world to explore.
Shadow of the Colossus takes place in a fictional fantasy world. Prior to the events of the game, the love of the protagonist was sacrificed as it's believed she was cursed. The hero - who goes by the name of Wander - is outraged by this. One day, he hears of a distant land where it is said you can raise the dead. Wander brings the dead girl to this land, where he meets the Demon Lord Dormahn, who promises to bring his lover back to life if he can defeat 16 enormous known as Colossi (plural for Colossus). Wander makes it his mission to defeat the 16 giant being no matter the cost. He sets off to destroy them with only a magical sword, a bow and a horse to his name. Each time Wander defeats a Colossus, he gets attacked by black trails. As the story unfolds, we see what the true meaning of this is. Shadow of the Colossus' story was praised for being a literal David and Goliath story, about someone overcoming impossible odds to bring back the one he loves. It is my favourite video game story without a doubt.
Gameplay in Shadow of the Colossus is minimalistic when you break it down. At face value, all you do is explore a vast open world and defeat 16 giant monsters, but the guys at Team ICO did a fantastic job at making both of these things interesting. You are rewarded for exploring the vast world of the game with health and grip upgrades (in the form of Shiny Lizards and fruit.). In combat, the game becomes something else. You have to scale a giant Colossus and find it's weak spot by pointing your sword at it. You have limited grip but you have unlimited bow ammo so it works both ways. The controls are fluent although mounting the horse is a bit finnicky at times since Triangle is the jump button rather than the traditional X.
Graphically, the game is Stunning on both the PS2 and PS3. the world is vast and gives you a sense of grandure and isolation. The monsters are highly detailed and everything is distinct from one another. Environments are beautifully detailled and vaired giving us one of the best worlds in any game for a long long time.
In the music department....wow. The music in this game is some of the best ever composed. The main theme, Revived Power which is played in a few boss fights when you are getting an advantage is a stunningly bombastic piece of music and is one of the all time greats. The overall soundtrack is the best on the PS2 by far.
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In conclusion, this game should not be passed out by anyone. It is without a doubt one of the best - if not THE best - games of all time. The scope and atmosphere of the world is unrivaled even by Skyrim or Grand Theft Auto V. The music and story are great and the gameplay is fast and beautiful. The closest we'll ever get to a perfect game is here, available on PS2 or in HD on the PS3 with trophy support.
Story: 10
Gameplay: 9.5
Graphics: 9.5
Music: 10
Personal Enjoyment: 10
Gameplay in Shadow of the Colossus is minimalistic when you break it down. At face value, all you do is explore a vast open world and defeat 16 giant monsters, but the guys at Team ICO did a fantastic job at making both of these things interesting. You are rewarded for exploring the vast world of the game with health and grip upgrades (in the form of Shiny Lizards and fruit.). In combat, the game becomes something else. You have to scale a giant Colossus and find it's weak spot by pointing your sword at it. You have limited grip but you have unlimited bow ammo so it works both ways. The controls are fluent although mounting the horse is a bit finnicky at times since Triangle is the jump button rather than the traditional X.
Graphically, the game is Stunning on both the PS2 and PS3. the world is vast and gives you a sense of grandure and isolation. The monsters are highly detailed and everything is distinct from one another. Environments are beautifully detailled and vaired giving us one of the best worlds in any game for a long long time.
In the music department....wow. The music in this game is some of the best ever composed. The main theme, Revived Power which is played in a few boss fights when you are getting an advantage is a stunningly bombastic piece of music and is one of the all time greats. The overall soundtrack is the best on the PS2 by far.
Story: 10
Gameplay: 9.5
Graphics: 9.5
Music: 10
Personal Enjoyment: 10
FINAL SCORE FOR SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS (2006/2011): 9.7/10
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