An immaculate PS2 masterpiece.
Arguably one of the best (if not, *the* best) release on PlayStation 2, Shadow of the Colossus is one of those rare accomplishments that can genuinely change the way you look at video games. When you think of basic elements of gaming -- boss battles, combat, world exploration, character and story -- SotC takes each of these and escalates them to a unrivaled level of understated sophistication.
And that’s not to make the game sound snooty or high-brow. SotC is sophisticated but doesn’t talk down to its audience. It immediately gets under your skin by posing a situation -- you want to resurrect a dead woman -- without explaining much. It doesn’t matter how she died, or why, or who you are or what your relationship is. You just know you want to help this girl, yet you know it’s going to lead you to some dark territory in exchange.
SotC is a foreboding, somber game. As you take on each of the game’s 16 colossi, you’ll be treated to some of the most spectacular, enthralling boss battles put on disc. But it’s almost impossible not to feel sad about what you’re doing. Most of the colossi are presented as non-threatening, unprovoked docile beasts where you, the protaganist, interrupt and end their lives for your own selfish purpose. Some of the battles are so grueling, it’s hard not to feel triumphant but even then, you know as you kill these beasts, you are also coming closer to some kind of ominous destination yourself. Never before have I experienced boss battles this exciting or thrilling, or felt the kind of regret that accompanies each death.
It’s worth noting that SotC can be extremely difficult. The puzzle fights are not always intuitive, and you’ll likely have to look up a strategy to get past some of the colossi. The structure of the game is also repetitive, even though the battles themselves are not. It can be a bit of a slog if you’re not in the mood for a mindbending puzzle. The camera is also extremely frustrating at times, winding and whipping to angles at the worst possible moments when you’re fighting for your life on the back of a gigantic boss.
There are loose comments floating around that Team ICO may update SotC (and its predecessor, Ico) for PS3 with 1080p resolution. If that happens, it’s sure to be one of the most visually striking games on the system, regardless of its PS2 source code. The visual fidelity and animation is remarkable, so we can only hope this rumor becomes a reality.
