Epic
It's rare that a game leaves so much to the imagination that most of the story is conceptualized in the mind of the player. This is the case in Shadow of the Colossus. From the makers of the much-heralded Ico for the same platform, comes a game telling (or, for the most part, not telling) the story of a boy attempting to fell 16 colossi in order to revive his fallen love.
Shadow of the Colossus takes the concept of a boss battle and makes it the focal point of the entire game experience. There aren't any sidequests...heck there aren't any other enemies than the sprawling behemoths that you're charged with bringing down. That said, it was a smart decision to design the game in this manor. Adding in minor, mindless foes wouldn't only break up the flow of the game, but it would also destroy the feeling of being almost completely alone in such a vast world. It's a special experience to know that the only occupants of the environment are your character, your horse, the girl you're trying to save, and the colossi.
Make no mistake, this is one of the best looking Playstation 2 games ever released, with lush environments ranging from a dense, vibrant forest to a harsh desert, and everything in between. These locales come packed with a staggering attention to detail. You'll see birds and lizards scattering away from you as you ride past on your horse, you'll notice the sun's stunning reflection off the surface of an enormous lake, and how the beams of sunlight break through the tangled branches to make pools of light on the ground in the forested areas. It's a game that makes you think to yourself, 'I wonder what happens if I do this?' or 'Let's see if I can reach this area'. It's remarkable that almost every time you think about these things, the game reacts realistically. For example, if your character approaches a bird slowly before jumping and grabbing on as the bird takes flight, the boy will be carried a short distance before dropping back to earth. Does it make the game incredible in and of itself? No. But the fact that they've packed so much attention into such minor details is exciting. The colossi themselves are simply amazing. Often resembling moving buildings and each with their own unique features to the point where one can't wait to see what's coming next, they really steal the show.
Taking down each of the 16 colossi is truly an epic experience. The game combines elements of action, puzzle, and platforming titles during each battle. The player must first find a way to scale the giant beast, and then to jump and climb along its body to find the points to attack in hopes of defeating the colossus. There is a different strategy involved in beating each one.
So, find a colossus, battle it, destroy it, rinse and repeat. Although ridiculously fun to do, it can be a bit repetitive.
Further, although splendidly entertaining at first, one does long for some tiny amount of storyline to tie things together as the game moves along. At first, the mystery of not knowing anything about the characters or the world they occupy only adds to the excitement. As you go longer and longer with no plot explanations offered to you, however, you may become frustrated. In fact, you won't decipher any real information concerning what's going on until very late in the game, almost at the end. This can be enough to annoy all but the most patient players.
Shadow of the Colossus is a great game that any Playstation 2 owner owes to him or herself to play. The sparse storyline and repetitive nature may grate on your nerves eventually, but to be honest, you may be too busy losing yourself in the experience to notice.
