that these guys tend to take things that would qualify as one mission or one sub-section of a game and turn it into a full game?

A huge water world?

Their approach to games is minimalist and everyone loves them for that. Minimalism is what created the melancholic atmosphere in both games. Stripping videogames away from its cliched excesses, i.e. levels, complex leveling systems, cannon fodder enemies that serve no purpose, superfluous sub-par dialogue, over the top cinematics etc, and instead focusing on the core gameplay and how that relates to the end user, especially in terms of emotions generated is what makes the game what they are.

"Their approach to games is minimalist and everyone loves them for that. Minimalism is what created the melancholic atmosphere in both games. Stripping videogames away from its cliched excesses, i.e. levels, complex leveling systems, cannon fodder enemies that serve no purpose, superfluous sub-par dialogue, over the top cinematics etc, and instead focusing on the core gameplay and how that relates to the end user, especially in terms of emotions generated is what makes the game what they are.

"

Well said, Soze.

It could easily be said that SotC has the best boss fights in games, and that Ico is the best escort mission ever, for that very reason. :P

I've never played either of these games. It doesn't sound like I'm missing out on anything.

I really love they're take on games, it's amazing how they can take a simple concept and turn it into a full blown game. To me they're games don't feel bloated with HUD's...Menu's...Huge Inventories....and all of the other stuff....I mean with some games they work great....but I do love how they strip the games down to something very well refined....this doesn't mean they're games are dumbed down...but very focused I guess.

"I've never played either of these games. It doesn't sound like I'm missing out on anything."

"snake6phw said:

"I've never played either of these games. It doesn't sound like I'm missing out on anything."

...and, you would be wrong.  Shadow of the Colossus is one of the best games ever, for any platform. "

Me and a freind traded in like - 13 games for SotC when it came out, then we waited all the wya til the weekend and sat rhrough it in one whole weekend long sitting - It was one of the most beatifully devastating weekends of my life