I bought the HD collection just to play ICO, its such an awesome and beautiful game! No doubt that Shadow Of The Colossus is amazing but ICO will always have a special place in my heart.
Ico, along with Beyond Good and Evil, are some of the games I return to at least once a year to rekindle my love affair with games and are without a doubt as close to you can get to high art in the game genre. I also disagree with the reviewer saying Ico hasn't aged well. Ico is a wonderful journey to embark on and the ending is just amazing. The sound effects alone are amazing, from the seagulls, to the drip of cascading water, the clink of chains, the cavernous howl of the wind, or the flickering of a torch. Minimalist gaming at its best.
i don't like the fact that the only reason this HD remastered edition lost points was because Ico's gameplay wasn't as good as shadow's. if it's remastered edition, not a full out reboot, shouldn't it primarily be judged based on how the game mechanics and graphics were improved?
Those games were a work of art. The visuals were breathe taking. I can sit down and play them time and time again. I'm sorry that you can't appreciate the beauty that Team ICO made.
Don't worry. Electronic Gaming Monthly way back in the day when people still read gaming mags only gave Ico a combined score of 6.5 out of 10 iirc. As with all reviews it is subjective. I'm glad people are still discovering this gem of a game.
I played ICO to the point I could get through it in under 3 hours. Loved it! I think it would hold up and may get the HD copy to see if it is still as good as I remember.
dkyelak Yea, I managed to master the castle and do the speed run under 2 hours trophy. I've got the Platinum trophy for Ico. Although till this day, I've never completed SoTc. Only getting to the 8th giant on my last attempt. I'm debating running at it as I have a couple days before my copies of The Last Guardian arrive.
PS3GamerSyKe Hey did you get past the 8th Collosus? And how did you find The Last Guardian? Alot of people had negative things to say, but I think it looks great, haven't got it though
I don't agree with this rating. I'm assuming it was basically SotC = 9.5 and Ico = 7.5, therefore the average is 8.5. I could be wrong. But to me, since SotC alone would garner a 9.5, then Ico is just a bonus. Not that the rating really matters. Just kind of an observation.
The reviewer at some point touched on something that I hadn't realized is *so* important to video games. Provide motivation to the players, as rationally vague as it might be, but strong and constant enough to make the players want to keep going. Let the story tell itself, if not with words, but with facts and gameplay. I do love Metal Gear Solid and its 2 hour cutscenes, but I remember how 16-bit games in my early childhood didn't have all that cinematic thing going for them. A lot of the "magic" of the game was in having me wonder things about its story and making stuff up about it in my mind. Heck, some characters didn't even have names that I knew of as a kid, so I'd make that up too. Then, on the PS1, everything started to become cinematic (and, I say again, I *love* this), new standards were set, and "trying to be cinematic" became a staple in games so nearly banal that you'd forget what games with simple, minimalistic storytelling were like. Shadow of the Colossus, although "visually" cinematic, has this simple *game* story that draws you and makes you imagine things about the world and the characters, much like [pretentious_hipster_games-are-art_advocate] a painting might do[/pretentious_hipster_games-are-art_advocate], all while making you feel the desolation of that world that the main character feels, with all being achieved through gameplay and almost no dialog. It's such a great game. Too bad I can't play it for the first time again.
I prefer ICO because it felt so special and original. And the ending of that game was the most emotional one I have ever seen. Shadow of the Colossus however... Well, I know this sounds weird but while I was playing the game it felt like playing Monster Hunter. This is why the game is not as much special for me as ICO. But nevertheless, Shadow of the Colossus is a great game. I like both of them.
I thought that at first but then I read somewhere that the creator wanted the horse to feel like a character and not just a vehicle, this changed my perception of riding. Agro reacts like a real horse and doesn't instantly respond to commands given, also once you master the controls and learn how to quick turn/start/stop they become much better, also you can just hold down X and she will find her own way.
I'd still give Shadow of The Colossus a 9.7 if it came out yesterday. There is simply no other game like it elsewhere. The epic boss fights, the huge empty world, the sympathy you feel for the colossi as you strike them down, the sad ending and lonely atmosphere. One word comes to mind. Masterpiece.
A grown up proper man that I am, I cried my eyes out at the end of Ico on the PS2. After the credits, the music and the best thing I've seen in a game. Getting a PS3 this week and can't wait to play Ico again. Just ordered a massive Ico poster. The artwork is stunning. Shadow is beautiful but you get a bit of soul loss every time you kill a Collosus. Kind of like going up to a Reindeer and stabbing it.
Ico and Shadow of the colossus- 2 of the best games on the ps2 and maybe of all time (Shadow of the colossus is my favourite game) 8.5/10 Black ops 3- Same game as before with new maps, guns, and that's it. 9.2/10 EWMGAWD CALL OF DUTY BETTER THAN BLOODBORNE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!
And honestly, they're totally legitimate. Shadow of the Colossus may be the best game ever made, but when you ship an entire product, you have to account for all of it, not just it's best part.
Does anyone know if box 8 & 9 in the bonus content actually contain anything? I have yet to get 100% of all the trophies for either game. I'm almost about to with Shadow Of The Colossus. I only have one colossi left to take down in hard time attack mode. If any content is available in those boxes, you probably have to get all the trophies in order unlock them. Then again, they might not contain anything. ? ?
bro a couple of bosses in shadow colossus was eerie. very. like the one where you have to swim... ugh. and even when the flying one begins. half the colossus give the feeling of "I'm scared, I'm actually scared." and "how the **** am I going to defeat this
Wow, why so harsh on ICO? I just finished it (for the first time) and yeah, Yorda's AI can get a little annoying but not as bad as he makes it out to be. And the hand-holding mechanic really helped me form a bond with her. And no mention of ICO's amazing level design?
As far as best game ever made goes, I think shadow just falls barely under oot. Just because there's far less content, even if it was intentional, but still love it regardless.
Yes but if Shadow had 30 Colossus, the Colossus would be reused a lot and the game would be very mediocre or repetitive. I myself would say Shadow is better than OOT but is on the same level as MM.
I was just watching the original Shadow Of The Colossus review that IGN had back in 2005, and it really sent shivers down my back! It had THE most sentimental presentation I have ever seen on a video game!
So in order to enjoy Ico you would have to play with a friend right? that way you won't have to worry about Yorda's AI; this could be a nice bonding with your girlfriend when playing Ico since the two of you could solve puzzles together and you won't have to worry about the shadow ghouls abducting her
Dude, I started playing it, and i absolutely love it single player. When playing it, dont think of it as "yorda is dumb". think of it as a young girl who doesn't speak the language of the young boy that set her free. She is confused, Lost, and appears to have no say in her own fate, because she literally cant get the idea across.
Ico was one of the hidden gems I accidentally discovered when bought a PS2 controller back in the day and the game came with it. Wasn't expecting much from a game given free, but an hour later the whole family was sitting there biting their nails. I played the "battles" while the others solved the puzzles, remembered routes and enjoyed the atmosphere. Really worth buying if you want to step out of the FPS circle, even enjoyable for younger kids.
I didn't really like SOTC that much, the colossus fights are pretty awesome but that pretty much it. The world is huge but with the the game being mostly about going from point A to point B then fight a boss it got repetitive. Honestly think if they took time and actually added more RPG elements to it (like character development, items and enemies to fight besides the colossi) it would of been a lot better. To me its more of a 6 rather an 8.5. Its not a bad game but its not really as great as most of its hardcore fans make it out to be
If you do the time trials, you do get more weapons to use, such as upgraded bows and swords and a new weapon: A Javelin/Spear thing. Can't remember what its called though.
The world is empty to create the feeling of loneliness and isolation and to break apart the 16 colossi battles through calm, slow paced horse riding sections. After each fight, the number of creatures within the forbidden land dwindles further along with the condition of the Wanderer. There's no need for character development, items nor more enemies; all of those would defeat Uedas intended goals with the game.
Yeah the whole "feeling of loneliness and isolation" is a bit to mainstream hipster for me. Its a game not a work of art and a Huge empty isn't worth exploring. Will add that I didn't finish the game yet as all the "calm, slow pace horse riding" made it even more boring. But hey I don't judge if you like sadomasochism you will most likely like this game but for me it was painful and boring, though I have heard that there is some story you just have kill all the colossi to get to it, might eventually do it but not any time soon :)
Stephan Pretorius Yeah, I will agree. The first time I played it, I was 6. It got really boring and frustrating, but my mom kept pushing me to beat it, as she had before that thought the game was amazing. I replayed it when it came out for PS3, and finally understood the story. It really is one of my favorite games because of it. If you don't like it, hey that's your opinion, but for me, it will always be a great game.
Stephan Pretorius What the hell is "mainstream hipster" supposed to mean? The definition of art itself is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination. Ergo, video games are a form of art, whether you like it or not.
Fun fact: In an interview (its on the extra content), one of the visual artists said that they didnt have to polish the graphics that much, it was the PS2 resolution who didnt show those details in the first place.
Shadow of the colossus is my all time favorite game, i can not express with words the impact that this game had on me, it is truly a work of art and a landmark video game
Still have both of these games on PS2 and can play them backward compatible on my PS3, but I'm likely to buy the remastered versions anyway. When are they going to be available through PSN for download? I'm not buying these on disc.
How did they convert it to widescreen? That has always intrigued me about those HD re-releases. I mean... ICO and Metal Gear Solid 2 were obviously 4:3 when they were released. Do they fill up the corners with content?
@tidusfantasy the boss fights are the main events, remember. it is a ps2 game, giant boss fights and alot of regular enemies don't work sell on limited space (memory cards were tiny back then) its a great game, you just have to love classical battles
Is the game available to download straight onto the PS3 hard drive? I wanna buy Shadow of the Colossus HD individually. I know the PSN store does that with other games.
Picked this up about a week ago, totally worth it. I heard high praise about both games over the years and I figured I have to try them. Both interesting and beautiful games, though they have not aged well as far as looks. I'd say it's like playing arcade or indie titles that look good sound good and play well. Worth your money for sure.
@chubenta I would recommend this for the simple fact your getting two games, two VERY unique games. Where as resident evil is more or less the same as its prior and future games. Ico and Shadow of the Colossus are two games unlike any you've ever played before.
I've been waiting so long to play SOTC. I've never owned a PS2, and I was obsessed with it a few years ago..even though I never played it. It was the same case with Kingdom hearts, and I borrowed my friends PS2 and played that, and it was AMAZING! I hope they make a collection for that too...
SOTC is one of the best video games I have ever played in my life, and that is over 16 years of gaming. I never experienced more memorable scenes in a single video game as much as I did in SOTC.
Thanks for reviewing this game :D I was thinking about getting it because I have played the original PS2 ones. I am now going to go out and get this for sure.
There aren't any per-rendered cut scenes in the game. They are all rendering in real time with the game engine. So, yes, they are also in HD and don't look different from the game.
Hold R1 to drag Yorda around, it will help a lot, and she will, kinda, stay put if you call for her (R1) and wait for her to come to where you are, if it's accessible for her, as she can make the same jumps as you, nor climb without getting dragged up, most times.
I actually agree with him. While it was fun at some points, it was just too frustrating for me to really get immersed in it. And believe me, I'm all for atmosphere in games! Shadow of the Colossus however had me hooked and immersed from the very start and even almost had me shed a single manly tear at the end. People often talk about the connection you'll have with Yorda in ICO but honestly, I had a much better connection with Agro in SotC than i could ever have with Yorda.
Missed out on Ico when it came out. But absolutely fell in love with SotC. Shadow is a game like no other. Everything about it screams epicness. It's such a humbling experience (weird I know lol). Anybody who is on the fence don't be, buy this collection and never look back. One of the best video game experiences you will ever play.
13 ปีที่แล้ว
Hey guys, i have heard this collection has some problems with some firmware. I have got the last update and my system software version is 3.73. Can I play this game in my Ps3 or is it useless? Please answer.
Ico is one of my favorite games ever--sensitive audiences (and there aren't a whole lot of those in the gaming community, sadly) have a real treat in that work of art.
I found this today at Hastings for 40 bucks. It was a new copy too. I'd figure a game collection like this would go for about 60-70 bucks. Right now, I LOVE these games. I've always heard about these 2 great games, now I have a chance to see why everyone loves these 2 games. I have to say, these games have become one of my favorite games of all time.
@Yamboozle The reviewer never said otherwise. He only named what back then wasn't so noted, but today is considered a Flaw... Ico is obviously a masterpiece.
Reasons to get this: -Experience games that are more than games -They are both beautifully art driven -ICO on PS2 would cost a fortune -Shadow is named the #1 PS2 game of all time by IGN, and ICO is #5 I think -Trophies and full HD/3D support
I want a remake for all Legacy Of Kain (including Soul Reaver) games for the PS4. With today's powerful graphics but the same great story. Please IGN poke them in the eye to make this wish come true :)
I'll be getting this for sure. The price is right $20 for two games! Plus it has HD graphics (blu-ray) and trophies. I also never played either of these when I had a ps2. I'm just glad I have a PS3 :)
Compared to the reviewer, the whole escort thing in ico worked for me. I played sotc on the ps2 and loved it but i did miss ico for the system, so I played it first time on ps3. And it was awesome! The game really touched me, just like sotc did. But I also think, it wasn't the gameplay which made both games great but the unique feeling and atmosphere. It's just so much different from other games and everybody should give this a try. For me, both are state of the art in their way...
Dude, I totally feel for you. This is my favorite game of all time, but that doesn't mean this game doesn't frustrate the shit out of me. My biggest gripe with the HD remake is the fact that they somehow made Wander weaker. I used to pass the Time Attack mode of this game with ease, but now, the 15th colossus is virtually impossible to defeat without a lot of luck. Idk man, if anybody else is having trouble with this too, let me know.
I'll be honest, I never played the original games. But when I recieved this game for my birthday, I feel immediately in love with it. The games are just amazing
@chubenta ico is about 6-8 hours depending on how long it talkes you to figure out the puzzles.let me tell you though. DO NOT make the mistake of passing this up. of all the one thousand and one fps out there nowadays, this is still a fresh of breath air even after all these years. sotc on the other hand is a bit longer, especially with all the unlockables.
SotC is a bit more frustrating in this compared to the original version. Wander's balance and grip physics have been altered to the point where he is easier to shake around and is much harder to find his footing on a Colossus to land a good stab.
ok this deserves WAY higher I mean c'mon considering that these games are just hd counterparts of their originals and STILL got a higher score than more up to date games is saying
Hi, I've never touched any of the games, and I was wondering if I should got for both of them for around 35 dollars, or only shadow of the colossus for 25 dollars :) Is the game really that good, when it's the first time you play it?
@Chandlaman Shadow of the Colossus. The dense atmosphere will overtake you and the epic fights will push you to move on. And the story is amazing(but not as good as ICO's in my opinion), and the ending is spot-on perfect.
@CatcherP57 Jack Tretton does not command the dev's. He runs the company. The dev's get to choose what they want to make. Naughty Dog did not want to keep making crash, Insomniac did not want to keep making Spyro. They wanted to try new projects. Besides, apparently according to David Jaffe, Sony encourages dev's to make what they want. Thats why we are getting a new twisted, not because sony wanted one made, but because Jaffe wanted to make one
i think both games are great in what they are doing. Yesterday I finally finished ICO and loved it nearly as much as SotC. The last 30 minutes or so of the game just gave me goosebumps. I agree that the reviewer didn't appreaciate Ico as much as SotC, and I think that his arguments are invalid. I just loved things like holding hands with Yorda to move around, encourage her to jump over edges or saving the game by sitting down on a bench with her. What a beautiful game ...
Ico is great. It's always satisfying whenever you complete another puzzle, the story, while few and far between, is just as emotional as SOTC. Beatiful graphics and setting. get it. you will not be dissapointed
Indeed. Though it ran terribly on an emulator, I stuck the old ps2 disk in and ramped up the settings. Everything is there. Truly amazing for it's time!
@RunninRebelBen the first part about Shadow of the Colossus being set before is true and Mono (the girl from SotC) becoming the Queen is possible, the reason hundreds of horned kids become imprisoned is because their people believe they are cursed, the manual it tells you that. I think that Mono's cursed fate was that when her people sacrificed her it would lead to Wander killing the Colossi and having horns in the end, so the people think hroned kids are descendants of him so they are cursed
games don't have to be full blown action 24/7... have you ever just walked around in SOTC? the landscape is absolutely stunning, you are given an extreme extense of freedom and you never really stop being amazed by it! ICO is the same, a beautiful game and amazing gameplay! honestly, games go way deeper than movies IMO, because you feel like you crawl into the screen and are the characters! (books can give the same effect) games can also change the way you look at life, especially these 2!
I agree with this guy. the games are great. but I was looking for more of a RPG or Zelda-ish kind of game with side quests and stuff. So I guess I was a little misleaded when I bought it. But never the less I do not regret picking it up. :)
@megajonathan96 Shadow of the Colossus is the prequel to ICO but Shadow came later and mechanically is a better game, but in order to get the full story you have to play both. So that is why they reviewed the remakes together.
I only had frustrating issues with bipedal colossi. I found they'd flail around far too much, your stamina would drain and unlike the larger ones, there would be no decent footing to stand on it and recover. Everything except the bipedal colossi was brilliant (And the 16th. He was bipedal but pretty cool. Even if it took me the best part of an hour to notice I could shoot his shoulder. Kept trying to jump to the platform on his chest. Worked sometimes).
I bought the HD collection just to play ICO, its such an awesome and beautiful game! No doubt that Shadow Of The Colossus is amazing but ICO will always have a special place in my heart.
Ico, along with Beyond Good and Evil, are some of the games I return to at least once a year to rekindle my love affair with games and are without a doubt as close to you can get to high art in the game genre. I also disagree with the reviewer saying Ico hasn't aged well. Ico is a wonderful journey to embark on and the ending is just amazing.
The sound effects alone are amazing, from the seagulls, to the drip of cascading water, the clink of chains, the cavernous howl of the wind, or the flickering of a torch. Minimalist gaming at its best.
i don't like the fact that the only reason this HD remastered edition lost points was because Ico's gameplay wasn't as good as shadow's. if it's remastered edition, not a full out reboot, shouldn't it primarily be judged based on how the game mechanics and graphics were improved?
this is ign-they seem to have there on rules about judging games
To be honest I liked ICO alot more than SOTC. Both are Amazing though
Agree.
Agree
@mdeschain it's IGN what do you expect. A call of duty collection would get a perfect score
Agree, btw love your video @GameLives
woah it's gmanlives 9 years ago
This game deserved a 10
+Matt Armstrong nope. especially ICO is quite boring time by time..
Those games were a work of art. The visuals were breathe taking. I can sit down and play them time and time again. I'm sorry that you can't appreciate the beauty that Team ICO made.
DreamerDream
lol..idiot
DreamerDream
that's why i get boring and dont wanted to bother with any explain.
ure an idiot in that way, that's what it is.
Nikodem - Just because you weren't bored doesn't mean ultimatesol wasn't bored. I love SOTC and so far I"m loving ICO. I just started playing ICO.
This is the hardest review of Ico. "Doesn't hold up....." Hmmmm. I don't agree.
Don't worry. Electronic Gaming Monthly way back in the day when people still read gaming mags only gave Ico a combined score of 6.5 out of 10 iirc. As with all reviews it is subjective. I'm glad people are still discovering this gem of a game.
I played ICO to the point I could get through it in under 3 hours. Loved it! I think it would hold up and may get the HD copy to see if it is still as good as I remember.
dkyelak Yea, I managed to master the castle and do the speed run under 2 hours trophy. I've got the Platinum trophy for Ico. Although till this day, I've never completed SoTc. Only getting to the 8th giant on my last attempt. I'm debating running at it as I have a couple days before my copies of The Last Guardian arrive.
PS3GamerSyKe Hey did you get past the 8th Collosus? And how did you find The Last Guardian? Alot of people had negative things to say, but I think it looks great, haven't got it though
SOTC-The Greatest Game of all time.
It's actually a prequel to ico.
Go ahead, Play shadow of the colossus without crying I dare you, I double dare you Motha...
One of the saddest game I've ever played. I'm thinking The Last Guardian is gonna be a lot sadder. The title alone is sad enough.
TheShifter1001 I win, I didn't cry!
BUT, I nearly did, at the bridge bit before the last colossus. You know the bit.
I don't agree with this rating. I'm assuming it was basically SotC = 9.5 and Ico = 7.5, therefore the average is 8.5. I could be wrong. But to me, since SotC alone would garner a 9.5, then Ico is just a bonus. Not that the rating really matters. Just kind of an observation.
The reviewer at some point touched on something that I hadn't realized is *so* important to video games.
Provide motivation to the players, as rationally vague as it might be, but strong and constant enough to make the players want to keep going. Let the story tell itself, if not with words, but with facts and gameplay.
I do love Metal Gear Solid and its 2 hour cutscenes, but I remember how 16-bit games in my early childhood didn't have all that cinematic thing going for them. A lot of the "magic" of the game was in having me wonder things about its story and making stuff up about it in my mind. Heck, some characters didn't even have names that I knew of as a kid, so I'd make that up too. Then, on the PS1, everything started to become cinematic (and, I say again, I *love* this), new standards were set, and "trying to be cinematic" became a staple in games so nearly banal that you'd forget what games with simple, minimalistic storytelling were like.
Shadow of the Colossus, although "visually" cinematic, has this simple *game* story that draws you and makes you imagine things about the world and the characters, much like [pretentious_hipster_games-are-art_advocate] a painting might do[/pretentious_hipster_games-are-art_advocate], all while making you feel the desolation of that world that the main character feels, with all being achieved through gameplay and almost no dialog. It's such a great game. Too bad I can't play it for the first time again.
"Show don't tell"
I prefer ICO because it felt so special and original. And the ending of that game was the most emotional one I have ever seen. Shadow of the Colossus however...
Well, I know this sounds weird but while I was playing the game it felt like playing Monster Hunter. This is why the game is not as much special for me as ICO. But nevertheless, Shadow of the Colossus is a great game.
I like both of them.
Too bad the horse controls in Shadow handle like an 18 wheeler on black ice
I thought that at first but then I read somewhere that the creator wanted the horse to feel like a character and not just a vehicle, this changed my perception of riding. Agro reacts like a real horse and doesn't instantly respond to commands given, also once you master the controls and learn how to quick turn/start/stop they become much better, also you can just hold down X and she will find her own way.
This collection totally needs to be on the Vita!
Marko Stamenkovic FOR REAL
they should stop selling vita is what they should do, and drop ps4 to a reasonable price not half a grand
+xela k It's not half a grand. It's 400 :3
+Marko Stamenkovic it needs to be on the playstation 4.
If the PS4 was backwards compatible!
I'd still give Shadow of The Colossus a 9.7 if it came out yesterday. There is simply no other game like it elsewhere. The epic boss fights, the huge empty world, the sympathy you feel for the colossi as you strike them down, the sad ending and lonely atmosphere. One word comes to mind. Masterpiece.
A grown up proper man that I am, I cried my eyes out at the end of Ico on the PS2. After the credits, the music and the best thing I've seen in a game. Getting a PS3 this week and can't wait to play Ico again. Just ordered a massive Ico poster. The artwork is stunning. Shadow is beautiful but you get a bit of soul loss every time you kill a
Collosus. Kind of like going up to a Reindeer and stabbing it.
Ico and Shadow of the colossus- 2 of the best games on the ps2 and maybe of all time (Shadow of the colossus is my favourite game) 8.5/10
Black ops 3- Same game as before with new maps, guns, and that's it. 9.2/10 EWMGAWD CALL OF DUTY BETTER THAN BLOODBORNE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!
Notice how all the negatives at the end are directed towards ico
And honestly, they're totally legitimate. Shadow of the Colossus may be the best game ever made, but when you ship an entire product, you have to account for all of it, not just it's best part.
I like ICO better than Shadow of the Colossus though.
One of the best HD remasters so 9 and above for me
Does anyone know if box 8 & 9 in the bonus content actually contain anything? I have yet to get 100% of all the trophies for either game. I'm almost about to with Shadow Of The Colossus. I only have one colossi left to take down in hard time attack mode. If any content is available in those boxes, you probably have to get all the trophies in order unlock them. Then again, they might not contain anything. ? ?
I thing shadow of the colossus rate is 10/10
bro a couple of bosses in shadow colossus was eerie. very. like the one where you have to swim... ugh. and even when the flying one begins. half the colossus give the feeling of "I'm scared, I'm actually scared." and "how the **** am I going to defeat this
It is a "must buy"
Wow, why so harsh on ICO? I just finished it (for the first time) and yeah, Yorda's AI can get a little annoying but not as bad as he makes it out to be. And the hand-holding mechanic really helped me form a bond with her. And no mention of ICO's amazing level design?
As far as best game ever made goes, I think shadow just falls barely under oot. Just because there's far less content, even if it was intentional, but still love it regardless.
Yes but if Shadow had 30 Colossus, the Colossus would be reused a lot and the game would be very mediocre or repetitive. I myself would say Shadow is better than OOT but is on the same level as MM.
I was just watching the original Shadow Of The Colossus review that IGN had back in 2005, and it really sent shivers down my back! It had THE most sentimental presentation I have ever seen on a video game!
So in order to enjoy Ico you would have to play with a friend right? that way you won't have to worry about Yorda's AI; this could be a nice bonding with your girlfriend when playing Ico since the two of you could solve puzzles together and you won't have to worry about the shadow ghouls abducting her
Dude, I started playing it, and i absolutely love it single player. When playing it, dont think of it as "yorda is dumb". think of it as a young girl who doesn't speak the language of the young boy that set her free. She is confused, Lost, and appears to have no say in her own fate, because she literally cant get the idea across.
So is it any more fun when playing co op?
I haven't gotten to that point, im just saying that this game is a master piece regardless.
Ok thanks for the comment
Ico was one of the hidden gems I accidentally discovered when bought a PS2 controller back in the day and the game came with it. Wasn't expecting much from a game given free, but an hour later the whole family was sitting there biting their nails. I played the "battles" while the others solved the puzzles, remembered routes and enjoyed the atmosphere. Really worth buying if you want to step out of the FPS circle, even enjoyable for younger kids.
I didn't really like SOTC that much, the colossus fights are pretty awesome but that pretty much it. The world is huge but with the the game being mostly about going from point A to point B then fight a boss it got repetitive. Honestly think if they took time and actually added more RPG elements to it (like character development, items and enemies to fight besides the colossi) it would of been a lot better. To me its more of a 6 rather an 8.5. Its not a bad game but its not really as great as most of its hardcore fans make it out to be
If you do the time trials, you do get more weapons to use, such as upgraded bows and swords and a new weapon: A Javelin/Spear thing. Can't remember what its called though.
The world is empty to create the feeling of loneliness and isolation and to break apart the 16 colossi battles through calm, slow paced horse riding sections. After each fight, the number of creatures within the forbidden land dwindles further along with the condition of the Wanderer. There's no need for character development, items nor more enemies; all of those would defeat Uedas intended goals with the game.
Yeah the whole "feeling of loneliness and isolation" is a bit to mainstream hipster for me. Its a game not a work of art and a Huge empty isn't worth exploring. Will add that I didn't finish the game yet as all the "calm, slow pace horse riding" made it even more boring. But hey I don't judge if you like sadomasochism you will most likely like this game but for me it was painful and boring, though I have heard that there is some story you just have kill all the colossi to get to it, might eventually do it but not any time soon :)
Stephan Pretorius Yeah, I will agree. The first time I played it, I was 6. It got really boring and frustrating, but my mom kept pushing me to beat it, as she had before that thought the game was amazing. I replayed it when it came out for PS3, and finally understood the story. It really is one of my favorite games because of it. If you don't like it, hey that's your opinion, but for me, it will always be a great game.
Stephan Pretorius
What the hell is "mainstream hipster" supposed to mean?
The definition of art itself is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination. Ergo, video games are a form of art, whether you like it or not.
I went into this game not knowing what to expect. I absolutely LOVE Ico. I suppose Shadow is a nice extra, though.
Fun fact: In an interview (its on the extra content), one of the visual artists said that they didnt have to polish the graphics that much, it was the PS2 resolution who didnt show those details in the first place.
9.4(ICO) + 9.7(Sotc) = 8.5, Seems Legit
Shadow of the colossus is my all time favorite game, i can not express with words the impact that this game had on me, it is truly a work of art and a landmark video game
is this out already? i thought werent gonna come out for another 2 weeks
Still have both of these games on PS2 and can play them backward compatible on my PS3, but I'm likely to buy the remastered versions anyway. When are they going to be available through PSN for download? I'm not buying these on disc.
How did they convert it to widescreen? That has always intrigued me about those HD re-releases. I mean... ICO and Metal Gear Solid 2 were obviously 4:3 when they were released. Do they fill up the corners with content?
@tidusfantasy the boss fights are the main events, remember. it is a ps2 game, giant boss fights and alot of regular enemies don't work sell on limited space (memory cards were tiny back then) its a great game, you just have to love classical battles
Is the game available to download straight onto the PS3 hard drive? I wanna buy Shadow of the Colossus HD individually. I know the PSN store does that with other games.
Picked this up about a week ago, totally worth it. I heard high praise about both games over the years and I figured I have to try them. Both interesting and beautiful games, though they have not aged well as far as looks. I'd say it's like playing arcade or indie titles that look good sound good and play well. Worth your money for sure.
@chubenta I would recommend this for the simple fact your getting two games, two VERY unique games. Where as resident evil is more or less the same as its prior and future games. Ico and Shadow of the Colossus are two games unlike any you've ever played before.
Playing and watching SotC never fails to give me chills down my spine... That game truly is a masterpiece
I've been waiting so long to play SOTC. I've never owned a PS2, and I was obsessed with it a few years ago..even though I never played it. It was the same case with Kingdom hearts, and I borrowed my friends PS2 and played that, and it was AMAZING! I hope they make a collection for that too...
SOTC is one of the best video games I have ever played in my life, and that is over 16 years of gaming. I never experienced more memorable scenes in a single video game as much as I did in SOTC.
Ico was the best game i've ever played in my life.
Thanks for reviewing this game :D I was thinking about getting it because I have played the original PS2 ones. I am now going to go out and get this for sure.
I just ordered this game and are very excited about this cos ICO and SOTC was 2 games I never played on the PS2. Playing it in HD will be awesome. :D
I've never played either games, but I have played God Of War 1-3 so I'm used to huge bosses. Will this collection be appealing to someone like me?
are the cutscenes in hd aswell or did they go GOW Collection and leave them lo-res?
There aren't any per-rendered cut scenes in the game. They are all rendering in real time with the game engine. So, yes, they are also in HD and don't look different from the game.
Hold R1 to drag Yorda around, it will help a lot, and she will, kinda, stay put if you call for her (R1) and wait for her to come to where you are, if it's accessible for her, as she can make the same jumps as you, nor climb without getting dragged up, most times.
IGN Reviews:
-This is the best game ever!
-This is the best game ever!
-This is truly the best game ever!
Overall:
8.5/10
I actually agree with him. While it was fun at some points, it was just too frustrating for me to really get immersed in it. And believe me, I'm all for atmosphere in games! Shadow of the Colossus however had me hooked and immersed from the very start and even almost had me shed a single manly tear at the end. People often talk about the connection you'll have with Yorda in ICO but honestly, I had a much better connection with Agro in SotC than i could ever have with Yorda.
One question:where can buy this?on store or in ps store?
Hey does anyone know if they used any of the bonus content that wasn't on the U.S. version is included in the collection for Ico?
Missed out on Ico when it came out. But absolutely fell in love with SotC. Shadow is a game like no other. Everything about it screams epicness. It's such a humbling experience (weird I know lol). Anybody who is on the fence don't be, buy this collection and never look back. One of the best video game experiences you will ever play.
Hey guys, i have heard this collection has some problems with some firmware. I have got the last update and my system software version is 3.73. Can I play this game in my Ps3 or is it useless? Please answer.
When does this come out???
@Zockanumber1 do you play games only to know the ending? or you play games because you have fun playing?... it all comes to that.
Ico is one of my favorite games ever--sensitive audiences (and there aren't a whole lot of those in the gaming community, sadly) have a real treat in that work of art.
Ico is one of the best games ever made
I found this today at Hastings for 40 bucks. It was a new copy too. I'd figure a game collection like this would go for about 60-70 bucks. Right now, I LOVE these games. I've always heard about these 2 great games, now I have a chance to see why everyone loves these 2 games. I have to say, these games have become one of my favorite games of all time.
As someone who missed these games last gen, i'm looking forward to playing both of them =D
Good review. 8.5 with Editor's Choice is always good for a remake of games especially for these two specifically
I missed the PS2 version, but when I played and beat S.O.T.C. I completely fell in love with this game. This game is easily the game of the year 4me!
@Yamboozle The reviewer never said otherwise. He only named what back then wasn't so noted, but today is considered a Flaw... Ico is obviously a masterpiece.
i got shadow of the collosus, but what was the other game? Eco? is that some kinda jak and daxter game?
Reasons to get this:
-Experience games that are more than games
-They are both beautifully art driven
-ICO on PS2 would cost a fortune
-Shadow is named the #1 PS2 game of all time by IGN, and ICO is #5 I think
-Trophies and full HD/3D support
I want a remake for all Legacy Of Kain (including Soul Reaver) games for the PS4. With today's powerful graphics but the same great story.
Please IGN poke them in the eye to make this wish come true :)
amazing idea
I'll be getting this for sure. The price is right $20 for two games! Plus it has HD graphics (blu-ray) and trophies. I also never played either of these when I had a ps2. I'm just glad I have a PS3 :)
Compared to the reviewer, the whole escort thing in ico worked for me. I played sotc on the ps2 and loved it but i did miss ico for the system, so I played it first time on ps3. And it was awesome! The game really touched me, just like sotc did. But I also think, it wasn't the gameplay which made both games great but the unique feeling and atmosphere. It's just so much different from other games and everybody should give this a try. For me, both are state of the art in their way...
Dude, I totally feel for you. This is my favorite game of all time, but that doesn't mean this game doesn't frustrate the shit out of me. My biggest gripe with the HD remake is the fact that they somehow made Wander weaker. I used to pass the Time Attack mode of this game with ease, but now, the 15th colossus is virtually impossible to defeat without a lot of luck. Idk man, if anybody else is having trouble with this too, let me know.
I'll be honest, I never played the original games. But when I recieved this game for my birthday, I feel immediately in love with it. The games are just amazing
Free on HD version or the original one ?
@chubenta ico is about 6-8 hours depending on how long it talkes you to figure out the puzzles.let me tell you though. DO NOT make the mistake of passing this up. of all the one thousand and one fps out there nowadays, this is still a fresh of breath air even after all these years. sotc on the other hand is a bit longer, especially with all the unlockables.
SotC is a bit more frustrating in this compared to the original version. Wander's balance and grip physics have been altered to the point where he is easier to shake around and is much harder to find his footing on a Colossus to land a good stab.
ICO is free for PS Plus right now, and Shadow of the Colossus is going to be free in October as well.
ok this deserves WAY higher I mean c'mon considering that these games are just hd counterparts of their originals and STILL got a higher score than more up to date games is saying
Hi, I've never touched any of the games, and I was wondering if I should got for both of them for around 35 dollars, or only shadow of the colossus for 25 dollars :)
Is the game really that good, when it's the first time you play it?
@TheJameezy so how did you like it?
@Chandlaman
Shadow of the Colossus. The dense atmosphere will overtake you and the epic fights will push you to move on. And the story is amazing(but not as good as ICO's in my opinion), and the ending is spot-on perfect.
@CatcherP57 Jack Tretton does not command the dev's. He runs the company. The dev's get to choose what they want to make. Naughty Dog did not want to keep making crash, Insomniac did not want to keep making Spyro. They wanted to try new projects. Besides, apparently according to David Jaffe, Sony encourages dev's to make what they want. Thats why we are getting a new twisted, not because sony wanted one made, but because Jaffe wanted to make one
I spent the whole review shouting "It's EYE-CO damn it !"
Well, actually it is pronounced ee-co
should i get this or the RE 4 remake?
That's interesting, I've never liked SotC much, but Ico is one of my all-time faves ...
I played ico as a child, ah the memories
These 2 games look amazing on my PS vita, thanks for releasing remote play functionality for these games SONY!
i think both games are great in what they are doing. Yesterday I finally finished ICO and loved it nearly as much as SotC. The last 30 minutes or so of the game just gave me goosebumps. I agree that the reviewer didn't appreaciate Ico as much as SotC, and I think that his arguments are invalid. I just loved things like holding hands with Yorda to move around, encourage her to jump over edges or saving the game by sitting down on a bench with her. What a beautiful game ...
@MysteriousMayonaise
No, it isn't out until the 27th. Early review copy, maybe.
Ico is great. It's always satisfying whenever you complete another puzzle, the story, while few and far between, is just as emotional as SOTC. Beatiful graphics and setting. get it. you will not be dissapointed
Indeed. Though it ran terribly on an emulator, I stuck the old ps2 disk in and ramped up the settings. Everything is there. Truly amazing for it's time!
@RunninRebelBen the first part about Shadow of the Colossus being set before is true and Mono (the girl from SotC) becoming the Queen is possible, the reason hundreds of horned kids become imprisoned is because their people believe they are cursed, the manual it tells you that. I think that Mono's cursed fate was that when her people sacrificed her it would lead to Wander killing the Colossi and having horns in the end, so the people think hroned kids are descendants of him so they are cursed
games don't have to be full blown action 24/7... have you ever just walked around in SOTC? the landscape is absolutely stunning, you are given an extreme extense of freedom and you never really stop being amazed by it! ICO is the same, a beautiful game and amazing gameplay! honestly, games go way deeper than movies IMO, because you feel like you crawl into the screen and are the characters! (books can give the same effect) games can also change the way you look at life, especially these 2!
I agree with this guy. the games are great.
but I was looking for more of a RPG or Zelda-ish kind of game with side quests and stuff.
So I guess I was a little misleaded when I bought it. But never the less I do not regret picking it up. :)
thinking about getting ni no kuni or shadow of the colossus what would you recomend
Ni no Kuni is great. But you have to play Shadow of the Colossus. To this day, SotC is my favorite game on any platform.
NI No Kuni and Shadow of the Colossus are both classics and very amazing. get both if you can.
i got Shadow of the Colossus
i have both games. just purchased Ico/Sotc today to replay it on PS3
Dhruv Shejpaul Can we even call Ni No Kuni a classic yet, its been out for like A year and a bit xD
@megajonathan96 Shadow of the Colossus is the prequel to ICO but Shadow came later and mechanically is a better game, but in order to get the full story you have to play both. So that is why they reviewed the remakes together.
Wrong, Ico holds up well :P
i like how ico came out on my birthday 10 years ago and the collection comes out 2 days after this year
i dont have ps+, so is this game worth it for £16 used from amazon?
Totally getting it just for Shadow of the Colossus. Loved that game on PS2 and now trophies?? heck yes
how long is this game?
I only had frustrating issues with bipedal colossi. I found they'd flail around far too much, your stamina would drain and unlike the larger ones, there would be no decent footing to stand on it and recover. Everything except the bipedal colossi was brilliant (And the 16th. He was bipedal but pretty cool. Even if it took me the best part of an hour to notice I could shoot his shoulder. Kept trying to jump to the platform on his chest. Worked sometimes).