Shadow of the Colossus - PlayStation 2

I always wanted to play this game. I finally bought a PS2 a 2 years ago but kept forgetting about it. Was finally reminded after re-watching the "Zero Punctuation" review for this game and searched for it here. The game is short. Took only 3 1/2 hours to plow through all 16 colossi. However, (unlike a few people) I went into the game knowing that the 16 was all this game had. As a result, it was the greatest 3 1/2 hours I've ever had. Each colossi was so unique and beautifully designed that I always had to take a few seconds when the fight starts to just take the time to look at it. The fact that there are no lesser enemies in between was a welcome change of pace. It allows all the tension and anxiety to build up on the way to the colossi while you ponder about the statue and of what Dormin told you prior to heading out. The 1st one really set the stage for what was to come. Prior to playing, I knew how the 1st one looked and had an idea of his size. When I finally saw him first hand in the distance, it seemed I had accurately guessed his size. So I shot an arrow to grab his attention, then stood hopelessly gazing up as he lumbered over to me closer and closer till he was towering over me. My guess, was WAY off. Despite being the easiest, he was still amazing to look at and fun to bring down. The following colossi continued to exceed my expectations. Each one got my adrenaline, as well as my brain, to go into overdrive. The thrill of being flung around violently while only hanging on (with only one hand most of the time) to a single hair of the head while watching your grip gauge dwindling to nothing, it is unlike anything any other game could bring. In-fact, I can't think of any game I've played that has any similarities. The closest is God of War with the giant enemies, but those fights are nearly 100% QTE's (quick time events or, "Press X to not die"). I was actually afraid that this game would also suffer from QTE's but was very relieved to learn otherwise. Dare I say that Kratos might be jealous of this game because he can't do any big fights without QTE's unlike Wander? That thought gives me a good chuckle. The final colossus even further demonstrates that Wander doesn't need the QTE training wheels imo. Ok, that's enough bashing Kratos, he obviously wins in the gore and brutality department, but still, kinda funny when you think about it. So, if I had to score this game: Story: 8 It wasn't the greatest story, and it didn't really make itself apparent till much later in the game (not that that is a bad thing). It was pretty simple, but it was solid and delivered pretty well... (minus a slightly confusing moment at the end) I'll also add that there were some tearful moments in this game (especially one moment in particular, tore me apart... I'm sure those of you who've also played know exactly what I'm talking about) Characters: 10 Despite not only having barely a handful of them as well as little to no dialogue most of the time (except for Dormin), They were very well done. It didn't take long to get attached to Wander and his quest. With Agro *Note, everywhere that I've read seems to indicate Agro is a she so that is how I will refer to her*, at first I thought she would just be another Epona. Just be a useful means of traveling. That changed pretty quickly. I grew more attached to Agro than any other character/support-character I've played/accompanied. I was always sad when I couldn't bring her to some of the fights. Even went as far as trying to forcibly find a way to get her to come along (but fail, obviously) even just to dismount her and have her watch. This game even made me more and more intrigued by the dead Mono and more determined to beat all 16 (not just for beating them, but to actually revive her and find out just who she is). Enemies/Battles/Gameplay: Over 9000 This is were this game towers above all other games. These 16 colossi are what this game is all about. Lesser enemies were absent so the developers could give these 16 110% of their attention. Is this move a risky gamble, yes. Did it pay off? You bet it did. Each one richly detailed. Each one moved so life-like that you believed they were real. Each one required a different strategy to reach it's vitals. Some of them even required that the key to your success, was your skill with handling Agro. Number 10 and 13 (maybe add 9 as well) really bring out the need for Agro the most imo. My personal favorites would have to be #2, #5, #7, #10, #13, and #15. #16 is great but I don't like fighting him in Time Attack. To get the most out of him you must include the entire journey up to him (all prior colossi included, even after previously beating the game). Adds more emotion to the fight. Soundtrack: 10 While absent during each or your treks across the land to find a colossus. Once your near the location, ominous and eerie music begins playing. Then, when you finally begin to see/fight it, the music changes to a more frantic/hopeless track (depends on which one you are fighting) to further convey you are nothing more than an ant (sometimes less) to these giant beings and you have no hope in bringing them down. Then, once you figure the trick to defeat them, the music seemingly knows when you've figured it out and changes to a more heroic track. When that begins playing, it is like the game, the colossus, and you immediately know that you are a bad@$$ and you WILL win. Then, when you finally land that final hit, it changes to a more somber (not the most accurate but the best I can describe it) tune while you watch the colossus slowly (and almost gracefully for some of them) fall to the ground. Visuals: 10 Considering it is for the PS2, they are masterfully done. My jaw drops each time I take the time to look at not just the scenery, but the colossi as well. Some might disagree with me about the scenery, yes there is a lack of vegetation and other things, but imo that makes the "forbidden land" feel all the more forbidden. There is not supposed to be much of anything there except for the colossi. My only complaint is in Time attack mode, the sun seems to be more intense and blinds me from the view of watching #13 make its entrance. I kinda wish I had a PS3 so I could play the HD revision of this game. Overall: Depends on what your expectations are going into this game. If your hoping for another Zelda or God of War or, well anything else for that matter, your not going to get much out of it. However, If you go in just with the expectations of some amazingly made huge colossi, then this easily just might be the best experience you ever had... 9038 out of 10

Shadow of the Colossus has to be one of the most intriguing games I've ever played. Scratch that, it is the MOST intriguing game. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, varying from one individual to the next. However, in my case, the artistic nature of this game, alongside its "narrative", if you can call it that, is enough to call it the best game I've ever played on the Playstation 2 console. I truly do not wish to spoil any of this game, because every moment must be appreciated to the fullest. The game focuses around a silent hero, with little information being presented about him. Through the course of the game, you come to appreciate his motivation, but your task is essentially to destroy 16 Colossi. (plural of Colossus, for those who don't know) These beasts are like nothing you've seen in any video game before, ever. The concept is the same across all of them--find a way to scale them, and then use your sword to destroy them by attacking their very visible but not always so accessible weak spots, in the form of white glowing glyphs around the creatures' bodies. This task sounds easier than it is--the first of the colossi is simple enough, but as you progress, the difficulty as well as the scale of the creatures increase, and the challenge of figuring out how to approach each colossus is just as tricky as the task of implementing your plan is. I don't want to say any more, but the feeling of beating a colossus after challenging bouts, deaths, or utter confusion is one of great joy. The game is very nontraditional in the sense that there are really no other characters in it. It is just essentially you and your loyal horse, Agro. Many have said it before, but I to this day I have not seen better animations than in this game, especially for the horse. Some get discouraged by the controls, but it actually feels like it has weight and mass to it, like a real horse. Additionally, controlling the protagonist can be tricky at first, but it feels very good after you adjust to it--it's a very different game from any other you've likely played, to say the least. The visuals are very impressive for the PS2 era of games. I was at first very frustrated by the framerate, which admittedly does skip on occasion, but after I started to look at the level of detail in yourself, your horse, and the world around you, you really appreciate how much this game accomplished for its time. The fur on the colossi is incredible, for a PS2 game, and though the graphics aren't on par with the current generation of consoles, this is the next best thing, in my opinion. Some find it very tough to "get into" this game. There are no real interactions, except between you and your horse, for the most part. Most of the story is not spelled out for you--instead it is "understood". By this I mean that you as the player need to fill in the majority of it--the story is unclear for the very reason that it does not need to be specific to have an impact on the player's emotions. There is a wonderful landscape and beautiful terrain to cross, which does take some time, so make sure you look around as you ride. There is a "hint" button to find the next colossus, which is essentially holding your sword up and allowing reflected light to lead you to it. Traversing the landscapes is something to appreciate, not something the developers wanted to torture you with, so remember to keep that in mind as you move in the game world. One thing to keep in mind is that Shadow of the Colossus is a VERY UNIQUE game. It is NOT for everyone. If you're looking for a hack-n-slash adventure game, you may prefer Zelda. If you're looking for deep character development through interactions with NPCs, find a Final Fantasy. But if you want a deep game, which takes some thought to really appreciate, this may be for you. This is one of the only games I would ever consider calling "art" in the traditional sense, and I say that for a reason. I hope you all enjoy my favorite PS2 game based on this recommendation.

First and foremost, know that this is NOT an action-packed third person platformer. It is more of a puzzle-solving adventure game than anything, so don't go in expecting fast action GTA / God of War style gameplay, because you will be dissappointed. That said, it is an incredible game, but for the average gamer it requires some patience. Last year I bought a new PS2 instead of upgrading to next gen because my original 'fat' PS2 died around '06 and there were so many great titles I missed out on. Shadow of the Colossus was on that list, so I ordered it from Amazon along with a list of other great games I had never had the chance to enjoy after my original console went kaput. I had no idea what to expect from this game and all I knew was that it got rave reviews all over the place. I read an article praising it in Maxim when it came out and read some reviews here on Amazon and that was it. I actually avoided reading anything else about it because I didn't want any spoilers to accidentally come out before I got to play. Well, first game I played upon receiving my new PS2 was God of War and I followed it with Shadow of the Colossus. That in itself may have been a mistake because God of War is a button-mashing, enemy-packed, bloody action fest and SotC is, well, not. At all. In fact, SotC was so slow-paced by comparison that I put it away for awhile so I could come back to it later. For awhile I didn't think this game was going to live up to the hype at all.. but I could tell it was going to be a great game and I didn't want to ruin the experience by not letting myself get into it (I had to let the awesomeness of God of War wear off first, HA). Anyway, the game has some of the best and most beautiful original design and mechanics I have ever seen in a game. The controls are very different for a third-person game and it took a lot of getting used to for me. In fact, one of my bigger complaints would have to be the controls and the control response. The game is slow-moving for my taste, but you let yourself get into it and it is a very challenging and even addicting game. There is a lot of story and exploration involved and you just have to immerse yourself in it. I'm not trying to say that this game isn't exciting and intense, because it is. It's just not the same kind of intensity that most gamers are used to. Unique sums it up pretty well. But yes, beautiful game. Nothing will beat the first time you play through it, but it definitely has some great replay value.

When I purchased this game I had high expectations. Most critics and gamers love its unique art style and interesting story. After playing through the game, I was slightly disappointed. The game is good, but some notable flaws ultimately leave it short of greatness. Primarily, I found controlling the camera frustrating, especially during colossus battles. The L1 button allows you to lock-on to the colossus, which is useful. However, this can create problems in tight places or allow you to run off a cliff. When backed up against a wall or in a corner, the camera would often "flip out". Secondly, Agro the horse irritated me more often than not. His response seems delayed, whether turning, speeding up, slowing down, or calling him. Certain colossus battles are overly difficult. With the two smaller colossi, if you get knocked down once you're screwed. Other colossi are nearly impossible to "solve" without the help of a guide. Finally, I was disappointed with the ending. I had heard great things about the game's "incredible" ending and was really looking forward to experiencing it myself. After the ending, I said to myself "So, is that it?". Although I list only my criticisms of the game, that doesn't mean it's terrible. The game's concept is very cool: 16 epic boss battles. It manages to be moving at times even with characters who rarely speak. However, the game's technical flaws, such as the camera issue mentioned, made the game frustrating for me and not that enjoyable. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea. 8.0/10

A lone hero approaches an ancient shrine and places his dead lover inside. A light speaks to him, telling him that he can gain the power to save her life if he can slay the 16 colossi scattered throughout the cursed land that surrounds the shrine. Upon their destruction, there must certainly be a happy ending for all involved: Wander will save his love and the land will be rid of the cursed giants. Shadow of the Colossus puts the player in control of Wander who, along with his horse Agro, must traverse a beautiful land and defeat the 16 monsters that inhabit it. Every battle is incredibly epic and creative, giving the player a sense of wonder unlike that in any other video game I have played, but Shadow of the Colossus' emphasis on experience is somewhat costly to it as a game. As described above, Colossus' story involves a young man named Wander who sets out on a quest to save his lover by destroying the 16 colossi scattered throughout the land. Unfortunately there is no story development after the start, which places the story on the sidelines through almost the entire game. However, this allows the rest of the epic experience to sink in to a greater effect, so it can be viewed as a smart move as well. It also allows for a surprising and lengthy cutscene at the game's finale, which features several surprising twists and sheds light on other strange elements from throughout the game. Colossus' storytelling may be sparse, but in the end it allows for surprising twists and doesn't detract from the game's other fantastic elements. The entirety of Shadow of the Colossus involves two basic actions: finding the colossi and fighting the colossi. The mysterious light at the shrine gives Wander a hint as to where the next colossus is, and Wander's sword also points to the colossus when it is held up to the light correctly. The sword's direction is mainly what is helpful in finding the colossi, but sometimes the world's massive size makes it hard to know where exactly the sword is pointing, which makes it easy to get sidetracked and can take up a lot of time. If the player doesn't get lost at all, though, finding each colossus can take about 5-10 minutes of exploring the vast, open, and beautiful world. Unfortunately there is no draw to exploring the world other than finding the colossi: there are no other enemies, no side quests, nothing. However, Shadow of the Colossus' impressive visual design helps create a sense of wonder in the exploration despite the lack of available activities. The world is said to be cursed, but it sure doesn't look that way, as it is beautifully and vividly animated at every turn, sometimes looking very real. Its emptiness, sheer beauty, and massive size give the game a fantastic atmosphere. The rest of the game's graphics look very good, although occasionally characters and environments become blurry when viewed up close. The visual design of the colossi shows much detail, and it is always thrilling to watch them thrash about as Wander climbs all over them. Overall, Shadow of the Colossus is an impressive game in the graphics department, and is a remarkable achievement for the PS2. Shadow of the Colossus is all about an epic experience, and that comes in waves as players battle each of the game's sixteen colossi. Simply looking at these monsters is a sight to behold, as their sheer size can easily make anyone watching gape in wonder and surprise. The size and fearsomeness of these beasts is powerfully translated on screen; but after a moment of initial alarm, it must be recalled that the colossus must be defeated. Actually fighting these colossi always involves locating and stabbing their weak points repeatedly until their health meter runs out, and while this simple task doesn't vary at all, the approach to climbing on top of the colossus is fresh and exciting in every battle. The epic experience comes through very strongly in every single battle, as the concept of fighting these giant colossi in and of itself is naturally epic. Actually climbing up these monsters offers countless cinematic moments that often make the game feel more like a movie than a game, and the fact that the gameplay isn't incredibly deep also develops that feeling. But sometimes the cinematic appeal of Colossus doesn't come without making sacrifices to the actual video game, seeing as a helpful camera angle is often hard to find and the controls offer a steep learning curve. The game strives for realism so hard that the controls take a hit, and while it makes the game much harder to jump into they do eventually become second-nature, ultimately allowing players to enjoy Shadow of the Colossus for the epic, cinematic experience it is. The moment of delivering the finishing blow on the sixteenth colossus can take roughly 7-9 hours to reach. The game isn't particularly lengthy but also not all too short, providing a decent length although the inclusion of other elements aside from finding and fighting bosses would have improved the game. The system may be repetitious in theory, but in action it just doesn't get dull. Fighting the colossi is fun all the way to the end, and I know that Shadow of the Colossus will be a game for me to replay many times in the future. Shadow of the Colossus also features impressive sound design. Each music track is fantastic and strengthens the epic feeling in every battle; in fact Colossus' soundtrack may be one of my favorites from any video game I've played. The sound effects also contribute powerfully to the epic feeling of the game, with booming sounds of the colossi stomping, roaring, or otherwise trying to fling Wander off their back or obliterate him by other means. In the end, Shadow of the Colossus provides an epic experience the likes of which I have never seen in any other video game. Its fantastic sense of atmosphere and visual appeal create a memorable environment, while the 16 boss battles provide unique, challenging, and epic gameplay. Even with a stubborn camera, rough controls, and no extra tasks, the epic experience shines brilliantly in this PS2 masterpiece. Despite its very tangible flaws, Shadow of the Colossus is a brilliant and epic experience of a game that should not be missed. Positive: + Story's finale features several brilliant twists + Visual appeal creates a vivid sense of wonder + Every battle is incredibly epic and well designed + Adequately challenging overall + Fantastic soundtrack and sound effects Negative: - Exploration is forced and lacks much of a draw - Camera and controls create unnecessary difficulties to overcome 9.0/10

This is a very awesome game. I can see why it got such high ratings. Years ago I thought about getting this game but I looked at the pictures on the case and put it back because I thought it was something I really wouldn't enjoy. Now after looking for a new game for my PS2 collection which I still strongly support, I decided after reading the reviews that it was time to see what this game was all about. I got it, and I played this game everyday till I beat it. It was a very addictive fun game, and I really enjoyed it. Looking back I realized that I sure never judge a game by it's cover either. The only thing I would have to say that got to me in a bad way was it seemed way too short after I beat it. Because all you do in the game is find and defeat all 16 colossi. Although it does have some replayability value to it though because of fun it is to take one of those giant colossi down. And after you beat the game you have a hard mode that has a time trial mode in it as well. What's really crazy, and you would think is a bad thing is this game doesn't have anything else to keep you working hard for certain goals like getting extra power ups after defeating certain Colossi etc.. etc.. You don't even get a new sword that would do more damage which would have been nice but probably would have made the game less fun. There is no extra bonus goals during the game whatsoever, and yet I had a very fun time finding and figuring out how to take those Colossi down. The graphics for this game are pretty good not the best I have seen on the PS2 but not bad. I love the sound it makes when you plunge your sword into the colossi it gives you the sense of how much that has got to hurt, and the sound they make when they take damage. Anyway I think this is a must have game for any PS2 gamers, and collectors. If you still support your PS2 like I do, and haven't got this game yet get it. This is a game you should play through at least once. I think you will be pleasantly surprised like I was how fun this game really is.

This is my teenage son's review, checked and approved by me: From the makers of "Ico" comes a breathaking tale of a hero, a sacrificed princess, and 16 giant beasts that you have to kill to beat the game. Now keep in mind that I've only beaten 8 Colossi so far, so I haven't seen everything there is to see yet. But never mind that, on with the review! Story: 9/10 - A young hero, Wander, makes a bargain with Durmin to kill 16 colossi to revive his deceased love, Mono, who was sacrificed because she had a cursed destiny. Sounds simple, right? For the time being, it is, but it'll start to get interesting by Colossus 8. Gameplay: 10/10 - Unlike most games these days, which involve beating up massive numbers of enemies while keeping your health intact, there are only 16 enemies in the whole game - the colossi. With all of the space usually given to combat sequences in which the hero is ridiculously outnumbered, there's room free for environmental puzzles and boss sequences that are 10 times more epic than those in most games you find on the market these days. Graphics: 10/10 - While the graphics aren't as stylized and brilliant as Okami's, they're better than most; the shading and photorealism in the game makes it look just like a real place... well, aside from the giant colossi that'll aim for your head if you disturb them. Fun: 10/10 - The world-roaming can get a little repetitive, but there's enough variation to keep things interesting for the average (and above-average) gamer, and that includes the bosses. (Giant electric eel, anyone?) Overall: 39/40 - Almost perfect, with only a little improvement needed in the story department. Still, keep in mind, I've only beaten half the game. I'm not on some of the interesting parts yet. Those who have fully beaten the game will probably have seen some wicked plot material, and that could make all the difference. Either way, don't pass this one up! Especially not if you've already played Ico (which I haven't)!

Do not believe the hype. The game is nothing more than a platformer, and a pretty empty one at that. It still boggles my imagination how every single professional reviewer - every one! - could fail to mention the single most important fact about this game - IT'S A PLATFORMER! The entire game consists of running, jumping and climbing onto platforms, floors, ledges, stairs and other objects. That is it. Nothing else. That is literally it. AND YET EVERY PROFESSIONAL REVIEWER FAILED TO MENTION THIS! Is this not the definition of a platformer? Then why in all of hee-haw did no one bother to point this out? I suppose it's a fine enough platformer . . . IF YOU LIKE PLATFORMERS. What happens though, if you don't like platformers? What happens if, let's say, Jak and Dexter give you a headache every time you so much as think about it? If so, then this game is definitely going to suck for you. But oops, looky there, EVERY REVIEWER FAILED TO MENTION THE FACT IT'S A PLATFORMER!!! Hope you like spending money on a headache, sucka. Actually, it's not really that a good platformer. In fact, to be honest, it's a downright awful one. Besides the sixteen not-so-towering colossi you must platform your way through one at a time, you are literally the only character in the game. THE ONLY ONE! No towns, no villages, no other characters; just you and acre after acre of bland, greenish topography fit only for running, jumping and climbing over. Oh joy. And to think that I could have purchased Final Fantasy X instead. Oh, what entertaining happiness I would have missed. As for the Colossi themselves, let's just put it this way - if you've seen one, you've seen em all. Yeah, they all come in different shapes and sizes, but the method you use to defeat them is essentially the same in all sixteen cases - grab a tuft of hair, son, then start climbing; afterward, upon reaching some zenith point near the height of the colossus, search for a soft part somewhere on its body before concluding your take down with a mighty thrust of your sharpened pointy stick. Pointy, pointy. Anointy, anointy. A horrible game if you don't like platformers. A way stupendously overrated game if you do. There's a reason no sequel exists. No doubt the developers are certain they would never be able to reproduce this sort of snake oil salesmanship again, so they don't even try.

This article was FULL of stickers, I mean EVERYWHERE! Stickers on: - transparent plastic of the PS2 game case (on front AND back) - non-transparent plastic of the PS2 game case (on outside AND inside) - actual game cover behind the PS2 game case (on front AND back) - instruction booklet - THE GAME DVD ITSELF! Now the worst of all: IT DOES NOT WORK!! I had to clean the DVD because of the dust on the blank side but nonetheless I am now an owner of this ONE AND ONLY game, my PS2 cannot read! DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THIS "SHOP"! FML...

A true classic. This game creates the feels like no other (maybe Last of Us) while still maintaining fun gameplay. Taking down a Colossus is a thrilling experience and keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you want to play this game but don't have a PS2 (or just want a more updated version), then there is a collection with Ico and this game on PS3. I really think everyone should check it out at least once!

Mandatory for any PS2 owner, and perhaps anyone who thinks of themselves as a "gamer". A beautiful yet lonely open world, sparsely populated with gargantuan creatures. The game is incredibly simple where it needs to be; no leveling up, no upgrades (except for unlockables), no dungeons, and barely any other characters. It's you, and the colossi - and that's all there needs to be.

i nearly certain that this is a problem with the copy of the game i was sold, if the game would run i would easily give this game a 5 star review

Graphics: High end graphics for the PS2 that 16:9 and Progressive Scan(even know it's not marked with this on the box) Sound: Amazing music and sound Story: I have not completed the game at the time of this review but the story so far is intersted but not amazing. [ Gameplay: Exploration and boss battles, you take each colossus down byfigure out how to get on it and moveing around it's back, you NEVER use quick time events! Only problem is sometimes, it's a bit hard figuring out what to do next :(.