Shadow of the Colossus
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In my opinion, Shadow of the Colossus is one of the best games ever created, not only on PS2 but also in video game history. Honestly, I was not that interested on the game at first, even after reading the excellent reviews from the press. But while I was shopping at the local store, I found it in the bargain bin for less than 20$ on Amazon, and decided to pick it up, not really knowing what to expect.
When I started playing, I found the game confusing: I did not even know where to go or what to do. But once I got the drill, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down until the end. Created by the same folks who brought us the simple but amazing Ico, Shadow of the Colossus is an outstanding game, from the artistic design to the soundtrack, and features the most moving story ever.
You play as a young warrior known as Wander. Traveling across the game’s world on horseback, you eventually reach an ancient temple built upon what is now a forgotten land. In the temple, you put the dead body of a mysterious girl upon a pedestal, hoping to bring her back to life. Then, a mysterious, booming voice comes from above, and tells you that in order to bring her back from the realm of the dead, you must find and slay 16 colossi that roam this abandoned landscape… but, beware, for there is a price to pay…
The concept of the game is simple: armed only with a bow and a sword, you leave the temple in search of the colossus, and when you find the behemoth, fight it, and kill it. When you lift your sword high, it produces sunbeams that become more focused as you point it towards the beast’s location. Once you’ve pinpointed your target, you get on your horse, Agro, and travel across the vast landscape until you reach your destination. Because there are various obstacles like mountains, canyons, and caves, there are some platforming elements to perform as well.
When you find the colossus, the real challenge begins: after a spectacular cutscene that reveals the creature in all its splendor, you must find its weak points and stab them with your sword. To reach those weak points, you will have to find a way to get onto the behemoth and make your way up while avoiding being thrown as it tries to shake you off. In most battles, you will have to use the environment to turn the overwhelming odds on your side, and some battles will have to be fought on horseback as well. Once you defeat a colossus, you are pierced by mysterious tendrils and teleported back to the temple. From there, you receive your instructions from the mysterious voice and repeat the process all over again.
There are no NPCs to interact with, no enemies to fight in the entire game except the colossi. It may sound boring, but it does give you a sense of isolation that overwhelms you with a strange sense of calm and despair. Agro may be a horse, but he is also a great character. He is extremely well animated and behaves very realistically. More than a means of transport, he also plays a major role in some battles and makes engaging the colossi even more exciting when he gets involved in the fight. Throughout the game, he will become your trusted companion in this isolated, lifeless wasteland.
The lack of lesser enemies means that you will be focusing solely on the boss fights. Each colossus in unique in its own way, and no battle is identical to the previous. They come into various size and shapes. The smaller ones are, well, about the size of a house; while the larger ones are truly gigantic and can reach the height of a skyscraper, shaking the ground at each footstep. Some of them dive deep underwater, others flies high into the air or even burrow into the sand.
As you progress, you will start to wonder why you are taking these colossi down. Are you being manipulated by the godlike voice? Will your love really be brought back to life? Isn’t it selfish to kill these creatures for the sake of your lost love? After all, they have done no wrong to you. And didn’t the voice warn you about a price to pay? Well, I won’t spoil the story for you, but once you’ve eliminated the last colossus, be ready for one of the most climatic, moving endings in videogame history.
Visually, Shadow of the Colossus is a sight to behold. Half mechanical, half-animalistic creatures, the colossi are extremely well executed, covered in small details that makes them very realistic. Their animation is absolutely spectacular, not only bringing them to life, but also communicating their sheer size and weight.
The vast environment is equally gorgeous. Though you will mostly be traveling across a barren wasteland of rock and sand, you will also come across small patches of thriving life plant, like forests and swamps. I spent countless hours just fooling around and stare at the wonderful scenery. It’s THAT beautiful.
Last, but not least, is the game’s excellent soundtrack. Most of time, the only thing you will hear is the sound of Agro’s hooves beating the ground. But once you engage the colossi, the epic orchestral score kicks in and creates a truly dramatic battle scene. On other occasions, the music becomes more melancholic, providing a very sad, emotional mood.
Now, while the game is great, it does have a few flaws. The frame-rate is pretty smooth when you’re exploring the environment, but tends to dip significantly during battles, though not enough to hamper the game in any way. Clearly, the game is too demanding for the aging PS2 hardware. You may also find yourself struggling with the camera to get a good view of the action at times, trying in vain to keep it centered while it keeps floating off to the side. The game is also on the short side, and you will probably finish it in 15 hours.
But don’t let these minor complaints keep you from playing this amazing game. Shadow of the Colossus is a pure gem that only a few games can match. Because of its original design, it is probably not for casual gamers. But gamers who are open-minded enough will find in Shadow of the Colossus a wonderful and unforgettable experience that will last in their memory for a long, long time.
>>To buy Shadow of the Colossus, click here<<
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Review by Michael Young, for Consumer Top 10.
