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A beautiful game, but lacking depth

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: January 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

It was only around the beginning of 2005 that I finally decided to purchase this game used, after hearing continual hype about what a great game it was.
I wouldn't really say it was a disappointment. The graphics were incredibly beautiful, and the castle where the game takes place is a fascinating and all around very interesting place to get lost in. An enjoyable game, but it didn't really pull me in that much, and I wouldn't say that it's anywhere near one of the best games I've played.
For all of the beauty of the game, it is unfortunately lacking in any kind of depth or interesting gameplay. Well, the puzzle solving WAS fun, and interesting. But that's where the fun ends. There is absolutely NO character development, no variety whatsoever of different attack moves, no real combos, no magics or techniques, no armor, no accessories, and a whopping 2 weapons in the entire game. The first half of the game you have a stick, the second half you have a sword. That's it. Also, there is essentially only 1 kind of enemy in the entire game that you have to fight over and over and over and over again. The combat is just plain monotonous and boring, and it really drags this game down. You have 1 move: swing your stick (or sword). It also has practically no replay value, other than to maybe see the scenery one more time.
So, this game is very beautiful graphically, it's unique, has a good story, and is definitely worth playing through once if you like puzzle solving. But in my opinion, it's not all that underrated, as it seriously lacks any kind of real depth to the gameplay.
Barely an above average game.

folks, it's a Tomb Raider rehash!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 20
Date: July 24, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I bought the Official Playstation Monthly for "OPM's Essential 100: PS1, PS2, and PSP Games You Must Play Before You Die" list. Ico caught my eye since "for many, Ico was "the first videogame to be considered 'art'" and "if you have not at least tried this game, you are missing out on one of the most moving experiences in videogames". I also saw all the 5 star reviews here on Amazon.

How come nobody points out this thing is a rehash of "Tomb Raider"! Exactly the same "big operating knob poking out of wall". Exactly the same "big block to push and pull". Extremely similar "Gaze out on big vista as best you can using bad camera controls", except that this time you're looking around a vast castle in the mist, instead of vast underground tombs in shadow. Same lack of soundtrack. The same jump and hang and shimmy mechanics. Ico is five years later but incredibly similar, despite some superficial differences (young boy instead of woman, the useless Yorda you have to drag around). I prefer Tomb Raider because you scramble up or slide down surfaces in it, and Ico is very upright.

Sure, Ico has more atmospheric room designs and some nice cut scenes but that's all. I don't understand the effusive praise.

IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO KILL.....................YAWN

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: May 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Ok, I know I'm probably not going to be very popular for this review but......the game was just "ok." True the graphics are amazing as well as the atmosphere.....but...I just don't get off on spending hours trying open this or jump that. You really must like puzzle solving games and exploring to like this game. I only have 1 hour a night to play if I am lucky due to family commitments so I want a game I can get into, play, and then put down without losing where I was. God forbid you miss a day or two and have to play again. You find yourself asking: "What door did I go through? Which ladder to climb?" If you love exploring, lots of failing by falling off cliffs/ledges, and then finally figuring out you have to flip a switch, move a block, or light a candle then have at it. I'll stick with action games with more adventure and excitement like "Beyond good and Evil" or "Dues Ex" now those are underrated games that rock.

Ipso Facto Ico

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: June 27, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Just try to get through this game without a lot of handholding!

A good little game, but not for the die-hard RPG fans.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: June 29, 2002
Author: Amazon User

To be honest, I am not sure how you would define what genre ICO falls into. It has some RPG elements, but is mainly a puzzle-based action game. But whatever it is, and despite the lack of action, I really enjoyed ICO. Here's why:

The pros:

1. Puzzles. While some people might consider puzzles to be the worst part of any game, I think they ae a major strength in ICO. The castle your character is trapped in is huge, with many winding staircases, ladders, traps, and hidden areas. Finding all these is the fun of ICO. To move ahead, you must solve a series of puzzles, ranging is difficulty from very easy, to very hard.
Solving all the puzzles is the most fun aspect of ICO.

2. Free-roaming. I love the feeling that you can roam free in the castle. Thought the areas are restrictive at first, you have to roam arond and find your way out. The castle is huge, and part of the fun is exploring all the areas.

3. Control. ICO is a very easy game to control, which means that you can concerntrate on what you are doing without having to worry about pressing the righ button.

4. Graphics. Even people who hated this game acknowledged that the graphics are well above average. The character movement is nice and fluid, and there is minimal popup or bleed through, if any. The details in the castle are excellent, from the shadows cast by the torches, to the cobblestones on the castle floor. Visually, your in for a treat.

And now, for the cons:

1. Weak storyline. Where ICO differs from your atandard RPG, besides being more action-based, is the minimal attention to story. You are a boy who is trapped in an ancient castle. A young princess is trapped with you. You must rescue her and escape the castle with your lives. That is the story. Somewhat cliches by RPG standards. I deeper story would have helped.

2. Length. I found this game to be too short, which might be a turn-off for the gamers lookingto get the greatest value for their dollar. I bought this game used (as I do most video games), so I don't really feel cheated. But I really wanted to keep goingwhen I beat this game.

3. Lack of challenging battles. Being a puzzle-based game, the battles and battle strategy are obviously on the back burner. I never got killed once. I think a more complex battle system would have added not only to the fun, but the replay value.

ICO is a curious little game. I enjoyed it, though I found it, at times, short and uninvolving. I would recommend it to most people, but not for die-hard RPG fans.

A letdown. Maybe i'm not a puzzle fan.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 37
Date: September 04, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I don't really consider this a game. Yes, it is very different. But, what is good in diffrence is bad in gameplay. The princess cannot climb chains at all. Can't she feel a chain? COME ON! The combat is stupid. Look at me! I'm hitting black shadows with a stick! WOW! The puzzles are interesting, but i hate that call that Ico has when calling for Yorda. SQUAWK! Also, PLEASE TRANSLATE YORDA! Maybe i'm not a fan of puzzle games. Oh well.

Slow as molasses on a cold winter day

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 15
Date: January 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I wanted to like this game,really I did. I love fantasy,books,games,movies etc. And the concept for ICO is a good one. But man, this game is painfully boring,and slow. Its one of the most boring games I have ever played. For hardcore puzzle lovers only.

Good Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 111
Date: September 20, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This is a very nice game for the playstation 2. It made by SONY so I think it is going to be great. You should get.

Good fun, puzzle solving, but short and a bit shallow

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 6
Date: July 04, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I love puzzle games. I am a huge fan of computer and console game that involve brainpower over button mashing. I had great hopes for Ico on the Playstation 2, and in general those hopes were fulfilled. With a few minor exceptions.

First, the graphics are lovely. The moody castle, with textures and ghosty monsters really draws you in. You're a young boy with horns that is being sacrificed by your village "for the greater good". Lovely. You manage to escape, though, and you come across a waif-like young girl that seems pretty helpless. And this is where the story begins.

You "drag" the girl around, really grabbing her hand and pulling her after you, to get out of the castle. When monsters appear you defend her, then tug her along again. She's pretty inept. She can't get many places that you can. So you leave her behind, go around to find a way through for her, then go back and bring her through.

It does tug on your heart strings a bit when she jumps to join you and you reach out to catch her, pulling her to safety. But you have to wonder - this boy is half her age. How come all she can do is stand there in the center of the room, going "Jeez, I don't know WHAT I should do now. Won't you come yank my arm out of my socket and show me where to go now?"

Also, many of the puzzles are mighty contrived. Most puzzle games these days have puzzles with some sense - something has broken and you're trying to put it back together, say. But in Ico, the puzzles are old school. There's a box on the floor. When you push it, stairs appear out of the floor. Excuse me, and this makes sense why?

Also, the game is REALLY short. Maybe 10 hours. Compare that to something like Final Fantasy X where you literally play it for months and months and are having fun the entire time!

In general though, this is a great game for kids to play, ones that you want to keep away from Grant Theft Auto 3 for a while. Peaceful, brain-challenging and a good help-others message!

not all that fun

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 8
Date: December 14, 2004
Author: Amazon User

alright get ready for a big action packed thriller game!!,heh not really. its quite boring. yet complicated. its boring because theres lots of very long staircases and you have to keep going up and down all of them,also you run across a pitaful disoriented princess that you have to hall aruond all the time.athorwise i would give it a five star rating cause the fights are really fun graphics are really good but its constantly having to look after the princess!

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