User Reviews (191 - 201 of 202)

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A Must-Rent

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: November 25, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I've never enjoyed anything this vague before. ICO is almost like playing an episode of The Twilight Zone. You aren't provided with much backstory or explanation for any of the things that happen. This game does a great job of putting you in the hero's part. It's easy to identify with the main character who is an ordinary kid put in an extraordinary position. This isn't your typical unstoppable killing maching video game character. And thankfully you aren't out to save the world again.

Basically the whole purpose of this game is to escape a castle which is basically one giant puzzle. You really can't say that the puzzles are seamlessly blended into the environment...BUT...no other game has come this close. I can also say that I've never played a game that gives off such a great sense of accomplishment once you solve a puzzle. It almost feels like you did some useful problem solving, rather than 'collect the key', or 'push the block'. And it was great for the programmers to add tension in the form of enemies which attempt to abduct your companion once you leave her alone for a while.

No other game I've played has this level of atmosphere. Atmospheric is the best word to describe ICO. The vistas are gorgeous even though the camera gets annoying once a fight starts. The cost is that the game has no replay value whatsoever. But with the rock bottom price you can find this game for, it's always worth it.

More than the sum of its parts

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 22, 2005
Author: Amazon User

When it comes right down to it, Ico is just another puzzle/3d platformer type game. Yet, all the elements are designed & executed to create a captivating feel.

Hooray for different games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Hey, this game is just like a dream. It wasnt hard but what made this game rock was the style, the interaction, the backdrops, BACKDROPS..heehee, I dont use that word a lot. Now this is a true "professional" review. And the game still wasnt done when it was done. Surprises. Surprises. My opinion, more games, not all, should be like ICO! Sawweeetness. BACKDROP SWEETNESS!

Fun to play again and again

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 30, 2006
Author: Amazon User

First of all, this has beautiful graphics that show realism. The premise is to get yourself (Ico, the little boy with the horns) and Yorda(a mysterious princess) out of this cursed castle by yout own wits and athleticism. Only Yorda can open certain doors but she can't protect herself or make it over most obstacles by herself. The game is full of mystery and is fairly challenging. Most of the time you're trying to find a way to get Yorda through a certain area without her being taken from you by the tortured souls that live in the castle. Not at all horror, but wholly adventure. The only draw back is that its pretty short, but again has high replay value. Enjoy the atmosphere and use your head!

Let me tell you why you must at least play it once.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: November 06, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Ever had that feeling when you finish an awesome experience that you know you will miss it and pleasant memories of it will linger with you for the rest of your life? That happened to me for some books, like Lord of the Rings, and movies, like Braveheart. It has happened for some games, like Xenogears, and this time, it has happened for ICO. Do not let this one pass you by. It is the BEST PS2 game I have yet to play as of 11/6/01, and it's the only game that provides such emotional attachment based on its story, its characters, its simplicity, and its graphical animations. Sure, I beat it at 7 hrs, but like a good long movie, it will stay with you forever.

Short But Worth Every Cent

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 11, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I'm a hardcore gamer in the sense that I rarely spend time on a game unless it is worth my time, and regardless of any reviews, I judge a game by my perception of it after I have tried it out. Ico is a breath of fresh air. True, it is kinda short but it is like playing in a Myst world but with Prince of Persia/ Tomb Raider controls, now how cool is that?! Unlike Myst, where you have no idea what to do next and though each scene is eye candy, (Myst is just a overhyped-glorified storybook push-button-multimedia-wallpaper) in Ico you actually live in that Great looking world and also interact with it. Unlike Tomb Raider, where you seem to know what to do but just the thought of jumping around one cliff after the other to get a key that will fit a room in a section of a jungle that would taking another few rounds of jumping and scurrying, in Ico you actually won't get caught up in all those unnecessary multiple tricks to finish the game and enjoy the whole game as a game is meant to be enjoyed. It is like watching an anime with you playing as the main character.
Its a short game, but the thought of replaying it to immerse myself in Ico's world is so tempting that until i find a new game that will generate the same mood and awe in game environment design, I would visit it again and again.
If there's only one game in my PS2 library this will be it, until of course, metal gear....

Ico (Not Your Ordinary Game)

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 10, 2001
Author: Amazon User

When walking into Blockbuster this past Friday afternoon (the weekend after Ico came out) I decided to try out one of the new games they had on the rack called Ico. So I rented it and started to play the game. First, I noticed the amazing graphics through out the game. Then there is the story line which I thought was pretty good too. The only thing this game really lacks is the time it takes to beat it. On my third try playing it, it only took me around five hours to beat the darn thing. Anyway I would suggest at least renting the game if not buying it. It is truly a great game.

good but short

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 09, 2001
Author: Amazon User

After playing the Final Fantasy series, I bought this game expecting to play it for a week or two. Within 8 hours the game was over and I don't see myself playing it a second time. The graphics are impressive and the flow of the game is good, but there just isn't enough of this game to justify buying it. Rent it for a weekend.

Simply the best game I've ever seen

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 05, 2001
Author: Amazon User

It's true. Its the best game I've ever seen.
The graphics are stunning. Even zooming in on distant turrets and features, the world is crisp and clear and beautifully lit.
The lack of music in the soundtrack, with just the waves, the birds, the sound of wind running through the trees and the clack of ICO's wooden sandals is mesmerising and haunting.
The design if the game is beautiful simplicity, and because it is so amazingly simple (no inventory, no health bar, just a big stick as a weapon) you have to admire the designers, who must have workd very hard indeed to make something so ingenious and user friendly.
The highlight of the game for me is the incredible animation used for both of the characters. They look like they have been made with motion capture. They haven't - someone animated them from scratch - and brilliantly too.

My only beef with this game is that it is too short. It would have been great to see and extra couple of hours, or some alternate routes to go back and try.
However, they really did save the best for last. The ending is just phenomenal and had me and my boyfriend wandering around our living room for about 10 minutes afterwards, saying 'wow!' to each other.

Great Game For Your Mind

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This is The Kind of game that makes you think really hard. It's not like being in school thinking. But, just filling your head with ideas to complete a task. Ico is the story of a boy who is almost sacrificed because he has horns. He escapes and finds a princess who is caged. After solving a small puzzle to warm up your mind, the princess is released. Throughout the story you encounter monsters only in the form of black mist, the only thing is if they carry the princess off and escape with her, you lose. I really don't think Ico can die as far as I've tried. So there is little to worry about there. The graphics are impressive showing the ability to zoom in on the world. you can also look around independently as long as your focal point is still Ico. The controls were easy to use, as the designer probably didn't want the player fiddling with the controller but thinking about the tasks in the game. All Together though, the game is a dream to play and is one of the best puzzle games of our times, so rent it if you must, buy it if you can.

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