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Atmospheric, Clever & Mindblowing

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game in my opinion is easily one of the best game for the PS2. Although the game is repetitive, as the review below says each colossus requires a different method to kill it. This creates enough change to keep most people's interest. The story does not hold your hand and leaves much to the imagination which I like.

The gameplay is extraordinary. Control of the horse is fairly good though there are some undocumented controls that you'll need. Look around for guides on the web to find them.

The sword, when the sun is out points in the direction of the next colossus. It is also your main weapon. Basically each colossus has weak points both major and minor. Major weakpoints are ones you must stab to kill the colossus. Minor ones are places you stab to make the creature do something whether it's falling to their knees or trying to grab you with their hand.

The main concern when killing the colossus is the grab/stamina/breath meter. This is a colourful circle which gets smaller as your strength runs out. Don't worry though if you stay still you regain your strength.

I won't ruin anything else but just to tell you that once you finish the game make sure you save it as you unlock both time attack mode and hard mode. Time attack mode generally gives you 4-6 minutes to kill a colossus. You don't have to find them again you start from when you first see the colossus. I find this the most enjoyable. I don't like the searching bit as the landscape graphics IMO are not great... nothing compared to God of War. Everything looks blurry until you are fairly close. However the battle graphics and especially the fur on the colossi is excellent.

Anyway every time you beat two colossi in TA mode you get an item from different arrows to an invisibility cloak.

Hard mode is excellently replayable. The colossi do more damage to you, are harder to kill and aswell as that most of them have extra major weakpoints that you have to get to and stab. And once your finished hard mode you unlock HARD time attack mode. The replayability is awesome.

This game really is excellent and most people especially those who have played ICO will love this game.

Beautiful Presentation and Incredible Experience

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This was by far one of my favorite games. For some background, I'm the type of person that looks at things like metacritic to get my info before I purchase and I definitely did my homework on this one. Awesome. And for $20 w/ free shipping you'd have to be seriously on crack not to pick this up. Each battle is unique and memorable, and the ending is great. If you own a ps2, you better pick this one up.

I'm in awe

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 08, 2006
Author: Amazon User

For starters, I liked this game a lot. Unfortunately, it took my playing the whole game to like it as much as I do.

To start with the problems, let's look at how the story is told. You start out with back story, finding out you need to kill 16 colossi (let's just call them bosses). You start killing them, and find out there's nothing else to do in the game. After 8 bosses, you get a meaningless story snippet. After 12 bosses, you get a small piece of the story, but just enough to know that something else is going on that your character is not aware of. After the last boss, you get the story.

The bosses are supposed to give you a feeling of amazement while you attack and kill them. Is wasn't until the 15th boss that I actually started to feel that though. Sure, after getting all 16 of them, I started to feel more about the bosses, but I already felt good about the game then. While fighting most of the bosses, I just wanted to beat them. Maybe it's just how I play games, but I did at least feel the need to destroy the bosses. That needs to count for something. It just probably isn't enough for most gamers I know.

The graphics are pretty. Ico pretty (a game for the PS2 made a few years back by the same folks). If that doesn't mean anything to you, let me put it this way: this isn't the sort of flashy graphic jobs that more and more powerful systems use as graphical demos. The is pretty in the style of the classic artists, such as the stuff you'd find in an art gallery. The frame rates get ugly in some parts of battle, and the camera angles get to be horrible a lot, but it's all something you can deal with.

The puzzle elements (ie, how to you ultimately kill each boss) of this game are the crux of the gameplay. The navigation through the map, and the riding on the horse are the weakness. Both are necessary, if you want to continue in any part of the game.

Ultimately, you'll need to decide what do you want from your game. If you want a mindless game that is mostly cutscene movies and/or dealing with game just to fill up the time, stay away from this game. If you don't finish games, stay away, since you'll be frustrated. If you can stick out a game, and want to play it for the experience (and this is an experience unlike any other game I've ever played), get this game.

COLOSSAL

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Let me just start this review off by saying that this is one of the hardest games that I have ever had to review. Mainly because this game is a work of art, and it is very hard to review a work of art. Every game or movie that I have ever reviewed I have always been able to find a reason that I didn't like it, but with this game it is near impossible to pinpoint exactly why I didn't give it the full five stars. But I will review it to my full potential nonetheless.
What surprises me the most is that a game that has such a simple premise as this could be so good. The basic plot is about your character who travels to this land with the corpse of a dead girl (the relationship between you and this girl is never explained) and you have to destroy the sixteen colossus that roam the land to bring her back to life, relatively simple. There are no little fights in between battling the colossus, but what you get are just sixteen boss battles. But each of the boss battles are some of the most amazing, stunning, eye popping boss battles I have ever witnessed in a game. If you are having a hard time understanding exactly how big the colossus are just picture this, pick up a bow and arrow and a sword and go fight a walking sears tower.
Let's talk more about the colossus. Each colossus requires a different strategy on how to get to its vital spots (the vital spots are the glowing areas on the colossus that you must stab to bring it down, but you can only see the spots if your sword is out). Some you may have to jump on their club, some you may have to jump on there wing, and some you may have to jump on there stomach. The detail, the texture, and the overall graphics for each colossus is absolutely amazing. I have heard quite a few people say that the graphics for this game were not very good, I absolutely don't agree with anyone who says that, the graphics are almost perfect in every way.
There is no music as you travel to the colossus, the only time you really here music is when you start fighting the beasts, and let me say that the music is very good. I guess my only real reason I can't give this game the full five stars is because it's just too simple, there really isn't much depth to the plot, and that too me is a very important factor for a good game. If you have any interest in this game what so ever you have to buy it, enough said. When the game ended I though that it was one of the most emotionally involving games I have ever played, and still think so.

This is like David vs. Goliath

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Damn, this game is a total change too what the normal game puts in. Take Halo for example, it's a great game sure, but how many enimies do you kill? In Shadow, there is only 16 foes, it might sound stupid, but the fights are so satisfing, you won't be complaning.
What happens is that you come with horse to a forgotten land and enter the 'Shrine of Worship' and ask the gods for a favor. You want your friend to come back from the dead, now the strange thing is, you don't even know why your character wants this girl to come back alive. But it is somehow able to tie in all together somehow at the very ending. The gods say they will, but first you must destroy 16 idols, and to destroy the idols, you must kill their incarnations, which is a colossi. So you follow a collosi in their genral direction. Now a colossi is literaly the size of a mountain. A man 10 ft. tall is the size of its foot. You actualy climb the colossi to defeat it. They all have 2 preasure points, one usually in the head, there are water, air, and land colossi, there are never two the same, and never two killed the same.
Shadow of the Colossus is unlike any game you have ever played(well, mabey not Ico). The senery is unlike anything you have ever seen in a video game, the concept of the Colossus is just so fresh and new. The only bad thing is that when you drop off one of them, it only hurts 1/3 of your health. But still, this is unlike anything you have ever played before.

An epic

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game has more of an epic feel to it than most films of the genre. The story while simple, is one that any person with a heart can relate to, and by the end you will wish you could take the hero's burden upon yourself just to give him a reprieve.

Each colossus is beautifully designed to have this individually solemn personality, leaving one to wonder what story led them to this place. You'll find yourself at the beginning of every fight saying, "They expect me to kill that!"

As for game play it is smooth. There is nothing complicated about the controls aside from it being difficult at times (especially when you are in a hurry) to catch the trigger to mount your horse

Haunting....................and Bittersweet..

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

there is NO other game like this. you (playing as "The Wanderer") are a SPECK OF DUST in this vast world,...and when battling the Colossi you are as a mere flea on the back of a mythological buffalo. this mysterious land is practically bereft of all life (save for the occasional bird, fish or snake) EXCEPT for you (The Wanderer), your steadfast steed Argo AND the assemblance of Colossi. the panoramic views are breathtaking. the music is delicate and beautiful. the atmosphere is intoxicating. the battles with the Colossi are brutal and heartless. i can't stress this enough: BRUTAL AND HEARTLESS.

here is the plan of attack:

1) LOCATE Colossus
2) find a way to CLIMB ONTO Colossus
3) navigate Colossus to find it's "vital points"
4) STAB COLOSSUS REPEATEDLY until it dies
5) REPEAT all of the above

BRUTAL..............not in a gratuitous "graphic violence/gore" manner but rather the conscienceless and "sacrificial" assault (and subsequent slaying) you most inflict upon these lumbering giants. bittersweet. bittersweet because Shadow of the Colossus is a VERY impressive work of "interactive art",....... yet i still found myself saddened and burdened with guilt as i methodically laid waste to these spectacular creatures...many of which seemed to exist with complete ambivalence toward "The Wanderer" and would just as soon be left alone in their solitary world. OF COURSE most of them become VERY defensive when provoked BUT i found NO solace or comfort in leaping upon them and stabbing them repeatedly with my "magic sword",...EVEN IF IT WAS for the purpose of resurrecting a lost loved one. as for the gameplay mechanics,...i think this game pushed the absolute limits of PS2 hardware and "might" have been better served by a higher platform such as the forthcoming PS3. "frame refreshing" was jumpy at times. in certain situations the camera angle is INSUFFERABLY awkward and often the controls seem to automatically switch 45 or even 90 degrees opposite of what you "think" should be correct. NONE-THE-LESS,..this game commands respect because it shares a kindred spirit with its gorgeous sibling "ICO" (which is an absolute MASTERPIECE in every aspect). in fact, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus are bound together by more ties than you might intially think. the panormanic views are often BREATHTAKING and the music is beautiful. i do not want to go into much detail about the ending of Shadow of the Colossus but BE PREPARED for some startling revelations...some of which i half expected (and probably deserved).

SO.................to sum up: Shadow of the Colossus is an iconoclast,...it is a rebellious and imaginative revolt against the "dumbed-down shooter" that console gameplay is notoriously famous for. Shadow of the Colossus is the offspring of absolute ARTISTIC and STORY-TELLING GENIUS. ALSO (like ICO) it is TRULY an "interactive work of art". THAT BEING SAID,...this game left me feeling very sad. the story,..the characters,..the atmosphere,..the wonderful music,...the tone of the gameplay and MOST IMPORTANTLY the EMOTIONAL GRAVITY of this game will leave me haunted for quite some time. AND,.......i must admit that the FINAL CUTSCENE/FINAL CREDITS are the most emotionally gripping and perhaps the most artistically GRANDIOSE ten minutes you will EVER experience in a console game. my jaw was agape and my heart was heavy. do i recommend this game? emphatically YES. did i ENJOY this game? i'm not quite so sure i did. is it a great game? ONE OF THE ALL TIME BEST. Shadow of the Colossus is an artistic and emotional statement to the "nth" degree. it is a gaming experience you are not likely to ever forget. i hope this made sense.

2005 Game Of The Year!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 31, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Yeah, I know Resident Evil 4 and God of War are awesome games. But neither one of them drew me in emotionally the way SOTC did. The sense of scale and atmosphere are unparalleled. The whole sad, but beautiful environment is flawlessly constructed. The fact that it's just you, your horse, and your girl thrown into this strictly colossi inhabited world makes it all the more better. The ending kinda pissed me off but, in my opinion, it didn't matter cause the gameplay was ridiculously awesome! Plus, I think it hints at a sequel. I can only hope. This could be the GREATEST game ever made... and when you think about that statement coming from a guy whose played video games across three decades... you know this game is serious.

A Must-Have

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Rarely have I played a game so tremendous as Shadow of the Colossus. This game gives off an eerie feel that makes you want to spend hours exploring. A game world so believable and vast has been created that it is possible to never see all of it.
You only fight the humongous creatures called colossi, and everything in between is just the beauty of the world rushing by you as get to the next one. In terms of story, this game tells it all to you via context. Very little is said, and the entire mythology of this ancient land is left for you, the player, to figure out for yourself.
This game is so epic, and so moving, that it would be a shame not to pick it up.

The Legend Of All Games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I wanted to play this game from the start, as soon as i pushed start and the game started i was shocked!! in the best graphics i have ever seen it was like owning a xbox360 or a ps3 or just having it on a super built computer i used the camera to look around the vast landscapem it was just jaw dropping but the other jaw dropping was the huge mammoth you fisrt encounter. as soon as i saw him walk by and then turn around and looked at me im like " oooo holy crap i have to fight him? " the great part also was to figuer your way up op or down or around each 16 colossi. there were many different areas on were to defeat him at with your magic light sword and your bow and arrows that are unlimited ( and for the record it isnt cheating for sure ) the bosses which are all 16 are eay yet difficult in each way there is no falt in this game the length was just right on the dot and the fighting plus story was just perfect. the controls were nothing hard and no glitches were found i hvnt seen any bad fram rate in anything with this game from start to finish. the story is just intense but not much of it, tho that keeps you in the dark it flows it at you later on which is very good. there isnt any time limit or anoying mini creatures to attack or countless powerups or 100 fighting ways to figuer out. this game needs no cheats really dosent have cheats but i never used them and i had the time of my life. it all focuses on the sotry of a man wonder trying to regive life to his lover but needs to slay these mammoth beings first. i dont want to spoil anything else but for all in all

story 10
grpaghics 10
gameplay 10
overall 10

if i could i would make it higher i hope you enjoy the game and hoped this helped you i never had so much fun on a game in my life i hope the creator makes another one like as a SOTC 2 or just a completely different but same aspects with different stuff of course to drag you in more :)

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