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When Colossi Attack - A Masterpiece

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Shadow of the Colossus is a game that almost defies description. It takes place in a world that has only sixteen monsters in it. Sixteen boss fights. To some, it is a platformer. To others, an action adventure. When explaining it, the words to describe it would be "Giant Killing." The game's plot is as simple as that. The opening sequence follows a young rider entering a huge temple, riding with a clothed figure in his lap. When he reaches the bottom of the large spiraling staircase, he lays the lifeless body of a young woman on the altar. At this point, a million different questions will fly through your head such as wondering what the relation of the two people are, why has he chosen this temple, and what has brought him to complete such a daring task without any hesitation. Saying anything more will ruin this epic game. This is truly one that has to be seen to be believed.

The game was developed by SCEI (Sony Computer Entertainment) which has released multiple games, but the one this most likens to, and is almost a predecessor to, is ICO. ICO is a critically appraised game that did not sell well, but is known for the same elegant beauty and haunting soundtrack. It is a must play for any fan of the game or genre.

There is simply not enough space to tell all the good things about this game. Even if there was enough room, it would be nothing until you saw the game in motion. It is beautiful. The effects range from rain, to dirt spraying everywhere, to climbing Colossi the size of skyscrapers. The first time you scale one of the Colossi, you're breath will be taken away. This is a promise. During the middle periods between the battles, the character must ride the realistically rendered horse to find the Colossi. These stages may seem dull to some, but they threat of boredom is immediately forgotten when the player sees the sprawling landscape and the haunting music begins to play. It is truly a sight to behold.

I would recommend this game to anyone who enjoys playing video games, movies, or art in its finest form. Although the game only lasts roughly 12 to 20 hours, depending on the level of exploring the player does, replaying the game is hard to pass up.

Absolutely gorgeous, but tedious

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 23, 2006
Author: Amazon User

When I first inserted the disk into the PS2, I was filled with a sense of wonder and excitement by the beautiful visuals and compelling soundtrack. This sense of wonder is undiminished while you're wandering around, riding the horse and shining your little searchlight to find the next challenge. It's like listening to an album and meditating.

However, as a game, the controls and the camera were too hard to learn. As a fairly experienced video gamer with a loathing for the tedious repetiveness of platformers and a short fuse for cameras that just won't look where I want them to, I almost put this down after half an hour of play.

Then, my boyfriend came along and started giving me suggestions for where to look and what to do. Exploring it together made it more fun - though I would have preferred if I'd been the one doing the watching. This game is better watched, especially if you're around soemone who likes platformers. It makes a GREAT game for watching, what with the scenery and the soundtrack.

An Experience Never to be Forgotten

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 29, 2006
Author: Amazon User

THE GOOD: Incredibly visionary, innovative and ambitious game design; soundtrack of the decade; breathtaking world; jaw dropping colossi enemies; simply unforgettable.

THE BAD: Choppy framerate; sometimes unresponsive controls; sometimes crazy camera

DIFFICULTY: Medium

There's not much to explain when it comes to the details of SotC. You control a sword wielding boy who takes a girl (sister? girlfriend?) into a mysterious far-away land, and enters a castle of some sort to lay her down on a pedestal. He is told by a heavenly voice that there are 16 colossi living in that land and defeating them will bring about the power to bring back life (which he plans to use to save said girl). Now you, your horse and trusty sword and bow must seek out these mammoth creatures and bring them down.

The game basically just has you travelling on horseback throughout this land searching the next colossi to fight. And defeating them will take more than just shooting off your bow and swiping your sword at them. Each enemy is their own puzzle, and figuring out exactly HOW to reach each weak spot will have you exploring their bodies as well as the environment in which you're fighting them. The godly voice gives you clues, some more vague than others but all mostly helpful, then you're on your own, 5 foot boy versus 10-story size colossi. Each of course becomes more difficult than the last.
From the very first colossi you'll find yourself with your jaw dropped, and remember what it felt like when any medium first introduced you to something incredible you've just plain never seen before. You'll circle the enormous stone-like creatures, all the while being ear caressed by an orchestral soundtrack so epic and grandiose there hasn't been anything like it since Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the PS1. A work of art that simply can't be explained in words but MUST be experienced. You'll once again remember why you play video games, and what you love most about them.

This all of course isn't without its faults. Anyone who's played this development team's first innovative adventure, Ico, knows what a pain in the rear that game was to control at certain times. Unfortunately, that somewhat loose control scheme hasn't changed much. Many times you'll find yourself slipping off enemies or getting hit because the game's ambitious graphics lead the way while other things like controls and framerates can't keep up. It just doesn't feel as tight as it could be. Perhaps a game of this calibur would have been better suited for the new PS3 arriving soon?
Anyway, once you've finally defeated all the colossi, you'll reach the ultimate final boss and the controls unfortunately pick this one battle to be the most annoying. At some points the graphics clipped so much that my character would suddenly disappear at one point and reappear at another point a little ways further. Also, the vague storyline may dissappoint some, especially those who prefer absolute closure. Remember that just like Ico, the time, place, and even language of the characters are kept mysterious, giving the player the option to use their own imaginations to fill in the gaps.

BOTTOM LINE: An absolute must buy for anyone who owns a PS2. If you love adventure and fantasy tales, look no further than SotC, one of the most ambitious, and downright unforgettable entertainment experiences of your gaming life.

Different is Good

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 29, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Shadow of the Colossus is not like other games. Which is one of the things that makes it great. The designers spent lots of time on the environment and the feel of the game. The graphics are excellent. It's actually a beautiful game to watch even if your not playing. I'm a big fan of the GTA games, Medal of Honor, Call of Duty so, I wasn't sure that I'd like it. Its very cool, although maybe lacking in replay value a little. I'd definatley recommend it to anyone.

Probaly the best game ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 17, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Shadow of the colossus is a great game for people who like adventure and puzzle games. Made from the same people as Ico (i havent played Ico though), it has stunning artwork and a great storyline. Just don't get to hooked on it or youll have to look up cheats to beat the colossi.

And look out for the twist at the end

What PS2 was made for!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I wish more games were like Shadow of the Colossus, sprawling, epic landscapes and great graphics. I really like how each Colossus is different and you have to figure out how to take it down. The music adds another layer to the game. You'll be looking at a Colossus and it will be slow music, vocals but when you get on the Colossus it switches entirely and becomes fast paced.

The world is also very believable, there are rock formations and deserts and forests. I wish more PS2 games utilized the PS2 like Shadow did. The story is well done even though you wouldn't think so. You slowly care for the and the boy and even the horse. The horse has it tough. You ride him into the middle of a Colossus and then jump off him and say RUN!

Overall this, simply put is a masterpiece.

It's so pretty!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: August 06, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Ok, I'll admit that I'm not normally into the whole fantasy game thing. On a friend's recommendation, I picked up SotC. My first thought was "This'll be like Final Fantasy and after an hour, I'll never play it again." I was so wrong. This game involves no leveling up, no mindless battles against tons of creatures or anything like Final Fantasy. In truth, this game is nothing short of a masterpiece that I should have bought long ago. The graphics are probably some of the best I've seen for PS2 in quite awhile. The story itself has yet to totally unravel for me, but it's enough to keep me thinking about the game while at work. The gameplay, while challenging, isn't going to make you pull your hair out. The hardest part of all is just figuring out how to bring down each colossi. Once you figure it out, it's not so bad. Anyways, get this game if you find it around anywhere. It'll quickly become a jewel in your collection.

it is not hyperbole to say this is the best game ever made

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: August 10, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I played Shadow when it first came out and like just about everyone else, I was simply in awe. The graphics/art direction/animation were the best I had ever seen, the music was as good as any I had ever heard, the play mechanics the most simple and most perfect I had ever played, but beyond all that there is the "feel" this game has. It would be to understate its greatness to say it is like playing a movie. "Game" is simply too limited a word for this. This is, pure and simple, an interactive work of art, and it is a work of art of a very high caliber.

I waited a long time to play it again, and my original opinion was only confirmed. This is quite likely the best game ever made. Obviously, I haven't played every game, who would possibly have the time or inclination, but I play a sample of the best (best as defined by some combination of the opinions of pro reviewers, laymen and my own tastes and experiences), and this game is better than anything I have seen by such a large margin that it is hard to believe anything else has ever come close. Other games have provided that sense of a new experience that goes beyond mere gaming -- Ocarina of Time and GTA III come to mind in the console world -- but nothing that approaches this.

For kids and adults alike, this is mandatory to any PS2 owner, and it is in fact worth buying a PS2 to play only this game.

One of the best PS2 games ever made

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: February 27, 2007
Author: Amazon User

For anyone still picking up PS2 games, this is a must have. One of the greatest PS2 games ever made.

if you have a PS2 and you don't have this game...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: April 23, 2007
Author: Amazon User

If you have a PS2 and you don't have this game, well, i don't see clearly how is possible that someone doesn't like this game.

It's a game different to anything played before. Half of the game is quiet and the other half is pure adrenaline, i thought that god of war was the best game the ps2 has to offer, well, i was wrong, this it the best game the ps2 has to offer.

What's the deal about this game? well, gameplay and gamecontrol absolutely perfect, at first you think: "why do i have to jump using the triangle?", well, after a while you see that the controls are perfectly adjusted to the game. It has the blur effect when you turn the camera that i have only seen in games of the new generation (xbox 360, ps3), it has the amazing grace of no loading times, that means that you can walk or ride your horse around and there won't appear a loading screen as most of the games (i had this screen in god of war a couple of times, the so called best game of ps2, don't get me wrong, god of war is amazing but shadow of the colossus is simply perfect).

Fighting the colossi (plural to colossus in the game) is amazing 'cause you have to find the way to get their attention and sometimes is very hard to climb on top of them.

You can also hunt lizards (that gives you more strenght) or make pears (or they look like that) fall from the trees (to get more life).

It is a great game, that if you own a PS2 and you don't have it, well, i think it's time to get it.

P.S. I've heard that ICO was a good game, but i never give any attention to it, but after i knew it was made by the same people that made shadow of the colossus, well, i'm curious now.

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