Shadow of the Colossus is an action-adventure game originally released as a PlayStation 2 exclusive. The game looked amazing for the time and still holds up today. Graphical quality of this caliber however, challenged the hardware and led to significant frame rate drops on the original release. An HD remaster for the PlayStation 3 was released that included the game Ico, to which Shadow of the Colossus is considered a spiritual successor. The HD remaster is by far the superior version, with improved graphic quality, better textures and a steady frame-rate. The only downsides are the horrendously stretched out map, and the outdated controls. They are not bad per se, but are definitely showing their age.
Story
The game opens with a man called Wander, traveling to a forbidden land in search of a shrine dedicated to Dormin, a being said to hold dominion over the dead. Wander asks Dormin to revive his deceased lady friend; a request that is initially taken as jest. Eventually Dormin admits there is a way, if Wander can destroy the sixteen stone idols that line the shine's walls. Since mortal hands cannot demolish them, Wander must seek out and fell their incarnations. Before setting out, Dormin warns Wander of the terrible price that must be paid for such an act.
Gameplay
The Forbidden Lands are vast; to locate each new colossus the player must hold Wander's blade up to the light and find the place where the rays gather. The open, empty landscape is traversed atop Wander's loyal steed, Agro. He is an integral part of the game and your only companion in this forsaken place. Half of the gameplay takes place exploring fields, forests, plains, ruins and deserts. There are no enemies in the game aside from the colossi, so you are free to roam and explore unhindered. I loved finding hidden alcoves and ruins that exist for no reason. You are left to ponder their existence and the lore. What or who once lived here is never explained. You are left to draw your own conclusions about the world and its history.
While exploring you may chance upon fruit trees and lizards with glowing tails. These seemingly insignificant items are essential for increasing your health and grip strength. Curiously this is never mentioned in-game, making it incredibly easy to overlook. Other animal inhabitants include bats, turtles, hawks, seagulls, and even fish that you can hitch a ride on by grabbing. While exploring on horseback you always feel like you are controlling Wander who is in turn controlling Agro. The horse has weight and does not turn on a dime. When you pull on the reins you will actually see wander perform the action and then Agro react to it. Jumping from a great height will even injure the horse, leaving him limping. He will avoid walls and even disobey on occasion. Most newer games have mounts that magically appear when you call and then disappear when they are not being utilized. That is not the case here. Agro is always present and will eat, drink, or run around until you call him over.
Segments of quiet peace are interrupted only by dramatic colossi battles. Each colossus is like a puzzle. You must figure out how to get on them and more importantly, how to reach their glowing sigils (weak points). Each giant is clearly effected by gravity and moves their great bulk about at a leisurely pace, kicking up sprays of dust and dirt with each step, bringing their full might down on Wander with earth shattering results.
Some battles require the assistance of Agro to out-maneuver the colossus. Generally if he is not required you will not be able to bring him into an arena. The death blow to each behemoth is played out in a dramatic, slow motion scene as the giant makes a spectacular fall from grace, accompanied by its idol splitting and collapsing into rubble. It is a solemn experience that succeeds at triggering feelings of remorse. It makes you question if what you are doing is right, and if you might be taking something away that can never be replaced.
They are memories replaced by ens and naught and etched into stone. -Lord Emon
The music is spectacular, dramatic, uplifting, and somber. It changes with the mood and the action, always complimenting a scene or aiding the atmosphere. Segments of silence make the music all the more impactful. The Shadow of the Colossus soundtrack - "Roar of the Earth" is one of my all time favorites and even won the award for "Soundtrack of the Year" by Electronic Gaming Monthly.
Conclusion
Shadow of the Colossus thrives on minimalism and solitude. There are no quest markers, no clearly laid out narrative, or regular interactions with NPCs. Half of the story is told at the very beginning and the final half concludes at the very end. The middle is filled with intense, beautiful, colossi battles that visibly wear Wander down as things progress. To get the most out of Shadow of the Colossus you'll need an eagerness to explore and a sense of curiosity. It is all about inventing your own ideas about the world and finding respite in the quiet isolation of the Forbidden Lands.
First posted to videogamegeek.com
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