Shadow of the Colossus

[Oni Koneko Damien]

So the people I'm living with right now have a habit of buying piles of obscure, steeply discounted games for various consoles and giving them a run-through. Surprisingly often, they manage to find quite pretty gems among them. One of these I figured deserves its own thread because 1) I couldn't find any threads on it, and 2) it's an awesome game that I have never heard of.

Anyways, the game is called Shadow of the Colossus for the PS2. You play the role of someone who is obviously incredibly desperate to get laid. He has taken the body of the recently deceased love-of-his-life to an ancient temple in a distant land to petition the gods to bring her back to life. The gods say yes, but only on the condition that he destroy a number of 'colossi' represented by huge statues in the temple. So armed with a sword, a bow and arrows, and a suicidally loyal horse, he sets off to do just that.

The gameplay is 3rd-person action/adventure. There are no items, no health potions, unlimited arrows, and an apparently immortal horsie. You have a health-bar that is replenished by 'resting' (which involves the visual animation of you dropping to one knee and trying to catch your breath). You also have a stamina bar which quickly becomes on of the most important things in the game. Aside from that, you have a compass, a map-view of the land, and a magical sword that will reflect sunlight in the direction you need to go. That's all.

The first thing about this game is that it's simple. There are no real 'puzzles' to solve and no complicated quests to undertake. You just go out there and beat up what you are told to beat up. You don't have to worry about upgrading your weapons and armor, finding magical items, or anything of that sort. You always have exactly what you need to complete the game with you at all times.

The second thing about the game is that it is both insanely beautiful and incredibly huge. Wide-open areas filled with mountains, forests, canyons, deserts, salt-flats, geysers, and ancient ruins. All fully-explorable in full 3d. The Colossi themselves and true to their name, gargantuan.

The gameplay has huge differences from most similar games. The main thing is that there are pretty much no enemies to fight or things to interact with. Aside from falling from heights, the Colossi are the *only* things in the game that can hurt you. So effectively, each fight in the game is a boss-fight. On top of that, the weapons you are given seem rather insufficient for this task. A short-sword, a horsie, and a bow against hundred-foot tall constructs of bone, wood, steel and coarse, matted hair.

This is where the fun element of the game comes into play. Each Colossus (I think there are about fifteen in total) is different, mimicking a different animal or something completely unique. Each is also true to their namesake, usually over a hundred feet tall/long/wide. Your magical sword will reflect the sun in such a fashion that will show you the vulnerable spots on the Colossus' bodies. Then comes the fun part. You have to find a way to jump on, then grapple, leap, and climb your way up each Colossus' body as it tries to shake you off and crush you, reach the vulnerable spot, and stab it with your sword until it dies.

The vulnerable spots, when you actually reach them, and marked as four-foot wide glowing blue symbols on the Colossus' body that spurt black oil when you stab them. The main issue is first finding a way onto the Colossus, and then climbing to these spots and stabbing them without being thrown off or becoming too exhausted to continue. With some, there are 'sensitive' spots you can hit with arrows to temporarily tip the Colossus over, allowing access to a more climbable spot. Others are fully environmental, either luring the Colossus to a spot where it has to reach or hunch over to get you, presenting a grab-able body part, or leaping off a high cliff/tower on top of the Colossus as it goes by underneath.

This is where the stamina-bar comes into play. Whenever you're hanging onto the fur, or on a wood/stone/metal ridge on the Colossus, it drains. If the Colossus is thrashing about, it drains much faster. If it fully drains, you become exhausted and fall off. Often this is a rather far fall, and not only will you take falling damage, but you'll also probably be crushed by the Colossus before you can get away to re-group. Thus, the goal is to either get to the vulnerable spot and give it a few stabs (often a timing exercise, you can only make a controlled stab when the Colossus isn't thrashing. If it is, all you can do is hold on desperately) before you're thrown off, or climb to a flat spot on the Colossus where you can rest and regain stamina in-between thrashings.

If you enjoy 3d action/adventure games, I fully recommend this. It's an incredible combination of breathtaking beautiful landscapes and creatures, timed (and actually innovative) jumping and climbing challenges, and relatively free-form combat.

[Tasoth]

That game was sweet. And there is actually a whole slew of items to unlock to play with by beating the time trial mode or whatever it is you unlock after beating it.

[NeoGoomba]

I borrowed it from a coworker, and I thought it was extremely enjoyable. The parts on horseback against Colossi were very well-paced, and there was enough variety for each "boss" that it never got old.

And its soundtrack was simply beautiful.

[chitoryu12]

I played the OPM demo. One of the sweetest games I've ever seen or played. Even just going up against that one Colossus was a rush unlike any other.

[Xisiqomelir]

Don't forget to play ICO!

[chitoryu12]

Don't forget to play ICO!

Eh, I never really got into ICO. I found it a bit too boring, and I'm no fan of the "lead a helpless AI character around by the hand" game.

[Duckie]

Shadow of Colossus also had a total "WTF HAX!" worthy ending. Totally unexpected, at least on my end. I won't spoil it since it seems some haven't played it.

[DPDarkPrimus]

The relationship of Wander and Mono is never actually elaborated upon in any official capacity. In my own personal interpretation, Wander thought it wrong she was executed and went to see her saved because it was the right thing to do and he wanted to be a hero, damn it.

[Sharp-kun]

My only problem with the game was the lack of stuff between colossi. Other than that it was epic. ^_^

[SylasGaunt]

I could have sworn I made a thread on this game at some point.

But yes it is awesome in pretty much every way. Scope, scale, and the music is too incredible. Especially that track that plays when you board the flying Colossus in the desert.

[DPDarkPrimus]

The soundtrack is worth every penny.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

The soundtrack is worth every penny.

Yes, definitely. Epic and action-packed, and yet at the same time so sad and sorrowful.

Amazing chorus work.

[DPDarkPrimus]

The soundtrack is worth every penny.

Yes, definitely. Epic and action-packed, and yet at the same time so sad and sorrowful.

Amazing chorus work.

So are you going to buy your own copy, or are you just going to borrow mine again?

[Spanky The Dolphin]

I'm probably going to borrow it again once, then order my own copy. To make up, you can borrow some of my stuff.

Where'd you get yours?

[DPDarkPrimus]

I'm probably going to borrow it again once, then order my own copy. To make up, you can borrow some of my stuff.

Where'd you get yours?

Yesasia or Play-Asia, I can't remember which.

[Count Dooku]

I've played it, and it was nothing short of one of the greatest PS2 experiences I've ever had. Does anyone know if there's a sequel in the works?

[Spanky The Dolphin]

Not exactly a sequel, but the team that did Ico and SotC are developing a game for the PS3.

[mauldooku]

This game is probably the best argument, ever, that Videogames can be Art. Experience of the goddamn year, man. One of my favorite games of all-time.

[Sea Skimmer]

I played that game when it came out, it was fun but you had to spend way too much time traveling around to find them with nothing else to do at all.

[DPDarkPrimus]

I played that game when it came out, it was fun but you had to spend way too much time traveling around to find them with nothing else to do at all.

You didn't eat any fruit or lizards?

[Spanky The Dolphin]

I don't think that fully counts as "something else to do."

[mauldooku]

I never bothered to find fruit and lizards. I never bothered to do Time Attack, either. I think either of those would detract from the experience.

[Dark Lord of the Bith]

After you beat it and do the Time Attack though, it gives you new items to play around with, like arrows that whistle! Also, playing with Agro and trying different tricks and just admiring the beautiful landscape was enough for me for "something else to do" between battles.

[Oni Koneko Damien]

I don't think that fully counts as "something else to do."

Umm...catching the lizards with silver tails will actually increase your grip-meter, which can be kind of important.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

Yes, but I count that and eating fruit as being a part of the primary quest of hunting down and eliminating the colossi, rather than being an entirely different and secondary element, such as visiting villages or doing fetch quests for people.