Shadow of the Colossus Review

By Kristan Reed Published 27 October, 2005

Gigantic. A big big love.

Version tested: PlayStation 2

It's hard to know exactly where to start when you've just spent the last two days playing your favourite game of the entire year. The cursor blinks irritatedly at you with the rhythm of impatient drumming fingers, but you lose focus. Cutting to the chase really isn't that easy when you're staring wide-eyed into the middle distance; lost in the memory of what just played out on the big screen TV you bought to enjoy games like Shadow of the Colossus in all their utterly magisterial glory.

Snap out of it.

*Pop!*

Stuck in a whimsical state of mind like this, it seems entirely worth the pain of slogging through 14 identical corridor-based FPSs, seven stealth-me-do's, and 11 pimp-my-ride-a-go-go's. Anything to be able to play something this good.

And yet, Shadow of the Colossus is easily one of the most straightforward videogames imaginable; so refined is its vision. So uncomplicated its premise. You could distil the entire game into a sentence. Scratch that - two words will do: giant killing. Sometimes it's breathtaking at just how simple the game really is, yet it's also singularly one of the most pure and captivating gaming experiences we've ever had.

Big game hunter

'Shadow of the Colossus' Screenshot flying

The second flying beast is truly one of the most immense boss creatures ever seen.

It's an entirely unique game, too. A game that makes desperate isolation seems like a faintly attractive prospect. A game set in a spectacularly beautiful world where exploration is half the fun. An uncluttered experience where your sole purpose is to take down 16 of the most fearsome creatures you could possibly imagine imagining. Beasts so vast and so impressive that they bring new meaning to the tired notion of a 'boss monster'. It's a game all about and only about killing the boss monsters as a means to an end. A next generation game: here. Now.

Paradoxically, Shadow of the Colossus takes a few steps back in an attempt to bring us something new. Its boldly retrograde stance strips away many of the conventions of videogames that we've come to take for granted over the decades. It has almost no story, a bare minimum of dialogue, and hence no characters. You don’t even meet anyone (apart from the colossi, of course) on your extensive travels. It's just you, your horse, a bow and arrow, a sword, a jump button, a grab button and the occasional unseen voice from the ether.

So who's 'you' exactly? Well, much like SCEJ's previous game (the beloved ICO), you play a boy with horns (unrelated, we assume. It matters not). As the young Wanderer, all you're concerned with is bringing the dead love of your life back into the mortal realm. You've brought her on horseback to a shrine in a mythical land at the end of the world on the understanding that there's a way of bringing her soul back to life.

The number of the beast

'Shadow of the Colossus' Screenshot talk

We can talk this through...

And indeed there is. It just involves the small matter of slaying the 16 colossi that roam the lands in the surrounding area. You saddle up on Agro, your trusty steed, and gallop off in search of these lumbering beasts.

But first you need to know exactly where to look. Holding up your sword in the air and rotating yourself around with the left stick focuses light in the direction you need to head, and eventually you'll stumble across where you need to be. A word of warning, though; discovering where the colossi hang out is never as straightforward as you imagine it will be. Often, you'll charge off confidently, wind in your hair, stunning vistas to admire, feeling as free as a bird, and then you realise there's a 1000 foot drop into the canyon beyond blocking your path and one hell of a detour to figure out.

From there, it's often a case of extended trial and error, where you end up caught down the wrong path, or just simply in completely the wrong place. They could really use some tour guides down in Colossiland. While this can get a tiny bit irritating when you're playing Shadow of the Colossus on a time budget, the wide-eyed child in you will never get bored of exploring. Even getting lost can be fun when it ends up with death by misadventure after you've fallen down a vast waterfall.

All the way through the game you'll never lose the enchanting thrill of exploring the game's environment. Sure, on the surface you’re wasting a whole lot of time merely running around on horseback, taking in the view and wishing you could ride into that terrifying abyss (which it won't let you do, incidentally). But whether you're basking in the desolate freedom at full pelt in the sunshine, or riding headlong into an erupting geyser, few games come close to offering such a consistently immersive atmosphere. And very little shatters that suspension of disbelief; you're there for the duration.

Art for heart's sake

'Shadow of the Colossus' Screenshot plunge

"Stop you crazy man, I'm not plunging to my doom, thanks very much..."

One of the main reasons for all of this isn't so much to do with the tech, but more the quality of the art crammed within Shadow of the Colossus. It's consistently magnificent. All manner of interesting graphical tricks have allowed the team to exploit the hidden innards of the underestimated PS2 with aplomb, and those lucky people equipped with a progressive scan-enabled widescreen TV will be in for a rare treat. Whether it's the deliciously-overexposed bloom effects, the exceptional use of colour, the beautiful architecture, or the abundance of (often incredible) particle effects, you're never in any doubt that some of the most talented individuals in the business were allowed to really express their vision in a way that few have been afforded.

Rather like the game itself, this review has taken the scenic route to get around to addressing the colossi - but it's worth every minute. Little can prepare you for the scale of some of these behemoths, reducing the player to little more than a scurrying ant on a number of occasions. More incredible, though, is just how immensely impressive they look up close and personal. Rather than blur into a mass of polygonal disappointment, you see every strand of wiry hair, every crease in their leathery skin, every undulation in their scaly armour. Each and every one only look more impressive the closer you get, which is just as well, as there's little opportunity to take these beasts out by flitting around like a frightened mouse.

When you've picked your flapping jaw up off the floor and popped your eyeballs back into your disbelieving sockets, eventually you've got to work out how to take these giants down a peg or two, and that's where the fun really starts and the point where the one of the finest game soundtracks ever soars into dramatic life. To begin with, it's relatively straightforward to identify the colossus' weak spots. Merely raising your sword shines a beam of light down onto wherever it is you need to stab, indicated by a glowing blue smudge. But working out how to scale these mighty mammalian mountains is another thing altogether.

Up on a pedestal

'Shadow of the Colossus' Screenshot drunks

The things people do for drunks.

At its heart, Shadow of the Colossus is more of a platform puzzler than anything, where the earlier 'levels' are mostly represented by each colossus, and are constantly on the move and often exceptionally well-defended. Cracking each 'puzzle' is no mean feat, with each one woven so intricately into the fabric of the game - with a demand for lateral thought that would shame the average adventure title. It's a given that you'll spend a long time on each 'boss' merely trying to figure out how to do them any damage whatsoever. Some come fully armoured, some fly, some swim, some are fast and deadly, some all of the above. And just when you feel like you're getting the better of them, the game will pull another crafty trick out of the bag to keep you on your toes... again.

To begin with, it's just about getting onto the colossus in question, scaling them, clinging on for dear life, charging up your sword attack and plunging your blade deep into their weak spots. But as satisfying as this is at the start, it would have made for a pretty boring game if the whole thing had have carried on in this vein.

Before long, you're forced to pay attention to what's around you and use the environment to your advantage. Although the colossi are your sole focus in the initial levels, the game begins to carve out increasingly sophisticated locations that even demand a fair bit of leaping and scaling before you work out what to do. Often the solution will completely elude you at first, yet seems so strikingly logical once it becomes apparent. If you find yourself completely stumped, the game takes the hint and starts dropping some; although none so obvious that they'll spoil it for you. Even when you know full well what to do, actually carrying out the task at hand can be a real trial, but of the kind that inspires pure satisfaction when you've cracked it. With your targets aware of your presence on their body, they'll thrash around like demented eels and make life exceptionally difficult. By the end of the game your index finger will be extra powerful from all the time you spend clamping down R1 to cling onto their elusive torsos.

Get a grip (on yourself)

'Shadow of the Colossus' Screenshot metallers

Metallers come in all shapes and sizes these days.

Inevitably, though, you'll work out their attack and defence patterns, learn when to recharge your 'grip' energy, and even the most fearsome enemies eventually drop to the ground, slain at your merciless hand.

And when you've been through the long process of exploration, bewilderment, defeat, and eventually victory, the immense feeling of satisfaction at the end of each fight is beyond compare. You feel utterly triumphant, and ready for another epic encounter. Yet, as a formula, it's almost ridiculously simple. Hunt monster, find a means to jump onto his body, stab him in the head a few times. Repeat until the credits roll. Isn't this Galleon without the platforming?

"Is that it?" What do you mean 'is that it?' Arguments will doubtlessly rage forever that 'Shadow of the Colossus would have been better if...', and people will make the point that the world is empty, that it needs more life. People will also rightly point out that it can be a right faff to locate each colossus, or that the game needs more weapons, more variety, or moan about the occasional camera freak out. Of course, there are a few niggles. At times, you get the sense that the PS2 is being pushed a little too hard. It definitely could do with a little more, um, horsepower to make things smoother, but it hardly detracts from the overall enjoyment even a tiny bit.

Total eclipse

Shadow of the Colossus' succeeds not through the layers of complexity, hand-jamming combos or by show-off pyrotechnics and unfathomable, forgettable plot-lines. It’s a masterfully understated, beautifully simple, engrossing ride that's as palpitatingly thrilling as it is serenely calming. It's also one of the most consistently compelling and memorable games we've ever played (or witnessed, for that matter). Once you've finished it, you'll sit back and flick through the stand-out memories lodged forever in your mind's eye. You might even feel motivated to play it on the unlockable hard mode, or time attack and try and earn the 16 secret items tucked away for the determined slayer of colossi. Or you might just sit and talk about it with your friends, and express your infectious joy over how you've just played one of the videogames of your life.

It's a big big love.

10 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (191) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • UncleLou #1 6 years ago

    A 10. Oh my God.

    /buys new PS2

  • Ginger #2 6 years ago

    10?
    o_0

  • Rociel #3 6 years ago

    I completely agree with this 10. Best game I've played in a long time.

  • statix101 #4 6 years ago

    Hope its Ps3 backwards compatible, as thats the only way i'll get to play this......

  • Razz #5 6 years ago

    O_O

    That good eh?

    It's not your average PS2 game tho, I bet no average PS2 Chav Gamer buys it. I'm not slating the game, I think it sounds brilliant. Just the majority of the British PS2 Gamer Public are fools.
    Edited by 2 at 27/10/05 @ 14:43

  • krudster #6 6 years ago

    Remember, a 10 does not (repeat *NOT*) mean it's perfect!

    But if you can't find love for this in your heart, it must be made of stone.

  • djchump #7 6 years ago

    oooooh.....

    /checks credit card balance

  • Mirkan #8 6 years ago

    HL2 was the embodyment of 10 not meaning it's perfect. :)

  • Cloudane #9 6 years ago

    I am not lying - best game of the generation.

    I know so, because I own the most beautiful game ever.

  • zErOb_cOOl #10 6 years ago

    /Passes out

  • Razzajazz #11 6 years ago

    So, better than....... Everything else, then?! ;)

  • rinoaMW #12 6 years ago

    a euro reveiw?!? whens it out? whens it out? whens it out?

    /feints from anticipation

  • Cloudane #13 6 years ago

    Razzajazz said:

    "So, better than....... Everything else, then?!"

    No need for the wink emotion - it is.

  • Wobble #14 6 years ago

    wow, first 10 i've seen here O_o

    grrr, why do the various sony studios keep making such good games? so much xbox h8 :p

  • onyxbox #15 6 years ago

    sod the 360 ! This is way more exciting.

  • Huntcjna #16 6 years ago

    Never in my life have I considered modding for import as much as after reading this review.

    I want it now!

  • bionutz #17 6 years ago

    oh god...

  • UncleLou #18 6 years ago

    The screenies always remind me of this book I had as a child.

  • Ceatlan #19 6 years ago

    If they release this in a double pack with ICO I may actually get around to buying a PS2, having managed not to so far.

  • Genji #20 6 years ago

    So... better than Halo, then?
    AHAHAHAHAAAA, I CRACK ME UP

  • myiagros #21 6 years ago

    i bought a US Ps2 just to play this and it was well worth the money!!!

    Never mind game of the year, I rekon BEST OF ALL TIME!

    \\on my third time through\\

  • Razzajazz #22 6 years ago

    Does anybody know the UK release date? Please?!

  • Blerk #23 6 years ago

    Oh my! :-o

    Now this is what innovation is all about. Yes. What a shame we're not getting it 'til after Christmas.

  • rinoaMW #24 6 years ago

    says feb on both play and amazon, razzajazz... which is crazy considering this is supposed to be a EURO REVIEW!

    /curses

  • myiagros #25 6 years ago

    Out in UK February!

  • Ghetto-lapin #26 6 years ago

    What about what Penny Arcade said ? Isn't it a bit weird to spend the time killing beasts that look mostly peaceful ? (it annoyed me quite a bit when I played the demo at last E3). A bit like a whale hunt videogame....

  • Blerk #27 6 years ago

    Does anybody know the UK release date? Please?!

    The lists say 24th of February, but that might just be a placeholder date as there's a lot of other stuff on that day too. Quarter 1 2006 is 'official'.

  • mustardkid #28 6 years ago

    gah - according to play.com

    its out 24th feb 06 - which is miles to wait

  • WoodenSpoon #29 6 years ago

    /might import

  • mash the x button #30 6 years ago

    Been waiting for this, but why do we have to wait till February? Grrr...
    Is the level of immersion the same as in ICO, i.e. no health bars or on-screen prompts to distract one from the game?

  • Teeth #31 6 years ago

    It's a treat :)

  • Razzajazz #32 6 years ago

    February? Why does God hate me?!

  • WoodenSpoon #33 6 years ago

    " The screenies always remind me of this book I had as a child."

    !!!!!!

    Best book ever !!!

  • Teeth #34 6 years ago

    They kind of look peaceful until they see you, their eyes turn red and they stamp your puny body into the ground. Sorry, but that's aggressive behaviour in my book.

  • myiagros #35 6 years ago

    "Is the level of immersion the same as in ICO, i.e. no health bars or on-screen prompts to distract one from the game?"

    there are two small indicators in the bottom right of the screen, one for health and one for grip/air/power. The grip meter is essential and neither are to in your face.

  • praetorian #36 6 years ago

    What does a perfect game get? ;)

    Sorry, just being facetious :p

  • gizmo #37 6 years ago

    "What does a perfect game get? ;) "

    It was 8 if my memory serves me. ;)

  • Blerk #38 6 years ago

    What does a perfect game get?

    11/10.

  • Huntcjna #39 6 years ago

    I just realised about the pixies reference

    /is dumb

  • myiagros #40 6 years ago

    another addition to this years fantastic PS2 line up. Probalby the best year so far, can't wait for next gen, but for now i am thoughly enjoing this one.

    This years Great PS2 Games: Metal Gear Solid 3, God Of War, Fahrenheit, Shadow Of The Colossus + Resident Evil 4

  • Artemus #41 6 years ago

    Wow. I was expecting an eight or nine.

    Bit of a premature review for us 'Europeans'.

  • zErOb_cOOl #42 6 years ago

    "Never in my life have I considered modding for import as much as after reading this review."

    That crossed my mind too. Shame its pretty much a 4 month wait for this. :(

  • Ginger #43 6 years ago

    This years Great PS2 Games: Metal Gear Solid 3, God Of War, Fahrenheit, Shadow Of The Colossus + Resident Evil 4
    And CIV 4 of course - although it's not out yet the reviews I've seen have been glowing

  • onyxbox #44 6 years ago

    I take it you need to mod your PS2 to play this imported?

  • Teeth #45 6 years ago

    Civ 4 on PS2?

  • rinoaMW #46 6 years ago

    i bet nobody will buy this one too...

  • Psi #47 6 years ago

    wow all these posts and not one


    "so.... better than halo?...."

  • Carlo #48 6 years ago

    So... Better than Crack cocaine then!

    Jesus christ... a fucking 10!

    " If they release this in a double pack with ICO I may actually get around to buying a PS2, having managed not to so far. "

    Best idea evar! Ico+SotC PS2 slimline bundle for Christmas. pwnage.

    /looks around for the xbox fanboys with nothing to complain about.

  • foamy #49 6 years ago

    omg, i so wanna buy a ps2 to play this and ico :(88

  • Ginger #50 6 years ago

    ahem, yeah ok so CIV4 isn't coming out on PS2, but it's still gonna be great

    /slinks off into the shadows

  • SirScratchalot #51 6 years ago

    I find the controls a bit awkward.
    As an experience it´s a 10 as a game around 8-ish.

  • DNM #52 6 years ago

    This does look fantastic, and I hope sincerely that the 10/10 is justified. Have to wait til next year for Euro release tho right?!

  • ave #53 6 years ago

    8, maybe a 9, but having finished it, not a 10.

  • tiddles #54 6 years ago

    Good sides to it being delayed until after Christmas in Europe:

    - won't get lost in the Christmas avalanche, and might have a better chance of getting the recognition it deserves
    - may have some cool Euro extras, and come in a fancy box like Ico did
    - er....

  • Carlo #55 6 years ago

    Hey Krudster, how much hatred did you get in the offices when the decision was made that you got to review it?

    Bogeys on you keypad kinda anger, or mild-poisions in your coffee?

  • krudster #56 6 years ago

    Illegal activities aside, there really aren't any load times to speak of that I can recall. The whole thing streams dynamically.

  • krudster #57 6 years ago

    Well, Tom's reaction to me having completed it last night prompted a hail of see you next tuesdays, and Rob's sort-of retired from reviewing these days, so he's happy for me :)

  • Teeth #58 6 years ago

    The game doesn't work with HD Advance.

  • WoodenSpoon #59 6 years ago

    do those disk swap jobbies work with this ?

  • potatoes #60 6 years ago

    absolutely a 10/10

    fully agree.

    while its not perfect, i have never played a game where time passes so quickly. only when you save do you realise how much you have surrendered...

  • krudster #61 6 years ago

    Can I just add that games like *this* are the reason why next gen can wait a bit longer.

  • kangarootoo #62 6 years ago

    I think they are just being territorial. Perhaps some kind of warning sign would avoid all the trouble and bloodshed. And maybe a big fence.

    I remember seeing an early movie for this, which showed the hero sticking his sword into the head of what looked like a giant teddy bear wearing welding goggles. They put some really soothing and sadness inducing music over the top, and I've never felt so sorry for a giant monster in my life.

  • Blerk #63 6 years ago

    Rob's sort-of retired from reviewing these days

    But... but... who will review all the turn-based Japanese weirdness? :-o

  • DodgyPast #64 6 years ago

    was going to start playing this one tomorrow... but sounds like it'll be worth waiting till the girlfriend comes back.

    /thank god i don't live in Europe.

  • potatoes #65 6 years ago

    "Isn't it a bit weird to spend the time killing beasts that look mostly peaceful?"

    but thats part of the point i would argue. i think most people will feel sorry for the colossi they are killing. majestic just doesn't do them justice.

  • boo #66 6 years ago

    10?

    /never thought he live to see the day etc etc

    4 months...
    Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

  • krudster #67 6 years ago

    Yeah, anyone who reckons they're fully qualified to review turn-based Japanese weirdness, let me know. There's a Rob-shaped vacancy!

  • Ghetto-lapin #68 6 years ago

    kangarootoo : my point exactly. In ICO I hated the shadowy thingies, they looked mean, they were trying to take my girl, etc. In the demo of Shadow I played, I just felt like hunting a big grass-eating animal, who only attacked me after I got really close to it.

  • admir #69 6 years ago

    this game is not perfect i would give it a 9 but the art in the game is just amazing and the Colossus they look so amazing you dont see it a lot in games
    games like this are Rare and thats why they deserve a perfect 10

  • myiagros #70 6 years ago

    any one know how many copies ICO ever sold in Europe??

    PS. I own 2 of them

  • Teeth #71 6 years ago

    I'm only regurgitating what I read on the forum, where nobody could seem to get it working with HD Advance.

  • Hog-lumps #72 6 years ago

    Bollocks. It's always only when next gen is round the corner that games like that are released.

    what about ico?

  • Dr.Haggard #73 6 years ago

    Only got as far as Colossus #5 so far, I'm taking it slowly and savouring every minute, but so far? Easily a 10.

    I've not felt like this playing a game since... well since Ico I guess, but this is an altoegether different (and dare I say it, better) feeling.

  • Blerk #74 6 years ago

    Yeah, anyone who reckons they're fully qualified to review turn-based Japanese weirdness, let me know. There's a Rob-shaped vacancy!

    Pick me! Pick me! \o/

    :-)

  • wattoo #75 6 years ago

    Uncle Lou

    Somehow, I knew which book that was going to be.

  • Papalaz1 #76 6 years ago

    Agreed wholeheartedly - stonking game

  • Blerk #77 6 years ago

    Bollocks. It's always only when next gen is round the corner that games like that are released.

    Not always, but you're mostly right. Mainly because it takes just about the entire lifespan of a console for the developers to truly get to grips with what they can do with the hardware. Unfortunately the next-gen then comes along and takes all the talent away to new pastures so the peak is short-lived. And to add insult to injury, the devs are starting again from scratch on the new platforms so the games aren't as good as the pinnacles of the previous-generation. Bah.

  • AgentCooper #78 6 years ago

    " Can I just add that games like *this* are the reason why next gen can wait a bit longer."

    Fully agree, can't wait to get this. Bollocks to February though.......I blame the french.

  • itamae #79 6 years ago

    "Pick me! Pick me! \o/"

    Yes, pick him! Pick him! But send all his reviews to me before you publish them. You know, for proof-reading and stuff ;-)

  • Tricky #80 6 years ago

    "Yeah, anyone who reckons they're fully qualified to review turn-based Japanese weirdness, let me know. There's a Rob-shaped vacancy!

    Pick me! Pick me! \o/

    :-)"

    Heh, yeah I was just about to nominate Blerk actually but he jumped in before I could. Shameless...

  • Hog-lumps #81 6 years ago

    'Isn't it a bit weird to spend the time killing beasts that look mostly peaceful'

    I think you're meant to feel emotional regret for killing the colossai - I mean how often do you feel that emotion in a computer game? - it's usually click'click bang your dead, 'next victim'!

    The Ico team seem to have tried to inject more emotion and morality in their two games. Who felt, like me, really awful when you got to the end of Ico and discovered who those shadow thingies are that you've been killing........emotional to say the least.

    but maybe I'm just a big girls blouse?!!!!

  • Kami #82 6 years ago

    Most certainly a 10. The slight (and they are slight) problems are easily and vastly overwhelmed by the incredible beauty, simplicity and charm of this game. It's pure in the fact that it is just purely boss-battles.

    Resident Evil 4... psht. Whatever. RE4 recrafted a tired genre. Shadow of the Colossus recrafts gaming as we know it. Definitely deserves a 10/10. There's nothing like it out there, it's a breath of fresh air and that is why it's so goddamn perfect.

    Only one problem... once you've played this, you will be left wanting more games this stunningly great...

  • Blerk #83 6 years ago

    I heard from someone at Game that they were told at meeting with Sony execs that the PS2 will be supported until 2010, so I'm sure you'll see more 'gems' like this one.

    "Supported", yes. With kids games, licenses and rubbish, much like the PSOne was. All the best teams bugger off to the next-gen as soon as it's out, leaving next to nothing for the last gen machines.

  • Teeth #84 6 years ago

    I thought that too...

  • krudster #85 6 years ago

    Also, just to add to the game's greatness, the ending is just fantastic - and how many games can you say that about?

  • Fuser #86 6 years ago

    I read a review of this last week which gave it 7 out of 10, and as I read it I just knew Eurogamer would give it 10.......dont flame me, I havent played the game or even read the review yet: it just made me smile when I flicked to the end...

  • Blerk #87 6 years ago

    the ending is just fantastic - and how many games can you say that about?

    1. Ico.

    :-)

  • Hog-lumps #88 6 years ago

    1. Ico.

    I think we should all form the Ico appreciation society!

  • krudster #89 6 years ago

    Fuser, I think that if we ran the 7/10 reviewer through an X-Ray machine, it would confirm that he has, indeed, got a big grey rock stuck where his heart should be...

  • Chtulie #90 6 years ago

    this might be a reason for the delay of the next zelda, the dev's might hae had an early look at this game where there's also a guy riding a horse through a vast landscape, dealing with tricky terrain and fighting monsters, looked back at their own product and figured they'd need to do some serious twekaing to not be completely overshadowed whenever their game reached any similar points to this game.

  • kangarootoo #91 6 years ago

    @frod

    "Reviewing those games is pointless, you'll buy them anyway, and no-one else cares."

    Yeah, with this thread at 105 posts last time I looked, obviously no one gives a shit. You should work for interpol mate.

  • prettyboytim #92 6 years ago

    "A next generation game: here. Now."

    Or rather: "A next generation game: Over There. Now."

    Grrr.

  • Dr_Actually #93 6 years ago

    Hooray!

  • Feanor #94 6 years ago

    They had a producer of this game on G4 showing off the game, and the interviewer said something like - So you need to grab the patch of fur and shove your sword in? He didn't realize how rude that sounded till the words were already out of his mouth, hehehe.

    FFVIII has a great ending.

    Devil May Cry 3 has a brilliant ending. Finally we learn why the series is called Devil May Cry and it makes perfect sense, and is actually quite poignant.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/05 @ 16:00

  • Hog-lumps #95 6 years ago

    Chtulie thats a little harsh!

  • drumbaby #96 6 years ago

    If it had scored less than HL2 I'd have come around your houses and beat you to death with my horn :)

  • Razz #97 6 years ago

    Chtulie thats a little harsh!

    Could be right tho... and I'm a Nintendo Fanboi!

  • ccfb #98 6 years ago

    When does this arrive on these shores?

  • teamonkey #99 6 years ago

    WoodenSpoon: " do those disk swap jobbies work with this ?"

    Yes. I'm using the Slide Tool with Swap Magic 3.6 and it works fine. I agree with the score too :)

  • Fuser #100 6 years ago

    Now I've read the review, the very reason the other site gave the game a 7 - lots of pointless wandering in between the fighting - seems to be the same reason EG gave it a 10. Interesting.....
    I'm concerned that there seems to be nothing in the game other than 16 monsters and stunning scenery. I enjoyed exploration for its own sake in the Zelda games, but there were always dungeons, sidequests, characters etc to reward you. But exploration just to see more of the 'fantastic artwork'? Shouldnt they have just released a book?

  • krudster #101 6 years ago

    Just to add, I'm interviewing the two top guys behind this (Ueda-san and Kaido-san) next friday! Oh the joy!
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/05 @ 16:05

  • thegamesthething #102 6 years ago

    @ ccfb

    only 4 months

  • Carlo #103 6 years ago

    Krudster... Signed copies competition I beg you!

  • Hog-lumps #104 6 years ago

    Just to add, I'm interviewing the two top guys behind this (Ueda-san and Kaido-san) next friday! Oh the joy!

    Lucky git!

    \considers career change to game journalism

  • Blerk #105 6 years ago

    Just to add, I'm interviewing the two top guys behind this (Ueda-san and Kaido-san) next friday! Oh the joy!

    Ask them "what the hell?" about all those watermelons at the end of Ico, Kristan. :-)

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #106 6 years ago

    So is this better than Fifa street?

    /runs!!

  • Blerk #107 6 years ago

    Yeah, with this thread at 105 posts last time I looked, obviously no one gives a shit. You should work for interpol mate.

    Without wishing to defend frod's little dig at my gaming tastes, he was talking about my 'turn-based Japanese weirdness' comments, not SotC. :-)

  • Mirkan #108 6 years ago

    Drumbaby: God of War scored less than HL2, bring the horn! :|

  • Galvanizer #109 6 years ago

    I hope Twilight Princess gets a 10....

  • Kiigan #110 6 years ago

    Great game. Don't think it would be getting 10/10 if it wasn't for Ico though.

  • Razz #111 6 years ago

    I hope Twilight Princess gets a 10....

    It won't tho. This is Eurogamer after all.

  • Hog-lumps #112 6 years ago

    Ask them "what the hell?" about all those watermelons at the end of Ico, Kristan. :-)

    Blerk, if you got the the interview on 1UP they discussed the reason for melons. Try the below link;

    http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=2&cId=3143702

    Interesting article too!

  • Kami #113 6 years ago

    I still love RE4, don't get me wrong - probably #2 game of the year. Just when you compare it to something like this game, there's little to no contest. Shadow of the Colossus wins hands-down and should rightly do so.

    I do hope it has that endless charm that Ico still has today. You can still go back to Ico and fall helplessly in love with it. The true test of this game will be, when the next-gen ushers in, whether in a couple years time we're still gushing over how wonderful this game is. But right now, this really does deserve praise - it's unashamedly beautiful and different. That is what I love about this game, and what many will love about it...

    Time will tell. Besides, RE4 on the PS2 is out next week... so the PS2 is having a pretty good time right now.

  • UncleLou #114 6 years ago

    But exploration just to see more of the 'fantastic artwork'? Shouldnt they have just released a book?


    If you look at the screenshots, or see a few videos of the game, and you do not feel the immediate urge to rush out and get this game as soon as possible just to be there, then ... something is wrong with you. ;) Just being there was what made Ico special, the gameplay was almost secondary, and I guess it's not much different here.

  • Blerk #115 6 years ago

    Blerk, if you got the the interview on 1UP they discussed the reason for melons.

    Cool! Cheers, man!

    /nips off for a read

  • Hunam85 #116 6 years ago

    /sits down
    ...wow

  • bunglebonce #117 6 years ago

    Fantastic review. I can't wait to fall in love (with it).

  • rogermellie #118 6 years ago

    I just realised about the pixies reference

    Same here. Surfa Rosa is awesome and playing it always brings back great memories. :-)

    Anyway, 10/ 10! Looks ace and I can't wait for its release.

  • SlackMaster #119 6 years ago

    My US copy came on tuesday but only played it briefly... bit like ICO but kinda leaves you in the dark at the start... just wondered around for 15-20 mins on hourseback not really knowing where to go or what to do. ATM I'd need to spend more time playing it but 10/10 seems a bit excessive IMO. Very nice visuals tho but very large open environments with very little info to get you started.

  • Hog-lumps #120 6 years ago

    Blerk

    I've linked to thr wrong interview (damit!). I'll find the correct one and post it! sorry mate, now where did those melons go...........?

  • kangarootoo #121 6 years ago

    @Blerk and frod

    Oops. Sorry chaps. Damn my quick fingers (80wpm and counting) and childish petulance (effective age 13 and counting).

  • UncleLou #122 6 years ago

    UL - "Just being there was what made Ico special, the gameplay was almost secondary, and I guess it's not much different here."

    Hmmm.. thats not all that far off saying "how does it PLAY? aaah, who gives a sh*t! Check out these GRAPHICS!!!!" is it? ;o

    Not really. It's not about the technical quality of the graphics, it's about the atmosphere the graphics create. Same with Ico - while the gameplay was good, it wasn't what made the game so special.

    I am a graphcis whore usually, but that's not why I love Ico (and the screenies of SotC). :)

  • Carlo #123 6 years ago

    This review comments is growing faster than Halo 2!

  • karlidog #124 6 years ago

    Fantastic review, and not a single point less than it deserves. Alongside Ico (and they really do stand together, and are much more interconnected than it initially appears), this is the best game I've played in years.

    The Wanderer totally doesn't have horns, though.

  • Tricky #125 6 years ago

    @SlackMaster

    Hold down the circle button when you're out in sunlight and then turn around until the light from the sword focuses into a single beam. Now head in that direction and you'll find a colossus. This is all explained by the onscreen help menus so I've no idea why you're struggling with it...

  • deepmenace #126 6 years ago

    /ps2 slidetool ordered
    /sotc ordered

    its this kind of game that really makes me want to dump my 25 inch non-widescreen for a newer model.

  • kangarootoo #127 6 years ago

    "while the gameplay was good, it wasn't what made the game so special."

    Can't agree with that one, but am too busy to expand. Err.... so there.

  • Hog-lumps #128 6 years ago

    Blerk

    Found it the full interview can be found here melons and all: -

    http://ps2. 1up.com/do/feature?cId=3144673

    Sorry for the confusion!

  • krudster #129 6 years ago

    Hrm, percentages be damned. How can you reduce love into a 100 slices? And who can tell the difference between their 97 per cent love and their 93 per cent love?

    "Hi girlfriend. I love you 4 per cent more than I did yesterday!"

    Edited by 1 at 27/10/05 @ 16:59

  • djchump #130 6 years ago

    http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/w andaandthecolossus

  • Carlo #131 6 years ago

    From Metacritic (%., Name):

    95, Resident Evil 4
    94, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
    93, Pro Evolution Soccer 5
    92, Shadow of the Colossus
    91, Burnout Revenge

    Top 5 games... It's 4th (so far)... I Sincerly hope it shifts millions of copies... The designers deserve it!

  • Feanor #132 6 years ago

    Read the interview and...


    ICO

    SPOILER


    ...Yorda didn't actually make it? Ico finding her on the beach was just a dream? *sniff*

  • Yossarian #133 6 years ago

    I like how Eurogamer worked in a reference to a song about African-American penis.

  • Teeth #134 6 years ago

    I move that the interview be struck from the Internet record. Some things don't deserve to see the light of day.

  • BLACKSHEEP #135 6 years ago

    OMG!!!!!! can your scoring system ever achieve a "Spinal Tap" one higher :D

    Maybe PS3 will grant that but for now i'm very happy to be reading such expected words of praise and awe! (Just hope my PS2 can play Shadow of the Colossus as it wouldn't Ico anymore after my house move ?!?)

  • symmetry #136 6 years ago

    OK, now I have to get a PS2.

    Thanks a bunch Eurogamer.

  • drumbaby #137 6 years ago

    "Drumbaby: God of War scored less than HL2, bring the horn! :| "

    CHAAARRRGGGEE!!!

  • SlackMaster #138 6 years ago

    @ Tricky

    Thanks Tricky. Only had a short time to play it and got impatient waiting for the long intro to end... Then my flatmate came in and accidentally kicked my PS2 hard, half a metre across the room... I was so fuming!!! It's like he had the whole room to walk around it but the fat arse decided to try and hop over it with his size 9's.

    So I packed it up in my room, the clumsey arse. Damn disc was scuffed as well. >:(
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/05 @ 17:25

  • chronom4n #139 6 years ago

    this is the game that goes totally beyond convention. I have played ICO and although i have never got around to completing it, it is a joy to behold. and in the knowledge that it is a cult game. for one thing the casual gamer would not appreciate how sublime and beautiful ICO and collosuss are.

  • #140 6 years ago

    omg I totally missed this review! a 10? Really? You know, this is just cementing my opinion that if you're a gamer, you really do need to own ALL the consoles if you want to play the best games.

  • #141 6 years ago

    now blizeH, don't start stuff like that, cos you know where it will lead....

  • SlackMaster #142 6 years ago

    FaBle PiZz On tEh SoTc B0Ll0X :D

  • Derblington #143 6 years ago

    Excuse blizeH, he's a numpty.

    Personally I think the Xbox has fewer 'must haves' than the rest but the few it has makes it well worth owning.

  • Teeth #144 6 years ago

    170 posts before the console war started! NEW RECORD

  • Xerx3s #145 6 years ago

    Wow. Looks very nice. Me second ps2 game then? Is this the first 10 ever given by EG?

    PS, luved the PA comic on this one:p

    /faints at the thought of trying to play an uber game like civ4 on a gamepad....

    "Not at all, only a Gamecube, PC and a PS2 :-)

    (Xbox doesn't have a single exclusive that interests me, apart from the game reviewed earlier and maybe the Oddworld title, heh)"

    Are you trying to commit suicide?

    /puts on a helmet, digs a trenchline, throws up some sandbags & barbwire....
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/05 @ 18:13

  • Killerbee #146 6 years ago

    Excellent review. I'll definitely be getting this, but then I sort of knew that before reading the review! Roll on February. :)

  • speedstars13 #147 6 years ago

    Don't want to gloat but ...how can i resist? We Yanks are so lucky...I've beaten the hard mode and now collecting items. 17th Colossus here i come! Yay...Resident Evil 4 is now available on PS2! Awesome Collector's edition.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/05 @ 18:40

  • Fuser #148 6 years ago

    i was only away for 2 hours and another 100 comments came!!!!! Anyway, back to my earlier point about the 'pointless wandering' just to look at the artwork, shouldnt videogames be interactive? Surely when games are attacked (like the recent Q4 review) for their simple go there do this go there do that mechanic, then what about one with a 'go there look at this' mechanic?
    Again, I havent played the game, I'm only going on what I've read.

  • Bates #149 6 years ago

    Exactly, you haven't played the game. Come back when you have, then your bitching might count for something.

  • speedstars13 #150 6 years ago

    I want to spoil all you haters about the game, but I'm a bigger man.

    /Wish i had the guts like Mark Rein of Epic. Bugger!

  • Fuser #151 6 years ago

    @Bates - I'm not bitching - at no point have I said I think it looks like a bad game - I'm just trying to raise the point that it seems strange that just wandering round a world within a videogame, seemingly without any interaction with it, seems like a strange reason for a game to be scored so highly (and not just by EG). As someone else pointed out, it seems very close to the 'graphics whore' scenario. But of course, this is by the Ico people.......would Doom 3 (just an example) have scored more if there had been less monsters to gun down and people could just admire the lovely new engine by Carmack?
    Didnt think so....

  • Razz #152 6 years ago

    Fuser has a point! :D

    /awaits Bates' response
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/05 @ 19:33

  • Bates #153 6 years ago

    Doom 3: FPS, most overdone genre there is, dull as fuck, not worth playing even WITH the monsters.

    SotC: Something new, worth taking your time to admire.

    Sure it may be a matter of personal preference, but the fact that so many people have had nothing to say about this game except for how utterly fantastic it is should tell you something.

    Oh, and Carmack: knob.

  • jaa #154 6 years ago

    la la la

    /claps hands like a little happy geisha





    /doesn't even stop to consider how strange the image is

  • Fuser #155 6 years ago

    I only used Doom3 as a point about the pretty graphics. The Final Fantasy film I thought looked amazing at the time - doesnt mean it was a good film. Regardless of how good SotC looks, doesnt mean its a good game. Just seems double standards to say it is for this one, but not for others...
    :)

  • Mog2 #156 6 years ago

    @Feanor as far as the ICO spoiler, if you reread the article you may notice that it is the interviewer who suggests that. Ueda simply says that is one possible interpretation.

    As far as Shadow... A truly superb game, people must buy this, if they don't they must be beaten and taken out like the Colossus. I do wonder if the PAL version will have any more extras. Will there be some sort of bonus if you climb the temple etc.

  • Hufftur #157 6 years ago

    Although it's not an ICO, it does comes awfully close. That's good enough for me.

    I have to say... where was Doshin the Giant in this? A secret boss perhaps?!
    muhahah

  • MORZTAN #158 6 years ago

    THAT DOES IT!!! I'm borrowing my friends PS2!

  • bdaggers #159 6 years ago

    10 ? *AND* a Pixies reference as a tag line ? blimey

  • GuiltySpark #160 6 years ago

    "Hi girlfriend. I love you 4 per cent more than I did yesterday!"

    hi girlfriend. i love you one tenth more than i did yesterday

    /is extremely sorry

  • Fuser #161 6 years ago

    @Jaypea - I fully intend to buy the game of course! Thanks for your comments.
    :)

  • Xerx3s #162 6 years ago

    "Don't want to gloat but ...how can i resist? We Yanks are so lucky...I've beaten the hard mode and now collecting items. 17th Colossus here i come! Yay...Resident Evil 4 is now available on PS2! Awesome Collector's edition. "

    Just go aweh. Stand in the corner or something. ^_^

    Anyway, 197 posts and counting. Must be really good for EG:)

  • penhalion #163 6 years ago

    Feanor

    Who said the end of Ico was just a dream sequence?!??! I have a save there so just played it again to refresh the memory. You share watermelon with her but, no dream is implied. In fact you don't find her unless you traipse down the beach exploring

  • Jmog #164 6 years ago

    Eurogamer gave 9/10 to both god of war and It's mr pants. So to me from the review they are equal.

    Sure, if you don't read the actual review. The scores are just guidelines added on to the review. The _words_ are what really matters.

  • captain-future #165 6 years ago

    I've ordered the US-version already ... but hasn't been shipped yet.

  • cardboardMonster #166 6 years ago

    Scores are trivial and meaningless. 5 stars, 10/10, 97%. It's all the same crap. Give it 10, give it 9 because "it's not quite a 10", I don't care. It's the review, not the score, that counts. Thankfully, this is a great review of a fantastic game.

  • Derblington #167 6 years ago

    "Who said the end of Ico was just a dream sequence?!??! I have a save there so just played it again to refresh the memory. You share watermelon with her but, no dream is implied. In fact you don't find her unless you traipse down the beach exploring" - Penhalion

    The creator of the game said so in a recent interview.

  • bladeaku #168 6 years ago

    I have played this and think its a fantastic game, its openended and very enjoyable, with fantastic graphics, but I think you have overated this just a tad.
    For me god of war is the game of 2005, it just pips this with its fantastic story while soc
    rivals it for atmosphere, it doesnt come up to scratch with the story line, great game though non the less 9/10 for me.

  • Talha #169 6 years ago

    Wow. Unbelievable. Game of the Year already? Can't see another tenner coming anytime soon.

    Edit; Oh God so many comments. And some even comparing THIs to Doom 3? Wow, the depths people can go to. John Carmack, the most overrated game producer of all time, eat your heart out. This is somewhere you will never get an entry pass for. And just because EG gave Doom 3 a 9 does not mean that it is not an average shooter at heart. This, however, is truly awesome.
    Edited by 1 at 28/10/05 @ 03:35

  • speedjack #170 6 years ago

    This review has made me want to go finish Ico !

  • tonynibbles #171 6 years ago

    Dito.

    its only because of my hectic time schedule I havent played any games recently.
    Including the 'rest' of Ico.

    /cries

  • zErOb_cOOl #172 6 years ago

    "For me god of war is the game of 2005, it just pips this with its fantastic story while soc
    rivals it for atmosphere, it doesnt come up to scratch with the story line, great game though non the less 9/10 for me"

    Funny that a lot of people are saying the same. Mind you, some are saying it definately is 10/10, so I don't know what my point is.

    I suppose the 'x-factor' of a game is atmosphere, which is a very difficult thing to create. This, as in a movie, is what captures the player/viewer, and really sucks them into the game, thus taking it to an entirely different league.

    I understand the game isn't perfect, as it has minor bugs etc, so technically its not 10/10, but as a game as a whole, from an experience perspective, it is 10/10.

    I suppose its comparable to Star Wars. Acting = crap. Storyline = not the best, but good. But the atmosphere and the sheer vision of the Star Wars world = top notch, and this is where the film wins, much the same as where SOC wins.

  • Dr_Actually #173 6 years ago

    Someone once said that all truly great games involve eithe rmonkeys or fruit in some way - hence the watermelons.

    Try and think of some exceptions - it's actually really hard.

  • Mold #174 6 years ago

    Someone paid 110 for ICO recently on eBay. Blimey, and I was pleased when I sold it for 40 quid 5 months after it came out :D

    Also - FlipTop midding my PS2 the other day is the best thing I ever did, my wife is going to be over the moon when I load up Colossus on xmas day.
    Edited by 1 at 28/10/05 @ 11:57

  • Derblington #175 6 years ago

    GoW is nowhere near game of the year on any platform. It was enjoyable but if that's the best you've played you've missed out on some great games.

  • Mold #176 6 years ago

    "Someone once said that all truly great games involve eithe rmonkeys or fruit in some way - hence the watermelons."

    LOL - System Shock 2 :-)

    Try and think of some exceptions - it's actually really hard."

    Elite?

  • Velios #177 6 years ago

    i want this game

  • El_MUERkO #178 6 years ago

    10 :o

  • ClansOfIntrigue #179 6 years ago

    Much as I can appreciate the team's burning desire to play new games as soon as possible, I do sometimes wish that EUROgamer would wait to review the EURO releases...

    Though not as much as I wish Europe didn't have to wait 3-6 months for those releases to come out, I guess X(

  • Derblington #180 6 years ago

    There's nothing stopping them reviewing the EURO release as well. What's the harm in reviewing some key US releases too?

  • Artemis_Matsas #181 6 years ago

    I really hope that everyone will support this game by actually BUYING it. Let's all support such great games!

  • tiddles #182 6 years ago

    Try and think of some exceptions - it's actually really hard."

    Elite?

    I'm sure some of the planet descriptions must have involved monkeys or fruit - probably "mutant green arts student fruit", but there none the less...

  • erp #183 6 years ago

    finished my first play thru of this this afternoon. it truly is wonderful.

    for the first 7 or so colossi i was actually convinced it was the best game i'd ever played; however, i feel the game is let down by a few weak "levels", especially those where the colossi aren't actually any bigger than a mid-level boss in any other game, and worse, also suffer from the same flaws and frustrations as most bosses in most other games - including inexcusable repeated-damage-inescapable-death attacks. (frustration hell.)

    in total i think there were three colossi that i truly disliked - two of which were practically identical - but as an overall success percentage i guess that's really not too shabby. and of course, at their best the colossi are simply unbelievable.

    as krudster pointed out, a 10 game is not necessarily perfect, and i do think it still deserves it. i was just hoping for perfection, that's all.

    the mind truly boggles at what these guys will do on PS3.
    Edited by 2 at 30/10/05 @ 21:06

  • l_p_4_7 #184 6 years ago

    Absolutely excellent game, one of my all time favourites.

    For some reason though the music when fighting a colossi reminds me a bit of the Sky Odyssey music? anyone else notice this?

  • erp #185 6 years ago

    i've not heard the Sky Odyssey music, but i will say the music when fighting the colossi is The Best Game Music EVAR. it's just so brilliantly heroic, it never failed to excite me.

    /me heads over to PlayAsia to order the soundtrack...

  • mash the x button #186 6 years ago

    "This review has made me want to go finish Ico"

    tut tut - one of the greatest games ever and you didn't finish it...

  • pollster #187 6 years ago

    playing it now... and its lovely!

    ordered the US version and *cough*cough* that slide tool thingy

    lovely prog scan on my plasma telly and PAL PS2 :)

  • captain-future #188 6 years ago

    finally got my US-IMPORT version of Shadow of the Colossus. \o/

    /gets excited.

  • ekko #189 6 years ago

    Having just completed it today (got it on Friday and have been playing it all weekend) I have to say it is my game of 2005 and fully deserves the 10/10 score.

    There are little nit bits which do frustrate, but these are quickly forgotten. I don't want to dwell on them but don't go into playing this game thinking its perfect and will change your life - it is still just a game ... just.

    I also think the review does a bit of a diservice when it says that there is no story - there is one there - it just doesn't ram it down your throat, its a gentle slow melody of a story.

    The game also has the best animation I've ever seen - when the Wanderer stumbles running up some steps or just Agro trotting about, I get a little lump in my throat.

    It's the small touches which make it special. If you can feel its nuence then you'll hopefully have as much enjoyment as I did. And I enjoyed it more than Ico.

  • captainrentboy #190 6 years ago

    I played the demo yesterday,how in god's great name did it get 10/10,the camera is absolutely bloody awful,if it's better in the full game then so be it,but that demo is facked.And whilst i'm moaning,the graphics,eeeewwwwww,i've been playing the 360 for too long because going back to the ps2's visuals are killing me.

  • gamerbunny #191 6 years ago

    Shut up captainrentboy!!

    This game is just wonderful.
    Nothing but wonderful. It deserves 10/10 with out a doubt in my mind.
    Up to colossi 13
    Edited by 2 at 05/04/06 @ 06:20

  • Apologie #192 4 years ago

    one of the best games ever.

  • Grayvern #193 4 years ago

    Brilliant game, I never got the comments about getting lost though i always found my way with realative ease. And the games story has something much more compelling than complex architecture or narrative thrust it has great emotional depth and weight.

    Thats not been matched by any game before or since (allthough i never got that far through ico because i hate repeating gameplay segments and yorda getting carried off broke the games immersion factor in totality by making me reload the game which I dispised, and I just gave it up)

    Lastly i have to complain about the review because as Edge said a lot of the impact is derived from seeing the colossi so showing them even briefly is unfair to those who havent played it yet (and who definately should play it)
    Edited by 2 at 27/11/07 @ 16:37