[PS2] Shadow of the Colossus

So, has anyone else played this gem yet?

I played the demo last month and must say that there have been very few games in history that astonished me after just a few minutes like this one.

The game it absolutely amazing. It's so simple yet so astounding. I never thought that a game world could be so gigantic, seriously, everytime you see a new colossus, you'll be surprised how small you really are.

So what's your opinion, do you like it like I do?
(ps I will definitely buy the full game, just haven't had too much time of late, mainly because of Burnout: Revenge and Ace Combat 5 =^_^=)

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Buy the full game, without question. Man, while the first collosus is great, when you get to your first aerial beast, it really sinks in that this is a pretty special game. And this is coming from someone who at first thought it was a pretty string of boss battles and nothing more.

Oh, fruits and lizards, fruits and lizards...

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I got the US version from my Secret Santa and played through it fairly quickly. I made an entry on my thoughts on it, back when the journals were still up. (this one copied from my LJ)

Quote:

I finished Shadow of the Colossus ;_; [29 Dec 2005|12:51am]

10:24:33 final time, I almost feel like I rushed it =/
I'm still at a bit of a loss for words on what to make of the ending and of the game as a whole.

The structure somehow manages to be both conservative and completely un-orthodox at the same time. The ending was bleak, disturbing, strange and yet completely beautiful at once. In a sense, it obviously wasn't as immediately satisfying as ICO's post credits sequence on that famous beach, but then that's exactly why I'm at a loss of words. The ending was just so.. strange, you don't know what to think of it.
In a way I am disappointed we didn't get to find out what caused all this and what happens now, but there's no question you experienced something completely spellbinding.

It's still very difficult to say whether and how exactly the game could tie in with ICO. It feels like the game might take place in the same universe as ICO, but the location is definitely different. All the visual similarities and hints of reference are pretty unlikely, though. Apart from the similarities of the girl's white dress compared to Yorda's, the hero's tunic compared to Ico's, the black shadowy material and forms, crumbling ruins and walls etc all point to something significant, but all the while there's a lot going against it. The hero's sword is different from both the normal sword and the lighting sword Ico finds, the girl's dress is intricately patterned and detailed, while Yorda's dress was plain white with slight black lines, the architecture of any of the ruins don't really match the castle in any way and I tried in vain to spot any kind of cliff faces or beaches similar to Ico's but no. If ICO did or does take place in the same world, it's certainly a million miles away.

Still, the similar concept of stopped time, forgotten worlds, lost civilizations and possibly even cultures. That feeling of isolation and loneliness, and at the same time of companionship with the only other soul there with you. Of tresspassing on something that must have been wonderful, millenia ago, it's all so very fascinatingly present in both games.

The 14th colossus was easily my favorite. There were a lot of absolutely spellbinding colossii, but the battle with the 14th was just brilliant. The whole set-piece was just unbelievable <3

Once I've thought more about the significance of all the elements in the story and especially the ending, I'm sure I'll have a lot more to say about it.

As it stands, just like its battles, SotC is breathtaking, utterly majestic and overflowing with so much sadness. Like ICO, you can just play it like a regular game and enjoy what (little) superficial gameplay it has, but in order to really make most of it, you need to stop and look. You must listen. You must feel. While running for the next target location, you should stop by one of the prayer totems and climb it. You should spin the camera around as you're standing on top of the massive statue, looking at the magnificent world around you. You should breathe in the melancholic stillness and calm. The soothing breeze and sunlight, the overpowering sense of loneliness, of guilt, of dread. You should pay attention to the inconspicuous ruins and lands, stop to observe them, to ponder their significance. Dream about what resided here, who might have walked and lived their lives there, what might have happened to them.

The fact that the games even make me think about this kind of stuff is a show of how wonderful worlds Fumito Ueda can create. I await his PS3 project with high anticipation.

Course I later found out there really IS a beach, but upon visiting it, it's definitely not meant to be the beach in ICO, if you will.

The recent European release of Shadow of the Colossus is wonderful and I bought myself a copy. The packaging is similar to the PAL ICO packaging, fancy cardboard case and postcards etc. The game offers 60Hz too, so there's no reason not to buy the European version (unless you already own the game, of course).

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Here's a photo of mine - when gff was down, I picked up my copy on the 17th. They've also rereleased ICO for PAL, however it is without the 4 art cards and cardboard box. From what I can understand it's exactly the same game as before.

As for Shadow of the Colossus, I haven't passed the 6th colossi. It took me awhile to find the 5th(which was amazing; first flying colossi) and the sixth just straight out killed me. I don't want to rush this game as I know it's maintaining a high reputation. When the time is right, I'll pick it up and thoroughly get stuck into it.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I beat the game and love it, it's so different and that's what makes it nice.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Crap, i just had to come in here.

I had it all nicely planned out. I'd play through Kingdom Hearts II slowly and systematically, until Zelda Twilight Princess came out. Don't have much money, so i gonna think ahead.

But then i come in here, and remember about Shadow of the Colossus. A bit of a wrench in my plans, but whatever.

I've been looking forward to this game for a looooong time, i just let it slip my mind. I guess i'll ask for it for my b-day. I'm in need of a good adventure game. From what i've heard, this game won't disapoint.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Btw I hear people complain about the frame rate issue with it, I didn't notice anything wrong with it.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by LivingDreams

Btw I hear people complain about the frame rate issue with it, I didn't notice anything wrong with it.

I read a review of SotC on Gamefaqs about that. That was their main concern, but I'm not too sure whether it's the framerate or the camera. Though it isn't too much of a problem, I have noticed it. Noticed it in Fable, too, come to think of it.

When thinking about it, the camera moves slowly when you turn around, but there's a considerably large amount of detail to cope with. It isn't at all surprising if there is, but I'd rather have a slightly smaller framerate than a lesser detailed enviroment.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I tried to play this game again the other day. It wasn't as fun as the first weeks of play.
My advice is.. play it slowly haha
After you beat normal mode, normal time trial, hard mode, hard mode time trials, plus some more hard mode play throughs.. you'll probably get tired of it.
But, it really is a cool game.


addition

Spoiler:

(spoiler ahead if you haven't beaten the game at least once)

Also when I revisited the game the other day, the next colossi I had to kill was the 2nd one (bull)... So instead of going the regular way to get there, I took that giant bridge (the one leading into the castle, on the way up to the Secret Garden) and I parachuted my way down to the 2nd colossi area. (parachute gotten from hard mode time trials) Then.. I called my white Agro and I saw him on top of the cliff above's #2's cave... and suddenly Agro tripped and fell a long way down to the ground, he got up and was running totally fine. Funny stuff.. Agro is invincible I tell ya.. you guys saw if for yourselves in the ending..

How ya doing, buddy?

I bought this when it was released (And the re-released ICO too) and from what I've seen it looks amazing. I'm putting off playing it for now though until I finish Shin Megami Tensei:Lucifer's Call, which could be some time...

How ya doing, buddy?

There's no question that from a technical point of view the game had framerate dropping pretty often. This really didn't affect the experience itself as once you climbed on to a colossus, you never, not even once, noticed any drops.

It also seems the framerate was adjusted slightly for the PAL version. The rate still drops in many places, but it wasn't as severe as in the US version, which wasn't severe to begin with.

If someone honestly tries to claim the game is somehow less because of the framerate issues, there is something wrong with them and/or they're looking way too hard.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Elixir

I read a review of SotC on Gamefaqs about that. That was their main concern, but I'm not too sure whether it's the framerate or the camera. Though it isn't too much of a problem, I have noticed it. Noticed it in Fable, too, come to think of it.

When thinking about it, the camera moves slowly when you turn around, but there's a considerably large amount of detail to cope with. It isn't at all surprising if there is, but I'd rather have a slightly smaller framerate than a lesser detailed enviroment.

Yea the camera was a little annoying for me, not a big problem for me tho.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Shadow of the Colossus is the best game with the word "Shadow" in it. It's awesome, and one of the few games I've actually bought, rather than just rented. Nice music, too (Swift Horse = several heart symbols). Wander also looks pretty awesome.

For best effect play to Styx's "Too Much Time On My Hands".

I was speaking idiomatically.

I bought this game a couple of days ago, but im gonna wait with it until i have finished dragon quest 8. I'll be back when i have started playing it.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I started playing it again to do the Time Attack and Hard Mode. I just love how cinematic some of the battles can be, especially that flying colossus in the desert, number 13? And it was so satisfying to figure out how to get onto each colossi, immensely satisfying despite the fact that I felt bad after defeating some, like the one that you had to scare with the fire :/

I even felt bad killing lizards just to get their tails...I tried to only shoot them with the bow in the tail so they'd still live. It reminds me so much of how I always walked when I lead Yorda around, but I didn't want her to trip and stuff. And I got into a habit of always petting Agro aftre every long run...weird how a game makes me do that stuff.

But it was a very fun game, made me want to go back and play Ico. And everything was just so...huge and beautiful. All the locations...it felt like any shot of the screen I wanted to take would make one of the coolest desktops or posters ever. I know people that complained about the traveling from one area to another took too long, but I enjoyed it (except when the light beam tricked me and got me lost...). I just wanna go exploring every ruin and cave.

FELIPE NO

Shadow of the colossus stands in my mind as one of the top 5 games I played last year.

Its worth it for the ending. Best. Ending. Ever. The game was incredibly fun, beautiful to look at, and challenging to boot. But that ending...holy crap.
Believe me when I say its the best ending to a video game since MGS3. (imo anyway.)

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by LivingDreams

Btw I hear people complain about the frame rate issue with it, I didn't notice anything wrong with it.

I thought they used it to their advantage. When looking across a wide plain from the edge of a cliff, the slowdown gives the camera angle a more cinematic, epic look.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Is it possible that the horse sometimes acts kinda stupid? But besides that and the sort of strange camera it seems to be an almost perfect game ^.^

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Musharraf

Is it possible that the horse sometimes acts kinda stupid? But besides that and the sort of strange camera it seems to be an almost perfect game ^.^

It is, it's highly possible. Agro ran around frantically when I was fighting the second colossi(where you hat to shoot his feet, then climb on him) and it was really distracting. I was planning on leaving him a fair distance from the colossus and walking just so he doesn't do it again.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Links to AWESOME Time Attack videos

Check out the ones called "Run Down 3" and "Launch Tutorial"

http://media.putfile.com/Rundownnormal_1
http://media.putfile.com/Rundown_3
http://media.putfile.com/launch_tutorial
http://media.putfile.com/Rundownnormal_486
http://media.putfile.com/Rundownnormal_5
http://media.putfile.com/Rundownnormal_6
http://media.putfile.com/Rundownnormal_7
http://media.putfile.com/Rundownnormal_8
http://media.putfile.com/Rundown_9
http://media.putfile.com/Rundownnormal_10
http://media.putfile.com/Rundownnormal_11

From some Japanese players:

http://bgr44.cool.ne.jp/wanda/movie/movie.html

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Elixir

It is, it's highly possible. Agro ran around frantically when I was fighting the second colossi(where you hat to shoot his feet, then climb on him) and it was really distracting. I was planning on leaving him a fair distance from the colossus and walking just so he doesn't do it again.

He panics whenever you aim the bow anywhere in the vicinity of him, so that's probably why. I think Agro is mostly fairly realistic.

A friend and I have spent the past few days trying to figure out whether the language in the game is a "real" constructed language, like Klingon or Elvish. We're now pretty sure that it's just gibberish, but it's definitely within a scala of vocal sounds, and it's very impressive in the sense that it's almost completely unlike Japanese.

He also tried to climb to the secret garden, but it seems like the bugs that this guys makes use of don't exist in his copy of the game (he lives in Japan so it's the Japanese version). ;/

Most amazing jew boots

Played through the game 3 times already...going to play through again in a little while I think too. Absolutely love the game. The story, atmosphere, music, and gameplay is just great.

And yea the language in that game is made up. I think I read in an interview its a mix of japanese and a european language....I forgot heh

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Quote:

It is, it's highly possible. Agro ran around frantically when I was fighting the second colossi(where you hat to shoot his feet, then climb on him) and it was really distracting. I was planning on leaving him a fair distance from the colossus and walking just so he doesn't do it again.

Spoiler:

That's nothing. When fighting the Colossi in the geyser field(number 7 or 8), Agro is a complete pain in the ass. The colossi is constantly shooting at you (and moving very quickly) and if it hits you it knocks you off of Agro, and because he shoots really fast, it's difficult to get back on Agro before he shoots you again. Complete bullshit. Fun as hell, hough.

FELIPE NO

I still need to get around to finishing this one. For once, it's because I just haven't had much time on my hands, not because I got bored. To be perfectly blunt, I was underwhelmed by ICO, so I was worried this game was going to be more artsy crap in the same vein. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. It's like the perfect blend of adventure and puzzle games.

One little quibble, though

Spoiler:

Did anybody else have trouble with the sand snake colossus? I rode around in there for hours, trying to figure out how I was supposed to make the thing reveal itself. The game had me trained to look for the glowing yellow spots that mean "shoot arrow here", and then I'm expected to figure out right away that I'm supposed to shoot the thing in its non-yellow-glowing eyes? That's just abuse of the player's knowledge of video game logic.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I think that was the only one where I actually shot a colossus in the eye =/

Originally Posted by surasshu

He also tried to climb to the secret garden, but it seems like the bugs that this guys makes use of don't exist in his copy of the game (he lives in Japan so it's the Japanese version). ;/

Yeah, that was removed, but apparently it's still possible to reach the garden. I was told you need to complete the game a few times but I've yet to confirm it. Perhaps an accurate "NTSC to PAL changes" guide will surface soon enough.

Jam it back in, in the dark.