Chris's Blog

Originality is something that is becoming increasingly rare in this day and age of more mainstream games and the urge for companies to try to reach as many gamers as possible something like Shadow of the Colossus is a rarity. While featuring the trapping of your typical adventure game (a hero, a maiden, etc) the game takes a sharp turn and does something unique within the genre and also pushes the PS2 about as far as the system probably can go.

Story

The story of SoTC is similar to that of it's soul brother ICO. Little to no backstory with most of the story expressed throughout the game in small snippets of cinema and told more through actually playing the game. It is really hard to describe. It is kind of like watching a movie but without dialog.

The general point of the game is that you are a young man (named Wander....I think) of unknown orgins who along with his horse, Argo (one of the only definate names in the game), take a young woman (Mono is it?) of equally unknown origins into a forbidden land where an ancient entity, called Dormin, was sealed away. The woman is either in a deep coma or, most likely, dead and her relationship to Wander is vague at best. Wander places Mono on an altar in a temple in the land and calls forth to Dormin to revive her. Dormin, vaguely at best, says he will if Wander destroys 16 monsters named Colossi who roam the land. Thus Wander along with Argo set off over the land to find and destroy the Colossi and bring Mono back. This is the task set force and the word vague is the best way of putting it. No real backstory is given about any of the characters or justification for Wander's actions so this game is definately going to be a favorite of fanfic writers the world over.

While there is a lack of overall story it still engrosses you in as the story seemingly unfolds as you play it and is rather immersive in its own subtle way. As you progress Wander becomes increasingly disgruntled looking and you wonder if this mad quest is truely worth it for what it is doing to Wander. Not to spoil but the ending is one of the most vague yet intriguing you'll find to but that is for you to find out.

Presentation

Simple, yet effective. The overworld is huge (I'd like to a see a Zelda game eventually rival it) and beautiful. How they got this out of the PS2 I don't know but it is very engrossing. Fighting the Colossi also is very cinematic and should provide for thrilling battles. Its is hard to put into words how effective it is.

Graphics

Like I've stated the fact that they've somehow managed to create a huge detailed overworld on the PS2 is nothing short of amazing. The draw distance is incredible and nary a sign of loading is visible, though I am very certain they used similar shortcuts such as those used in other large overworlds with background loading the fact that it is all very seamless is great.

The characters are all very well animated also. Wander, Argo, and the Colossi are spectacular instances of character design and animation. Wander and Argo are convincing and Argo particularily is some of the best animal animation I've seen. He looks and animates almost like a real horse which is apparently harder to do that you'd think. Wander isn't as special because we've seen humans well animated already but he has a clumsyness to him that makes you realize he is no warrior but some kid who is doing something out of mad desperation. Though his animations as he holds on for dear life on the back of a Colossi are very impressive.

The Colossi though are amazing. Almost all of them are huge, beautifully animated, and incredibly detailed. Their armour looks ancient and the fur on their bodies is something I didn't think the PS2 was capable of. The largest of them lumber at you and look very threatening while the smallest are swist and equally threatening. You'll want to just watch them move so you can appreciate it but if you don't you will be crushed under them.

Now the downsides. I'm sorry but no game that pushes the PS2 this far can avoid flaws. Most of it has to do with the environment. Pop-up is rampant. You'll sometimes be right up on an outcropping and have it just appear. Sunlight and shadows obviously show up as you get closer. Same with textures. And sometimes the frame rate just can't keep up. But despite it the PS2 isn't chugging it just is the PS2 just not being powerful enough.

The flaws do not keep the game from being engrossing and beautiful though. They just do enough to damage the near-sublime immersiveness the game provides. Unless you are a major graphics whore and nothing short of perfect will please you, you should have no problems with the graphics. They are some of the best on the PS2.

Controls

This is one area where the game probably faulters the most. While they are simple enough, you have one attack button (square), a jump button (triangle), a grip button (R1), and camera controls. You can call Argo with X and find your bearing with the circle button. Some comboes also help you move faster but aren't necessary. You horse moves with the X button moving it forward and the control stick pointing him to where he can go.

The problem is that they aren't as refined as may be preferred. Argo and Wander both have a slipperyness to them that makes some actions somewhat more cumbersome than they should be. Sometimes just getting Argo going where you need him to is a pain. I personally feel the R2 button would have been more comfortable for the grip button since you will be holding onto it for a long while and may get a bit sore in the joints. You may be able to change controls but I can't remember right off the top of my head.

A final note is that when you are climbing a Colossi. Wander likes to do his best Spider-Man impression and can make it very hard to continue climbing when you are climbing in the wrong direction on a Colossi.

The biggest fault though has to be the camera. It isn't horrible but sometimes it can make doing anything a serious pain in the rear. The camera likes focusing on the Colossi when in battle and when you are on them does not always be in the best position and can get quite hectic when you are trying to climb. If you are like me you may find yourself cursing the camera on occasion. Also for some reason the camera when riding the horse is weird. It likes put you on the side of the screen, sure it is cinematic but it would be nice if you were centered in the screen as opposed to off to the side. And finally while you have 360 control of the camera the fact that it goes right back to behind Wander is annoying when you are trying to get a look at things.

Sound

Much like ICO before it the game features little in the way of music and relies on ambient sounds and environmental sounds to pull you into the game. The music that is there when you fight Colossi is appropriatly epic and when you are near to winning gets upbeat and exciting. The voice work I suppose is good, Dormin has a creepy disembodied voice to him while Wander sounds like a young man who is desperate along with the various grunts and yells he has. Argo's "voice" is also well done and sounds just like a horse.

The SFX are very good. With the Colossi producing very effective roars and smashes. You really feel like you within inches of getting crushed into paste sometimes. Argo's hoofs sound realistic on the ground and speed up appropriately. Otherwise they sounds are rather generic sometimes but do their job.

Extras

There isn't much there. Aside from a time trial, the ability to replay with the last games strength and lifebar, and a hard mode (which I feel just add to repetition more than difficulty) there are items to collect. Would be great if you could find them by adventuring as opposed to beating time trials. The world itself is disappointing in that manner. While there is a huge world to explore there isn't anything to find. And while I'd like to see a Zelda world of comparable size, it is nice to know that there will be more to Zelda's overworld than SoTCs. You can get lost exploring this land but after you've seen everything, you've seen everything. Lots of potential there but wasted probably due to lack of time.

Last Words

This is definately a game that should be in your collection. Despite its weaknesses it is some of the best gaming available on any system. It is short and maybe on the easy side but it is properly engrossing adventure well worth the money. Admittedly it probably won't be everyones cup of tea but this is a game that should experiences as an oasis of originality in increasingly me-too, similar looking, gaming world.