ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection

SCORE: 69

ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection showcases two of Playstation 2’s most critically acclaimed and beloved titles. Not only do they make their return for current gamers, but ICO and Shadow of the Colossus are remastered to take advantage of the current gaming technology. Both titles are now in 1080p resolution and 3D compatible. Do improved graphics and minor tweaks make these two titles relevant again? The answer is both yes and no.

We will begin by discussing ICO - a game about a small boy (ICO) with horns. ICO was sent away from his village to a castle in order to be offered as a sacrifice. The castle is inhabited by an evil queen that steels the spirits of other people. While imprisoned and awaiting his sacrifice, he escapes his cell and must flee the castle. While playing as ICO, you stumble upon another child being held for sacrifice - an unearthly young girl. You must protect her and guide her through the castle so you both can escape.

In making the jump to the PS3, ICO does show its age. While the game does benefit from the updated graphics, the gameplay mechanics are dated - especially when compared to the advancements in AI over the last 5 years. The AI girl, Yorda , does not respond as she should and too often does not follow ICO.

Shadow of the Colossus makes the transition to the PS3 much better than its collection companion. This adventure game looks great from a graphical standpoint, and the character animations are very realistic. Shadow of the Colossus is known for its fabulous boss fights and some of the best battle sequences in recent gaming history. The game follows the story of a young warrior that travels to a foreign land to restore the life of a friend. After making a deal with a “dark” being, the young warrior must destroy the Colossi for his friend to be restored.

Shadow of the Colossus is an action packed platforming, adventure game that keeps you on your toes. Fans of the original will enjoy playing it again in Full HD on the PS3. That being said, parents need to be aware of the content of both games - evil spirits, making deals with them, taking the spirits of other characters. Sony was successful in remastering the games and bring them to the current generation of gamers. However, the content of the game may not be suitable for some of our audience.
- Alan

Graphics: 70%
Sound: 73%
Replay/Extras: 70%
Gameplay: 75%
Family Friendly Factor: 60%
System: Playstation 3
Publisher: Sony
Rating: 'T' - Teen
{Blood, Fantasy Violence}

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