Ico and Shadow of the Colossus were both met with critical adoration when they were released on the PlayStation 2. Both are high on any short list of artistic games. One game is a giant escort quest and the other is all boss fights, but the way Team Ico put them together left a mark on every gamer that entered their world.
In the first game you played as Ico, a young boy born with horns, banished from his village and locked away in a castle. While exploring this castle he encounters a princess named Yorda and together they try to escape. Shadow of the Colossus, Ico’s spiritual successor, was met with far better sales numbers. In that game you play a man who must hunt down and kill the 16 Colossi in order to save a girl named Mono. Both featured an emotional journey with minimal dialogue and immersive gameplay.
This week the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection will give us a second chance at the games for those of us who missed these two PlayStation 2 gems the first time around. The HD remakes are also the perfect time for fans to revisit the games, especially with the frame rate issues of the initial releases ironed out. The remakes will also support stereoscopic 3D as well as 7.1 surround sound. The collection contains the remastered versions of the European releases of the games, meaning there will be some additional content and slightly different endings then seen in the original North American release.
These two classics belong in any gamer’s collection. While they may not seem as appealing as some of the other AAA releases this holiday, they are a solid choice if you have the chance to pick them up. Plus, they have trophies. Wonderfully shiny and delicious trophies.
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