Shadow of the Colossus Review - by Coxster (Art Critic)

This is a tale that has the capacity of easily reminding us that subtle chivalry can still be a powerful device used to express affection. It is a tale of loyalty and courageousness and how overcoming the most monumental odds is possible if motivated only by the simple love for a woman.

Shadow of the Colossus is one of the greatest examples of artistic design in videogames today. Its originality and scope are beyond compare as it offers a sublime experience that you won't find in many other places. The game is set in a vast and fully realized world that has seemingly lost its way. A world that is ruled by the destructive poison of the gargantuan machines known as the Colossi. The Colossi seem to be the reason behind the poisoned land, behind the dulling of the light and the unnatural silence that fills the hills and valleys they populate.

The protagonist is a young man known only as Wander; in his arms is the fragile body of Mono, a beautiful but allegedly cursed girl who has been murdered as a sacrifice. Wander has learned of a place where the dead can be resurrected which is why he has ridden his horse, Argo, close to exhaustion so that they may try to save a girl who is beyond saving.

It teaches the player about self sacrifice and the power of determination. It explains our symbiotic relationship with nature and how the dark mechanizations of industry are a threat to us all. Join us as we ride forth and explore the depths of this classic game.

To revive her he must bring her to the Shrine of Worship and confront Dormin, the name of the entity that resides there. Many years previous to where this tale began, something happened to Dormin which saw it's physical form shattered into sixteen pieces, a piece for each one of the Colossi that surround the shrine. The reason behind why this happened to Dormin is never explained, however Dormin does possess the ability to resurrect the dead which is later referred to as "The Forbidden Spell", to resurrect Mono, Wander will have to put Dormin back together again and the only way to do that is to destroy the colossi.

For those that haven't played it, the story is played out so that much is unanswered or unexplained. The director of Shadow of the Colossus is Fumito Ueda, and he obviously knows that his audience is smart and imaginative enough to fill in the blanks themselves, letting them create the story that they wish to create. It's one of the reasons why Colossus remains so immersive and feels so complete to play even if you are only battling sixteen bosses. While it is true that there is not much in the land that Colossus takes place in, there doesn't need to be as this would be a distraction from the mission at hand. If I had to take on these sixteen enemies, the simple fetch quests of townsfolk would not interest me in the slightest and I would do nothing but my mission before it was too late.

The structure is simple and the missions are quite clear, but locating and defeating the colossi is done in such an intelligent and organic way, that you will never grow bored while playing it. It's very addictive working out the weak points on each of the Colossi and many of them present a challenge that I have never seen before in any game before it. The colossi themselves become levels as you must first work out how to get onto the great beast and then figure out the way that you will reach its weak spot. Your horse, Argo, is one of the most impressive feats of programming and animation I have ever seen. Not only does the control you have over the horse feel intuitive and looks far more complex that what it is, the way Wander works with the horse simply has to be seen to be believed.

Your anticipation will grow as you dig your heels into the side of Argo, urging him onwards as you seek out the next Colossi. You will have a sword that when pointed at the sun will shine light upon your next monstrous foe, and with a flick of the bridal you are off like a shot, bravely seeking those that would terrify all others. How the game changes when you finally confront one of these giants is something I'm going to leave up to you as writing it down here will ruin the fact that you have a lot yet to learn.

The biggest payoffs with this game are of the emotional kind. This is a game you can't help but become emotionally invested into. Wander is a strong willed young man who holds the moral high ground; he gives without thinking of reward and brings down mountains in the name of compassion and love.

I will admit that his actions do pay a heavy price that I'm sure he was unaware of, but his motivations are pure and show the same courage and innocence we all wish we could wish to have. As you progress why do you suddenly start to feel sorry for the Colossi when they represent all that is unholy? Are they actually the bad guys you thought they were at the beginning or is this merely just another distraction to stop you from completing your mission? Is Dormin someone who should be put back together and what is going to happen if it succeeds? It's these kinds of questions which provide the greatest appeal to me. I don't want to be told what is moral and what isn't, I want something to be placed in front of me and for the creator of that product to trust me enough so that I will come to my own conclusion.

This is what generates discussion and ultimately elevates our thought processes and even though many might simply wave this aside and say 'it's only a game' why can't it be more if you choose it to be, especially when that media is heavily interactive.

As it stands there is something so majestic and noble about your character and the adventure you find yourself on. It's a ride that spans miles of mysterious land and asks more questions than it answers. It's a graphical masterpiece with art direction that really showed off what the PlayStation 2 was capable of for it's time and the way that Wander reacts to the physics of the Colossi and the way they move is triumph on every level.

If I was asked what single PlayStation 2 game sticks out in my mind as the best the system offered, Shadow of the Colossus is on top of that list. It's gentle humanity and David against Goliath sensabilities warrant the investment it takes to play this game.

Ultimately this is one of my all time favourite titles. You can still find this for a great price on Ebay, but it is getting harder and harder to get copies in mint condition all the time.

Before you go, it seems like these guys are working on a new title for the PlayStation 3. If and how this will tie into Ico and Shadow of the Colossus is yet to be confirmed, although I wouldn't be surprised to hear it is. Let's hope so!