imprimis2's Full Review: Shadow of the Colossus for PlayStation 2
Shadow of the Colossus
Reducing a name such as "Shadow of the Colossus" to the title of "video game", in and of itself, is a bit of an insult. Not only that, if I happen to hear of any reports of Shadow being called "just a video game," I'm going to make sure, someway, somehow that the next time they play it, the monsters they fight are going to be ten times more difficult.
If you have a lack of appreciation for good video ....I mean, titles like Shadow of the Colossus, then you simply wouldn't care or understand how and why it works so well. But, if you have any sincere interest at all, like I hope you do, then you'll read further to understand just why big monsters equals big fun.
You see, Shadow of the Colossus breaks traditional gameplay molds in many areas, and I'm not talking about when a colossi rips you a new rectal orifice. You will see through its complex, interesting, and varying world environments that you must achieve one goal---resurrect your beloved female friend and companion. In doing so, you are brought into a level of consciousness that is above and beyond the normal predefined existence of "gameplay." From the outset, while you are just beginning to learn how to control your character and his movements on his epic quest, you simultaneously embark on a quest where you have no idea what's in store. Oh, and be sure to bring your catheter and your colostomy bag; you're not going to get a chance to use the bathroom.
Shadow of the Colossus Storyline (8.5 / 10)
When you enter the large temple at the beginning of the game, your character brings a female into the temple and lays her upon a throne. We soon find out that she is currently in a state of long, blissful sleep. But, for now, and for all intents and purposes, she is dead. You will do anything to revive her, because she means so very much to you. But, what can you, a mere peon and grasshopper upon this God-forsaken land, do?
Well, that's when the grand oracle (I like to call it an oracle because it vocalizes itself without any physical embodiment and it also talks in an unknown tongue) speaks to you and tells you that in order to bring your girlfriend back from her coma, you must conquer a vast land, full of tremendous colossi that are waiting to devour your skinny @ss at a moment's notice. If you want to see your precious young girl open her eyes again, then by God, you better be prepared to kill all sixteen of them. And guess what? Just to make it hard, you're only gettin' two weapons and a horse. So there, show me what you've got, big boy!
The game's opening credits feature a large black bird (a crow?) hovering over a mystic land. Is there any real significance to this bird? Maybe we will find out later--much later. But, anyhow, Shadow of the Colossus has a large and complex world that must be explored, so we should get into the actual gameplay and what transpires during the game's events. A story awaits!
Shadow of the Colossus Graphics (9.7 / 10)
Immediately upon viewing the game via its FMV sequences, you can gather that the world you're about to embark on is large and mysterious. That being said, you have no idea what type of mystery and adventure you're in for-----no, really, you have no clue. As you progress through the game, however, you come to learn that this land is filled with giant creatures that will stop for no man--no enemy, or foe. As an integral part of the experience, your eyes get to feast on generous lands that feature large canyons, gorges, waterfalls, streams, forests and deserts that you must explore. Singularly, the geographical variety in this game is enough to net it a higher rating for its accuracy to Earth and how its differing regions affect gameplay. Regardless, graphics are wonderful. You'll have no trouble identifying trees and noticing their true-to-life branches and leaves, and waterfalls emit that slow, smooth flow that nature would intend. Leaves even pile the undergrowth of the forest that you and your horse, Agro, explore, so you can get a genuine feel for the world you're living in. No stone is left unturned here--there's trees, cacti, waterfalls, and enormous bridges that give you a sense of a long, dangerous, and solitary journey. Simply put, the graphics in Shadow of the Colossus are amazing, and even the average gamer will have no difficulty in realizing his place in its world. And if you do happen to have trouble recognizing things, for Pete's sake, get your eyes checked.
Shadow of the Colossus Sound (9.8 / 10)
Although the sound effects in Shadow of the Colossus are most certainly realistic in every sense, such as our main character's sword thrusting into the hairy back of one of his gigantic enemies, the actual cinematic music also plays a pivotal role in the overall development and progression of the game itself. When you happen to stumble upon a "home" of one of the colossi (or where it tends to live,) you'll notice a dramatic change in music to cue you in to the idea that you're in the right area. In addition, once you begin to actually climb one of these humongous monsters, the music will take on a magical, victorious tone, to aid you in self-confidence that you CAN take down your enemies, even if it is only with your sword, your bow and arrow, and your trusty horse. There are several moments in this game where you'll feel as though you are able to overcome insurmountable odds, simply because it felt like the game WANTED you to defeat a colossus, and it is doing all it can to give you the inner strength to pull off might and magic. Can you really think of a better confidence booster? Get out there and show us what you're made of already!
Shadow of the Colossus Controls (8 / 10)
This game is one of the few titles that actually scores lower in its controls with regard to its other areas. While the game is visually and audibly perfect, there are certain times when you will feel as though you can't seem to get a lucky break that you need. It's similar to the feeling you'd get playing at a craps table and rolling snake eyes nine times in a row. For instance, when you fight one of the colossi later in the game, you will need to mount your horse. If you're not standing in the exact location necessary to do so, you will instead jump right over him, and waste precious time that you could use to escape and devise your winning game plan. That being said, you will have to get used to very precise locations for jumping on your horse, and you might want to practice it early so as to gain a slight advantage later in the game. The fact that this must be learned, however, seems a bit unnecessary. There's more than one situation where you may have to take your anger out on your controller, or perhaps just throw your fist into the wall, when, for whatever reason, you cant mount Agro until you try doing so 12 times in rapid succession. Although in true-to-life situations, we know that mounting our horse must be done in a certain location, when we are faced with decisions that must be taken in a matter of mere seconds, the game could have been just a tad bit more forgivable. And you thought Gone in 60 Seconds was quick---heh, think again. You'll see what I'm talking about when you fight the turtle colossus. Overall, however, the game's controls can be a bit frustrating at times, but thankfully do not detract too much from the general gameplay.
Shadow of the Colossus Atmosphere / Environment (9.1 / 10)
With all of the large gorges, valleys, deserts, and forests that you will be exploring, there's no other way to put it--this game is simply immense, and the colossi you'll be conquering are no less in their scale of magnitude. In relation to your character's size, the colossi are some 15 to 20 times bigger than you are, so you're going to have to hop like an insignificant bug to reach your destination, and you better act happy when you're doing it, because the game---it knows. As such, you should be expected not only to react to your environment, but also be ready to use items in your environment and its surroundings in order to actually defeat some of the colossi.
While the game does not lean on these elements as heavily early on in the game, you will most certainly use them later on when you have to fight colossus 14. The sacred temple is a large and lush environment, but you have to take in your surroundings before you can truly understand how the colossus is to be defeated.
That being said, it's easiest to describe killing a colossus in this way--you must scale its body and find its hidden weak points. Once you have your sword equipped, be sure to scale the mammoth's upper and lower body regions. Once you hit on a weak spot, you'll know it, because each colossus is brandished with a blue insignia that usually sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb. Once you're over top one of these blue symbols, thrust your sword up and then stab him for what he's worth. His life points (represented by a gauge at the top of the screen) will be reduced, and you'll be on your way to singing "Joy to the World."
The game, from early on, anyhow, is quite forgiving and, even throughout the games, Dormin, the oracle I referred to earlier, will give you subtle hints as to how to encounter and take down the colossi. Do not be fooled, however. It can sometimes take 45 minutes to a little over an hour to figure out not only how to defeat the colossi, but also to actually scale its body so as to exploit its weak parts. Another area that lends heavily to Atmospheric and Environmental factors is the battle against colossus 12. While you're in the lake, you will take at least a good 45 seconds to a minute and a half just swimming from one floating stone island to another, and that's just part of the experience waiting for you.
Highlights Magic Moment
One of my favorite aspects of Shadow of the Colossus comes when you actually defeat a colossus. Not only do you get a sense of pride for accomplishing an otherwise hefty feat, but you get to see, in all its beauty, the actual colossi fall to its death in a slow motion FMV. That alone may give you some sense of sadness. The true beauty contained here should be more than enough for you to earn respect for the game. Kill your first colossi, and then watch as he slowly barrels towards the ground in his death sequence. Be sure to turn up the stereo in the background, too, and plop in Enya's "Only Time." You'll be utterly amazed. Not only that, but when you decide to take a trip down memory lane and revisit the sacred areas of your victories, you will be able to look at, walk on, and examine the skeletal remains of all the prior colossi you've defeated. The enemies don't disappear here, they literally become part of the landscape! Of course, I had my fun here, too...standing on top of the turtle colossus at one point, shouting, "Yeah, you think you're such a bad-@ss now, don't you? What you gonna do now, huh? You thought you were the $hit, didn't you? Hahaha!" And....then, of course....the next colossus said the same thing to me as I stared him in the face.
Shadow of the Colossus Final Rating
There's much to explore in Shadow of the Colossus and it is up to you and your loyal horse Agro to get there. By raising your sword to the light, the direction its beams emit the largest glow of centered radiance will tell you where you need to go next. On your epic journey, be prepared for some of the toughest physical boss fights you've ever come to experience in a video game. You'll be dangling from a bird's wings, standing on the head of a giant bear, and jumping from high ledges in order to reach your foes. The name of the game is adventure, and leaps of faith are commonplace. As such, be ready to take risks, even if the task at hand seems overwhelming. Shadow of the Colossus will teach you that life means taking huge risks if you want to survive and succeed.
In the end, you may very well get the wish you were asking for.
Overall game score: 9.1
I hope this review has helped to make a purchasing decision. Why not, you're ready for a challenging and engaging adventure, aren't you?
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