Shalashaska
12-08-2005, 09:38 PM
Title: Shadow of Colossus
Rating: T
Players: 1
Sony Computer Entertainment
Let me set up a scenario of the game. You are riding on your horse across a vast country side. The horizon goes on for what seems like miles on end. (No Load Time either). You lift your sword to reflect the sunlight and see that you are very close to something large... the ground shakes, the PS2 controller rumbles and your horse is spooked. A mountain seems like it is moving and then you realize that it is your first colossus.
Shadow of the Colossus is fashioned after the sleeper hit 'Ico'. The game features a protagonist saving a damsel. In this game you are charged by a great voice from the sky that requests you defeat the evil in the land; the Colossus.
The feat of finding a colossus is easy enough. You shine a sword against the sunlight and then follow a beam of light. Once I found my first colossus then I was tasked to take it down. I fought a large ape like beast that carried a club. I ran around in awe of how big this thing was. First off, you are tiny copmared to these beasts. The game has some amazing graphics that look too good to be the PS2. Well after I got familiar with the colossus I found he had a rough maim of hair on his leg. I climbed it to his torso - all the while the beast tries to hurl me off. I finally make it to the head and plunge my sword deep into the skull of eternity.
And that is only the first one. As for my gripes with next colossus well later on it becomes a bit annoying to journey across the land to find your next target. You ride your horse over the plains, climb a mountain and swim across a lake and then you admire the view, but nothing happens.
The game looks great, but I don't want to have to fill the dead time between monsters looking at the scenary. The game has no minions or other enemies. Just the colossus and you. I mean when you do finally reach the monster you forget everything and you sometimes panic because everything happens so fast. It's simple enough: the first few colossus are their to get familiar with the game. But after the fifth one you see how the developers take advantage of flight, air and other type of beast.
Controls: 7.5 The controls are a bit difficult. Think Prince of Persia meets Fables camera. It is about a half hour to fourty five (45) minute learning curve to get everything right. Manuvering around and on the colossus is difficult at first, but after the kill you want more.
Graphics: 10 Gorgeous graphics. From the vast plains, to the depth of a gorge everything looks stunning. You'd think after the first time you step outside and get bathed in sunlight you would get tired of it, but you don't.
Music: 8.5 Just imagine total silence and then the sound of distant footsteps. And then it gets louder and louder and you think you are in for a fight, but wait, it's just your horse. And then silence again and you walk into an open area. Now the music picks up and your enemy appears to a full orchestra. Very dramatic. Like in my dreams.
Difficulty: Somewhat high... I mean it is hard at first After you fall from a cliff for the fifth time you get to understand that the controls are a bit difficult. Some of the boss battles require precise timing and others just require dumb luck.
Overall this game is reserved for those who appreciate difficulty. If you prefer games that are easy to jump into then avoid this game. Shadow of the Colossus is a damn near impossible game to put down after you pick it up. The setting is whimsical so don't expect to get lost in the characters stories. This is somewhat like a fairy tale of sorts - where good triumphs and has no real name.
I'd say this game would deserve a ten, but the few times I couldn't do something or I found myself lost I cursed the developers.
Score: 9.5
Rating: T
Players: 1
Sony Computer Entertainment
Let me set up a scenario of the game. You are riding on your horse across a vast country side. The horizon goes on for what seems like miles on end. (No Load Time either). You lift your sword to reflect the sunlight and see that you are very close to something large... the ground shakes, the PS2 controller rumbles and your horse is spooked. A mountain seems like it is moving and then you realize that it is your first colossus.
Shadow of the Colossus is fashioned after the sleeper hit 'Ico'. The game features a protagonist saving a damsel. In this game you are charged by a great voice from the sky that requests you defeat the evil in the land; the Colossus.
The feat of finding a colossus is easy enough. You shine a sword against the sunlight and then follow a beam of light. Once I found my first colossus then I was tasked to take it down. I fought a large ape like beast that carried a club. I ran around in awe of how big this thing was. First off, you are tiny copmared to these beasts. The game has some amazing graphics that look too good to be the PS2. Well after I got familiar with the colossus I found he had a rough maim of hair on his leg. I climbed it to his torso - all the while the beast tries to hurl me off. I finally make it to the head and plunge my sword deep into the skull of eternity.
And that is only the first one. As for my gripes with next colossus well later on it becomes a bit annoying to journey across the land to find your next target. You ride your horse over the plains, climb a mountain and swim across a lake and then you admire the view, but nothing happens.
The game looks great, but I don't want to have to fill the dead time between monsters looking at the scenary. The game has no minions or other enemies. Just the colossus and you. I mean when you do finally reach the monster you forget everything and you sometimes panic because everything happens so fast. It's simple enough: the first few colossus are their to get familiar with the game. But after the fifth one you see how the developers take advantage of flight, air and other type of beast.
Controls: 7.5 The controls are a bit difficult. Think Prince of Persia meets Fables camera. It is about a half hour to fourty five (45) minute learning curve to get everything right. Manuvering around and on the colossus is difficult at first, but after the kill you want more.
Graphics: 10 Gorgeous graphics. From the vast plains, to the depth of a gorge everything looks stunning. You'd think after the first time you step outside and get bathed in sunlight you would get tired of it, but you don't.
Music: 8.5 Just imagine total silence and then the sound of distant footsteps. And then it gets louder and louder and you think you are in for a fight, but wait, it's just your horse. And then silence again and you walk into an open area. Now the music picks up and your enemy appears to a full orchestra. Very dramatic. Like in my dreams.
Difficulty: Somewhat high... I mean it is hard at first After you fall from a cliff for the fifth time you get to understand that the controls are a bit difficult. Some of the boss battles require precise timing and others just require dumb luck.
Overall this game is reserved for those who appreciate difficulty. If you prefer games that are easy to jump into then avoid this game. Shadow of the Colossus is a damn near impossible game to put down after you pick it up. The setting is whimsical so don't expect to get lost in the characters stories. This is somewhat like a fairy tale of sorts - where good triumphs and has no real name.
I'd say this game would deserve a ten, but the few times I couldn't do something or I found myself lost I cursed the developers.
Score: 9.5