Shadow of the Colossus - PS2

Shadow of the Colossus will go down in the history books as a momentous occasion in the history of videogames. This really is an epic game and many commentators and reviewers are referring to it as the PS2’s ‘swansong’ game.

It comes from the same creative team who put together that other PS2 epic, ICO. However, unlike that earlier title, which is much talked about but seemingly little played, Shadow of the Colossus deserves to be played by everyone who has the slightest interest in videogames.

Its not a pick up and play game, and it’s not a game that you can just dip in an out of. It’s a real epic and immersive videogaming experience, which demands your time and attention and rewards you accordingly.

The game is in the style of an epic fantasy adventure yarn set in far off, mysterious lands, in which you play as a lone horseback traveller, riding around the massive, beautiful levels on horseback in search of the titular Colossi.

The background story goes something like this – at the start of the game you find out that your destiny is entwined with that of a lifeless young girl who lies on an altar within a vast temple. The girl is helpless, her soul has been lost and there is only one way to retrieve it. Following a voice from the heavens, you are to embark on a dark and dangerous quest to seek out and slay the enormous wandering monsters that roam this strange world. Only through slaying defeat formidable and immense Colossi can you bring life to the girl who lies waiting on the altar.

Each of the unique Colossi are immense in size and strength, and you are required to grasp and climb each one with precision and stealth and find out where their weak point is in order to strike the deathblow to bring them crashing to the ground.

In between slaying these strangely sad and beautiful monsters you have your trusty steed, Agro, for company. Riding Agro around the extensive lonely plains, mountains, lush countryside, sinister lakes, great caves and ancient ruins is strangely satisfying as an end in itself. Just wandering around on Agro taking in the view is one of the most relaxing videogame experiences you can have.

Shadow of the Colossus is a rare thing indeed, its epic and cinematic, yet subtle and in no way ‘overblown’ as many so-called epic games are.