 | | |
| Shadow of the Colossus | 
 enlarge | From: Sony Computer Entertainment
Category: Video Games
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $10.50
You Save: $9.49 (47%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $9.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  (258 reviews)
Sales Rank: 249
Format: Cd
Platform: Playstation2
ESRB: Teen
Media: Video Game
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 12 - 20 years
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 0.5 x 5.4
MPN: 100730
Model: 74722
UPC: 711719747222
EAN: 0711719747222
ASIN: B0009I6S0O
Release Date: October 18, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Features:
| • | Innovative gameplay combines the puzzle and action/adventure genres | | • | Journey across picturesque landscapes and unearth the ferocious beauty of the 16 Colossi | | • | Combat each Colossi with skill and resourcefulness, using your magical weapons | | • | Overcome a variety of terrain challenges placing great emphasis on pure exploration | | • | Travel on horseback across miles of ancient land |
|
| Accessories:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Shadow of the Colossus is a majestic journey through ancient lands. With your trusty horse at your side, you'll explore spacious lands and unearth anicent monsters called Colossus. Armed with your wits, a sword and a bow, use cunning and strategy to topple each of these behemoths.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 253 more reviews...
 Simultaneously Horrible and Fantastic... An Enigma... September 29, 2008
After buying this game for $20 and playing it through, and after reading all the varied, greatly differing, polarized reviews for this game, my own paradoxical experience with SotC has compelled me to write my own review, so that hopefully someone can gain something from my two cents.
I'm still very conflicted about this game. It seems to defy evaluation, possibly because it's just so different from most games out there. It's at once both terrible and wonderful - and indeed it seems to elicit a love/hate response from most players. I've seen very little reviews that rate this game right in the middle of the "good/bad" value spectrum.
You've probably already gleaned enough information from other sources or reviews to give you an idea about the story and plot line, but I'll provide the typical story synopsis, just in case: You (the main character) have traveled far and wide to reach an ancient, mystical, deserted land in order to try to find a way to revive your deceased love. An enigmatic, bodiless deity approaches you, and you reach a bargain in which, in return for completion of a task, the deity has decided that it "may not be entirely impossible" to bring your girlfriend back from the dead. Of course, the task is really sixteen sub-tasks (the slaying of sixteen Colossi), and so, with nothing else to lose, you set out on your quest to vanquish the behemoths.
This is where different aspects of the game start diverging in quality.
There are a few things that stand out in this game, some of which both add and detract from the overall experience. A key theme or characteristic of the game is its simplicity and bareness. The HUD and interface are simple - you only have two weapons, a sword and bow, and no upgrades or replacements or augmentations to speak of, and the HUD consists of only a health bar, a weapon-select diagram, and a circle that represents your stamina (for climbing, holding onto Colossi, etc.) and the "charge" level of your weapon (how far back your bow is pulled, how hard your sword will strike, etc.). When it comes to gameplay and environmental interaction, this simple design scheme can actually be quite pleasant and convenient, and works to emphasize the cool experience of the game itself, rather than forcing the player to concentrate on the all-too-common chaos of coordinating elaborately sequenced combos or timed button-mashing.
The initially-presented back story is deliberately vague and simple, which adds an intriguing mystery element and allows the player to use his/her imagination to discern the history/background of the characters and ponder the origins of the somber, beautifully crafted game world. Some players, however, may find the lack of story foundation and substance irritating.
As far as gameplay goes, SotC is often painfully lacking. Problems arise almost immediately as you start playing. The controls are ABYSMAL. Camera control is counter-intuitive and thumbstick movement sensitivity is sluggishly slow (to the game's credit, both of these can be adjusted, but it's still a hassle and a drawback when controls aren't comfortable right form the get-go). Although the button layout is fairly decent, the main character's control is awkward, imprecise, and clumsy, and often very loose and unresponsive. At times it's frustratingly difficult to get him to react in the desired manner with the desired timing, and in the direction that's intended. Be prepared to frequently miss jumps, misfire arrows, fall off ledges, and get smashed while trying to dodge "Colossal" blows. The game also has problems with action-trigger locations and responses - meaning that in order for the character to properly latch onto a ledge after jumping or grab an object, you have to position him EXACTLY correctly, with no room for fault.
All these main character setbacks pale in comparison to the virtual inoperability of your horse, however, which is your main - and only - form of transportation. This might have only been a small inconvenience if it wasn't for the fact that half the game is spent traversing the huge, bare, open plains in order to get from Colossus to Colossus. The horse is slow to begin with, often painfully so; navigating obstacles (especially trees) is a major irritant, the horse frequently "spazzes out", and getting him to start moving anywhere takes both an eternity and several thousand button-mashings. He's also IMPOSSIBLE to mount. You have to be standing perfectly still, right in the exact spot before you press the corresponding button. This poor performance is enough to simply make any and all travel a chore, but during combat it can become a major, survival-inhibiting detriment that will put your character in unnecessary danger.
As far as the actual Colossus battles go, though, most of them really are quite good. The Colossi, in everything from their appearance to their movement and behavior to their attacks to the beastly sounds they make, are extremely well done and very cool, very artistic. The game is subject to (sometimes severe) frame rate lag during these encounters, however, and it can become quite frustrating and jarring during battle, but most of this is soon forgotten in the epic majesty of Colossus' downfall. Exposing and exploiting their individually unique weaknesses is fun and challenging, and striking the final take-down blow is immensely satisfying. There are a few problems to encounter, though - like the fact that some of the later monsters are downright merciless, employing tactics and attacks that are impossible to counter, or the fact that the keys to defeating some Colossi are occasionally far too cryptic and challenging, and all but impossible to discern. All this makes for a few boss battles that are astoundingly difficult to win. Also, the game makes an abrupt, unexpected change of pace about midway through. The game difficulty level shoots suddenly and sporadically from Easy to Fairly Hard. It almost feels at times like the creators didn't think through the necessary framework of game balances all the way, and left some game dynamics unfair and unpolished.
As far as premise of the game goes (it's essentially just sixteen boss battles), the idea is unique and fairly cool, all while being efficient and streamlined (it's somewhat of a plus that you don't have to bother slashing through legions of lesser monsters to get to the main baddies) and simple (there's the beauty of the "simple" factor in play again).
However, because there's really only three characters, and only two ever interact (infrequently, at that), the game feels somewhat empty. As there's really nothing else to interact with, manipulate, or work to achieve in the world outside of the Colossus battles - basically nothing else to DO at all - it often makes the barren, deserted world seem too stagnant, stale, and, from a design point of view, unfinished. I believe that that "barren, devoid-of-life" characteristic was an intentional design choice, and from a story point of view, it works fantastically. It makes the forbidden land seem all the more foreboding. It also really helps create a wonderfully forlorn, dark and moody ambiance and atmosphere, which are both superb. From a gameplay perspective, though, I just expected more. The game sometimes feels incomplete. If you exclude the element of the Colossi (of which there really aren't that many, anyway) it's like the creators just plopped you in an empty sandbox environment with nothing to do but roam around pointlessly, enjoying the scenery, perhaps. It takes the point out of exploring the game world, because you know nothing else will be there.
On a positive note, the major, over-arching thematic elements of the game really are superb. The art design and graphics are beautiful, often breathtakingly-so for a PS2 game; the story is sadly poignant and moving, eclectic and mysterious, and all together pretty fantastic, although the end is somewhat ambiguous and may leave some feeling unsatisfied. The music is also superb, which one can't help but notice; it is well composed and finely expresses the proper mood relative to what is happening in-game. And again, the atmosphere created around the player is very good as well.
All in all, with the discounted price it's going for today, this really is a must-play game, if nothing else than just for it's unique vision. It has many failings, some of which caused me enough grief to want to simply abandon the game, but in the end you'll be able to look past most of these faults, and see it for what it really is: a beautiful, visionary concept with (at times profoundly)lackluster execution and a myriad of unfortunate design issues. I really don't even consider this a true "game" in the conventional sense - for it fails too thoroughly and too consistently to achieve that end and earn (or perhaps be marred by) such a typical title. SotC is more like a fully interactive movie - if you can understand it as such, you'll appreciate it much more and learn to better understand its defects. It simply exists as a fascinating digital experience, in a medium all of its own. I do love and hate this game simultaneously, and I suppose that equilibrium levels it somewhere around "just average". But SotC is more than just the sum of its parts... And I think that's part of the reason it has garnered so much acclaim. Shadow of the Colossus is deemed to be great because it makes you WANT to believe it to be so... simply because of what it is... and at the same time what it's not.
Bought For the Hype.....Believed For the Ending September 26, 2008
Of all the games I have played over the years, this was the first to warrant my own review. Anyone thinking of buying this game after reading about the numerous awards and praises from gaming review sites should read this review. And NO, I will NOT include ANY SPOILERS. As discussed later, this game deserves much of its attention from how and what is later revealed...and I will save that for you should you decide to buy this game.
The opening scene reveals itself much like an epic movie, although in vastly poorer visual quality. For a game released in 2005, some of the visuals in the game feel severely dated circa 2002-3. The main character himself is quite pixelated. However, the game does allow widescreen progressive scan play which has both a pro and con side to it. On the plus side, the game's color saturation and grandeur REALLY stands out with progressive scan. The widescreen mode adds dramatically to the open world concept the game's designers tried to promote. However, putting the game in progressive scan also causes the protagonist and his horse to show themselves in all their pixelated glory. For me, it was a hard decision to choose between a more vivid world with Progressive, or more believable main characters with Normal. After switching back and forth numerous times I finally opted for the widescreen progressive and was ultimately happy with the decision. After one battle with a colossus (you learn right away there are 16) you realize this game is first and foremost concerned with the colossi and environment. That being said, the choice of soft lighting and color for this game create a very tranquil and often surreal fantasy world. The game also seems to be ahead of the curve by streaming all of the landscape into view. Given how vast the world is, this is really quite a feat! The load times in this game are virtually non-existent because of how they implement streaming.
Visual acuity aside, one of my greatest frustrations in this game (and oh yes...it will be there for you as well) was the use of the camera. Granted, with respect to the design team, creating a camera that would allow you to see massive skyscraper-sized colossi and yet also focus on where you are running or riding seems a huge undertaking. To help ease frustration, the game has a "colossus camera focus" button on L1 which does help. The game also has a zoom buttom with R2; however, it is utterly useless. The game constantly tries for a cinematic "sweeping effect" which means that whenever you look one way, the camera will try to pull back the other way as if the character is panning his head side to side. Therefore, when you are fighting a huge colossus about to stomp you and are trying to zoom in and search for a weak spot...the camera will be swaying back and forth across where you are trying to look. At best it is slightly frustrating, at worst...it makes you feel sea sick! Another poor point of the camera is riding your horse. The right analog controls the camera, whereas the left controls the direction of the horse via a rein mechanism. In theory, this is AWESOME, because you can control the horse while you also pan around the character like you are controlling the action in a high budget film. In fact, there are a few sequences I will not discuss where you are FORCED to pan the camera while riding on your horse. The use of pulling the analog to pull the reins has a very life-like feel to it. In practicality, however, the horse will usually not be able to make sharp turns, and it is very hard to control the horse while also concentrating on the environment and colossi. I often found myself running head first into a large mountain or the edge of a cliff (fortunately you can not fall off when on the horse). The game also has several moments when the environment will obstruct the view of the camera. The camera was definitely the most frustrating aspect of the game. Fortunately the game somehow manages to overcome this shortcoming with its original, artistic and innovate design.
The colossi and the battles themselves really are a fantastic achievement! Each colossus maintains certain visual similarities while drawing from all varieties of the natural and fantasy world. Two of the colossi ARE quite similar in size and shape,... but every battle is unique, fast paced and fun. Each environment you find them in is different and may or may not play an integral part in their defeat. Every battle seems vaguely reminiscent of later Zelda games (N64 and later) but, if it can be believed, much more exciting and grandiose. Another positive change to game design is that the character begins with only a bow and sword, and will end will only a bow and sword. Every battle can be won without any cheating if you take the time to search the environment and colossi. There is a very high ratio of puzzle solving to reward ratio dispersed throughout the battles.
The storyline throughout the game is virtually non-existent; that is, until the end of the game. The beauty is that the sequential battles and lack of any story is what gives so much meaning to the end of the game. The intro shows you a boy, a girl of an undetermined relationship, and his horse. Until the end, you know little more than where you are and what you must do. Throughout the game, the endless task of killing a colossus and returning to the main temple seems quite monotonous. This plays out VERY similarly to the game Assassin's Creed. However, the intentional choice to leave out any interior storyline truly makes the ending shine. It may have been an artistic choice,...but it ultimately leads up to one of the best endings of any fantasy game. The ending itself clocks in at about 15-20 min (make sure to stay around after the credits).
Ultimately, this game has been hyped for its artistic and innovative approaches to gameplay. The world design, although devoid of a lot of the smaller life found in games like Elder Scrolls, is still beautiful, mysterious and most importantly - epic. The game could have fallen prey to such shortcomings as an often frustrating camera and less than God of War character (people only - not colossi) visuals; however, it somehow soars above any problems due to the cohesion of all elements into one definable experience. Rated only for the camera/controls and visuals, I might have given this game a 3/5...but all together this game represents a 4/5 if not more. Not quite the best game of ALL TIME, but This is one game that definitely represents an Epic Masterpiece that is greater than the sum of its parts!
 Best Game ever in history of Mankind September 13, 2008
Im a diehard xbox/360 fan but I have to admit this is the best game ever made. I played this game when it first came out a few years ago. I wish all games were as good as this. There was also a prequel "Ico" Just as amazing. If they ever come out with shadow of the colossus 2 and its not multiplatform, I would buy a PS3 just to play this game.
shadow of the Colossus September 10, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This game in unlike any other game I've played. It arrived new in great packaging. The arrival time was very fast and I would recommend this seller to anyone.
ONE of the BEST September 8, 2008
cool game ,a unique game-play style in a unique world ,i recommend for ppl who did not play it yet to try it ,they'll love it .
it is a true ONE of the BEST games i ever played .
|
|
|
myGamer.com | | |
