Graphics 9/10

These graphics are just plain amazing. The light effects are crisp and the environments are absolutely beautiful. The vast world is void of human life, but that gives the game a huge amount of ambience and a very mysterious feel. The hero’s appearance is perfectly made, and each massive colossus is unique. No two colossi seem alike, as each of their design creates ingenious puzzles. Environments are diverse in the picturesque world. Forests, lakes, deserts, and the rest are all covered and beautiful. The only real annoyance to me was the paper-thin pixelation in the characters. It is minor, but it took me out of the action sometimes. But overall, Shadow of the Colossus is a masterpiece and isn’t like any other game on the market. Well, maybe Ico.

Audio 9/10

The orchestral background music is equally impressive. The sheer diversity in the scores makes for some excellent audio. The choral lines in the game are incredible and flush out the mysterious essence of the game. When fighting a colossus, the background tempo picks up. When on the colossus, the score enters a climactic tempo of orchestra, bringing some beautiful moments when fighting these monsters. Voice acting was fine and sound effects were well done. The audio in Shadow of the Colossus is absolutely excellent.

Gameplay 9/10

Shadow of the Colossus takes place in a desolate world, where a young hero wishes to retrieve the soul of a young girl. He is told by a strange voice to destroy 16 colossi to have the girl’s soul retrieved. Gameplay is very simple: find a colossus, find a way to kill a colossus, kill the colossus, repeat. While this seems odd, fighting the colossi is the most fun part of the game. Even better is that it’s done so well, that each colossus is like a puzzle and has a special path, sequence, and techniques to destroy it. Your inventory is only a bow, a horse for travel, and a sword. The sword is used both for combat and for finding where the next colossus is. Upon finding the colossus, the hero is put into an absolutely epic battle. The towering colossi increases the scale of the game. Killing a colossus involves striking certain symbols on the colossus’s body, which can be uncovered using the sword. Getting to these symbols is not easy, as you will have to find a way onto the colossus and climb to them. An essential object is the Grip Meter, which you must manage to avoid a fall. The colossi will struggle and try to shake you off, so careful decision-making in when to hold on and when to let go is vital. Each colossus is different and involves a clever way in defeating them. As the game progresses, the colossi will become more aggressive and will have a more complex method in defeating them. For a game with only bosses, it is excellent. The only real problem is finding the colossi. You have to constantly use your sword to direct you to where to go and in the massive world with only a crude map, finding out where to go is difficult and frustrating. This is also hurt with the frustrating horseback controls. On the other hand, you get to witness the game’s incredible environments. Overall, Shadow of the Colossus is a true gem and cannot be missed.

Replay Value 9/10

The game is short, but trust me, you’ll want to play it again. Some unlockable extras encourage another playthrough, but you’ll want to play again to take a look at the wondrous environments. The breathtaking graphics, stunning audio, and fun gameplay promise a good time, even if you’ve beaten it once before.

Final Verdict 9/10

Shadow of the Colossus doesn’t have a huge story, it doesn’t have complex gameplay, you don’t have a bunch of fancy weapons, and there aren’t huge hoards of enemies on screen trying to kill you. But who cares? This game is amazing. Never has a game where you only fight bosses wowed me this much. The graphics are incredible, the audio is orchestral and choral gold, and the gameplay is simple, but constantly throws new challenges at you. Each colossus is full of puzzle-solving and the strategies in defeating them are executed very well. Not just that, but the game’s environment is like a detailed painting, breathing atmosphere and mystery. If a little more time was put into the searching aspect of the game, this game could’ve been perfect. But if you can overlook this minor detail, you’ll experience one of the best games released on the Playstation 2. Even if you haven’t played Ico, this game must be played. Seriously, it’s that good. Don’t let this game pass you by. It is a masterpiece, and cannot be missed by any means.