Shadow of the Colossus - PlayStation 2
- 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
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Product information
ASIN | B0009I6S0O |
---|---|
Release date | October 18, 2005 |
Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #20,633 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #149 in PlayStation 2 Games #23,972 in TV |
Type of item | Video Game |
Item model number | 74722 |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Item Weight | 1.6 ounces |
Manufacturer | Sony Computer Entertainment |
Date First Available | November 8, 2006 |
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Product Description
From the Manufacturer
Tales speak of an ancient land where creatures the size of mountains roam the majestic landscape. Bound to the land, these creatures hold a key to a mystical power of revival--a power you must obtain to waken a loved one.
Shadow of the Colossus is a majestic journey through ancient lands to seek out and destroy gigantic mythical beasts. With your trusty horse at your side, explore the spacious lands and unearth each Colossi. Armed with your wits, a sword, and a bow, use cunning and strategy to topple each behemoth.
From the original developers of the critically acclaimed ICO, comes a masterpiece of an adventure.
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the graphics, sound and value of the game. They mention that it's stunning, breathtaking, beautifully designed and has one of the best soundtracks. They are also happy with the value. Opinions are mixed on the plot, difficulty level, condition, craftsmanship, and frame rate.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the graphics in the game stunning, breathtaking, and beautifully designed. They also say the landscape is wonderful, the horse is beautifully animated, and the monsters are created with great attention to detail. Overall, customers describe the game as unique and incredible.
"...Each colossi was so unique and beautifully designed that I always had to take a few seconds when the fight starts to just take the time to look at it..." Read more
"...However, Shadow of the Colossus' impressive visual design helps create a sense of wonder in the exploration despite the lack of available activities...." Read more
"...There is a wonderful landscape and beautiful terrain to cross, which does take some time, so make sure you look around as you ride...." Read more
"...Anyway, the game has some of the best and most beautiful original design and mechanics I have ever seen in a game...." Read more
Customers like the sound of the video. They say the music is amazing, the sound effects are incredible, and it has one of the best soundtracks they've ever heard in a video. However, some customers feel the music gets repetitive during the fights.
"...The sound effects also contribute powerfully to the epic feeling of the game, with booming sounds of the colossi stomping, roaring, or otherwise..." Read more
"...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..." Read more
"...What makes it art is it's attention to detail, it's syncronization of light and sound and texture, it's ability to use a specific medium..." Read more
"...Once your near the location, ominous and eerie music begins playing...." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the game. They say it has great replay value, is worth buying at the used price, and is a collectible.
"...the first time you play through it, but it definitely has some great replay value." Read more
"Everything was exactly as described. Quick shipping and great price also. Would definitely recommend this seller." Read more
"...Then I saw it on amazon and just HAD to get it. Game came with a great price, and it was in PERFECT condition...." Read more
"...Personally, I will keep it around because it is definitely a collectible and has decent replay value...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the plot. Some find the story captivating, unique, and epic. They also say the experience comes through very strongly in every battle. However, others say the story isn't the greatest and can become frustrating and jarring during battle. They mention that the ending is a little weird and there's no middle action.
"...The epic experience comes through very strongly in every single battle, as the concept of fighting these giant colossi in and of itself is naturally..." Read more
"...The game is very nontraditional in the sense that there are really no other characters in it. It is just essentially you and your loyal horse, Agro...." Read more
"...So, if I had to score this game:Story: 8It wasn't the greatest story, and it didn't really make itself apparent till much later in..." Read more
"...There is a lot of story and exploration involved and you just have to immerse yourself in it...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the difficulty level. Some find the game adequately challenging, while others say it's epic and frustrating. The gameplay manages to be simple and complex at the same time, and it takes skill to beat the game. However, some customers say the battles can be frustrating due to the controls and the game can get repetitive.
"...+ Every battle is incredibly epic and well designed+ Adequately challenging overall+ Fantastic soundtrack and sound effects..." Read more
"...Some find it very tough to "get into" this game. There are no real interactions, except between you and your horse, for the most part...." Read more
"...moving for my taste, but you let yourself get into it and it is a very challenging and even addicting game...." Read more
"...The horse is slow to begin with, often painfully so; navigating obstacles (especially trees) is a major irritant, the horse frequently "spazzes out"..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the condition of the game. Some mention it's in great condition, as good as new, and holds up well. However, others say that it'd be better off buying another game.
"...Game came with a great price, and it was in PERFECT condition. If you haven't played this game GET IT!..." Read more
"...is: a beautiful, visionary concept with (at times profoundly)lackluster execution and a myriad of unfortunate design issues...." Read more
"...I didn't have any problems with the disc and the box was in great condition!" Read more
"...Actually, it's not really that a good platformer. In fact, to be honest, it's a downright awful one...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the craftsmanship of the game. Some mention that it's well done, well composed, and well designed. Others say that it is convoluted, vague, and difficult enough.
"...It was pretty simple, but it was solid and delivered pretty well... (minus a slightly confusing moment at the end) I'll also add that there were..." Read more
"...My main gimmick about this game is that it's almost like a one-trick pony...." Read more
"...+ Every battle is incredibly epic and well designed+ Adequately challenging overall+ Fantastic soundtrack and sound effects..." Read more
"...SotC does have a unique control system that is not easy to get used to until probably the third fight in for some people, and its story is based on..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the frame rate. Some find it fast, while others say it's incredibly slow paced and boring. They also mention that the game is rendered in real time, so you can change the camera angle in the videos. However, some customers report severe frame rate lag during these encounters and the thumbstick movement sensitivity is sluggishly slow.
"...The fact that there are no lesser enemies in between was a welcome change of pace...." Read more
"...The game is slow-moving for my taste, but you let yourself get into it and it is a very challenging and even addicting game...." Read more
"...The story develops very slowly and does a good job of keeping you in the dark for a good portion of the game...." Read more
"...The horse is slow to begin with, often painfully so; navigating obstacles (especially trees) is a major irritant, the horse frequently "spazzes out"..." Read more
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As described above, Colossus' story involves a young man named Wander who sets out on a quest to save his lover by destroying the 16 colossi scattered throughout the land. Unfortunately there is no story development after the start, which places the story on the sidelines through almost the entire game. However, this allows the rest of the epic experience to sink in to a greater effect, so it can be viewed as a smart move as well. It also allows for a surprising and lengthy cutscene at the game's finale, which features several surprising twists and sheds light on other strange elements from throughout the game. Colossus' storytelling may be sparse, but in the end it allows for surprising twists and doesn't detract from the game's other fantastic elements.
The entirety of Shadow of the Colossus involves two basic actions: finding the colossi and fighting the colossi. The mysterious light at the shrine gives Wander a hint as to where the next colossus is, and Wander's sword also points to the colossus when it is held up to the light correctly. The sword's direction is mainly what is helpful in finding the colossi, but sometimes the world's massive size makes it hard to know where exactly the sword is pointing, which makes it easy to get sidetracked and can take up a lot of time. If the player doesn't get lost at all, though, finding each colossus can take about 5-10 minutes of exploring the vast, open, and beautiful world. Unfortunately there is no draw to exploring the world other than finding the colossi: there are no other enemies, no side quests, nothing.
However, Shadow of the Colossus' impressive visual design helps create a sense of wonder in the exploration despite the lack of available activities. The world is said to be cursed, but it sure doesn't look that way, as it is beautifully and vividly animated at every turn, sometimes looking very real. Its emptiness, sheer beauty, and massive size give the game a fantastic atmosphere. The rest of the game's graphics look very good, although occasionally characters and environments become blurry when viewed up close. The visual design of the colossi shows much detail, and it is always thrilling to watch them thrash about as Wander climbs all over them. Overall, Shadow of the Colossus is an impressive game in the graphics department, and is a remarkable achievement for the PS2.
Shadow of the Colossus is all about an epic experience, and that comes in waves as players battle each of the game's sixteen colossi. Simply looking at these monsters is a sight to behold, as their sheer size can easily make anyone watching gape in wonder and surprise. The size and fearsomeness of these beasts is powerfully translated on screen; but after a moment of initial alarm, it must be recalled that the colossus must be defeated. Actually fighting these colossi always involves locating and stabbing their weak points repeatedly until their health meter runs out, and while this simple task doesn't vary at all, the approach to climbing on top of the colossus is fresh and exciting in every battle.
The epic experience comes through very strongly in every single battle, as the concept of fighting these giant colossi in and of itself is naturally epic. Actually climbing up these monsters offers countless cinematic moments that often make the game feel more like a movie than a game, and the fact that the gameplay isn't incredibly deep also develops that feeling. But sometimes the cinematic appeal of Colossus doesn't come without making sacrifices to the actual video game, seeing as a helpful camera angle is often hard to find and the controls offer a steep learning curve. The game strives for realism so hard that the controls take a hit, and while it makes the game much harder to jump into they do eventually become second-nature, ultimately allowing players to enjoy Shadow of the Colossus for the epic, cinematic experience it is.
The moment of delivering the finishing blow on the sixteenth colossus can take roughly 7-9 hours to reach. The game isn't particularly lengthy but also not all too short, providing a decent length although the inclusion of other elements aside from finding and fighting bosses would have improved the game. The system may be repetitious in theory, but in action it just doesn't get dull. Fighting the colossi is fun all the way to the end, and I know that Shadow of the Colossus will be a game for me to replay many times in the future.
Shadow of the Colossus also features impressive sound design. Each music track is fantastic and strengthens the epic feeling in every battle; in fact Colossus' soundtrack may be one of my favorites from any video game I've played. The sound effects also contribute powerfully to the epic feeling of the game, with booming sounds of the colossi stomping, roaring, or otherwise trying to fling Wander off their back or obliterate him by other means.
In the end, Shadow of the Colossus provides an epic experience the likes of which I have never seen in any other video game. Its fantastic sense of atmosphere and visual appeal create a memorable environment, while the 16 boss battles provide unique, challenging, and epic gameplay. Even with a stubborn camera, rough controls, and no extra tasks, the epic experience shines brilliantly in this PS2 masterpiece. Despite its very tangible flaws, Shadow of the Colossus is a brilliant and epic experience of a game that should not be missed.
Positive:
+ Story's finale features several brilliant twists
+ Visual appeal creates a vivid sense of wonder
+ Every battle is incredibly epic and well designed
+ Adequately challenging overall
+ Fantastic soundtrack and sound effects
Negative:
- Exploration is forced and lacks much of a draw
- Camera and controls create unnecessary difficulties to overcome
9.0/10
The 1st one really set the stage for what was to come. Prior to playing, I knew how the 1st one looked and had an idea of his size. When I finally saw him first hand in the distance, it seemed I had accurately guessed his size. So I shot an arrow to grab his attention, then stood hopelessly gazing up as he lumbered over to me closer and closer till he was towering over me. My guess, was WAY off. Despite being the easiest, he was still amazing to look at and fun to bring down. The following colossi continued to exceed my expectations. Each one got my adrenaline, as well as my brain, to go into overdrive. The thrill of being flung around violently while only hanging on (with only one hand most of the time) to a single hair of the head while watching your grip gauge dwindling to nothing, it is unlike anything any other game could bring.
In-fact, I can't think of any game I've played that has any similarities. The closest is God of War with the giant enemies, but those fights are nearly 100% QTE's (quick time events or, "Press X to not die"). I was actually afraid that this game would also suffer from QTE's but was very relieved to learn otherwise. Dare I say that Kratos might be jealous of this game because he can't do any big fights without QTE's unlike Wander? That thought gives me a good chuckle. The final colossus even further demonstrates that Wander doesn't need the QTE training wheels imo. Ok, that's enough bashing Kratos, he obviously wins in the gore and brutality department, but still, kinda funny when you think about it.
So, if I had to score this game:
Story: 8
It wasn't the greatest story, and it didn't really make itself apparent till much later in the game (not that that is a bad thing). It was pretty simple, but it was solid and delivered pretty well... (minus a slightly confusing moment at the end) I'll also add that there were some tearful moments in this game (especially one moment in particular, tore me apart... I'm sure those of you who've also played know exactly what I'm talking about)
Characters: 10
Despite not only having barely a handful of them as well as little to no dialogue most of the time (except for Dormin), They were very well done. It didn't take long to get attached to Wander and his quest. With Agro *Note, everywhere that I've read seems to indicate Agro is a she so that is how I will refer to her*, at first I thought she would just be another Epona. Just be a useful means of traveling. That changed pretty quickly. I grew more attached to Agro than any other character/support-character I've played/accompanied. I was always sad when I couldn't bring her to some of the fights. Even went as far as trying to forcibly find a way to get her to come along (but fail, obviously) even just to dismount her and have her watch. This game even made me more and more intrigued by the dead Mono and more determined to beat all 16 (not just for beating them, but to actually revive her and find out just who she is).
Enemies/Battles/Gameplay: Over 9000
This is were this game towers above all other games. These 16 colossi are what this game is all about. Lesser enemies were absent so the developers could give these 16 110% of their attention. Is this move a risky gamble, yes. Did it pay off? You bet it did. Each one richly detailed. Each one moved so life-like that you believed they were real. Each one required a different strategy to reach it's vitals. Some of them even required that the key to your success, was your skill with handling Agro. Number 10 and 13 (maybe add 9 as well) really bring out the need for Agro the most imo. My personal favorites would have to be #2, #5, #7, #10, #13, and #15. #16 is great but I don't like fighting him in Time Attack. To get the most out of him you must include the entire journey up to him (all prior colossi included, even after previously beating the game). Adds more emotion to the fight.
Soundtrack: 10
While absent during each or your treks across the land to find a colossus. Once your near the location, ominous and eerie music begins playing. Then, when you finally begin to see/fight it, the music changes to a more frantic/hopeless track (depends on which one you are fighting) to further convey you are nothing more than an ant (sometimes less) to these giant beings and you have no hope in bringing them down. Then, once you figure the trick to defeat them, the music seemingly knows when you've figured it out and changes to a more heroic track. When that begins playing, it is like the game, the colossus, and you immediately know that you are a bad@$$ and you WILL win. Then, when you finally land that final hit, it changes to a more somber (not the most accurate but the best I can describe it) tune while you watch the colossus slowly (and almost gracefully for some of them) fall to the ground.
Visuals: 10
Considering it is for the PS2, they are masterfully done. My jaw drops each time I take the time to look at not just the scenery, but the colossi as well. Some might disagree with me about the scenery, yes there is a lack of vegetation and other things, but imo that makes the "forbidden land" feel all the more forbidden. There is not supposed to be much of anything there except for the colossi. My only complaint is in Time attack mode, the sun seems to be more intense and blinds me from the view of watching #13 make its entrance. I kinda wish I had a PS3 so I could play the HD revision of this game.
Overall: Depends on what your expectations are going into this game. If your hoping for another Zelda or God of War or, well anything else for that matter, your not going to get much out of it. However, If you go in just with the expectations of some amazingly made huge colossi, then this easily just might be the best experience you ever had... 9038 out of 10
Top reviews from other countries
If you want to play this game but don't have a PS2 (or just want a more updated version), then there is a collection with Ico and this game on PS3. I really think everyone should check it out at least once!
Stickers on:
- transparent plastic of the PS2 game case (on front AND back)
- non-transparent plastic of the PS2 game case (on outside AND inside)
- actual game cover behind the PS2 game case (on front AND back)
- instruction booklet
- THE GAME DVD ITSELF!
Now the worst of all:
IT DOES NOT WORK!!
I had to clean the DVD because of the dust on the blank side but nonetheless I am now an owner of this ONE AND ONLY game, my PS2 cannot read!
DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THIS "SHOP"!
FML...