Shadow of the Colossus

by Richter

Back to The Real World.

Richter2006-02-13 19:44:29
Ever since I saw this game, about a year ago (then titled Wanda and the Colossus), I've thought it was going to be an amazing game. So, I picked it up yesterday, needing a new RPG (with graphics!) to play.

I started the game up, and it took me five minutes to figure out which direction I should be going. I'm not really dense or anything, but I didn't notice the exits, and thought I should be going down the long hallway and up (those who have played the game are probably laughing, especially since I tried to take my horse that way). I found the controls to be almost excruciating, but after some manipulation, and turning one of the camera axis inverted, I made my way out of the temple. I found where I needed to go, and it took another five minutes of jumping into cliffs until the game started to show me the controls. After all that, I climbed up to meet the first boss.

Actually, this game has nothing -but- bosses; you don't fight anything else. The creature was a massive hulking thing, several stories tall, and I was supposed to climb it and beat the everloving crap out of it. After a death or two, I managed it and emerged triumphant.

The subsequent rounds of "find the colossus and kill it" took me about 45 minutes each, but my time started getting down to about 25 minutes, and I started getting into a routine.

I killed one that looked like a giant horse, one that had a "sword" 100 feet or more long, one that flew into the sky as I tried to kill it, and one that swam underwater (holding onto those last two was insane).

I mention this game because it instills in one the old wonder that an RPG used to give us. Too often, we're presented with the same old ideas, the same storyline, and the games become monotonous. If you can get past the somewhat squirrely controls (mostly with the horse, the actual colossus parts are alright), and wrap your head around the concept of no powerups and one goal, you'll find a beautiful game, with amazing landscapes, and a unique concept.

The same sense of wonder that we got when we started playing Lusternia, when one jumped into Morrowind, and when you might have played Final Fantasy 7 for the first time, can be found here. Go rent this game!
Daganev2006-02-13 19:47:10
PC or Console only?
Shamarah2006-02-13 19:47:31
Yeah, I heard about that game. Shame I don't have a PS2, it sounds really cool.
Richter2006-02-13 19:52:42
I think PS2 only. Google some screenshots or something, these things tower over you. biggrin.gif
Unknown2006-02-13 19:59:22
QUOTE(Shamarah @ Feb 13 2006, 02:47 PM) 257741

Yeah, I heard about that game. Shame I don't have a PS2, it sounds really cool.

Eh.. the demo I played of it was fun, but I told myself I'd wait until it dropped down in price since I might end up beating it a little too soon.

But yeah, it was fun and innovative. When I saw the first Colossus I was afraid to approach it because in my mind it was like "I'm supposed to beat THAT?" and it really made it feel like a game rather than just a chore (As you can get with some of these RPGs and their "story."). It is really beautiful too, as Richter said. I found myself simply riding around my horse to check out the landscape and the seamless motion of it all despite knowing where my real destination was.

How much was it when you bought it anyway? I've really been waiting for Kingdom Hearts 2 (Now officially out March 28th), but an intermission would be nice.
Unknown2006-02-13 20:24:39
I never seen even a single screenshot of this game, not talking about actually playing it. But, someone already spoiled the ending for me. And it was rather surprising. mad.gif

Want me to share? deal.gif
Richter2006-02-13 20:44:30
Bleh, KH2 comes out near Oblivion? I can only do one at a time... (which is probably why I won't be on Lusternia much till I beat SotC, in like... a day or two smile.gif ).
Unknown2006-02-13 20:51:57
QUOTE(Richter @ Feb 13 2006, 03:44 PM) 257781

Bleh, KH2 comes out near Oblivion? I can only do one at a time... (which is probably why I won't be on Lusternia much till I beat SotC, in like... a day or two smile.gif ).

I'd say Oblivion, unless you're a big KH fan. I heard it has more than 50 hours of voice-acted dialogue (Pattrick Stewart as one of the many listed), and with the series' history you know it'll be pretty good.

I'd be tempted to buy it if I didn't think I'd need another gig of ram for comfort along with a new video card.
Richter2006-02-13 21:00:51
I am a big KH fan, but I've been following Oblivion forever, and have soaked up everything about it that I can. I'm tempted to beat KH2 first, to get it out of the way. Definately going to beat Shadow of the Colossus, then finish Mega Man X collection, then I suppose I'll get Oblivion, and put KH2 on hold.
Asarnil2006-02-13 22:39:59
KH2 - the reqs for Oblivion aren't nice to your computer. Plus KH2 has Tron in it!
Richter2006-02-13 23:06:05
Yeah, but I'm getting it on the 360. tongue.gif

QUOTE(Cuber @ Feb 13 2006, 12:24 PM) 257768

I never seen even a single screenshot of this game, not talking about actually playing it. But, someone already spoiled the ending for me. And it was rather surprising. mad.gif

Want me to share? deal.gif


http://1.im.cz/hrej/screenshot/64/45064.jpeg

And no, don't share the ending. I'm hoping to get through this one and be surprised. Though, what I think might be the ending would be lame, I hope it's not that...
Unknown2006-02-13 23:58:23
I heard that game was funish, but I'm waiting for Kingdom Hearts II to come out. I saw a little preview in the local EB store, and I want it! I read an article about the game in a PSM, and it looks cool. You'd need to play KHCoM to get some things in it, but I gave up on my gameboy a long time ago, and now it sits in my closet, taking up mass and collecting dust... Ohh well.
Richter2006-02-14 00:07:43
Chain of memories didn't look interesting at all, it looked like a half-assed attempt to make some more money and create a spinoff. I could be wrong however.
Unknown2006-02-14 00:16:35
I wouldn't know.
Unknown2006-02-14 03:43:26
QUOTE(Richter @ Feb 13 2006, 07:07 PM) 257925

Chain of memories didn't look interesting at all, it looked like a half-assed attempt to make some more money and create a spinoff. I could be wrong however.

Chains of Memories (Which you can download and play on an emulator) DOES have story value, but Sora and co. decide to forget everything that happened in Castle Oblivion so not even he has any idea about it.

The game was a little bleh, but I'd recommend either reading a synopsis or playing it if you've played the first game and want to know how the three connect.
Sidra2006-02-14 04:00:19
Have you guys played the first game yet? Ico?

And by first game, i'm jumping back to the topic Shadows of the Colossus, which is a sequel.
Acrune2006-02-14 04:06:51
Xplay did a review of colossus, it looks neat. You might be able to find the review/video of it somewhere, I dunno.
Diamondais2006-02-14 04:13:08
Its amazingly fun and I, according to Narid, was at this really fun boss and the game froze sad.gif
I suggest to those who havent tried it yet that you eventually do because its really interesting, and Richter dont worry about going up those stairs youre not the only one who did it.
Shiri2006-02-14 04:24:26
QUOTE(Sidra @ Feb 14 2006, 04:00 AM) 257997

Have you guys played the first game yet? Ico?

And by first game, i'm jumping back to the topic Shadows of the Colossus, which is a sequel.


Oh, SotC is a sequel to ICO? I might look at it then.
Sidra2006-02-14 05:13:21
QUOTE(Shiri @ Feb 13 2006, 08:24 PM) 258001

Oh, SotC is a sequel to ICO? I might look at it then.


Yep yep.