Shadow of the Colossus

The development team responsible for one of the most artistically impressive games in 2001 brings us Shadow of the Colossus, a potentially landmark achievement for the current generation of software. How did it turn out?

	Version PS2	Developer SCEI	Publisher SCE	Genre Action/Adventure

By Ben S. Dutka

One of the first PS2 titles to have a significant impact was ICO; released with minimal fanfare and an almost non-existent advertising campaign. However, it quickly captured the hearts of critics and gamers alike, presenting us with a unique puzzle-based adventure game with splashes of platforming and action. Although short, fans immediately began clamoring for a sequel, a wish partially granted with Shadow of the Colossus.

Initially named "Wanda and the Colossus," the game was designed to include tidbits of the ICO storyline, and while not necessarily a complete sequel, fans of ICO will immediately find themselves in familiar territory. A sweeping and majestic effort, Colossus welcomes you to a surreal world of massive and intimidating beasts, and ushers you into a completely original gaming experience. It envelopes you, surrounds you, engages you, and ultimately satisfies you.

There are several points to consider when evaluating the graphics. Firstly, we can examine the technical aspects of the visuals, which do have several issues. Colossus represents an intriguing - albeit somewhat bizarre - graphical dichotomy, in that there is a lack of focus, diverse color, and defined clarity combined with outstanding detail. The Colossi are the true core of the game, so it stands to reason they are the most accomplished pieces of art in the game. Beautifully presented and meticulously designed, you may find yourself staring in awe for quite some time.

Given the dreamlike setting, the washed-out appearance of the world is probably intentional, and the greens and browns come together to create a precisely planned palette. On the other hand, there is a bit of clipping and the overall technicals aren't nearly as refined as something like God of War or Ninja Gaiden. It's a trade-off for the sake of artistry and gives the game a heavy dose of distinct personality; a trade-off that follows the theme of the game itself. Therefore, it's more than acceptable, and all in all, you're not likely to see much better on the PS2.

When it comes to music and sound effects, Colossus excels in ways few games have in the past. The heavy and downright frightening crash of a giant foot remains bold and crystal clear throughout, and the epic orchestral tracks keep you entranced for the duration of the battle. As is the case with the gameplay, there isn't much outside the Colossi encounters themselves, but again, they are the focus and require this level of attention.

A little extra effort for differently styled tracks would've been appreciated; although the beautiful symphonic pieces do their job nicely, you will find yourself hearing the same track for Colossus 14 as you heard for Colossus 2. In the end, though, the quality of the game's sound is second to none. If all developers continue to express their musical ability in this fashion, future games are going to be a real treat.

When you begin the game, you lay a girl - clearly dead - on a pedestal in a remote temple. A deep voice from above informs you that if you wish to bring her back, there is a power that makes the dream a possibility. It is forbidden, you are being chased, and failure will mean the loss of everything, including your very soul. As a brave and grief-stricken adventurer, you set out to claim that power with nothing but your special sword, trusty bow, and one loyal companion, Agro the horse.

You must tackle each battle one at a time; when you defeat one, the divine voice points you in the direction of the next foe. While the game provides you with a world map, your direction actually comes from the sword. By holding it up to the sunlight, the weapon gathers the beams, and you must find the spot where they come together into a piercing beam of light. The pad will rumble and you will follow that beam like an arrow. However, it only points to the final destination; getting there is up to you, and it can require a great deal of trial-and-error exploration.

Along the way, you will notice the landscape includes windswept plains, great chasms, churning rivers, dense forests, barren wastelands of sand, mysterious caves, soaring mountainous peaks, and even lost cities reminiscent of ancient Greece. You may also notice that besides a few birds and lizards, you are the only living creature for miles and miles. Combined with the low-key and slightly off-focus coloring, you will occasionally feel quite lonely out there in the wild. But again, perhaps SCEI was going for this.

As mentioned before, the central theme of the game revolves around the 16 Colossi battles you must face...and that's when things get awfully intriguing. Firstly, your character isn't ripped out like the Hulk, his sword skills are rudimentary at best, he doesn't have the wisdom and skills of a powerful sorcerer, and to top it all off, he's a bit of a spaz. He runs and swims a little funny, he trips over raised ledges while running, and he simply doesn't come across as the most coordinated individual. You figure all this out relatively quickly, so when you face a massive Colossus, 100 times your size, you're forced to wonder: how the hell am I supposed to do this?

The crux of the whole matter lies in the fact that the game is half puzzle, half action. Each Colossus represents a unique problem, and you must solve the problem by finding and exploiting their weaknesses. Actually getting on one of these mammoths is stumbling block #1; you can hang and climb on fur and armored ledges, but you can't just haul your way up smooth metal. Except for the first Colossus, none allow you to simply grab on from the ground, all require you to do some work before you're allowed access to the lumbering beast. Maybe you have to shoot a vital spot with your bow to get him to kneel or partially fall, maybe you have to get to higher ground, or maybe you just have to be clever.

Once you're on, it's all about hanging on and finding the vital spots. By shining the sunlight on a Colossus - generally done before clambering on - you can find these spots, and make them your target(s). Most Colossi have more than one, and you've got to get there, charge up your stab, and drive the sword in. They don't like being stabbed, by the way, so be prepared to hang on while he flails wildly to toss you off. Once their health is gone, they're done. Sounds simple, yes?

Fortunately, this process is so unbelievably unique and eminently designed that you will find yourself grinning from ear to ear as you attempt each colossal (pun intended) puzzle. Defeating each one provides the gamer with a solid sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, the likes of which rarely experienced. You have conquered the impossible, and only with the benefit of a few simple weapons, Agro, and the uncanny ability to survive after very, very long falls. Death doesn't normally threaten you; it's the puzzle, the Colossus itself, that presents the real challenge.

Stamina is a major concern, as your character can only hold on for so long. Losing your grip and falling from such crazy heights is not only dangerous, it's completely demoralizing, especially considering the amount of effort you likely used just to get on him. Therefore, the game requires you to use a bit of strategy; finding and stabbing that vital spot is great, but many times, you may not have the necessary stamina to hang on and finish the job. Bottom line- defeating a Colossus on the first try is rare.

On the downside, the controls are a touch ungainly and the camera can be a major concern. Still, a project like this has never been attempted, and if you consider this, the fact that the camera is even functional at all is amazing. There's an auto-center "default" setting that turns the camera back behind your character, and while this is helpful, it can cause problems when on a Colossus. The game allows you to hit L1 that "focuses on a Colossus," and if this is the case, the auto-centering camera should've been discarded when climbing around on a Colossus; this way, you wouldn't be battling the camera for placement nearly as much.

Still, all the pieces, positive or negative, fall into place nearly flawlessly for the execution of a Colossus takedown. It will take some learning, but once you have the controls down, you can focus on the puzzle itself and revel in its astonishing originality and unique challenge. Without a doubt, you've never seen anything like this before, and you won't likely see it again (unless SCEI works on a direct sequel). Upon completion, many of its failings are forgiven.

Some games rely on depth to drive the gameplay forward; in Colossus, the various Colossi battles represent 95% of all depth in the entire game. Beyond the battles, there are some lizard tails to eat to boost stamina, some fruits from trees to boost health, and a few save spots. Other than that, there isn't much to talk about. However, there are 16 items to be earned by defeating Colossi in the Normal and Hard Time Attack modes, unlocked by beating the game, so there are extras. They're just not a main draw.

When one steps back and examines the presentation of Colossus, one realizes that SCEI has created something truly special. It doesn't have the flashiest graphics, the most insane and hectic action, or the most engaging story. In fact, besides the surprisingly fantastic ending, there is barely a cohesive plot in the first place, although fans of ICO will immediately spot the story extension. But what it does have is an undeniable sense of style, achieved when you combine the awe-inspiring Colossi with the vast and surreal landscape. In short, it doesn't get much better.

Overall, Shadow of the Colossus perfectly embodies the statement, "greater than the sum of its parts." It will take about 12-15 hours to complete, provided you don't cheat and have a walkthrough by your side, and that's an agreeable length. It's difficult to convey the experience earned by completing the game, and even more difficult to convey how well everything comes together, despite the shortcomings. The only way for someone to truly understand the universal allure of this gem is for them to play it, and without any hesitation, I can say there isn't a more innovative and ingenious game available. A must-try, a must-buy.