Shadow of the Colossus PlayStation 4 Pro Review

Back in 2005 Shadow of the Colossus released on the PlayStation 2 and is regarded as an important example of video games as art. Its minimalist landscape designs, immersive gameplay and emotional journey enthralled gamers and the rereleased of The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection brought this gem back with stunning HD visuals. Now Bluepoint Games have completed remastered the entire game to feature modern graphics. It proves that not only was Shadow of the Colossus ahead of its time but features gameplay mechanics that can stand alongside modern video game releases.

Shadow of the Colossus doesn't star a hero, in fact, some may call the protagonist a villain. Named Wander this lone nomad has traveled to the Forbidden Land with his trusted horse Argo, a stolen sword, worn bow, and the body of his love Mono. After learning the rumors of a god capable of bringing the dead by to life Wander finds the deity and makes a deal with an ancient god named Dormin. Kill 16 colossi throughout the Forbidden Land and Mono will be revived.

The minimalist design of Shadow of the Colossus means you won't find any hidden dungeons, optional bosses, or towns of any kind. This land is completely barren with the exception of small creatures and the colossi. This may seem like an issue but it adds to the overall aesthetic of the world around you. This land is forbidden, with only one way in or out and for good reason. The giant monsters that inhabit this land can only be killed by one weapon and are extremely dangerous.

Each of the 16 colossi acts as living puzzles. Designed with specific weak points and tactics to expose them, fighting each one requires timing and strategy. Weak points are exposed with glowing symbols that can be located by shining your sword and if you find yourself lost Dormin will provide tips on how to take each creature down. While some colossi share similar designs not a single battle was the same. Each fight is unique with each colossi displaying different behaviors, some are more aggressive than others some may act passively.

What completes the entire experience is the outstanding soundtrack and story. Whether is climbing on a colossi's back or riding into battle with your horse Agro the original score perfectly captures the mood. The story, while simple, invokes a series of emotionally touching scenes as you get closer to your goal. However, this is still a remake and for those who've played both the PS2 and PS3 versions of the game will be disappointed with some decisions.

Shadow of the Colossus PS4 is a remake, which means it doesn't feature any new content. Those hoping to face off against cut colossi such as Monkey or Phoenix will be disappointed. This was a huge missed opportunity to provide content within areas of the Forbidden Land that were clearly made for fights.

In the PS2 version of the game, graphical hiccups would plague the overall gameplay. The framerate would stutter, especially in battle. The PS3 version fixed many of the problems but the textures would still cause problems such as gripping onto wrong parts of the colossi. Thankfully, these problems are not present in the PS4 version.

The improved animations of the colossi and Wander made playing a lot easier than the previous versions. In both the PS2 and PS3 versions of the game gripping onto weak points that were close to the edge of the colossi were incredibly vexing since Wander would grip onto the rocky skin instead of the hair covered skin. This was especially problematic in battles against Avion and Hydrus but Bluepoints improvements on the character models made these issues less apparent.

Shadow of the Colossus PS4 still holds up today thanks to outstanding game design years ahead of its time. The soundtrack, story, and gameplay can easier be mistaken for a brand new modern release and those who never played the game should add this to their PlayStation 4 library. It's an emotionally charged tale full of memorable moments that you'll remember for years. Those who already experienced the adventure on the PS2 and PS3 may be disappointed that the cut colossi will remain vaporware but the core journey remains strong nevertheless. Shadow of the Colossus PS4 is a modern take on one of the best games ever made, and one that no PlayStation 4 owner should miss. 

Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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