Shadow of the Colossus PlayStation 4 Pro Review

Back in 2005, Shadow of the Colossus was 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 rerelease of The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection brought this gem back with stunning HD visuals.

Now, Bluepoint Games has remastered the entire game to feature modern graphics. It proves that not only was Shadow of the Colossus ahead of its time, but also that its gameplay mechanics can stand alongside those of 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 back 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 world's overall aesthetic. 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 a living puzzle. 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 shared similar designs, no two battles were the same.

Each fight is unique, with each colossus displaying different behaviors; some are more aggressive than others, and some may act passively. What completes the entire experience is the outstanding soundtrack and story. Whether it is climbing on a colossus'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 those who've played both the PS2 and PS3 versions of the game will be disappointed with some decisions.

Shadow of the Colossus for PS4 is a remake, so 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 in areas of the Forbidden Land clearly designed 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 still caused issues, such as gripping the 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 much easier than in 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 was 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 Bluepoint's improvements on the character models made these issues less apparent.

Shadow of the Colossus on PS4 still holds up today, thanks to outstanding game design that was years ahead of its time. The soundtrack, story, and gameplay can easily be mistaken for a brand-new modern release, and those who have 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 have 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.