The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection Review

The developers at Team Ico have been notorious for developing games that incite rare feelings as you tackle seemingly impossible odds. With the release of The Ico & Shadow of Colossus collection players will be able to revisit or for the first time explore the forbidden land and the Queen’s castle in HD quality.

Both titles were originally released on the PlayStation 2. Ico was released in 2001, and Shadow of the Colossus was released in 2005, and now both games have been given HD visuals, trophies, and are on one Blu-ray disc.  Both Shadow of the Colossus and Ico highlight strong companionships, a vivid soundtrack, and intense battles to show how we can feel and connect more as we play.

If you wonder if games can be considered art, then play this collection, and you’ll have your answer.

Both titles place you in a third-person perspective with a limited amount of tools and abilities. In Ico, players take control of a young boy named Ico, who has been sentenced to imprisonment by religious figures in a seemingly barren castle because of his cursed horns.

After an unexpected earthquake frees him from his cell, Ico attempts to escape but comes across a girl in a cage named Yorda. This young, delicate girl is hunted by shadowy figures and has no way to defend herself. Ico’s acrobatics and combat ability, combined with Yorda’s talent for unlocking special doors, enable the two to struggle to escape the castle walls and the evil that hunts them. 

Shadow of the Colossus is a prequel to Ico and showcases how Ico’s cruel fate came to fruition. In Shadow of the Colossus, you take control of another boy named Wander who travels to a forbidden land with nothing but a sword, bow, and his trustworthy steed in order to reverse a ritual that cost the death of his beloved, Mono. Mono was predicted to be part of a cruel destiny and was thereby sacrificed.

Unwilling to accept this Wander steals an ancient sword and speaks a dark deity capable of resurrecting her and agrees to do it if Wander eliminates 16 Colossi that inhabits the forbidden land.

Both titles play very differently. In Ico, you’ll traverse the castle to solve puzzles and protect Yorda from being captured. You’ll use an array of basic platforming skills and melee combat to solve environmental puzzles and escort Yorda while ensuring her safety.

Ico's gameplay isn’t particularly impressive, as the puzzles are simple and the combat revolves around tapping the attack button in every fight, except the final boss. The setting is what makes Ico an incredible game: traveling throughout the castle with Yorda in hand, attempting to overcome impossible odds, is truly a moving tale.

Unfortunately, not everything in Ico has improved, such as Yorda's AI.

You will still have her repeating the same frustrating movements, such as running around ladders. It is understandable that her movement is limited, but certain advancements would have been welcomed additions. However, since this is based on a later release of the game, players can unlock a two-player mode and have access to special translations for Yorda.

While Ico is good, Shadow of the Colossus is incredible. Exploring the forbidden lands of Shadow of Colossus showcases an interesting yet lonely freedom. As you shine your sword into the sun to locate the next Colossi, it is clear that this land was once inhabited, but now simply crumbles under Mother Nature’s wrath.

Each Colossus is a living puzzle that requires you to use the environment, Agro, and certain weaknesses in order to locate highlighted portions of the creature and plunge your sword into it. These are some of the most intense and memorable boss fights you’ll experience, whether it is a big or small Colossi.

It is strange that a quick travel system wasn’t implemented, though.

I understand traveling throughout the forbidden land is a significant element in Shadow of the Colossus, but the ability to warp back to the temple of origin would have been a wise choice. A lot of vexation will come from controlling Wander as he is prone to falling down, but after a few hours, you will be able to understand how to control the clumsy warrior.

Both titles benefit from the HD visuals, especially Shadow of the Colossus. Every Colossus you encounter, and every new area you explore, has been refined and polished to new standards.

In Ico, the setting shows a similar glow, but small details like Ico’s white stick-like pants and Yorda’s usually bright skin definitely showcase the game's age. Team Ico should be commended for ensuring that their remake wasn’t simply a rehash, but was diligently refined with improved graphics for a better framerate.

The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus collection showcases how games can be more than forms of entertainment; they can be art forms. Although these classics are dated and don’t incite the same feelings when I first played them, they were nevertheless captivating adventures. The improved visuals, framerate, and trophies make it appealing to those seeking to revisit these ventures.

And those seeking to complete all the trophies in the game will require multiple playthroughs in each title. It’s not the gameplay that made these games great, but the atmospheric setting, moving soundtrack, and intense story that make these titles incredible additions to any library.