Gaming Cookies For You: Battling Giants
System: PlayStation 2
ESRB Rating: T (for Teen)
Once again returning to a world of fantastical creatures, undying love, and everlasting companionship, game developers Team Ico brought the world Shadow of the Colossus in October 2005. Having clawed their way into the gaming world with the puzzle RPG hit Ico in 2001, the cult hit left gamers around the world begging for more. With haunting musical scores, vast lands to explore, and an intriguingly small cast of complex characters, Shadow of the Colossus creators Fumito Ueda and Kenji Kaido weave together a fantasy tale that deserves a place in every gaming collection.
Transporting the gamers to a time of fantasy and magic, the plot leaves very little information to be told. Rather than delve players into a vast storyline to be explained, individuals are introduced to a simple cast of one main character and four supporting roles. Taking on the adventure of a young man simply named Wander, the main protagonist soon embarks on the game’s only objective: to take down sixteen gigantic beasts known as Colossi roaming through the empty landscape. Wander’s only ally is a black horse by the name of Agro who assists in getting the main character around the beautiful landscape.
With such a small cast of characters, players new to the world of Shadow of the Colossus will be able to focus on the storyline without getting confused. While some hints throughout the game tie into the previous game Ico, gaming veterans familiar to the works of Ueda and Kaido will be able to appreciate the subtle links to the spiritual predecessor. With Shadow of the Colossus being presented on a PlayStation 2 platform, the vast landscape and artwork of the games sadly seem meshed together and do not stand out. With monotone colors and bright glares present throughout the game, the clouding of the screen sometimes hinders the overall experience and tension of fighting the bosses. However, with no loading times present throughout the game, players will most likely push the small annoyance to the back of their mind quickly.
One of the most beautiful and independent features of the games is the sense of awe and tension players get in the first opening cinematic of encountering the first colossi. With the thunderous footsteps slowly edging toward the main protagonist, directors Ueda and Kaido deserve tremendous credit for revealing the beasts players will soon become familiar with. As the elements of the boss fights come into play, the strategies that once worked on the previous colossi become obsolete and players are faced with a once again blank slate of attack. Analytical thinking and keen observations are key to survival and what may seem like a humongous boss soon becomes an intense fight. While the time of each boss fight is vast and different, players will spend a good ten to fifteen hours wandering around the barren world battling all of the colossi.
Another shining example of the gameplay revolves around the musical compositions of Shadow of the Colossus. With music written and composed by Ko Otani, the transitions of scores from tunes picking at the gamers mind to wonder what civilization once inhabited the world to shaking hands of clutching the controller to get away from the oncoming dangers is amazing. Held as “Game Soundtrack of the Year” by Electronic Gaming Monthly, players are soon immersed in conveyed musical compositions of beautiful harps to full blown orchestra combinations sounding off the music of battle. Heavily complimenting the moments of the game, players soon become immersed in the beautiful symphonies of Shadow of the Colossus.
Though game play is short, the overall experience of the fantasy game is nothing short of amazing. Shadow of the Colossus does not fail to impress on almost every level possible and leaves gamers craving for more. With the promise of a future game dangled in front of eager individuals around the world, the tantalizing news of a possible sequel looms on the horizon. Shadow of the Colossus mixes art with gaming in a whole new experience of awe and the price of hunting down this shining example of role playing should not be missed.
Overall Rating: 10 out of 10
Short URL: http://www.themountaineer.org/?p=477
Posted by Jackie Steponaitis
on Apr 1, 2009 Filed under Entertainments.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
