Ico...

Alright everyone, consider this the follow up to my last post called "pure magic". I just finished Ico on the PS2 and I am practically speechless. First, let me say "Thank you David for praising this game so much that it convinced me to go back and re-purchase it. It took some searching and some bidding (via ebay) on my part but I finally found a NEW copy and picked it up. The game is one of those games that may not seem like much at first but if you give it a chance, it can be one of the most memorable gaming experiences out there. So here it is...

The story of Ico is really quite simple and resembles a timeless fairytale. You play as a young boy who is banished or sacrificed by his village because he was born with horns. The reasons for his entombment and the reason why he was born with horns are never really revealed which is the one big disappointment about the story. Upon freeing yourself from your tomb (via some amazing luck), you stumble across a young girl who speaks a different language and attempt to escape from this massive castle full of puzzles. The enemies are shadow monsters that emerge everyonce in awhile and try to drag the girl into their portals. The main focus of the gameplay is on solving the puzzles and this aspect is really quite addicting. The puzzles are very unique and it never seems really repetitive. While there are some points in the game where you may become confused or stuck, these are usually overcome in a matter of minutes and never really manage to detract from the fun. The castle and environments are huge and beautiful. The sun shines through windows and onto lush gardens where small birds poke around before flying away as you approach them. The level of detail is amazing, especially considering that this game is several years old. The last thing I wanted to mention was the music. The music and sound effects are top notch and really create some great ambiance. If you played Shadow of the Colossus (which was the spiritual successor to Ico) then you have a general understanding and familiarity with the way that music and beautful environments are used to create a memorable experience. Unfortunately, Ico didnt get as much attention as Shadow of the Colossus so many gamers overlooked this title. This game is simply breathtaking and can be easily completed in a weekend. If you have the oppurtunity, please check this game out and give it the chance it deserves. I promise you won't regret it. Peace!