Poll: Shadow of the Colossus -- Where do you Stand?

[The_Scrivener]

Before you snap off "masterpiece," let me explain this thread.

I have a friend who adores this game, but hasn't played it since it first came out. I have zero proof they even finished the damn thing. I digress.

While I agree that the premise of the game and most of its execution are great, I am in the camp that despises the camera and the Agro controls to the point of it being a dealbreaker. I know I missed out by not finishing. I get that the controls were supposed to feel like a real horse.

But here's the thing: when I'm literally dead if I don't get on the horse, and I press the button to get on the horse, and Wander jumps straight up like a shit-chucking ape, I don't care about how realistic the controls are supposed to be. That isn't realism. That's the game shitting the bed.

If you are of the camp that thinks this game is a divine gift--and maybe it is--please dictate the last time you played the game. And if you're on my side of this issue, let us grab a bat together and pulverize the frame rate, the camera angles, and the memory of that stupid, stupid horse.

 

[shrekfan246]

The re-release for the PS3 is slightly better, if just because the framerate is actually steady.

I don't like climbing on the horse, but especially during the few instances he's present during Colossi fights I never had problems with the controls. The camera is wonky, sure, but it's never been bad enough to kill the game for me. Having a button that centers the view right on the enemy always sorted most of my problems.

I like the way the encounters play out. Each one is a mix of puzzle-sorting and platforming and it's extremely unique. Metal Gear Rising may have some awesome boss fights, but even they're nothing compared to SotC in my opinion.

I'll admit I've never killed all of the Colossi, but I played it again just two or three days ago and it was still every bit as fun and awe-inspiring as it was when I first played it back on the PS2.

EDIT: I will grant that the control scheme itself is fairly odd and could put people off, though. It's not much of a problem for me personally, but I've wrestled my way through a fair few obtuse control layouts in my years of gaming.

 

[ShinyCharizard]

I thought it was a masterpiece. The controls were a bit iffy for sure but it never detracted too much from the game. I only played the PS2 release so I could be looking through some nostalgia goggles here though.

 

[Mikejames]

I remember frustrating moments of trying to navigate the horse around narrow terrain, but it wasn't bad enough for me not to enjoy the experience overall.

 

[scorptatious]

Shadow of the Colossus is my personal most favorite game.

That being said, I guess I can kinda agree that the controls take getting used to. Wander doesn't exactly control as smoothly as say... Bayonetta.

With Agro however, you don't actually control her, all you do is steer her and speed her up. She moves by herself. Plus, you can hold down the R1 button while jumping to get on her more easily.

Of course, the game doesn't actually explain either of those very well, so I can't blame you.

Still though, I consider Shadow of the Colossus a masterpiece, I've recently played through the game with my nephews last week, and I still think the game holds up really well.

 

[Shadowstar38]

I only ever played it when the re-release came out on PS3. It was pretty freaking good.

 

[King Billi]

I was playing this game just yesterday and I still think it's excellent.

I never played it on PS2 though and can only go off of the HD version on PS3.

I don't recall ever having much problem with the controls to the point that it actually ruined the game for me in any case. In contrast I think it holds up remarkably well even when compared with many current games.

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

With Agro however, you don't actually control her, all you do is steer her and speed her up. She moves by herself. Plus, you can hold down the R1 button while jumping to get on her more easily.

This. I don't get the complaints about the Argo controls. All you do is point Agro in the direction you want to go and he goes. It's less work and simpler than driving a car in say GTA.

I never had a problem with the controls whatsoever. One thing I remember is like jump was mapped to a button it normally isn't or something like that so you had to get used to that.

 

[BrotherRool]

I found controlling Agro really easy and fun, I enjoyed getting up to speed and never had any difficulties. And climbing the colossus, the controls worked perfectly and built up the tension. The only thing that was ever at all difficult was sometimes trying to climb onto Agro, but that's a pretty small part of the game and controls and even then, only sometimes

(It was the PS3 version that I played though)

 

[Extra-Ordinary]

I only ever played it when the re-release came out on PS3. It was pretty freaking good.

Same here.
Anyway.
I thought it was absolutely amazing. I didn't have that much of a problem with the controls but you are absolutely right about that freaking horse, although apparently some people have trouble with him and some don't.
I've never heard the excuse "he's supposed to act like a horse" but I don't buy it.
I'm usually all for the "it's supposed to be like that" concept. I thought the controls when you're on a Colossus were a little finicky but that added to it because your almost literally scaling a giant, living, lumbering mountain, navigation's going to be a little tricky, I understand that, enjoy it even.
But that horse was a bit too much.

 

[5ilver]

The camera is the true boss of the game, nuff said

 

[alphamalet]

Still my favorite game of all time and yes, I believe it is a masterpiece. The controls don't have any issues, and the camera is a nitpick (it's not that bad).

 

[TheVampwizimp_v1legacy]

You named the one issue I ever had with this game. When I want to get on Agro and instead I hop around like a complete dumbass is very frustrating. Other than that, the game is very close to flawless.

Everything else works the way it is supposed to, and the controls are only difficult in comparison to action games like DMC or something where at any moment you need to be able to pull off a humanly impossible turn and flip into a flashy counterattack. Wander isn't a superhuman, that's the point. Aside from his incredible hand strength and enormous balls, he's just like any other man. Aside from being really intelligent, Agro is just like any other horse. Accept that and don't ask the game to make you feel like Dante, and you'll have a much better time.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I haven't played it in a while, but I still consider it one of the best and most unique games ever made. I never had any problems with the controls that weren't there to add to the experience, and I don't think I ever died more than 5 times during all of my countless playthroughs.

No other game has yet to rival the sense of magintude and freedom when tackling a Boss in combat, and untill that day comes Shadow of the Colossus will never truly age.

Ofcourse the salamander, bull/tiger, and platform knocking water cow colossi are total shit regardless.

 

[Solo-Wing]

I beat the game on the PS2 and I have to say I found very few problems during it. Yeah Agro is a bit hard to control but it give the sense of riding a real horse. She is an animal. It is extremely hard to get total control over an animal. She fights back against you like a normal horse would. Do you really expect her to run right at the giant stone beast that is more then 100 times her size and is wrecking shit? Fuck no!

Also those that have not beaten all the colossi do not understand the full scope of this game. Each Colossi fight have their own feel to them and some of them really bring out emotions if you think about the fight. However the Colossus that does this strongest is the last one because of the build up to it. Seriously. Reach and beat the last colossus.

Also I want to put this because it is annoying how people do not know:

*Ahem*

[HEADING=1]AGRO IS FEMALE.[/HEADING]

Sorry. I find it mildly infuriating.

 

[GundamSentinel]

First: Shadow of the Colossus is my favorite game ever.

Second: Yes, some of the controls were a bit off and the camera can be a real nuisance. But really not deal-breaking.

Third: Why do people complain about Agro? She really is the best game horse I know. Just stop trying to drive her like a car (as in, constantly trying to correct), learn some of the advanced controls and it works like a charm.

 

[Zhukov]

I like it.

I never quite got on board with the whole "OMG, it's Art!" thing though. To me it's just a fun game where you kill some rather glum looking monsters.

Camera and controls were never a problem for me. Although I've only played the PS3 HD release, so they might have made some adjustments for the better.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I never really had any problems with the controls. Which seems to happen a lot in games with 'poor control', I dunno, maybe I just adapt very quickly, I mean, I have been playing games for more than 20 years, so that might have something to do with it.


Anyway, back on topic. SotC is definitely in my top 10 games of all time there's just nothing else like it, the music is fantastic, and with a litte HD update on the PS3, the game still looks bloody amazing.

I mean listen to this.


[HEADING=1]ARRRGH, I JUST WANNA GRIP AND CLIMB SHIT![/HEADING]