Shadow of the Colossus...meh

[Heart of Darkness]

I think this question seems relevant to the thread. Where do you draw the line between a world so empty that it symbolically represents loneliness and desolation and a world so empty which means the developers got lazy?

Just above where SotC falls on that scale for me. If that big, empty world was supposed to invoke loneliness, it failed; all it made me feel was bored. A lonely world should still be full of life, or, at the very least, something larger than a turtle. I mean, deer would have been nice for this game--the world is still alive, but you're still the only human here. And the developers could have done so much more if they did put more animals in there; have the deer or rabbits or whatever not mind the hero on foot early on in the game, but increasingly become more scared of him as the game progresses.

An alternative to that would be to make the world actually more involving, and actually show that someone actually lived there a long time ago rather than just slapping ruins down wherever the hell you feel like putting them. Fabrics, ceramics, maybe the occasional tool, paintings on caves--having a reminder that people actually lived here once is a good way to instill loneliness, as it creates a much more involving atmosphere.

Just simply creating a large, open world isn't enough. You also need to make it memorable.

 

[SideburnsPuppy]

I too bought the game after hearing not a word against it and after much dismay at seeing it look like shit on an HD tv

If you run it on a component cable (I got one for 8 bucks on eBay with free shipping) with ProgressiveScan it looks much better.

But yeah, sorry about your losing money. However, you can search for "Heart Containers" (it gets easier if you play Time Attack mode) in the overworld, so there's some exploring fun to be had, but that's still a pretty low incentive. I also think the Dormin hints should have been a bit more frequent and...relevant.

However, I absolutely loved the horseback riding mechanics. I hear people complaining about them all the time, when the only complaint I had was the extreme difficulty of horseback archery, which is hard in real life. Would you mind telling me exactly what it was that turned you off? I've always kind of wondered what the issue was.

I also loved the platforming mechanics. It reminded me of 1213 or the original Prince of Persia, and #14 was by far my favourite battle. I guess everything that was turning you off was a strong point for me! I always kind of found it funny how that works.

So yeah, the game is fundamentally flawed, but it made me personally feel something, so it gets a pass from me. Then again, I'm incredibly easy to touch. (I have never, in my life, watched Bambi from start to finish.)

OMG FINAL POINT! I love the avatar. It's good to see there are still Unforgotten Realms fans around, as whenever I've seen a "What happened to UR?" thread, the majority of replies seem to have been "Good riddance!"

 

[run_forrest_run]

Would you believe that I've never played this game. It's just that I don't trust Ebay and it costs a hell of a lot if you can find it elsewhere. I kinda know what happens which is going to take away the emotional impact if they release a team Ico collection which I will definitely buy.

 

[The Austin]

Sorry to hear that you didn't like it.
I haven't had the privilege of trying the game myself, so I don't know what it's like, but I have heard good things about it. It's strange that the game missed you.

 

[PrototypeC]

I think what you say has a lot of merit... I mean, while it's still one of my absolute favourite games, it was also the biggest disappointment for me in many ways...

There's that terrible fact that anywhere interesting to climb and jump and explore on is going to be a place where you'll fight a Colossus, and after that half the damn place will be collapsed and therefore no longer fun (or, you can only get to some places as part of the solution to kill them).

After the Colossi are dead and you see the fairly satisfying ending (I guess) then you can do it again on Hard (which is fun) and Time Attack mode (which is AGONIZING). Time Attack mode gives you some pointless toys to play with, one or two of which I wish could have been used in the actual game.

Anyway, besides wishing that the platforming could be used again in a different game because I liked it so much, it's the story that keeps me coming back. It may sound stupid, but it really is a thinking man's game. There are no answers included so you have to figure out the story with what you've got. Why does the main character and Lord Emon's tabard both have the same pattern? What is the significance of the sword? What were these ruins once used for? How the hell did the bugger survive that fall?! These are questions that give me plenty to consider while I play the game.

 

[The Fat Captain]

So, am I the only person who thinks that SotC is a bad game artistically? I honestly think it tells a lot about how bad gaming is at the moment that this shallow tripe is considered 'art'.

I hate it when I say I don't like the game and the response is always 'WELL U PLAY 2 MANY HALOZ!!!!' or 'Well you are just too stoopid to get it unlike me I am so clever because I like this game' or 'it is artistic and therefore subjective'.

But if I ever ask for any reasoning behind labelling it as art, no one seems to be able to give me an answer. They just regurgitate these replies without thinking. No one knows why the game is artistic, they just look at it and assume it is.


WARNING WALL OF TEXT WARNING!

Art consists of more than being pretty. Someone mentioned that the character gets dirtier and paler the further you go, and that this represents his corruption. Why is he becoming corrupted? Well because he's killing innocent gigantic monsters, of course! But again, why? Oh right, he's killing them to save his lover. Who is his lover? Um . . . Why does he think murder will bring her back? Let's see. . . Why the hell does everyone love that bloody horse so much? He doesn't really do anything except transport you from one meaningless fight to another, there is no other interaction with him. Is everyone except me secretly a horse fetishist? There is no reason for any of these things. They just happen.

Same with the scenery. People go on and on about how deep and isolated and meaningful the broken world is. But what does the broken world represent? Why is it broken? It represents itself, and it's broken because it is. That's all. Same with the monsters, they're just monsters, nothing more.

This is because nothing in the game symbolises anything that's outside the scope of the game. Real art reflects reality, it shows us what's wrong, or what's good, or even just what the artist feels, about the world around us and ourselves as people, alternatively, it can takes our reality and show it to us in a different light. SotC symbolises only things that are in SotC, and it's pointless because of it. And don't tell me that art is subjective and that you can say whatever you want is art, because that's stupid and you are wrong but is a entirely different discussion.

Also I think it's hilarious that some people are saying that it's a 'feminist' game. Because only girlies and girly men have feelings can truly appreciate Reel Ert.

TL;DR: Saying SotC is art is like saying a Christmas decoration is on par with Picasso.

 

[Breaker deGodot]

Have you beat the game yet? It's one of my favorite games, but I thought it was only good, not great. That changed with the last few cutscenes, and the the last battle. Damn, that was epic.

 

[Breaker deGodot]

It's meant to be art. Art is subjective, and therefore it is likely for the game to be hit or miss for most people.

Good job killing off the entire species, though. You monster.

Wait, I've never played this game, could you beat the game without killing all of the colossi?

And as somebody above me said, congratulations on your opinion!

No, you couldn't the game forces you to do it, which makes it even more depressing when you do it, and find out the truth.

 

[Legion IV]

You are probably spending too much time with space marines dude. xD

Yes because if you dont absolutley love this prentencious artsy game then you must only play games with space marines. Logic? whats that!?

OP: i kinda felt the same way my friend made me play it and just eh. I can see why people like it though.

 

[Mrkittycat]

Rented that game on ma PS2 baack in the day. I was confused, no little enemies, no hard platforming, nothing. Only big bosses. I felt like somone released a half made game.

 

[Arionis]

One of my favorite games.

Wouldn't mind having another copy on hand.

Since you seem to not like yours, why not give it away?

 

[MMETEORAGA1994]

I love Shadow of the Colossus and what you dislike about it is exactly what I found beautiful about the game. That sucks man, I mean for you, cuz it really is a great game. But you obviously can't force yourself to like it if you don't

 

[The Fat Captain]

No, you couldn't the game forces you to do it, which makes it even more depressing when you do it, and find out the truth.

That's another I didn't like. You are forced to do everything that you do. It's not just that it's linear, but there's only one way to do everything. It never takes advantage of the medium it's in.

 

[Breaker deGodot]

No, you couldn't the game forces you to do it, which makes it even more depressing when you do it, and find out the truth.

That's another I didn't like. You are forced to do everything that you do. It's not just that it's linear, but there's only one way to do everything. It never takes advantage of the medium it's in.

Well, then what WOULD you like to be able to do in the game?

 

[Anticitizen_Two]

I am getting so tired of these threads. Not liking something most people like does not make you special. If you don't like the game, fine. Don't play it. But you don't need to tell everyone on the Escapist about it.

 

[The Fat Captain]

Well, then what WOULD you like to be able to do in the game?

I don't know. Like I said, it's not that it's linear, but you have to kill the Colossuseseses in the same way every time you play. Some alternate attack plans or strategies or even a bigger weapon selection or something. Just anything to make it feel less like you're basically watching a movie and pressing buttons sometimes.

 

[MatsVS]

So, am I the only person who thinks that SotC is a bad game artistically? I honestly think it tells a lot about how bad gaming is at the moment that this shallow tripe is considered 'art'.

I hate it when I say I don't like the game and the response is always 'WELL U PLAY 2 MANY HALOZ!!!!' or 'Well you are just too stoopid to get it unlike me I am so clever because I like this game' or 'it is artistic and therefore subjective'.

But if I ever ask for any reasoning behind labelling it as art, no one seems to be able to give me an answer. They just regurgitate these replies without thinking. No one knows why the game is artistic, they just look at it and assume it is.


WARNING WALL OF TEXT WARNING!

Art consists of more than being pretty. Someone mentioned that the character gets dirtier and paler the further you go, and that this represents his corruption. Why is he becoming corrupted? Well because he's killing innocent gigantic monsters, of course! But again, why? Oh right, he's killing them to save his lover. Who is his lover? Um . . . Why does he think murder will bring her back? Let's see. . . Why the hell does everyone love that bloody horse so much? He doesn't really do anything except transport you from one meaningless fight to another, there is no other interaction with him. Is everyone except me secretly a horse fetishist? There is no reason for any of these things. They just happen.

Same with the scenery. People go on and on about how deep and isolated and meaningful the broken world is. But what does the broken world represent? Why is it broken? It represents itself, and it's broken because it is. That's all. Same with the monsters, they're just monsters, nothing more.

This is because nothing in the game symbolises anything that's outside the scope of the game. Real art reflects reality, it shows us what's wrong, or what's good, or even just what the artist feels, about the world around us and ourselves as people, alternatively, it can takes our reality and show it to us in a different light. SotC symbolises only things that are in SotC, and it's pointless because of it. And don't tell me that art is subjective and that you can say whatever you want is art, because that's stupid and you are wrong but is a entirely different discussion.

Also I think it's hilarious that some people are saying that it's a 'feminist' game. Because only girlies and girly men have feelings can truly appreciate Reel Ert.

TL;DR: Saying SotC is art is like saying a Christmas decoration is on par with Picasso.

You make an attempt at eloquence, but it still rings hollow. At the end, you're still just complaining that not everything is explained to you. Leaving these questions open to interpretation is a great part of the appeal. Having the mysteries of the world spelled out would lessen the impact for anyone who put any thought into it. And the idea that all art needs to reflect "the real world" (read: society) is faulty as well. In fact, I'd argue that the art which is introspective, which SotC is, is often the more powerful.

Kudos for not mixing the anti-intellectualism in there, though. That is a symptom which rears its ugly head faaaaar too often 'round these parts.

 

[FinalHeart95]

To be honest, I'm surprised there aren't more people that complain about it. I would think there would be a lot of people who don't like the fact that you only fight bosses. Maybe the originality earns it enough respect points that no one complains?

I liked it, but I can see why you didn't. The narrative, when there, was very good I think. The problem was that it wasn't necessarily the driving point.