Why is Shadow of Colossus held in such high regard?

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lordvader77

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Monshroud said:
I played it about two or so years ago (I am really behind on my gaming) and I didn't see what all the praise was about. Last night I had a conversation with some friends about it and they thought I was nuts for thinking the game was just somewhat average. They seem to think the game is this epic adventure and I am an idiot for not seeing it.

ya i'd agree to that. Shadow of the colossus is a different kind of game. its not an rpg, but not really a sandbox much either. its an epic, yet simple, quest to save who u love by killing giant monsters. instead of dozens of enemies scattered everywhere, there are only, what is it, 16 i wanna say (correct me if i'm wrong). and more than that, u have to find them, which can be a challenge in and of itself. and each one has the same concept, but a different strategy, leading to a number of epic conversations about how u did it, ie "Oh man do you remember the flying one?! or the underwater one?!", etc. and yes, the ending and story overall was something to be desired, but its not about that really. overall, it was a fun game even to watch, and if u don't feel the same i'm going to jam a spike through your heart and roast u on a spit.

i mean, respect your opinion.
 

Capo Taco

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In artistic games, like artistic paintings, you fill some of the emptyness with yourself. This means that if you play it again at a different point in your life you will have a different experience.
 

irrelevantnugget

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Aby_Z said:
The reason the story of Shadow of the Colossus is so amazing is in the fact that it has literally just above no story. It allows you to fill in most of the blanks with your own from the clues presented. The puzzles are great and gave this game some terrific replayability (and I HATE replaying games, re watching movies, and re reading books.)

Really, though, the only thing I have to say is one sentence.

This game nearly made me cry for a horse.

'Nuff said.

Edit*
Evilbunny said:
You're supposed to fill in those blanks for yourself, but really it is unimportant to the game's overall message. The game is about learning to let go. All throughout the game, you are trained to find something on the colossus, and hold on to that R1 button for dear life, to not let go, no matter what happened. Wanderer can't let go you see, that's why he's there. He cannot move on from this girl's death, whoever she is. The end is supposed to be the resolution to that. You are desperately trying to reach mono, even with the winds pulling you back. You see some stairs there, and you do what the game has trained you to do since your adventure began, to find something to hold on to, and not let go. You hang on for a while, but then you realize something. There is no point. You can't hold on forever, and even if you could you can't advance from that point. You're just stopping yourself from moving on. So, in a moment of clarity, you, and wanderer too, learn to do something neither of you could do until that point. You let go. You let yourself fall, and are hence reborn as a new person.
I don't think I ever got that. I'm amazed... Thank you for you insight. That gives so much more meaning to the game all over again for me...
Saw the same explanation on a random 4chan thread, months ago. It pretty much blew my mind. Not much later, I just bought a second-hand PS2, bought SotC and played it through myself.

To be honest, it's one of my fav games... but it's not THAT good either. It's somewhat flawed (pretty short, only replayability is time attack), but altogether it's still impressive as a game, or as whatever you want to see it.
 

KiLl_RoY

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Jul 11, 2009
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dude.. YOU RIDE A GIGANTIC BIRD

and not only that, the colosuus where so fine detailed that you could try on them from several ways...if you were pacient
 

shadowyoasis

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The game has the problem that if you play it now, you loose on a lot of the innovation it had. Though the game is unique enough that it doesn't fall as much into the problem as others do.

SotC did something that no game really managed to accomplish before it, sense of scale.

like others said before you were meant to feel lost, alone, in a forbidden land up against mystical creatures who were many many times your size

Massive bosses in previous games did not really give you a true sense of their massive size, but in Colusses its quite the other way around.
 

GloatingSwine

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Because of who made it.

I never got into Shadow of the Colossus, despite loving Ico massively, it just felt a bit dead and hollow.
 

Affero-Dolor

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Aug 17, 2009
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I think it's amazing because the developer didn't try and do too much (also known as Molyneauxitis). They saw a potential for a big, explansive, beautiful world, and very basic gameplay, perfected. Now they're bringing out The Last Guardian which looks even more beautiful and seems like it's going to be another epic. I am glad there are still companies like team ICO around today.
 

Danzaivar

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Well it's meant to be art, so you see in it what you want to see. Or your view of it might be totally different to someone elses and you both feel like you got totally different messages from the game.

That poster who made the link with letting go gave a truly sublime example of this.

[Edit: And on identifying with your character, you're told he's stolen from his village and gone into forbidden lands. You see the monsters he fights and what he does to himself just to bring this girl back. That says more about him than some line saying "I really hope I can do this, I love too much for her to stay dead!" - the best words are the ones never spoken, etc etc]
 

Axle_Bullitt_19

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Monshroud said:
Penny Arcade will answer this question.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/3/19/
The reason the world was so devoid of life because the damn Colossi took up to much space on the disc and lift very little room to put anything else in the game. Now remake that game for the PS3 and it will be livelier. The PS2 was what made that game mediocore. It could just bearly handle that game.
 

FinalGamer

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I love it because of its beautiful presentation in terms of the atmosphere. The subtlety of Wander's deteriorating state, the surprising intelligence of Agro I eventually warmed up to the point of best friend, the orchestral soundtrack blaring such passion into the world and the strangely devoid yet beautiful landscape.

The plot may be shallow with only one surprising twist and the length may be short game-wise usually, but it's all about the presentation.
 

Jonesy911

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The game is brilliant, It's the kind of very rare game that doesn't require taste, no matter what kind of game you like e.g. RPG, Adventure, Shooter, Rape simulator etc. you should enjoy. If you don't like it then its a failure of your brain.
 

Jonesy911

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AXLE_BULLITT_19 said:
Monshroud said:
Penny Arcade will answer this question.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/3/19/
The reason the world was so devoid of life because the damn Colossi took up to much space on the disc and lift very little room to put anything else in the game. Now remake that game for the PS3 and it will be livelier. The PS2 was what made that game mediocore. It could just bearly handle that game.
Isn't that comic strip about God of War 2?
 

WorldCritic

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I praise the game for being unique and interesting, but I feel like there should have been more than just killing giant monsters. I'm used to games that have good stories and this one while you can make several guesses at it, is vague at best. I suppose it comes down to what you're in to.
 

Axle_Bullitt_19

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Jonesy911 said:
AXLE_BULLITT_19 said:
Monshroud said:
Penny Arcade will answer this question.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/3/19/
The reason the world was so devoid of life because the damn Colossi took up to much space on the disc and lift very little room to put anything else in the game. Now remake that game for the PS3 and it will be livelier. The PS2 was what made that game mediocore. It could just bearly handle that game.
Isn't that comic strip about God of War 2?
Ah no, They are calling God of War a joke in comparison to SOTC.
 

Halo Fanboy

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AXLE_BULLITT_19 said:
Jonesy911 said:
AXLE_BULLITT_19 said:
Monshroud said:
Penny Arcade will answer this question.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/3/19/
The reason the world was so devoid of life because the damn Colossi took up to much space on the disc and lift very little room to put anything else in the game. Now remake that game for the PS3 and it will be livelier. The PS2 was what made that game mediocore. It could just bearly handle that game.
Isn't that comic strip about God of War 2?
Ah no, They are calling God of War a joke in comparison to SOTC.
Read the article that accompanies the comic: http://www.penny-arcade.com/2007/3/19/

Which reminds me. SoTC is good but there are numerous series on the same platform that are better such as God of War, Devil May Cry and Prince of Persia.
 

Evilbunny

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Saphatorael said:
Saw the same explanation on a random 4chan thread, months ago. It pretty much blew my mind. Not much later, I just bought a second-hand PS2, bought SotC and played it through myself.
Yeah, apparently this is a widely held view. This guy [http://www.etc.cmu.edu/etcpress/node/278] had an even deeper take on it.