The whole time I have played this game I kept saying to myself "I am amazed this is a PS2 game" and usually followed by a "wow". This game is amazing for the generation it came out and hopefully it will be a PS3 sequel someday. I can only hope. Some like this games and others hate it so rent before you buy.

I should give this game 5 stars for introducing me to ICO alone. Not that Shadow is worse, but it certainly is different enough in gameplay mechanics - atmosphere, hints at story and artistic direction notwithstanding. In retrospect though, unlike ICO, it left me with wanting more from the game. I didn't miss fighting hordes of other enemies in between, desolation and limited number of massive bosses was part of the appeal. But the problem is that the experience is a bit shallow. The world is massive and lovingly crafted, but there is no reward in exploring it other than aesthetic experience - there are no hidden artifacts that could aid in your quest, no puzzles to solve, and you can't find just any colossus accidentally even if you arrive at their domain - the fights proceed in a fixed sequence. While it is reasonable for the sake of ramping up the difficulty gradually, it is also limiting.
The biggest gripe, if you can call it that, is that while initial press touted colossi as "puzzles", they really aren't much of one. From those descriptions I imagined moving living castles, a massive beast that is as much an architectural maze as it is a foe. But the puzzle component really boils down to finding the spots covered in fur, and clinging to them in search of the weak points to pierce with your sword. The first and last colossus come close, as they are hard to navigate and are disorienting much in a way I imagined, turning the colossus into an obstacle course made up of various castle-like elements, but the rest of them are unfortunately more straightforward.
It is a great game, make no mistake, but I can't help feeling that it could have been that much more. Visually, however, it is a tour de force in much the way ICO is, despite the low resolution and the occasional minor graphical stutter. Since there are plenty of reviews that cover that aspect in great detail there is no need for me to repeat them. If you haven't played this game already, and are looking to catch up on some of the more interesting games of the last few years, definitely don't miss this title.

One can only hope that all future games and consoles take a lesson from the simple yet complex pleasures found in Shadows of the Colossus. The sheer immensity and sense of solitude makes it a gaming experience like no other. Ico is next on my list and I know that the creators of these games have amazing things in store for any platform.

This is the first game I bought for my ps2 and maybe the only reason why I bought the ps2. I knew this would dazzle my expectations. It is very unique and cuts right to the chase. It's always been my dream to have to climb on huge moving creatures and stab my way through it. It's very epic and not complicated at all. I have to say this is a masterpiece, both for visual effects and gameplay. The massive terrains may be confusing at times and may get you lost to find your next battle, but once you've found it, it was all worth it.

After buying this game for $20 and playing it through, and after reading all the varied, greatly differing, polarized reviews for this game, my own paradoxical experience with SotC has compelled me to write my own review, so that hopefully someone can gain something from my two cents.

I'm still very conflicted about this game. It seems to defy evaluation, possibly because it's just so different from most games out there. It's at once both terrible and wonderful - and indeed it seems to elicit a love/hate response from most players. I've seen very little reviews that rate this game right in the middle of the "good/bad" value spectrum.

You've probably already gleaned enough information from other sources or reviews to give you an idea about the story and plot line, but I'll provide the typical story synopsis, just in case: You (the main character) have traveled far and wide to reach an ancient, mystical, deserted land in order to try to find a way to revive your deceased love. An enigmatic, bodiless deity approaches you, and you reach a bargain in which, in return for completion of a task, the deity has decided that it "may not be entirely impossible" to bring your girlfriend back from the dead. Of course, the task is really sixteen sub-tasks (the slaying of sixteen Colossi), and so, with nothing else to lose, you set out on your quest to vanquish the behemoths.

This is where different aspects of the game start diverging in quality.

There are a few things that stand out in this game, some of which both add and detract from the overall experience. A key theme or characteristic of the game is its simplicity and bareness. The HUD and interface are simple - you only have two weapons, a sword and bow, and no upgrades or replacements or augmentations to speak of, and the HUD consists of only a health bar, a weapon-select diagram, and a circle that represents your stamina (for climbing, holding onto Colossi, etc.) and the "charge" level of your weapon (how far back your bow is pulled, how hard your sword will strike, etc.). When it comes to gameplay and environmental interaction, this simple design scheme can actually be quite pleasant and convenient, and works to emphasize the cool experience of the game itself, rather than forcing the player to concentrate on the all-too-common chaos of coordinating elaborately sequenced combos or timed button-mashing.

The initially-presented back story is deliberately vague and simple, which adds an intriguing mystery element and allows the player to use his/her imagination to discern the history/background of the characters and ponder the origins of the somber, beautifully crafted game world. Some players, however, may find the lack of story foundation and substance irritating.

As far as gameplay goes, SotC is often painfully lacking. Problems arise almost immediately as you start playing. The controls are ABYSMAL. Camera control is counter-intuitive and thumbstick movement sensitivity is sluggishly slow (to the game's credit, both of these can be adjusted, but it's still a hassle and a drawback when controls aren't comfortable right form the get-go). Although the button layout is fairly decent, the main character's control is awkward, imprecise, and clumsy, and often very loose and unresponsive. At times it's frustratingly difficult to get him to react in the desired manner with the desired timing, and in the direction that's intended. Be prepared to frequently miss jumps, misfire arrows, fall off ledges, and get smashed while trying to dodge "Colossal" blows. The game also has problems with action-trigger locations and responses - meaning that in order for the character to properly latch onto a ledge after jumping or grab an object, you have to position him EXACTLY correctly, with no room for fault.

All these main character setbacks pale in comparison to the virtual inoperability of your horse, however, which is your main - and only - form of transportation. This might have only been a small inconvenience if it wasn't for the fact that half the game is spent traversing the huge, bare, open plains in order to get from Colossus to Colossus. The horse is slow to begin with, often painfully so; navigating obstacles (especially trees) is a major irritant, the horse frequently "spazzes out", and getting him to start moving anywhere takes both an eternity and several thousand button-mashings. He's also IMPOSSIBLE to mount. You have to be standing perfectly still, right in the exact spot before you press the corresponding button. This poor performance is enough to simply make any and all travel a chore, but during combat it can become a major, survival-inhibiting detriment that will put your character in unnecessary danger.

As far as the actual Colossus battles go, though, most of them really are quite good. The Colossi, in everything from their appearance to their movement and behavior to their attacks to the beastly sounds they make, are extremely well done and very cool, very artistic. The game is subject to (sometimes severe) frame rate lag during these encounters, however, and it can become quite frustrating and jarring during battle, but most of this is soon forgotten in the epic majesty of Colossus' downfall. Exposing and exploiting their individually unique weaknesses is fun and challenging, and striking the final take-down blow is immensely satisfying. There are a few problems to encounter, though - like the fact that some of the later monsters are downright merciless, employing tactics and attacks that are impossible to counter, or the fact that the keys to defeating some Colossi are occasionally far too cryptic and challenging, and all but impossible to discern. All this makes for a few boss battles that are astoundingly difficult to win. Also, the game makes an abrupt, unexpected change of pace about midway through. The game difficulty level shoots suddenly and sporadically from Easy to Fairly Hard. It almost feels at times like the creators didn't think through the necessary framework of game balances all the way, and left some game dynamics unfair and unpolished.

As far as premise of the game goes (it's essentially just sixteen boss battles), the idea is unique and fairly cool, all while being efficient and streamlined (it's somewhat of a plus that you don't have to bother slashing through legions of lesser monsters to get to the main baddies) and simple (there's the beauty of the "simple" factor in play again).
However, because there's really only three characters, and only two ever interact (infrequently, at that), the game feels somewhat empty. As there's really nothing else to interact with, manipulate, or work to achieve in the world outside of the Colossus battles - basically nothing else to DO at all - it often makes the barren, deserted world seem too stagnant, stale, and, from a design point of view, unfinished. I believe that that "barren, devoid-of-life" characteristic was an intentional design choice, and from a story point of view, it works fantastically. It makes the forbidden land seem all the more foreboding. It also really helps create a wonderfully forlorn, dark and moody ambiance and atmosphere, which are both superb. From a gameplay perspective, though, I just expected more. The game sometimes feels incomplete. If you exclude the element of the Colossi (of which there really aren't that many, anyway) it's like the creators just plopped you in an empty sandbox environment with nothing to do but roam around pointlessly, enjoying the scenery, perhaps. It takes the point out of exploring the game world, because you know nothing else will be there.

On a positive note, the major, over-arching thematic elements of the game really are superb. The art design and graphics are beautiful, often breathtakingly-so for a PS2 game; the story is sadly poignant and moving, eclectic and mysterious, and all together pretty fantastic, although the end is somewhat ambiguous and may leave some feeling unsatisfied. The music is also superb, which one can't help but notice; it is well composed and finely expresses the proper mood relative to what is happening in-game. And again, the atmosphere created around the player is very good as well.

All in all, with the discounted price it's going for today, this really is a must-play game, if nothing else than just for it's unique vision. It has many failings, some of which caused me enough grief to want to simply abandon the game, but in the end you'll be able to look past most of these faults, and see it for what it really is: a beautiful, visionary concept with (at times profoundly)lackluster execution and a myriad of unfortunate design issues. I really don't even consider this a true "game" in the conventional sense - for it fails too thoroughly and too consistently to achieve that end and earn (or perhaps be marred by) such a typical title. SotC is more like a fully interactive movie - if you can understand it as such, you'll appreciate it much more and learn to better understand its defects. It simply exists as a fascinating digital experience, in a medium all of its own. I do love and hate this game simultaneously, and I suppose that equilibrium levels it somewhere around "just average". But SotC is more than just the sum of its parts... And I think that's part of the reason it has garnered so much acclaim. Shadow of the Colossus is deemed to be great because it makes you WANT to believe it to be so... simply because of what it is... and at the same time what it's not.

Of all the games I have played over the years, this was the first to warrant my own review. Anyone thinking of buying this game after reading about the numerous awards and praises from gaming review sites should read this review. And NO, I will NOT include ANY SPOILERS. As discussed later, this game deserves much of its attention from how and what is later revealed...and I will save that for you should you decide to buy this game.
The opening scene reveals itself much like an epic movie, although in vastly poorer visual quality. For a game released in 2005, some of the visuals in the game feel severely dated circa 2002-3. The main character himself is quite pixelated. However, the game does allow widescreen progressive scan play which has both a pro and con side to it. On the plus side, the game's color saturation and grandeur REALLY stands out with progressive scan. The widescreen mode adds dramatically to the open world concept the game's designers tried to promote. However, putting the game in progressive scan also causes the protagonist and his horse to show themselves in all their pixelated glory. For me, it was a hard decision to choose between a more vivid world with Progressive, or more believable main characters with Normal. After switching back and forth numerous times I finally opted for the widescreen progressive and was ultimately happy with the decision. After one battle with a colossus (you learn right away there are 16) you realize this game is first and foremost concerned with the colossi and environment. That being said, the choice of soft lighting and color for this game create a very tranquil and often surreal fantasy world. The game also seems to be ahead of the curve by streaming all of the landscape into view. Given how vast the world is, this is really quite a feat! The load times in this game are virtually non-existent because of how they implement streaming.
Visual acuity aside, one of my greatest frustrations in this game (and oh yes...it will be there for you as well) was the use of the camera. Granted, with respect to the design team, creating a camera that would allow you to see massive skyscraper-sized colossi and yet also focus on where you are running or riding seems a huge undertaking. To help ease frustration, the game has a "colossus camera focus" button on L1 which does help. The game also has a zoom buttom with R2; however, it is utterly useless. The game constantly tries for a cinematic "sweeping effect" which means that whenever you look one way, the camera will try to pull back the other way as if the character is panning his head side to side. Therefore, when you are fighting a huge colossus about to stomp you and are trying to zoom in and search for a weak spot...the camera will be swaying back and forth across where you are trying to look. At best it is slightly frustrating, at worst...it makes you feel sea sick! Another poor point of the camera is riding your horse. The right analog controls the camera, whereas the left controls the direction of the horse via a rein mechanism. In theory, this is AWESOME, because you can control the horse while you also pan around the character like you are controlling the action in a high budget film. In fact, there are a few sequences I will not discuss where you are FORCED to pan the camera while riding on your horse. The use of pulling the analog to pull the reins has a very life-like feel to it. In practicality, however, the horse will usually not be able to make sharp turns, and it is very hard to control the horse while also concentrating on the environment and colossi. I often found myself running head first into a large mountain or the edge of a cliff (fortunately you can not fall off when on the horse). The game also has several moments when the environment will obstruct the view of the camera. The camera was definitely the most frustrating aspect of the game. Fortunately the game somehow manages to overcome this shortcoming with its original, artistic and innovate design.
The colossi and the battles themselves really are a fantastic achievement! Each colossus maintains certain visual similarities while drawing from all varieties of the natural and fantasy world. Two of the colossi ARE quite similar in size and shape,... but every battle is unique, fast paced and fun. Each environment you find them in is different and may or may not play an integral part in their defeat. Every battle seems vaguely reminiscent of later Zelda games (N64 and later) but, if it can be believed, much more exciting and grandiose. Another positive change to game design is that the character begins with only a bow and sword, and will end will only a bow and sword. Every battle can be won without any cheating if you take the time to search the environment and colossi. There is a very high ratio of puzzle solving to reward ratio dispersed throughout the battles.
The storyline throughout the game is virtually non-existent; that is, until the end of the game. The beauty is that the sequential battles and lack of any story is what gives so much meaning to the end of the game. The intro shows you a boy, a girl of an undetermined relationship, and his horse. Until the end, you know little more than where you are and what you must do. Throughout the game, the endless task of killing a colossus and returning to the main temple seems quite monotonous. This plays out VERY similarly to the game Assassin's Creed. However, the intentional choice to leave out any interior storyline truly makes the ending shine. It may have been an artistic choice,...but it ultimately leads up to one of the best endings of any fantasy game. The ending itself clocks in at about 15-20 min (make sure to stay around after the credits).
Ultimately, this game has been hyped for its artistic and innovative approaches to gameplay. The world design, although devoid of a lot of the smaller life found in games like Elder Scrolls, is still beautiful, mysterious and most importantly - epic. The game could have fallen prey to such shortcomings as an often frustrating camera and less than God of War character (people only - not colossi) visuals; however, it somehow soars above any problems due to the cohesion of all elements into one definable experience. Rated only for the camera/controls and visuals, I might have given this game a 3/5...but all together this game represents a 4/5 if not more. Not quite the best game of ALL TIME, but This is one game that definitely represents an Epic Masterpiece that is greater than the sum of its parts!

Im a diehard xbox/360 fan but I have to admit this is the best game ever made. I played this game when it first came out a few years ago. I wish all games were as good as this. There was also a prequel "Ico" Just as amazing. If they ever come out with shadow of the colossus 2 and its not multiplatform, I would buy a PS3 just to play this game.

This game in unlike any other game I've played. It arrived new in great packaging. The arrival time was very fast and I would recommend this seller to anyone.

cool game ,a unique game-play style in a unique world ,i recommend for ppl who did not play it yet to try it ,they'll love it .

it is a true ONE of the BEST games i ever played .

product has good graphics, a storyline that is new, and amazingly simple controls so that you dont die avery five seconds, but game is still hard.

As you can probably tell, this game is amazing. it might not be for everyone but i enjoyed the game all the way to the end. the game is a little on the difficult side on some bosses and i admit i had to read a faq on one or two of the enemies, but overall the game is just so awesome and the shear scale of the game is breathtaking

When I purchased this game I had high expectations. Most critics and gamers love its unique art style and interesting story. After playing through the game, I was slightly disappointed. The game is good, but some notable flaws ultimately leave it short of greatness.

Primarily, I found controlling the camera frustrating, especially during colossus battles. The L1 button allows you to lock-on to the colossus, which is useful. However, this can create problems in tight places or allow you to run off a cliff. When backed up against a wall or in a corner, the camera would often "flip out".

Secondly, Agro the horse irritated me more often than not. His response seems delayed, whether turning, speeding up, slowing down, or calling him.

Certain colossus battles are overly difficult. With the two smaller colossi, if you get knocked down once you're screwed. Other colossi are nearly impossible to "solve" without the help of a guide.

Finally, I was disappointed with the ending. I had heard great things about the game's "incredible" ending and was really looking forward to experiencing it myself. After the ending, I said to myself "So, is that it?".

Although I list only my criticisms of the game, that doesn't mean it's terrible. The game's concept is very cool: 16 epic boss battles. It manages to be moving at times even with characters who rarely speak. However, the game's technical flaws, such as the camera issue mentioned, made the game frustrating for me and not that enjoyable. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea. 8.0/10

To call Shadows of the Colossus an epic game would be an understatement. After all, the goal of the game is to find and slay sixteen Colossi, which are (as the name implies) giant lumbering behemoths. The Colossi and the world they inhabit are built to a breathtakingly large scale. The sheer vastness of the scenery pushes the limits of the PS2 from a graphical perspective. Unfortunately the beautiful surroundings feel dramatically empty since they are devoid of any life besides the Colossi themselves.

While I give the game points for a very creative premise and unique gameplay, it feels like something is missing. The Colossi battles are intense but to reach them you must spend way too much time wandering the world completely alone. And as remarkable and unique as each the game's antagonists may be from an artistic design perspective, the battles themselves did not benefit from the same treatment. Apart from a few minor variations, each fight consists of gaining the creature's attention with your bow & stabbing the weak spot(s) with your sword, rinse and repeat. By about the fifth or sixth Colossus the process becomes somewhat tedious. A few other weaknesses such as a slightly wonky camera, a few minor control issues, and an almost nonexistent story also detract from the experience.

While my criticism may seem harsh, I did enjoy the game. Shadow of the Colossus aims for the moon. While its few flaws made it miss, it still landed among the stars. The rush you get as your tiny character clings tenaciously to a flailing giant is an experience you won't find in any other game. In spite of any shortcomings, I recommend checking this game out- even if only as a rental.

I love this game - I waited for it to reach the PS2 Greatest Hits wall before I bought it because I was worried about the deviation from standard games, but I was more impressed by this game than anything else with equal or higher industry expectations.

The graphics push the PS2 to its limit with the combination of the colossi and the environment. The button configuration is unique and the story behind the game is (even without words) a totally new experience.

I wouldn't change ANYTHING about this game, but it was quite difficult. I will admit, I had to cheat and look up a few internet tips for a few of the colossi!

5/5 - best $20 game I have ever purchased, and definitely replayable.

Shadow of the Colossus will without a doubt go down in history. It takes bold, imaginative ideas that really stands out in a generation of generic games. Its a shining beacon of excellent design, innovative ideas, and bold new gameplay. The main draw of the game is: There are no "Grunt Soldiers". The entire game consists of you taking down GIGANTIC beasts. How big you may ask? Some Colossus get so huge that all you can't even see it's torso if you were standing right next to it. All developers should take note, this is how to create a video game.
But, it's not a Perfect Game. The camera gets dodgy, the controls can get stiff (It seems to happen at bad times, LIKE WHEN YOUR GALLOPING AT LIGHT-SPEED AWAY FROM A 250 TON BEAST WITH HIS ONLY PEROGATIVE IS TO KILL YOU)
Also, the game's Colossus can get VERY Aggrivating. For example: Colossus 4 (Its basically a gigantic Spider with stone-plated armor) you can either: 1. Lure it onto a mound, jump into an under-ground passage, and jump on the reigns. or 2. you can jump straight onto its back-Right leg.
Unfortunately, this is ALOT easier said then done. You may spend up to 20 minutes getting this to work.
Also, you need to be exactly next to, and on the side of your horse to be able to board him. Well this doesen't sound like an issue in theory, but when a huge Colossus is about 3 seconds away from crushing you like a bug... it tends to get very hard to board the said horse.
But, now im just Nit-picking. SOTC is an experience for every PS2 owner, and a gamer in general. The environment is huge, each Colossus has their own strategy, and it always feels like an epic fight.
Shadow of the Colossus should earn a place in everyone's heart.

Everyone with a PS2/PS3 and a decent taste in games should buy this game. Do the math expressed in this title, and you will know how great this game is. You play as the nameless "Wanderer", hellbent on bringing this girl (love interest?) back to life. So much that he travels to the forbidden land where dwells the creepy entity Dormin. Dormin agrees to save the girl IF, the wanderer destroys these sixteen idols. The catch? The idols are indestructible. So, what do you do? Kill their embodiement, the colossi. Thus you find yourself on a suicidal mission to kill 16 goliaths. With your trusty steed Agro, and your magical sword you have to seach and destroy all colosi. Good luck! Any way, the game's plot is so deep that you will really want to save this girl and kill these big guys. I recommend this game heavily.

This is my first review of a video game on Amazon, and I felt that it should be of one of the most special and brilliant games I've ever played. I'm an avid gamer who loves a bit of the obscure. Different games that maybe get missed by the sheep we call the general gaming public. My mouth doesn't water over the newest Grand Theft Auto, and I won't wait in line for days just to pay full price for HALO 3,4,5,etc... But I would have done so for this game had I known how great it was going to be. Unfortunately, it was widely overlooked by the game magazine lackeys who only know how to tout Gran Turismo and Metal Gear ( great games in thier own catagories, mind you ). This game, and Kengo: Master of Bushido, are probably two of my favorite games of all time, and Kengo got widely overlooked as well. But these two games share a couple things in common that drew me to them. They are both insanely beautiful to look at. One reviewer summed it up best by saying the graphics look "painted" on your screen. They do. You don't feel like you're playing a video game as much as you're watching a movie. I know this review isn't about Kengo, but for those who haven't heard of it or seen it, its simply a sword fighting game in the samurai style ( best one EVER made ), and the graphics of the dojos are so breathtaking, you find yourself wishing you could live and train in them. I've trained in some nice dojos before, but none that I wanted to live in! LOL SotC is the exact same way. I wish I could live in that land. I wish I could die in that land lol. Its simply THAT gorgeous. Imagine a PS3 version...... The other thing in common is that they are both "thinking" games as opposed to button mashing. In SotC you have to figure out how to take down each monster, and each is a little different. Most game's boss battles are just "shoot it til it dies", but this one, you have to really think what will open its defenses so you can start climbing it to kill it. And Kengo isn't just a button masher to swing your sword...you have many, many forms you can edit and preset to come up with the most diverse and deadly attacks.


For those who don't already know about the game, I'll keep this simple and quick. You're this guy ( name doesn't matter at all ) who's in love with this girl ( name doesn't matter at all ), and she dies ( doesn't really matter why ). But their love must have been like "Titanic" Jack and Rose love, or maybe she was just wicked in bed, but what this guy has to go thru to get her back...WOW. I think most guys would be on to the next girl lol. He has to fight and kill 16 of these huge creatures or Colossus...or Colossi ( one of them ). And they ARE colossal...some are like mountains while some are just huge monster size. But you WILL be climbing on them like mountains. Each one holds a part of the secret to bringing back the dead ( doesn't matter how, they just do ).
The guy is guided by some weird voice in the sky ( sounds like the Swedish chef from the Muppets if you gave him a bag of weed and slowed his voice down by half ) thing that tells him what colossi he must fight next, giving each a cryptic description of what they are and where to find them. So you ride off into this breathtaking landscape on your horse Argo to find them and kill them. And thats it. And thats MORE then enough.

I fell in love with this game for one reason. As I started playing it and got used to the controls, I was skeptical. If I remember, I initially thought, "Oh no, this is gonna be boring." But I do remember the first colossi I came across, and I was hooked forever. It was the easiest to beat of course, but still took me awhile to figure it out. And why did I fall in love with it? After I was done killing it, I didn't put the game down until I had killed 4 or 5 more, even though I was going on no sleep, no food. I kept telling myself "Just one more...just one more...okay, just one more...uummmm, ok, one more..." And THAT is the mark of a great video game. You don't have a conscious choice to stop playing anymore, you just keep playing. I sat in front of this game longer then any other game I've played or owned, and would have sat longer had they made more colossi.

I believe the reviewer before me didn't like the game because he was bored by it. He said there was nothing to do except ride around. I'm not a boring person, but riding around, exploring the landscape is one of the best things about this game. I wonder if he even fought any of the colossi? It sounded like he couldn't figure out how to find them lol. He was on the right path...you hold your sword up ( only works in direct sunlight ) and you move it around 360 degrees until the wide rays of light pinpoint to a single beam. If you have vibration on your controller, it will vibrate. When it does, you are heading in the right direction. Now, it functions like a medieval GPS device. It will get you going in the right direction, but don't expect a straight A-B course. You will often have to go around mountains, cross lakes and rivers, and even find a way to cross HUGE, HUGE BEAUTIFUL gorges. I could stare for minutes on end at those gorges. So you must keep checking your sword GPS to get on the right path to the colossi.

You get around with Argo, your horse. One reviewer called Argo one of the best rendered video game animals, and they were right. Argo looks and moves like a real horse. You actually feel bad when you spur him on with your boots or sword to make him go faster because you can hear him winnie in displeasure. Controlling Argo is tough at first, but once you get the hang of it, it feels like you're riding a real horse. And the developers were brilliant in making sure Argo isn't as stupid as the dude is because you WILL head right for many cliffs without noticing until its too late. You will know because you will lose control of Argo and he will veer away.

You have two weapons, your sword GPS thing and a bow with unlimited arrows. Pretty simple, and thats all it needs to be. It gets annying sometimes cycling thru 50 weapons in some games when we all know noone can carry 50 weapons. ( Just let the unlimited arrow thing pass for now )

I won't detail any of the colossi or fights because every gamer should be as surprised as I was, and theres simply too much to talk about. But promise yourself ONE thing...you won't go online looking for hints or cheats. It may take a REALLY LONG TIME to figure out to beat a few of these guys, but when you FINALLY do...no other feeling in videogaming comes CLOSE. And like me, you will say " Okay, one more..." They ARE tough to figure out and beat because each one is different, but you WILL figure it out. And if you are hopelessly stuck, hold your sword up and point it at the colossi...you'll see why. And if you're insanely stuck, that weird voice over guy gives you another cryptic hint...actually saved my butt a couple times. One more brilliant move by the developers...because these monsters are so difficult to beat, you don't have to die and start over fighting them. If your health is low, you simply hide from the colossi if you can, kneel down and recover. Similar to heath packs but more realistic. That way, if you're 5 seconds away from killing it and you die, its your own fault for not stopping the battle, running away and recovering a bit. If you do die, you can retry, but the monster's strength is back to full, and you will slap yourself in the head.

One last thing about the game A LOT of others have said... you WILL feel really bad for killing these colossus. They were just kind of sitting there minding their own business when this horny moron comes by to attack and kill them for his own greedy ends. The colossus are kind of like Iraq.

All that said, this game isn't for everyone. As you read all the reviews, you'll see the majority of the complaints are the boredom of riding around. And a few complaints talk about how difficult it is. It IS difficult with NO difficulty setting, and yes, BEFORE you reach the first colossi, it WILL seem a bit boring. But AFTER, it will never seem boring again.

I'm sorry this review was so long, but play this game once and you'll see why I love talking about it. I hope this helps, and now that the game is pretty cheap to buy, you're gonna get one HELL of a deal.

Oh...and just ignore that the girl you're trying to save looks 12. Must be an anime thing. You'll feel like one of those weird Texas polygamist dudes at first, but after you find and kill the first colossi, you'll say, what girl??

Try Kengo too if it sounds like your cup of tea.

Boy, the other reviews of this game sound great. Epic battles, art in a game, etc. Only problem is, I think those reviewers made it all up. I think there's a huge joke surrounding this game, and that I'm the butt of it. I think that everyone who plays this game is so pissed off that they did that they decide to give it a good rating to entice others to suffer with them.

Alright, here's the deal. I'm a smart person. I followed the directions (the one sentence of guidance you get in the game). I tried. But guess what? I played for an entire hour, and never found a single one of these supposed bosses! Or anything else for that matter.

Now, it mentions something about using your sword in sunlit areas to see where the light reflects. I assume that gives an indication of where the bosses are, since that's the ONLY thing to do in the game. Well guess what? The sun reflects in any f...ing direction you want it to! You hold up your sword, and you move around, and the reflection moves with you. Imagine that! So that didn't help.

Then I kept wondering around, thinking that surely, after all this time, I'll stumble upon something. There were a couple of huge caverns with NOTHING in them. There was a beautiful arch spanning miles, leading NOWHERE. There were gorgeous rolling plains, scenic tall hills, breathtaking natural springs, but among it all, there was a noticeable lack of ANYTHING to do!

Seriously, I spent an HOUR wandering around. Sure, the scenery was nice CG art. Sure, it made me want to go camping. But when you spend an hour in front of a video game, you expect to accomplish something. NOTHING. There are supposedly these great boss fights just waiting out there for you. But after an hour of playing, NOTHING.

No doubt another reviewer will come along and chastise me for not looking up a walk-through on the internet. Well, I don't mind using walk-throughs. I frequently do, when I have completed a game and want to make sure I got everything. But guess what? If you have to resort to a walk-through in order to do ANYTHING in the game, I'd say that the game is a little flawed.

I'm a happy person. I live a good life, and I don't get upset easily. But when I spend some money on a game, devote an hour of my time to it, and hear raving comments from a bunch of people, I expect something. ANYTHING. ANY F...ING THING.

An hour later, I am reconsidering my video game habits. Why did I spend that hour doing NOTHING? I could have read. I could have studied. I could have slept. All those are productive activities. You actually get something from them. This game might conceivably be nice to freeze on your TV screen when you're doing something else so you can occasionally look at it and appreciate the view. But it's certainly not helpful if you want to do ANYTHING. Seriously, an hour.

So, before the next reviewer comes along and bashes me for not having enough patience to appreciate something great, for being a generation X-er with no attention span, for giving up too easily on something that everyone is raving about, let me suggest this:

Spend an hour on the internet searching for images of natural landscapes. Download all the images you can, and when the hour is almost up, play a slide-show of all that you've accumulated. Done? That's what I experienced. I spent an hour looking at nice-looking graphics. And guess what? There are plenty of other games out there with great graphics that have SOMETHING to do in them. I mean ANYTHING. I mean a single person to talk to, I mean a single creature to fight, and god forbid, a single boss battle.

Please, for the love of all that is good, do not get this game. Want to know what I did when the hour was up? (By the way, it was tough for me to quit playing, because after an hour, you figure surely something will happen soon, ANYTHING, and you did just spend money on it, so surely you'll give it another chance, right?) You know what happens when you put a CD in the microwave? Well, I put this game in there. I didn't bother reselling it for $5. All I did was watch the fireworks (which was more exciting in 10 seconds that what I got out of an hour of this game) and then use my precious time to warn others not to repeat my folly. I mean, how else does Man progress?

Seriously, to the other reviewers, stop lying. Stop misleading everyone. If you actually found a boss, ANY boss, congratulations. But I think you're lying about it. F... this game, F... the people who made it for not including better in-game guidance and SOMETHING to do, and F... the people who gave it a great review who secretly hate the fact that they wasted their time as I have done.

C'est la vie.

Is this a game that has a lot of hacking and slashing? No. Is this a game that has a great deal of things that inexplicably blow up? Again no. Is this a game that has bullets whizzing through the air in all directions? No, and if you thought it was any of those things, please don't tell anyone else you thought so or you'll be made fun of.

This game gets rave reviews. Most people love this game. A few don't. Why would anyone want to disagree with the mass majority? well, maybe they thought this game had some sort of automatic bullet-firing machine. or maybe they didn't know this game was all about the stunning and artistic ambiance.

So what does one actually do in this game if there's no guns or hacking? well my friend, you hunt down giant monsters and stab them with your toothpick. That's it. That's the game. And while it doesn't sound like much, that's the beauty of this particular game. You're kicked out onto the scene with the notion that you get to revive your dead girlfriend if you kill these giant hulking masses. So off you go on your horse, straight for your first kill. After reaching some ledges, you are led through the obligitory phase of learning all those necessary tidbits needed to reach said monster.

You find the unusually sized monstrosity and you fight your first boss. You figure out what you're suppose to do, and you kill the thing. After falling the beast, you're transported back to where you started, and off you go to find the next bad guy. rinse and repeat.

Now, we all have friends who blame their bad taste in restaurants on the fact that we obviously don't understand that it's all about the ambiance and not the fact that the restaurant charges 17 dollars for a poorly made salad. This game has no car chases, has no WWII settings, and it is lacking in any sort of mindless hacking. what it does have is utter immersion. The landscapes are sprawling, The camera action is new and cinematic, and the music is some of the best music I've ever heard in a video game.

So is this game a dull game? No. not in the slightest. Provided you allow yourself to be sucked into the music, the ambiance, the scenery, and the idea of it all, the action is very engaging. While haunched on the back of one of these giant colossi, My heart was racing extremely fast and i got a sense of overwhelming tension. Landing the final blow gave me the kind of satisfaction usually reserved for wonderfully grand things like grabbing the last slice of pizza. Figuring out how to take each monster down added the depth needed to make me want more and the story eventually becomes so gripping I found myself actually caring about what was going to happen.

At its core, this is a puzzle game. And while I can understand those who won't get this game, I can safely say that if you keep an open mind while playing this game, you will enjoy it. If you're stand-off-ish because you've heard such great things about it and the hype makes you uncertain, play it anyway. seriously.

The "WOW" factor of this game stops the minute you try to battle the first Colossus." Jump on back of right leg, stab, climb up thigh, to belt, up back, stab in head, find next Colossus.

The surreal, dream-like land and stunning, difficult battles are not enough. This game leaves you with a hollow, pointless feeling. The package puts you in mind of "Fable" or "The Legend of Zelda" but the game is neither. It reminds me of a throw-back to the arcade-style platform games of the original NES and PS, when you could defeat all the levels and then just fight the boss-battles, that's this game, boss-battles and cut-scenes. This is not action, adventure or role-playing, it's boss-battles and animated cut scenes.

Why create so big a game with so little to do? Could have been such an amazing game with 16 quest, quest items, caves, dungeons, mountains to explore... but no, nothing but vast, vast, emptiness. That's what you'll feel when you're done.

I bought this for my husband. The game had contravercial reviews. I watched the beginning to make sure the game was ok. And I stayed till the end. We printed out the walkthrough from the internet, it's easier to play with the good walkthrough. It's like watching a movie. It looks so real and the story is beautiful and captivating. All the creatures have their own weaknesses and it takes a while to figure them out. For a couple weeks we were just captivated with this game. Have no doubts, you are going to love it.

Agree with all the 1 and 2 star reviews. Excited after reading the good reviews and extremely disappointed after playing for 30 min. If all the negative reviews can't stop you from trying, rent it!

I'm not a great gamer. While I love video games, I'm terrible at them. Knowing that, I have to say that while this game is visually stunning and well put together, it is the most difficult game I have ever played. You can ride around practically anywhere in the game and it all is beautiful and amazing, but when it comes down to beating the giant, it is just too difficult. After trying many times, I got bored and aggravated. I can only recommend this game based on the visuals and not the actual gameplay.

I just love how the game is setup thought I bet it in about 67 hours, I wouldn't trade it for anything... Truly recommended for a buy not a rent...

Unfortunately I got rid of my PS2 and I am so mad. If I could keep one game this would be it. Shadow of the Colossus is in my top 5 games of all time. The originality and creativity of this game was superb. The story line was not the best, but the gameplay is so unique it makes you want to replay the game over and over. I wanted this game because I loved the challenge of fighting massive bosses that took up the entire stage. Throughout the game you must fight a Minotaur, Frog,and other bosses. My favorite was a bird-like creature. I vividly recalling having to jump on top of the bird and climbing across its wing span as it soared through the air. The graphics and special effects were simply phenomenal. All the bosses are long, epic fights which test you tenacity, patience, and skills. If you fall off you will likely die. The only downside to this game is that the game was huge and there could have been RPG elements to it where items could have been obtained or power ups. I also wish some of the bosses were tough. once you climb on top of the boss, it is pretty much a done deal.

Great game overall.

I have never played a game like "Shadows of the Colossus" before.

Its elegant in its simplicity: Kill 16 monsters to save your girl. Thats it. No power ups, no item quests, just travel from here to there and take the next one down. The creature telling you to do this doesn't even tell you why. It seems pretty noble at first, but halfway through you start to think it might be a bad idea, but what else can you do? You need your girl back, right?

The story is resolved at the end, but its again very simple. You kinda have to fill in some blanks on your own but thats half the fun.

On the subject of gameplay, again its literally just 16 boss battles in a row with some traveling inbetween. You have everything you need at the beginning and I have no complaints about that. Some of the controls are a little flinchy, but it never got to a point where it was effecting my experience. And even if the controls could use a little polishing, I truly didn't mind. Because whats here is so well done that I sincerely believe that this is one of the most unforgettable gaming experiences I've ever had.

The world itself is very magnetic with its mood and atmosphere. I mean, it just sucks you in. The only thing in this giant, beautiful world is you, your horse, and the 16 Colossi. Some of the visuals, even at ps2 level, manage to be breathtaking. Its amazing what they've done with the ps2 hardware, this game is gorgeous.

The Colossi themselves, well, they're awesome. Not all 16 are breathtaking, but the majority of them are so darn cool. Some are absolutely HUGE too, bigger than you'd ever think. And you get to climb them and take them down. The games sense of scale is amazing that way, you really do feel so tiny next to these giants that its very satisfying to bring them down. And they're all so interesting and unique in their design and the different ways you defeat them that it makes for an unforgettable experience.

Its also pretty fun to explore around the world too. There really isn't much to do outside fighting the giants, but I found myself taking some time to look around anyway, the game is really just that beautiful. Oddly enough, there's a LOT to see that you'll miss by only traveling from colossus to colossus, all of it beautiful to behold. In that respect, its kind of like a virtual vacation. Like the developers of the game said, "Hey, if you don't feel like taking on giants right now, why not see some of the sights? We built this gigantic beautiful world, go ahead and take a look around."

Again, you won't discover anything other than gorgeous scenery if you take the time to explore. No secret items, no hidden story elements. Just this big awe inspiring virtual world for you to explore with no real reason for it being there other than to just be there. Its unique, and I enjoyed it.

And its that simplicity, mystery, and originality that makes this game so interesting. I was captivated by every part of it, right until the end. Its a beautiful world and a truly unique game.

I never really thought of video games as being legitimate art, at the very least not on the same level as movies or literature. But "Shadow Of The Colossus" proved me dead wrong.

This game is a work of art. I never thought I'd say it, but it truly is.

Some people may not enjoy it, but thats art for you. Some people will love it, some will hate it, others won't get it. But like all great art its worth considering.

Lets hope they remake it someday for the ps3 or the 360, because updated graphics and some control refining would really make this baby perfect.

How this could receive a bad review is beyond me. The story, visuals, and gameplay all feel extremely unique. It is not a very long game, but doesnt need to be. While playing it, it will feel epic, and when your done you will recommend it and likely remember it for years to come. Im excited to pick up Ico (which SotC is a prequel to) and hope that more games in this canon will continue.

Its one of the best games I own! I like how Different it is and hope they make more like this one.

When looking at the cover, one might expect the graphics to be oh-so-amazing. Once you're in the gameplay, or even the introductory video to the game, you realize the graphics are crap. But there's one cool thing, at least! The game is rendered in real time, so you can change the camera angle in the videos.

The horse is difficult to control. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's probably one of the more difficult things in the game. It has a habit of running towards walls.

Other than that, the game is pretty fun. I've only killed the first two collossuses(collossi?) though.

I recently bought the game for around 20 bucks and instantly liked it. If youre a gamer you will probably appreciate this title. The storyline is pretty general, no real details or back story to learn. Youre basically this guy who is slaying all of these rock/earth made Colossi for these gods of light to bring a girl back to life. Each Colossus you fight is pretty unique in figuring out how to defeat them. They all have their own kinda of moves and environments. Defeating each one involves figuring out how to actually get on top of them and then finding their weak points. I enjoyed the large environments, subtle but flowing story, and the different types of colossi you encounter. The game is over after the slaying of about 16 colossus, so relatively short. As a gamer Id recommend it as a unique and fun experience, only downside is length of gameplay. For 20$ its worth it- buy it son!

This game is the biggest waste of $20 that I've ever seen. Stupid, boring, slow, pointless.

Anybody want mine?

This is a GREAT GAME . I like the Whole set up and adventure of it. Its very challenging and it gets to you. And the graphics are great to . Its one of those games you just cant lay down till you get done, and at the same time one of them that sets you off into a fit . I like the Concept and its exciting and very appealing . This one is a Must to have.

This game is unlike any other game I've ever played, and as such, is a work of art that's highly addictive, incredibly gorgeous and well-animated and a blast to play. The story is well written, and though you won't know much about it until well into the game, is well worth the effort of playing through till the end. This game is a must-buy!

Great game overall. even though it is all about the 16 boss-fights as as cool/fun as they are, there's a bit of downtime where its just you and the environment. now while the environment is gorgeous - one of the best for ps2 games - all there is to do is nav. to each boss. so other than that its fun and doesn't take up too much of your time. still a game you can enjoy, and come back to whenever you'd like to or have the time.

ciao!

Wow, from what I heard about this game, it sounded okay, but were they wrong. This game is very fun to play, and challenging. You might think, "No mini-enemies, just boss fights." But, the bosses can take a while, and smaller enemies would ruin the colossi fights. The third boss took me a half an hour to beat. MOst of that was because I had to get up it first. The graphics are good for a PS2 game, and the music is perfect. Very good game, you just have to be patient, because it is very frustrating sometimes.