Shadow of the Colossus PlayStation 2
Shadow of the Colossus Image
Metascore
91 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 77 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 418 Ratings

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  • Summary: (Also known as "Wanda and the Colossus" or "Wanda to Kyozou" in Japan) In Shadow of the Colossus, players take the role of a young man seeking the truth of an ancient tale of power hidden in a mystical land. Shadow of the Colossus is a majestic journey through ancient lands to seek out and destroy gigantic mythical beasts. With a trusty horse at your side, players explore the spacious lands and unearth each Colossi. The uneasy task of defeating a Colossus relies on intelligent puzzle solving and action oriented gameplay. Armed with strong wits, a mystical sword and a sturdy bow, players use cunning and strategy to topple each behemoth. [Sony]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 76 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 77
  3. Negative: 0 out of 77
  1. Eurogamer
    100
    It’s a masterfully understated, beautifully simple, engrossing ride that's as palpitatingly thrilling as it is serenely calming. It's also one of the most consistently compelling and memorable games we've ever played (or witnessed, for that matter).
  2. Thunderbolt
    100
    Long stretches of riding across deserted, yet gorgeous, environments, punctuated by moments of sheer, adrenaline-pumping terror. The shockingly realistic animations (especially for your horse and the colossi), vast, streaming landscape, stirring soundtrack, and wistful story all combine with the game’s minimalist gameplay to create a videogame experience unlike any other.
  3. Gaming Horizon
    86
    Shadow of the Colossus is a spectacular game for the PlayStation 2 with splendid visuals, a great artistic atmosphere, a unique horse mechanic, and magnificent, towering colossi – but it’s limited by the power of an aging system.
  4. Times Online
    60
    Shadow of the Colossus has more style than real substance and it is slightly baffling why Fumito Ueda, the game's creator, didn't develop this into something a little more Zelda-esque in order to make best use of the world he has created. He might have had a classic on his hands.

See all 77 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 156 out of 185
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 185
  3. Negative: 19 out of 185
  1. DavidD.
    10
    Desolate environments, difficult and rewarding boss fights mixed with a story that carries itself on emotion with very few words. This game remains the best game ever made, even though the new console generation is already halfway through its lifespan.… Expand
  2. DevinM.
    8
    The game started off amazing, one look at the colossus instilled a real sense of fear, I felt like David against Golieth. The middle was a bit tedious and occasionaly boring especially after the intimidation subsided and the end downright frustrating. Despite some of the colossuses daunting awe inspiring visuals the viceral enjoyment was quickly surpassed by frustrating camera views and sometimes wonky controls. A great game but I was happy when it was over. The whole experience felt like a gameplay test project, perhaps for future PS3 games, i dunno to me it didn't feel like a entire cohesive game experience. It's fairly short making it a great rental.… Expand
  3. Botswana
    7
    I didn't really appreciate Shadow of the Colossus until it was over. Both the story and art directions were brilliant in my opinion. I also applaud the innovation of the boss battles, and the concept of the game design. I think because of this the flaws in the game play are too often overlooked. I liked how simple the gameplay was, however I found it to be unbearably buggy at times. Specifically the camera angles, were atrocious at many times, the bow was hard to use, and the horse which derailed off course, was both counter intuitive and way too frequent. These made playing the game a chore, which is unfortunate because it such a brilliant game.… Expand
  4. BradB
    3
    God, you people act like you're critiquing artwork instead of reviewing a video game... I played the demo for this game a long time ago... and that was it. I couldn't stand anymore. All of you who are giving this stuck up 'games as art' argument for this game must be able to stare at a rock and call it a masterpiece. The world is so desolate and boring and when action/adventure games are often all about the journey, this journey is a tedious one. There's no real progression outside of fighting the colossi, which dampens the feeling of accomplishment. You're as outfitted as you're going to be throughout the game: bow/arrow, sword, horse. Nothing else. It's a puzzle game in a deep disguise, and not even that complex of a puzzle: find weak spot, attack, kill. Rinse and repeat. BORING. Also, if i wanted a 'compelling' story, I'd watch a movie or read a book, not play a PS2 game. All in all, a game where minimalist design is exactly what it looks like, lacking in all areas. But what do i know? I'm an uncultured swine of a gamer looking for a fun time, not some haughty elitist that needs everything I play to be a moving experience.… Expand

See all 185 User Reviews