i fould i really loved this game. the beutiful senery and textures and the little things like that hair on the horse mane was really well done. the horse riding seems smooth and.. relilistic even when a stuborn horse sometimes. the games puzzle collosi are each unique in there own way, each of them had a charactor to them. even with no words they protraited them selfs nice, i just wanted to look at them before they started to walk on my face. the only think i found that i didnt really like to much was the camera. it seemed to just be in the way and someimes cumbersome to deal with when wanting to aim or just see where yours going. agian loved wouldnt buy it, but i say this is a must rent.… Expand

This is the gaming experience of the year and will be remembered for years to come as a title that showed the videogames are a medium that can convey a sense of wonder and emotiions.

One of the most beautiful and cinematic games ever released. Defeating each colossus feels just like that, defeating a colossal challenge. This is probably the most satisfying game I've ever played.

By far the best game of the year thus far in terms of telling a story and placing the elemnts of gameplay ina fun/interesting/intuitive field of play. having jsut finished the game yesturday and given myself time to assess it's value I haveto honestly say that there is little competion thus far this year for not only a compelling original setting and story, but an easy to control, mind grinding gameplay mechanic that makes the player enthrulled to be there. In my honest opinion the best game of the year.… Expand

This is a masterpiece. A great game to a great year for games. Resident Evil 4, God of War and now this piece of art. I got say, I didn't stop play it until the end and now I'm just started the hard mode and looking for secrets out there. Beautiful.

Simply amazing play this game.

A great game. More and more I appreciate games that allow the player to take an active role in filling in the blanks as opposed to having one's role/motive/history completely spelled out for you. In taking on the role of this game's hero (who really is a hero for seemingly being so normal while standing against such overwhelming odds) I found myself sucked into a very living world that would exist and go on existing whether I saved the day or not. And, unlike most other games, nothing was ever allowed to clutter or take away from the pure experience of the game itself. If anyone ever wanted to know how it may have felt to be a legend-in-the-making from ancient mythology (ie. Hercules and his 12 labours) while not already knowing the tale or needing to adhere to a cumbersome and jarring system of hitpoints or character development (and, ultimately, a whole bunch of filler to give a sense of the "epic" in that the video game odyssey simply took a long time to complete), never before has a game captured the feeling and the atmosphere of a myth so well and with such vitality. Simply put, the minimal aspects work wonders if you let yourself play the role. And you need to think like a normal guy taking on giants to be successful at this game. This is not a game to be conquered more than an experience to lose one's self in. And, somewhat like in life itself, it's not for those who need to know the answer to every question "Why?" to be satisfied. Beautiful if not a little arduous at times, but aren't all legendary tasks every once-in-a-while? A game that rewards the mind... if you care to use it a bit more than you would for most games or movies. This game is epic in that it makes you feel so small. Absolutely unique.… Expand

Great experience very challenging beautiful screen play one of PS2's best titles.

How can you overlook this game? The visuals up close may not be great but if you use the camera to your advantage and look at the background, it really takes you back. Although the camera controls may be stubern, the innovation, gameplay, and design in this game is enough for at LEAST a 9.0 score if not more!

Personally, I think anyone who gives this game less than an 8 should go back to their first-person shooters and seen-it-all-before franchises, because they clearly aren't capable of appreciating the artistry of Shadow of the Colossus. Dispensing with the typical hordes of enemies and trivial puzzles to be found in most games, Shadow is very pure in its intent - your quest is to explore a huge, desolate world to seek out and slay 16 giant mythical beasts, with the desperate hope of gaining the power to revive your fallen love. The game is intuitive to play, yet extremely challenging - you will often have to rack your brains to figure out a battle plan for each confrontation. The reviewer going by the alias "G.P." clearly perceives only nitpicking technical flaws and has no appreciation for beauty - the graphics are artistically superb, and the massive, bleak open spaces push the PS2 to its limits. Not to mention the colossi, all of whom are gargantuan behemoths with unique design and huge amounts of polygonal detail (and rendered fur!). All the characters are animated with expressive realism, with the protagonist in particular conveying in his movements and expressions an air of uncertainty at the mammoth task he faces. The score is beautiful, with rousing orchestral marches during the epic battles, and subtle violin pieces which further enhance the melancholy and loneliness of the game world. The story is presented through the events of the game far more effectively than, say, Half-Life 2 (which purports to have the same style of storytelling) could ever have hoped to achieve. Strangely, I felt an unprecedented emotional resonance with the colossi - on defeating the first one, there was a moment of triumph, but immediately afterwards the game cut to a wide angle of the stricken creature's death throes; and I actually found myself feeling sad that I was responsible for its demise, and even wondering if in fact I was doing the right thing by slaying these singular, beautiful creatures. Some games are not just about gameplay, but about the total experience. Shadow of the Colossus is one of them, and is by far the best game I've played in the past year or two. Unequivocally recommended to anyone who is sick of games that are big in length (and sponsorship) but short in artistry and love. If you're not sure, you should at least rent it and make up your own mind.… Expand

Shadow of the Colossus will likely not sell well in the US. We Americans don't seem to appreciate art when we see it, living in a slightly inhibited society where videogames, among all forms of entertainment, are somewhat dumbed down. Shadow nof the Colossus invites you to leave your world, and experience one of the most involving and emotional experiences ever created within the binds of electronic nentertainment. Shadow traverses above the tumultuous masses of lackluster games, and becomes a true work of art. It's likely the only game of this console generation (besides ICO) that manages to do so. A true masterpiece.… Expand

This game really had an effect on me. I've played it numerous times and every time is like a new experience. I can spend hours playing it, exploring the vast, desilate, yet majestic landscape. The music just adds on, every song captivates me. The stunning graphics and art. All of it is just so great. I will definetly say that Shadow of the Colossus is one of the best games in PlayStation history. I am very glad that I spent my money on this. I don't regret it at all.… Expand

Dynamic! One of THE BEST games I have ever played! Awesome Graphics, Great Story, and The Music Was Surpurb! This game would make a great movie! Total Adrenaline!

Oh my gosh. This game is simply epic. Nuff said. The visual effects are absolutely stunning and the AI of the Colossi and Agro are amazing. The landscape is also fantastic. The world is so vast and stunning and it really gives you a sense of solitude. Definitely one of the best games I've ever played.

The most amazing game I've ever played. Graphics were beautiful, even if they were constant throughout the clips as well. I can not express enough how amazing the music was, it was incredible and really went well with the game and helped stimulate it even more. I have never played a game like this before, and I can garentee you that there is no game that has offered anything like the colossus and there complaxity and chalenges. Love the simplicity of weapons and gameplay, but simple doesn't always mean easy. Good use of diversity of the colossi and how to bring them down. Two things to work on to make this game perfect: 1) Camera angles, to much manual use, and you don't have time to mess with it in a battle. 2) Explain the storyling. This game probebly has the most web sites that have theorys about the plot. GREAT GAME!!!… Expand

After Ico I was wondering if a game could ever replicate its utterly absorbing atmosphere of loneliness and silence. Then Kenji Kaido gives us SOTC and my question was answered. I looked and some of the very low rated reviews people were giving this game and what made me laugh was many were giving low ratings for the very reasons I love the game (what I call the lonely silence). It is such a beautiful game. I feel these are the best graphics to come out of a PS2. Better than Black even.… Expand

A mature, unique fantasy tale that manages to compel and impress without falling back on the over-used tropes of coputer gaming. Possibly the best video game I have played this year, and the best PS2 game I have seen, hands down. We need morer games that push the envelope and provide new, unique experiences like Shadow of the Colossus.

Amazing game...I do so hope they bring out a similar game with Orc-like battles or fights. This is very LOTR type and is great fun! The heart beats faster when you encounter the Colossus! Massive!

This game changed lives with the deep meaning and sadness put behind it. AMAZING graphics and a story that will break your heart. Exploration is a little annoying at times though. I feel jealous for those who havnt played it. I would give a lot to play it for the first time again.

Simply put, Shadow of the Colossus is one of my favorite games of all time. I recommend it to anyone who can enjoy a highly focused, uncluttered, and slower paced game.

So much good has already been said about Shadow of the Colossus I won't reiterate it, instead I am going to focus on the criticisms I've been reading in the reviews.

If you just cannot begin to understand why people rave about the story.... please, finish the game first. I think 70% of the story is conveyed *after* the fall of the final colossus. For me, the ending sequence propelled this game from great to awesome. It explains so much and ties it together very well. Is it going to tell you everything? No. That is just the style of storytelling Team ICO uses, and they use it quite masterfully.

First three words, in the introduction, form the manual: "in an undisturbed land." It is an element of the plot, there is a reason there is NOTHING around save for some birds and lizards--nothing is supposed to be there. Yes, grasslands are pretty boring, but you know what, they are pretty boring in real life too. The forest areas are genuinely beautiful, and there is more to the world than just the plains.

This game pushes the PS2 to its absolute limits. I've seen effects that I didn't even know where technically possible on the system and the uninterrupted size of the world is very impressive. As a result, the frame rate does drop noticeably in certain areas, a minor price to pay.

I never had issues with the controls of Wander (the hero) although there were definitely times the camera wouldn't stay where I wanted, but overall calling the controls bad is a gross overstatement. What about the horseback riding? Well...

Agro (the horse) really is a living breathing character in the game. He is a part of this story, and in this game he is not your character. You are ALWAYS in control of the hero, Wander, who is RIDING Agro. Agro is not just some neat-looking speed-boost for your character. Try to run him off a cliff and he will turn, stop, snort in defiance, whinny out of disagreement, and refuse, just like a real horse would. Are the controls the easiest or simplest? No, but I have ridden horses before, and I will tell you they are absolutely the most convincing I have ever seen. In some way it also makes those long rides searching out the Colossi more engaging, if all I had to do was "push forward" to walk just like normal, but faster, it would have been a much more boring journey. I applaud the designers for not taking the easy route and obviously closely studying the behaviors between horse and rider.

This game is about adventure and problem solving, e.g. puzzles. It is NOT an RPG, it is NOT a hack-n-slash, it is NOT an action game. Figuring out how to take down each Colossus given just yourself, a bow, and a sword is the whole point. It is about improvisation and resourcefulness. Some fights with the Colossi are just epic, and are really how boss fights should be. Instead of "how many times do I swing and/or cast this spell until he dies?"

Overall I found Shadow of the Colossus to be a much more engrossing and enjoyable experience than something like God of War could ever be. God of War relies heavily on genre standards; I've lost count of how many collect the red/blue/green orb action games there are now. GoW provided a very solid game and threw in hefty doses of sex and over-the-top violence to make it stand out from the crowed, and it succeeded.

Shadow of the Colossus instead tries to be unique in its design and presentation, appealing to a very different tastes, and it succeeds beautifully.… Expand

10/10 = Masterpiece = I don't know who gave this game an 8, but this artistic masterpiece should not be ignored! One of the greatest games ever made . . . EVER!!

I just have to say. Missredone you must be a fat girl. Or ugly. I DARE you to post a picture of yourself somewhere. Go Barbies dream ride. Figures, coming from a post from 2012. This game was released in 2005. This game was epic for its time and still is. If you dont like it fine. But at least give a legit reason. You wont be able to find one, NO OTHER GAME is like it. That's what makes it epic.

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Shadow Of The Colossus is by far the most amazing game anybody can experience. It combines the video game genre with art splendidly to create a vast and desolate landscape where only you,your horse and the colossi roam. First off is the hero of the story or should I say anti-hero. Your goal is to revive a dead girl called Mono by slaying sixteen colossi. Your hero does that without question obviously for love. He has only two weapons. His bow and arrow and the ancient sword that is the only thing capable of killing the colossal creatures. From the start of the game you can see that the hero called Wander is skilled with a bow in every way. He can shoot it anywhere including on his horse which can take years to normally master and he can even stand up on his horse and fire it. Then there is the sword. He is no swordsman due to his clumsiness at swinging it around and the fact that he stumbles most of the time when using it. The only reason he even has that sword is because he needs it to kill the creatures otherwise he wouldn't have it there but it doesn't matter as every hero has a flaw with skills and the sword is Wander's flaw. He seems very determined even when faced with the biggest of colossi.
His horse,Agro,is amazingly detailed and puts Epona from TLOZ series in the bin. Agro does everything a normal horse does. She grazes and nuzzles Wander. She seemed to hate the colossi slaying idea from the start and it is apparent but she goes on all for you and she even sacrifices herself for you. Talk about loyalty.
The Colossi themselves are amazingly brilliant. They look like art but they can pack a punch and wallop you down if your not careful. All of them are based on different animals and objects and they all have different personality's. Some of them hunt you down viciously and do actually want you dead and then there are some who just want to be left alone or don't mind you until you start stabbing them in their weak-point. Some of them fly while others swim and some burrow through the ground and it is all done in such a spectacular fashion. The real problem for you is the fact that in video games you just kill what's in front of you but you don't think about the consequences. Dormin,the God that sends you on this quest,says that the price you pay will be heavy but you don't care yet every time you kill a colossus you are destroying your humanity and committing a crime. You see it as one step closer to saving Mono but the colossi and anyone else sees it as murder. The problem is you actually have to kill these beasts as there is no game otherwise which means you are forced to kill them even if they don't attack you. Then as you deliver the blows you get sprayed with black blood that stains your clothes and then you have to watch the colossi die. The 13th colossus didn't attack you in any way yet you kill it and because it's the most peaceful it means you get to watch it die for 24 seconds and all the others as well. They even moan like an actual dying person giving you a sense of guilt.
The landscape on this game is so detailed. It's worth buying the game just to ride around on your horse to find the next colossus. There are deserts,forests,caves,cities,temples,rivers,lakes,barren and dry lands and waterfalls all for you to explore from the very beginning. There are fruits and lizards that you can kill to fill up your health bar and grip meter and even an eagle that you can grab onto and ride. There is just so much beauty in everything put into this game that you could put it in a museum and as you ride past on your horse it is such a breathtaking moment that you forget everything to see the view. But because the land is so vast and the colossi take time to get to it means you can just think and discover more about yourself and think about what your doing. It raises questions. Is it worth it? Do these innocent creatures deserve to die? Am I doing the right thing? You can get quite lost in your thoughts. The plot of the game is small yet if you look in the detail on Wander after each colossus you will notice something that links to the plot. Wander is going from a young and healthy man to looking like a corpse.
Meanwhile Mono is looking healthier by each death. When you reach the last colossus you have dark black hair and stains all over your clothes and face and you lost your horse. Could Agro's sacrifice be for nothing? Then when its all over you go back to the temple and the most emotional and the most gutting ending starts. Was it all for nothing or did Mono live? You have to play it to find out.
Last but not least is the music. There is a wide variety of music to listen to from the slow silence to the action packed colossus battle music. It puts Lord of the rings Music to shame and that is saying something. If you have not got this game I recommend that you buy it and play it as it is one of the best PS2 games ever and even one of the best games in general ever.… Expand

This game is simply amazing. The soundtrack was great. No other game has ever got horse riding as spot on as this game. It was one of the first games to show really show that games can be an art form.

This game sets out to do something and does it perfectly. It is risky to cut out what most would consider the game and use only boss fights, but this tactic packs all of the adrenaline, and artistry, into one tight bundle. This is nothing short of perfect, yet it may not have everything some may want in a game.

Emotional, exciting, fun, breathtaking. I'm probably missing a few other words that can describe this heavenly game. Basically, it's one of the best games of the last generation, and possibly of all time. I'm not afraid to say this game is one of the best, simply because there is no other game like it. It set a bar for every Adventure/action game that followed it, much like Half Life 2 did for FPS's. But it does more then just reinovate gaming mechanics. It is one of the few games that can call themselves, with a straight face, a work of art. Some would disagree, granted, but even the sceptics can appreciate the game's excellent design, and if you are not so narrow minded as some gamers, you will no doubt love this game. It's more then a game, and with every gaming year filled to brimming with grey and unoriginal videogames, it just gets clearer.… Expand

I didn't get to play this one until around 3 years after it's release. How it slipped under the radar for so long I have no idea because it's probably one of the best games in the entire ps2 library. It was definitely ahead of it's time as more games are trying to use that sense of scale to awe players. SOTC's gameplay structure has you explore a massive land full of valleys, caves and abandoned crumbling temples in search of 16 creatures... that are usually 50 times your size. Have fun!… Expand

This game is good. However, it is REALLY overrated. The gameplay is fun but awkward and clunky. The soundtrack is glorious and the game looks great. I enjoyed this game and felt both a strong sense of attachment and a strong feeling of frustration. Those Colossi are tough.

No alcanzan las palabras para describir la experiencia que este juego supone.
Shadow of the Colossus supone un antes y después en la vida de quienes hemos tenido el privilegio de disfrutarlo, y esto es debido a las maneras tan simple en las que el juego transmite sentimientos tan profundos. La amistad, el compañerismo y el amor inmortal que los personajes sienten llega a ser contagioso al punto que uno puede sentirse uno mas en este escaso grupo; la atmósfera que se crea en todos los rincones de la Tierra Prohibida transmite una sensación de soledad que se vuelve hasta palpable, en parte gracias a la excelente BSO que el título posee. Sin embargo, la historia en si es el ingrediente definitivo que hace al juego, pues la enorme carga de sentimientos que alberga la convierten en una de las historias mas emotivas que la industria haya visto.… Expand

This Game is Art! I really wish that the storyline was longer. But everything other than that is really GREAT! I gave 10 because the score speaks for itself. The game earned the title "Best Game for the PS2".

Shadow of Colossus is such a beautiful piece of videogameart! you have never seen or experienced something like this! First i thought this game was not finished by the programmers, cause even when the landscape is beautiful, its somewhat empty and lacks some life, but the longer i played, i realized that those "quiet" parts between this colossal boss-fights are essential for the feeling, for whats going on inside the player. the nature is so beautiful, this "quiet" parts ARE atmospheric and essential also for the story, which is also unique, and this game really dont need more than those bossfights and this moments were the player is alone with this beautiful presented nature. though its unconventionel and strange that they have invested so much time in buildung up a country full of nature, but with no gameplay. it was brave to this, but the result concede the programmers that they were right. amazing game!… Expand

Shadow of the Colossus is arguably one of the greatest action-adventure games ever created. Developed by the esteemed and greatly hailed game developers, Team Ico, Shadow of the Colossus is the prequel to the developers famed first release, Ico. Set at an ambiguous time, likely several centuries before Ico, the game begins with a young boy on horseback with his questionably-alive lady friend. This girl was sacrificed in a village's ancient sacrificial ritual, but for reasons unknown, the unnamed protagonist (given the name The Wander by fans) is on a journey to take her to a forbidden land. When he arrives at a large castle in this forbidden land, he is greeted by Dormir, the resident god of the land. The protagonist asks the god to bring the girl back to life; Dormir agrees, but only if Wander first slays the sixteen giants that reside in the land. In actuality, the title is nothing more than a platforming-puzzle game. So what makes this such a pivotal game? The presentation. Team Ico has a special talent of storytelling and use of gameplay that in unparalleled. While the story of Shadow of the Colossus is deep and intricate, not a whole lot of the plot is in fact revealed. Much of the plot takes place before the events that you experience, and the ending is left very open-ended. You feel like you're experiencing something much greater than what appears before you, which offers a beautiful perspective on the story. The gameplay is all about destroying these giant 20+ story tall colossi, but you're free to roam the sandbox-styled landscape freely, and can enter these massive boss battles whenever you feel ready and prepared. The landscape is simply awe inspiring, and there is no danger to disturb your taking in the scenery. And when you do enter these battles, they are intense, and really give you the feeling that these colossi are indeed colossal. Shadow of the Colossus offers a completely unique experience, and is one of those few games that simply can't be missed.… Expand

This is by far one of the best single player experiences I have ever set foot upon. The reason this is a 9 out of 10 instead of 10 out of 10 is because the horse is aggravating, which is ironic considering the horse's name is "Agro." The music is MASTERFUL, the game play is fluid, the bosses (it is a game specifically of bosses) are memorable, and the ending could be one of the best of ALL TIME. All in all, buy it. Right now.… Expand

This game is colossal in every way imaginable. From the amazing art style, to the calm and epic soundtrack. Shadow of the Colossus shines, not only as a game, but as a work of art!

This game is near flawless. The soundtrack, the world, the way you kill these giants. SotC is an amazing game that has something different to offer from other RPGs (Is this an RPG?), and that is the fact that you are all alone. The only other living things here are your horse and the 16 colossi. The biggest thing that holds this game back from being a perfect 10 is the game has a few camera issues. The game does allow you to lock on ti the colossi, so you are looking at it. When you do this while climbing a colossus, the camera tends to zoom in, making it a little harder to climb. Also, 15-20 frames per second? Yeah... but it's all right. Overall, an amazing game with just a couple flaws.… Expand

Great game, challenging bosses especially the one with the colossus that behaves like a rhino that got me over a few times. challenging at first but once you repeat it kinda stinks since you know how to beat them already. but anyways super great game.

This is an amazing game I urge you not to miss the chance to play the game! This game has a great story, great atmosphere,great game-play great visuals,great soundtrack and a surprising twist at the end.I urge you to try this game out you will not be disappointed.

Shadow of the Colossus is a beautiful art game that understands how to strike a balance between its interesting narrative concerns and engaging gameplay. More impressively, it knows how to use the mechanisms of its medium to reinforce these thematic concerns.

You become excited by the chase and anxious by the scale of your encounters with the vast, beautiful creatures whose destruction forms the central mechanism of the experience, but more atmospheric elements--the diminishing certainty of purpose, the proximity to the forbidden, and the sense of isolation --become tactile experiences, as well. When Wander's grip fails, and he tumbles down the flanks of a living mountain you've spent the past half-hour learning to kill, you share his exhaustion. When the final blow dims the iridescent eyes of the colossus, your relief at the end of the struggle is a physical one. On the other hand, you also share the futility of Wander's attempts to outrun the consequences of his victory...

Even the repetition of the central game mechanic and the sparse diversion between boss fights, which first struck me as weaknesses in execution, seem, on further reflection, a central component of the experience. This is a bleak place that you've come to, and your purpose becomes a grim one. While rewarding is a somewhat unqualified term to use for this game's unique intentions, Shadow of the Colossus will certainly return your investment.… Expand