It was in 2005 that Shadow of the Colossus graced the PS2 and became one of the best PS2 games, if not the best. Thirteen years later, this timeless classic has been reintroduced with a fresh coat of paint for today’s generation of gamers.
So how does it hold up?
In this review, we will take a detailed look at all aspects of this game such as graphics, gameplay, story, and overall experience. However, to understand the pedigree of what we’re looking at here, we need to look at one more aspect of this game, and that is its legacy.
When it comes to timeless video game classics, very few games have the impact of Shadow of the Colossus. I remember when I first started the original SOTC on my PS2, back in 2005. I went in completely blind, knowing nothing about this game. There are no reviews or spoilers in the past. After the initial hurdle of trying to figure out the climbing mechanic, it was a moment of awe that only a few games could provide at the time.
Fast forward 12 years, the second colossus was released. He knew this was a rare masterpiece that needed to be savored. And I was not the only one who shared this sentiment. Almost everyone who has played this game has a soft spot for it, regardless of whether they’ve beaten it once or, as in my case, at least a dozen times.
But gaming has come a long way since 2005. And the sheer variety of genres and the advancements in mechanics we’ve experienced over these 2 generations of consoles since PS2 is astounding, making me speechless when I see how well it works. the PS4 version. of this game is sustained today.
History
The main story of SOTC can be written in a few sentences. The man tries to save the beloved Monkey. The man is offered the opportunity to do so by killing 16 colossi. The man does. And then the end. But there is much more complexity to this simple story. You can’t help but fall in love with each character. From Agro, your faithful steed, to the wanderer, the protagonist and each of the 16 magnificent colossi. All of this just leads to an emotional hit every time you kill these behemoths. And not to mention an ending that is both utterly heartbreaking and beautiful.
graphics
Part of the charm of SOTC lies in how simple everything is, and the underlying complexity is born in the mind of the player. It may be due to the limitations of the PS2 that things were kept so simple, but Bluepoint’s games have utilized that simplicity along with the graphical fidelity of the PS4, delivered in spades. This game is one of the best games for PS4 right now. Everything in this game, from the landscapes to the towering colossi, has been revamped from the ground up. And the result is phenomenal. There is an amazing attention to detail in every nook and cranny of this game. And these images play a vital role in the overall experience of this new version.
how to play
The core gameplay of SOTC involves riding across the landscapes of the cursed land on horseback, searching for the next colossus. You have to figure out where to go with the help of your sword that reflects beams of light towards the target direction. Once you find the Colossi, you need to figure out how to take them down as each requires a different strategy and planning. This keeps the game fresh until the end. Consisting only of a sword, bow, and arrow, your arsenal is reminiscent of the simple theme of the game.
Despite all the praise for this game, there’s no denying that the controls were a bit weird. Even back in the PS2 days, we had games with much better controls than SOTC. While we can’t say this has been fully resolved in the new version, there are some notable changes here. The button layout is mapped to appeal to today’s gamers, which can be reset to the original settings if desired. In addition to this, there are also now in-game collectibles and some clever Easter eggs that reference other Mr. Ueda games.
While the main game can be finished in about 10 hours, longevity is provided through other difficulty settings and extravagant rewards. And a mirrored mode that, well, mirrors the game screen and feels surprisingly cool. Add to this a Photo mode that allows you to take screenshots of the game, with various filters and tools. I have honestly spent hours here and the end results are amazing.
general
The original SOTC on the PS2 took the breath away of gamers and added to the idea that video games are, in fact, an art. It was timeless in its own right and didn’t need a remaster. But this remaster was still done and the result is a masterpiece. If the PS4 had come out in 2005, this might have been Fumito Ueda’s original vision. We may never know, but as gamers, we can only thank the creators for making this happen. SOTC on PS4 is not only an essential but also a timeless classic that sets new standards for remakes.
Score
10/10
