Shadow of the Colossus

Shadow of the Colossus is a timeless game that is timeless art, one worthy of not only of this great remaster, but of all the accolades it rightfully deserved in 2005.

The new Colossus.

If you’re one of those who ever considered the original Shadow of the Colossus a work of art, then consider the remake by Austin, Texas based developer Bluepoint Games as a well-done replica, pretty much indistinguishable from the real thing.

I don’t think I am being hyperbolic when I call Shadow of the Colossus a masterpiece. Even among Fumito Ueda’s small-but-impressive collection of games, Shadow of the Colossus stands out as my favorite. I know I’m not alone in that, which is why remaking Shadow of the Colossus is a tall and dangerous order. Thankfully, developer Bluepoint was up to the task. While it does not improve on the original game (or the HD remaster from 2011) in every way, this version of Shadow of the Colossus is absolutely worth seeking out for both fans and newcomers.

If you never played Shadow of the Colossus before, you're missing out on a phenomenal game. The atmosphere is incredible and the story telling is simple, yet marvelous. Bearing witness to these colossi and then finally conquering them is such a magical feeling very rarely felt in games today. If you own a PS3, Shadow of the Colossus will be rereleased in a few months in the upcoming ICO collection with improved hi-definition graphics, so you should make it a note to pick that collection up. Even if you previously owned it on the PS2, it will be worth experiencing all over again without encumbe...

There’s more reason to play Shadow of the Colossus than ever before. The presentation improves the incredible spectacle that the game is. The core gameplay can still be a little bit clunky at times, but the satisfaction from taking down the Colossus is greater than ever. At the cheaper price of admission ($54.99) that you’ll be playing for this game, it’s near impossible not to recommend it even if you’ve played it before.

Shadow of the Colossus is an exemplary remake. It improves those elements that have become outdated in the original, such as controls and visuals, without touching what is timeless - i.e. the gameplay structure, plot and artistic style.

Fans new and old will find plenty to get excited about in this remaster. There is a lot to like here, from its jaw-dropping visuals and audio, to its minimalist unique and engaging story, to even its various modes and New Game+ option. I have always said Shadow of the Colossus is a must-play game, and I can now continue to say that without having to convince someone to buy a PlayStation 2 to play it.

Overall, this remastered version of Shadow of the Colossus is something I would definitely recommend experiencing, especially if you haven’t gotten around to it yet for some reason like me or were maybe too young to hop on the bandwagon the first time around. It is a flat-out beautiful title that must be seen to be believed. It can be both profoundly beautiful and anxiety-inducing at the same time. Just realize that while the looks are on par with modern releases, the controls and camera are still stuck in the past. But they are not so dated as to truly deter from the game’s overall quality. J...

The connection I feel to a game is extremely important in how much I enjoy it. Shadow does a great job of making me care about the characters even though I start out knowing little about them. I got pretty attached to Wander and Agro, especially with how little else there was to focus on. The mystery surrounding Dormin and Mono is also revealed at the end of the game, making the anxiety-inducing boss battles absolutely worth it.