Shadow of the Colossus - thumbs up or down?

[farmecologist]

Hi all,

 

First of all, I'm really enjoying the site and forums!

 

I find many people/reviews saying that Shadow of the Colossus is one of the 'best games ever' and 'it is art', etc.. So I tried it out.  Frankly, the game just doesn't do it for me.   Sure it is 'pretty'.  However, I really thought the game play was sub-par..it really doesn't seem like there is much 'to' the game.  Am I missing something?

 

Is it jsut me who feels this way?   I am really suprised at my view compared to all of the other media reviews!  I'd be very interested in what others think!

 

 

Sorry if there is already a post discussing this..I didn't seem to find one.

 

 

Also, does the critic plan on reviewing this?  It would be interesting to see his view.  I don't see it in the PS2 list.

 

 

[JustLikeHeaven1]

About 2 months ago I bought Shadow of the Colossus and I was really captivated by it.  Honestly the game didn't make a really great first impression with me.  Once I faced off against the first Colossus and I took down the lumbering beast I was officially hooked. 

 

The game is not for everyone, but I for one really enjoyed it and I would easily put it up there as one of my favorite PS2 games. 

 

There is nothing wrong with you though...I have read about alot of people not liking the game.  Some people claim that the camera is less than perfect and the controls could be better.  Both are valid arguements, but the fun factor and sheer entertainment value of fighting the Colossus more than outweigh those negatives.

 

By the way the Critic did do a review of the game...he gave it a B+

[farmecologist]

D'oh..my bad.  I see his review now.   Sigh..I have no idea how I missed it.    

[sega saturn x]

Great idea, awful awful camera, plus the game never really clicked with me.  After you took down the beast playing through it again was just dull the game has no replayablity at all.

[JustLikeHeaven1]

I was very skeptical about the game and I waited for it to drop to $20 before I finally got it.

 

I don't think replay value matters all that much in an adventure game.  In my personal experience I almost never go back and play adventure games once I beat them.  If I do its years later and the experience seems new and fresh. 

 

SotC is really more of buying into the idea that there is nothing else like it on the market.  For a unique game with sweet art direction you could do alot worse than spending $20 on SotC.

 

My biggest complaint was riding that damn horse...the camera angle sucked something fierce when on horseback.

 

Yet I loved the tense moments of dangling on the arm of one the Colossus as it tried to swing you off of it.  I really dug this game and its at the very least its worth renting. 

[a1]

[QUOTE=JustLikeHeaven]

My biggest complaint was riding that damn horse...the camera angle sucked something fierce when on horseback.

[/QUOTE]

 

That damn horse was the prettiest thing I've ever seen in a game, and I found riding it pretty fun. I loved that horse (sniff).

 

Anyway, I found looking for the next Colossus boring (I checked the internet to find where to go), but the Colossi were amazing. I especially liked the music once you made it to the weak spot; it really gives you an adrenaline rush (as much as you can get sitting on the couch anyway). Plus, you really feel alone when you play the game; the makers did a good job with that.

 

[voor]

There's a big long thread abou this game on this forum, just search for it (it's under the title).  It does include some spoilers though.

[Funkamster V]

Nothing has taken my breath away like this game. I have an inner ear problem so I hate heights (LOL), therefore this game freaks me the hell out when I play it on the big screen.

 

But, at one point I got bored and never finished it. I like the premise but I got over it.

 

FUNK 

[Sudz1]

[QUOTE=Funkamster V]

Nothing has taken my breath away like this game. I have an inner ear problem so I hate heights (LOL), therefore this game freaks me the hell out when I play it on the big screen.

FUNK 

[/QUOTE]

Not to change the subject, but I guess I am anyway - Funk, have you ever played through the original Half Life?  I have to admit I've always had a bit of a 'fear' of heights.  There is one point in Half Life that you go through a big drainage pipe and emerge on the side of a cliff.  You then have to carefully navigate your way over very small boards and cliff edges while fighting the occasional bad guy to get through to the next level.  I've never been so scarred of falling of something in a video game in my life!  I don't know why, maybe it's because I was playing on a PC and of course with PC gaming you tend to be MUCH closer to the screen than when you play console games, but my hands were actually getting sweaty and shakey running around the edges of that cliff with my nerves frayed worrying about falling to my death.  It was a very surreal experience, and I highly recommend you give it a shot if you have a fear of heights like I do.
Sudz

[Funkmaster V]

[QUOTE=Sudz][QUOTE=Funkamster V]

Nothing has taken my breath away like this game. I have an inner ear problem so I hate heights (LOL), therefore this game freaks me the hell out when I play it on the big screen.

FUNK 

[/QUOTE]

Not to change the subject, but I guess I am anyway - Funk, have you ever played through the original Half Life?  I have to admit I've always had a bit of a 'fear' of heights.  There is one point in Half Life that you go through a big drainage pipe and emerge on the side of a cliff.  You then have to carefully navigate your way over very small boards and cliff edges while fighting the occasional bad guy to get through to the next level.  I've never been so scarred of falling of something in a video game in my life!  I don't know why, maybe it's because I was playing on a PC and of course with PC gaming you tend to be MUCH closer to the screen than when you play console games, but my hands were actually getting sweaty and shakey running around the edges of that cliff with my nerves frayed worrying about falling to my death.  It was a very surreal experience, and I highly recommend you give it a shot if you have a fear of heights like I do.
Sudz

[/QUOTE]

 

HA HA. I guess I'll have to give that a spin. But to be honest it would probably instill more anxiety than joy!

 

FUNK