Shadow of the Colossus is a Action-Adventure game was released in 2018 exclusively for PS4. It was developed by Bluepoint Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, and it is a remake of the 2005's original game for PS2 was developed by Team Ico.
Before I begin the review, let's talk about the team behind the masterpiece that changed video game history.
Team Ico led by Fumito Ueda was responisible for creating his work of art during the early days of PS2 era in the year of 2001, so that is Ico.
It's an interactive action-adventure was heavily created on subtracting design approach to create a simple and less interfernce game's design elements and focused more on the story and settings to add immersion.
At the game's release, while it's not commercially successful at launch the game had recieved critically acclaimed by the gaming medias praising the game for its immersive atmosphere, influential puzzle design, technically impressive visuals and sound environments, and of course the interactive storytelling and emotional connection between the characters is what makes the Ico a work of art in gaming.
The team was later created the spiritual successor in 2005 which is Shadow of the Colossus for the PS2, so it is an action-adventure title that was originally in development as online multiplayer game titled NICO directly after the completion of Ico, but it underwent a lengthy production cycle during which it was redeveloped as a single-player title, as the team aims to create an cinematic interactive experience including a distinct visual design, unorthdox gameplay template, and NPC's sophisticated artificial intelligence.
At the game's release, it was met with strong sales compared to predecessor due in part to a larger marketing campaign and had gained widely acclaimed by the gaming media, as its been fully recognisable as an important example of video game form of art due to its minimalist landscape designs, immersive gameplay, and player's emotional journey.
It won several awards for its audio, visuals, and overall quality, as well as cited as an influrential in the video game industry and listed as one of the greatest game of all-time.
Due to legacy, both games are later being remastered in 2011 for PS3 adding support for HD resolution, higher performance, and stereoscopic 3D designed for HDTV with 3D support which are also recieved acclaimed reception for its additional enhancements and easy recommendation for newcomers.
Then finally the 2005's original title are also getting the full remake in 2018 for the PS4 titled as Shadow of the Colossus. First of all, I haven't had a PS2 console at the early 2000s (until I got it as in 2022) which is why I haven't had a chance to play both of these till I had a PS3 console as in 2011 which I did get a chance to play these on HD remastered collection, so thanks to PS Plus's free monthly games subscription back then.
My thoughts on HD remastered collection for the PS3 are incredibly fantastic especially playing on the HDTV, so I liked the Ico which is gorgeously beauitful game but I think the Shadow of the Colossus supasses the predecessor in terms of visual presentation settings, open-world environments, and of course the epic gameplay action is something to adored the most which I concider the game as masterclass in gaming.
I decided to re-visit the game by picking up a copy of 2018's full-on remake title for the PS4 to see if the game does holds up well to the today standards in terms of performance and quality, so is the game still remains as the masterpiece or is it not as what I've remembered? so let's find out the pros and cons of this title.
So without go further do, let's start the review.
Presentation
The game takes place in the fantasy world of unpopulated peninsula known as the forbidden land, as it begins with long opening cutscenes of the young man named Wander traveling through the isolated mythic region alongside his loyal horse named Argo, as he carries the deceased body of the maiden named Mono to the massive stone temple called the shrine of worship where he meets the mysterious entity named Dormin.
Driven by his grief, he begs the entity to revive the girl's body which the entity has agreed to help the young man, but under one condition he must destroy all dark armored beast known as the colossi to achieve his goal is the only way of bring the dead maiden back to it's life.
The game' story is quite has an emotional start where Wander had learnt about the maiden who was sacrificed because she was believed to have a cursed destiny had led Wander desperately going on his quest to find his way of bringing her life back, so I think these kinds of story reflecting on the character who witness the death of the loved ones had their soul taken away is something that the game's opening cutscene shares an grieving moment but also finds the last big hope.
Wander is the protagonist in the game is perhaps described as beginner warrior due to his slow and clumsy sword skill, but he is determined to save Mono at any cost.
He has horse companion Argo is crucial for traversing the massive landscape and accessing certain battles.
Lastly the deceased maiden Mono is described as beautiful woman with long dark hair kinda like the sleeping beauty laying on the temple altar...yeah that's all I can say about it, no puns intended.
I concider the game's presentation as a astonishingly gorgeous for its art-direction and environmental quality which proves that the video games like this are concidered as the work of art thanks to dark coloured filter for cinematic view, isolated open-world areas, dynamic scenery, and the settings of style has the mixture between gothic and nature just adds up the game's artistic vision makes it everything look beauitful.
There are various of the locations such as shrine of worship is an massive ancient hub near the center of the ancient lands, so it has an enormous bridge that leads directly to the shrine, the first area has a cylindrical room with a lengthy spiral ramp winding around its edge and the shallow basin of water, the second area has the main hall filled with the altar, the idols, the balcony, and a sunlit aperture in the ceiling.
The sanctuary is a fortress-like battlefield takes place on the top of a high tower which has the gate entrance, the unstable bridge, the cliffside, the barricades, crumbled stairs, and the arena.
The ruins is a old ruined city are filled with the alligned pillars, the large wall of archs, the temple, the big tower, and the lake inside the cave.
The canyon takes place in a foggy lake is dotted with platforms, ruins with an intact bridge, and a giant pillar.
The deserts are filled with long distance rocky mountain, ringed structures, the broken temples, few unique rock formation, and pile of sands on the ground.
The geyser is a desolate land covered in black clouds, has the crater trees on some areas, and of course the distinct hill mound.
The Kirin's hill is a green land are filled with the underground tunnels and 4 hill-like graves.
The misty falls is an area distinguished by a wide river flowing south with gigantic waterfalls.
The parthenon is a cobblestone plaza are flanked by buildings on both sides and it has inside walls of the arena.
Overall, it has beautiful opening story, gorgeous art-direction, and fantastic open-world settings.
Gameplay
In single-player campaign, you take control of Wander at 3rd-person perspective in open-world environments, as your main goal is to go explore around the open-world area and hunt down all 16 colossi to resurrect Mono back to life.
Push the left-stick controls is to move player around and push the right-stick is to rotate the camera around.
Press the cross button is to jump which are used for jumping on platforms, where as holding the right trigger is used as grab are designed for climbing on stuff like ledges, gaps, and of course the fur of the colossi.
You might want to pay an attention to the yellow-symbol on the bottom-right hud which indicates stamina bar shows you how long can you grab on till it reaches zero causing the player losing grips may lead to falling off.
You can also ride on horse by pressing the cross button is to get on the horse, and then to control horse press and hold the triangle button is to gallop, so the more you hold the button down the faster the horse runs.
You can stop controlling the horse by holding the left-stick down then press the triangle button to stop gallop.
You can make horse move backwards by holding the left-stick down then press the triangle button to walk back.
Your horse can make a quick turn by holding the left-stick down then press the triangle button twice during the gallop.
You can also perform various of stunts such as standing up on the horse by holding the right trigger then push the left-stick up, then you have the horse does auto jump itself from the small cliff, and you can jump off from the horse by pressing the cross button while gallop, and of course you can also lean side of your horse by holding both of the right trigger and cross button then push the left or right stick control.
You can access to the world map screen by pressing the touchpad button and you will see the map displayed on the screen which tells you where you heading to and where to find the colossi, but heading back to the in-game exploration when equipping your sword hold the right shoulder button which pinpoints the colossi's whereabouts, as you will see the long blue-colored beam of light coming out from the sword points directly to the spot where the colossi are being located on.
For the combat, press the square button is to use sword which acts as an melee weapon for close-range attack, where as the right shoulder button is to use bow when equiped which is used as ranged weapon for long-range attack.
You can cycle your weapon by pressing the d-pad left or right button to switch your bow or sword to equip, where as you can unequip it by pressing the d-pad up button.
Press the circle button is to dodge roll which are used for evading colossi's incoming attacks or projectiles.
Hold the left shoulder button is to use camera focus which zooms in to your player, where as the left trigger is to view colossus which pans the camera system at the colossi.
The control scheme has 2 options such as the modern which is default control for this game are designed for the newcomers, where as the classic which are using the button layouts based on PS2 original, so I say the modern control scheme plays it better which I finding the new button layouts for this remake are slightly easier to learn than the 2005 original's classic controls meaning that having to modernised control schemes improves upon certain things like horse riding, jumps, climbing, and striking being mapped correctly on button layouts will make the playabilty accessible to new players.
Despite the improvement on control scheme, there are few issues that may gonna put you off is the clunky physics and camera system during the battle against the colossi is because we understand Wander is not the best fighter to start with which is understandable for his character perspective, but when its comes with the in-game battle the problem is that his movement and platforming can feel quite stiff and wonky when climbing and holding on the colossi's body and the camera can get lost track in the fur of the colossi just adds-up fraustration for many players.
I say having to ride on horse is useful for travelling around the open-world area which is acceptable for action-adventure games that you may needed an companion that can take you anywhere in the open-world environment, but controlling the horse can be hectic sometimes that may cause the horse to stop completely if avoiding tight spaces like narrow bridges or forrest paths, as well as straying from instructions which sometimes flee in fear of the colossi making it difficult to mount horse when you need to make a quick escape.
I say the controls are doing fine for the platforming and striking throughout the campaign as well as modernising button layout does really help the playability which is good, but does share the few flaws with the physics, camera system, and horse's A.I can be sometimes be tedious during the battle.
What I liked about the game is the exploration which I really liked having to travel around the open-world environments which are incredibly big at the time, especially on the previous platforms like the PS2 console are being capable of rendering a large potion of open-world design that is quite enormous for the Sony's 6th-gen machine had achieved the technical aspects back in the year 2005, but going back now to the PS4 remake the game is still remains beautifully for the open-world design which I can able to travel anywhere from ancient ruins to underwater cave, then forrest to broken temples, and of course sandy deserts to foggy canyon which are perfectly great for sightseeing to embrace the outdoor natures.
I also wanted to mention about the upgrades which are also important part of the game is because you do really need to improve your player's stats such as health and stamina that really needs to be maxing out, so you may want to find and collect the specific items like the lizard tails and fruit which can be found anywhere in the open-world area or if you want to go for the quick method option then killing a colossus will also improve upon your player's stats if you want to go for that route.
The major highlight of the game's campaign is got to be the epic boss battle is because this is the game's only main objective is to defeat many colossi are the only way to resurrect maiden from the dead, so all you had to do is to go, search, and hunt down the large enormous beast which I find the game's quest objective quite simple and straight-forward that made me spend more time with the game for hours.
It had various of bosses to fight against such as you have Minotaur A which is a tall-large beast welds with massive club, Mammoth is a huge 4-legged beast that can stump you with the large feet, Knight is simular to Minotaur but instead welds with massive sword, Kirin is a giraffe-like creature with two-longed braid on the chin, Bird is a wide-looking flying creature with big-flat wings, Minotaur B is another tall-large beast but instead uses the fist to smash stuff, Eel is a long-looking sea-creature with electrifying pointer swims around underwater, Yamori B is a 4-glowy armed monster has ability to crawl around the walls, Kame is a big tortoise-like creature that can blast you with the projectile, Narga is a enormous dragon-like monster swims under the sand, Leo is a big-fat brute with bull-horns will charge you with the running attack, Poseidon is a giant creature with two hands will blast you with the thunderstruck, Snake is another flying creature with long tail, Cerberus is another large brute also does charge attack as well as smacking you with the fist, Minotaur C is another tall-large beast but instead it welds heavy sword-like weapon, and lastly Evis is the total non-stop iron giant.
These of the bosses that gives you an intense fight where you had to find the way of defeating them by searching for their weak-spots can be located on any of their body parts, so all you had to do is to find the reachable place to jump on and grab onto their hairy fur or armored ledges to proceed the fighting on the bosses with lot of climbing and jumping to do till you found their weakness is the only way of fighting them.
This really adds the epic moments of the whole campaign is all about little guy going out fighting against the giagantic titans is what I loved about this game with epic action sequences and has problem solving strategy going on just made me play the game an over the hours.
Overall, it has modernised control scheme, incredible explorarion, and epic boss battle.
Graphics
The graphics in this game is excellent in which this remake just got made from ground up was designed for PS4's hardware resulting an ambitious details that overhauls the visual quality and performances.
Its has the large potion of the open-world environments are filled with many structures and objects in many areas including ruins, towers, caves, pillars, and altar are displayed nicely on the in-game exploration.
It has detailed landscapes of hills and mountains, skies and clouds, and waterfall are perfectly layed out from the long-distance view, and the textures are sure looked crisp that adds the sharpness on the surfaces that made it look bold and clean.
I also liked the foggy effects on some places that gives the some area look gloomy and dark, and the use of shadow effects reflecting on surfaces gives the illusion of light and dark shades.
The dusty particles and falling debris from broken surfaces of objects and walls such as colossi's idol as an example came crumbling down are nicely intact, and the water from outside has a nicely shims when swimming around the pond area.
The ground details has the soft pop-ups of grass and the flat surface of sands are looking quite smooth in some areas.
The character's animation is spectcular especially riding on the horse is looking terrific with impressive animation frame just feel realistic during the exploration, and I say the animation on colossi is also quite intact with slow-paced movement which captures the feel of the heaviness just works really well in the game.
You can also change the colour filters on the option menu which features 15 adjustable in-game visual filters allowing you to completely change the atmosphere of your playthrough ranging from classic black and white to highly saturated or muted styles that suits your preference.
The game also supports HDR which results a fine detail of color balance to make it look neater on the modern TV screen, and it does have an option to adjust the motion blur which the game looks better by lower it down to zero making it look less blurry on screen.
I wanted to praise the inclusion of the enhancements which provides 2 graphical mode such as the performance mode and cinematic mode.
The performance mode runs on full 1080p resolution with 60fps provides a smoother gameplay performance, where as the cinematic mode runs on full 1440p (PS4 Pro) or 1080p (Base PS4) with 30fps which result clearer picture on the screen.
The cinematic mode is great, but I kinda perfer the performance mode for its clean performance and responsiveness makes the gameplay plays better in my opinion.
Overall, it has excellent open-world environments, impressive animation, and stunning visual overhauls.
Music and Sounds
This game clearly has the best original soundtrack out of all action-adventure titles you ever heard which I adore the epic score of orchestrial music for many films, TV series, and video games.
It really fits the action sequences of fighting against the giagantic titans that are so intense and terrifying but also a remarkable score that really defines the 2005's original title.
Stuff like you have these track like "A Violent Encounter", "Revived Power", and "The Opened Way" has sort of Hans Zimmer-esque feel to it which made the whole track in the game quite outstanding to listen.
It was composed by Kow Otani, a Japanese music composer was known for creating soundtrack for the Heisei Gamera trilogy and Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, did a fabulous job of creating an amazing score of 2005's original game still featured in this remake is the reason why I loved the game.
The sound design are also highly praised for it dynamic environmental noises on many open-world areas as well as the heavy use of impact sounds that the colossi had made when stomping and banging on the ground is quite satisfying to hear.
Overall, it has outstanding soundrack and superb sound design.
Special Features
The game has in-game unlockable content including new game plus, hard mode, galleries, time attack mode with reward items, and collectable hidden relics really adds the game's replayablities.
Overall, an amazing in-game package.
Advantages
Fantastic presentation
Incredible exploration
Epic boss battle
Excellent graphics
Outstanding soundtrack
Disadvantages
Clunky physics and camera system
Hectic horse's A.I
Final Verdict
Presentation 10/10 - beautiful opening story, gorgeous art-direction, and fantastic open-world settings.
Gameplay 8.5/10 - modernised control scheme, incredible explorarion, and epic boss battle.
Graphics 10/10 - excellent open-world environments, impressive animation, and stunning visual overhauls.
Music and Sounds 10/10 - outstanding soundrack and superb sound design.
Special Features 9/10 - new game plus, hard mode, galleries, time attack mode with reward items, and collectable hidden relics.
Overall 9/10 - I say it's an wonderful improvement over the 2005's original game thanks to visual overhaul and modern control option may going to impress many newcomers will likely to enjoy the epic single-player adventure.
Shadow of the Colossus is not the only just being an 2018's incredible remake of the gorgeous 2005's original game, but also still remains as one of the action-adventure biggest masterpiece that defines the gaming history.
I love the art-direction, the open-world exploration, the quality soundtrack, and of course the battle between the small guy vs big titans is something that made the game so incredibly special to play.
I am really glad that I get to re-visit the title again since I've played the PS3 version of the original game on 2011's remastered collection are also pretty amazing, but I got to say this 2018's remake for the PS4 console is suprisingly fascinating to play is the reason to love the game.
The physical copy for PS4 are cost around between £15 and £20, where as the digital release for PS Store which you can get it for £30 individually or play it for free from PS Plus Extra subscription.
Is the game worth for play? absoultely yes it's an full recommendation for both newcomers and to those who previously played the 2005's original game will likely to enjoy this 2018's full remake...it is a must play title for the PS4 hardware that you definitely need to check it out.
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