ICO

"This great game just got better. (PAL Review)"

This is a review of the PAL version. The PAL version is only distributed to European countries, Australia and New Zealand. It is not available in the USA, unless it is imported.

Graphics
A sear joy to look at. These are some of the best looking graphics on the console. The character animation is immaculate. The environments are HUGE and beautifully detailed. The contrast between light and dark is perfect. The camera can be rotated in any direction and can also zoom in. Rotate the camera to look at the sun shinning through the leafs of a tree and you’ll see just how beautiful the graphics are.
Vertigo suffers beware, the highs are dizzying. The water effect is arguably the best on the console. Other affects like mist, fire and fog make the game world all the more beautiful.
Towards the end of the game the environments get even more breath taking and truly dream like.
10/10

Sound
The flames of touches crackle, the birds sing and the wind howls around the castle. All these things immerse you in the game even more.

All the talking in the game is done in two made up languages that sound very believable. Ico speaks one language (subtitles translate what he says) and Yorda speaks another (what she says is translated on second play through). This makes the relationship between Ico and Yorda all the more mysterious.

The music is minimal but effective.
8/10

Gameplay
This is what makes the game great. It’s puzzles over action but despite what everyone says there are many moments of high tension action to keep you on your toes.

The AI is great, and it has been slightly improve for the PAL version. The enemies show real intelligence. When attacking, one will try and distract you while the other kidnaps Yorda. The big shadow men are less scared of you and will knock you down when they get a chance. The smaller ones will try and creep up behind you, but if you turn around they’ll flee. They also show genuine evilness, they seem to laugh when they knock you down. This makes it all the more enjoyable when you kick their asses.

Ico and Yorda are very different. Ico charges about with raw enthusiasm, struggles with large object, leaps from high ledges and swims (with more enthusiasm than actual skill). His movements are very natural, due to the excellent character animation. If he slips from a ledge he will stick his hand out and grab on to the ledge. Things like this makes Ico a joy to play as.
Yorda on the other hand is overly dainty, she can , with help, jump small gaps and be pulled up walls. But she can’t go nearly as many places as Ico. So most of the puzzles involve finding away to get her to the next area. But she has an innocence that makes you want to look after her. She will chase birds around, she hides behind you during battles, if you fall she will run toward you to see if you’re ok, she calls to you when she can’t see you, she watches inquisitively as you try and solve puzzles and often helps by pointing to something vital.
The way Ico and Yorda interact tells you more than any number of cut-scenes could.

When playing Ico you’ll notice the lack of health bars and such like. This is to make you forget you’re playing a video game, and it works well. You only die if you fall from a very high place or Yorda is dragged into a portal.

All in all, this game plays like a dream. The puzzles are not too hard and not too easy.
9/10

Life Span
This is what most people complain about, but with the PAL version there is plenty to come back for. The game took me about 11 hours to complete. It is less when replaying but still just as much fun. The memories will last longer than the game.
7/10

PAL Conversion
Excellent. There is a 60Hz mode, not that you’ll need it as the 50Hz mode is great. There is no slow down and the boarders are almost nonexistent.
9/10

PAL Extras
Finally with don’t get the raw end of the deal. Not only do we get an excellent 50Hz conversion but a whole host of extras too.
1. In the American version the shadowmen always appeared from the same point and took Yorda to the same area. In the PAL version this is more random, they can appear from anywhere and where they take Yorda varies.
2. On second play-through what Yorda says will be translated through subtitles.
3. The cut-scenes are interactive. (You can zoom in and out, and move the camera. Like in MGS2)
4. Some puzzles have been slightly modified.
5. On second play-through a LightSaber is unlocked! When equipped if you hold Yorda’s hand the LightSaber grows in length (Perhaps this is meant to be representative of something).
6. On second play-through you will be able to control Yorda with the second controller!
Yorda is able to run, jump and pick up items.
However, this two-player mode is not as good as it might sound. Yorda cannot use weapons. She is also quite lame, so it’s best to take turns being Ico, with the person you’re playing with, to prevent them getting bored or frustrated. Since Ico does most of the puzzle solving yorda will have to wait patently. The camera also focuses only on Ico, often leaving the second player running blind. But all complaints aside it is a much welcome extra and will cause many laughs.
All these extras add a lot much needed replay value.
10/10

RENT or BUY
I would say buy, to experience the extras. But if you have any doubts about whether or not this games is for you then rent it first.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/23/02, Updated 07/23/02