ICO

"A beautiful game."

Ico

A lot of people seem to go into this game thinking it's a 3D action/adventure, but it's not. A lot of the reviews seem to suggest that it's bad because it lacks action, and is simple as far as battles go. Well this isn't an action game, adventure maybe, but not action. Ico is a puzzle game through and through, and it must be judged as such.

Now on to the review itself. The puzzles in the game are genius in design and intuitive enough for you to slap yourself across the face for not getting it right off the bat. They're so simple they're often the solutions you don't think about, and this is a new approach I really like in games I think. No ''Place the jeweled beetles correctly'' or ''Put the coins in just the right places'' all the puzzles in Ico involve the terrain itself and how to effectively navigate and, in some cases, reshape it. This is a very simple yet extremely effective design I really like and hope to see more of in Ico 2.

The graphics are extremely detailed in the terrain, looking exactly like it would if you perhaps visited a real castle somewhere in the world, and the characters look great and animate extremely smoothly with a plethora of little touches most games don't seem to bother with. What really sets this game apart though, is the sheer size and scope of many of the places you wander through. There is no pop-up, whatsoever, in environments often as big as (or bigger than) any found in Mario 64 and infinitely more structured and detailed. All 3D games promise a massive 3D world to explore, and they do deliver the big part, but only Ico has nailed the truly massive aside from possibly Twisted Metal Black's boat stage. All these detailed structures and massive towers with no pop-up, slowdown, or seams in any of the walls. I've seen some complain that it doesn't look completely smooth, but it's not supposed to. It delivers every crack in the wall, every splinter in wooden bridges. This game is truly a visual marvel.

The story-line is somewhat scarce, but that doesn't mean there's no motivation to complete. This game does something I have never see or felt in a game. There are few cinema events, but many real-time events you cause and take part in. Every time Yorda has to take a leap of faith or you have to leap into a pack of shadows to rescue her, it delivers more incentive to fight than many games with long drawn out scenes of character interaction. The game itself drives you to get yourself and her out of the castle, not these scenes that tell you what you should want to do. This is the first time I have ever felt this in a game before, and it's something I REALLY like, and pray to see again someday if anyone can manage it.

The ambient noises are extremely well executed and placed, adding much to the games abandoned castle atmosphere. The little music there is fits where it's placed magnificently. The soft whistle hum that sounds whenever the shadows appear will begin to make your skin bristle after hearing it enough times, because you know what's coming.

The controls are magnificent and realistic. At first play I thought it was kind of stiff and restricting, but then I realized this is how people move, they don't turn on a dime and do a complete 180 in under a second like in most games. Ico moves and animates extremely realistically, more realistically than many games I've seen that use motion capture, which is a truly incredible feat. Every facet of character movement is intricate and well thought out, such as Ico hauling around kegs or bombs AND holding Yorda's hand. You practically want to jump into the game and help the poor kid out.

The combat system, as stated, is extremely simplistic, composed of one combo set, and three weapons, all of which handle exactly the same, and a few different enemies all of which look similar. I don't think this is a flaw however, it adds to the feeling of making due with what you have and struggling desperately to keep Yorda safe instead of consciously deciding what combat technique to use this time. This game is minimalist in many ways, and it suits it very well. On a side note, I think the enemies look fantastic.

Overall, this is an incredible accomplishment both technically and from a design aspect. Travelling around the castle, you actually get the feeling someone sat down and laid out the entire place instead of tossing rooms haphazardly around like many games seem to. It's not for everyone though, only those who enjoy puzzles, can think logically, and are suckers for the kind of romantic incentive that's delivered without any breaks in the game at all need apply. A rare breed yes, but those who fit that description will eat this game up in a manner of days. To illustrate how much I loved this game, this is one of two PS2 games I have thus far beaten without a cheat code. Maybe not one to buy, but definitely at least rent it until you beat it even if you return it late to do so.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/18/02, Updated 09/18/02