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One popular topic of conversation usually reserved for a focus group or a conversational ice breaker is which of our artistic achievements we’d present to visiting or invading extraterrestrials if the opportunity arises. For this hypothetical scenario, we are the arbiters of refined culture, disregarding the adulation of works with several accolades under their belts and peerless acclaim that would objectively serve as representation. So really, the choices ultimately boil down to one’s own personal favorites. A small, but fervid, selection of one’s objective taste regarding this question is quite distressing if one ponders the implications of such a task, for the alien species might not perceive the works with the same level of enthusiasm and see an individual's preferences as indicative of the entirety of humankind. Or, they could just be unfeeling philistines ready to annihilate or enslave us at the pull of a laser gun trigger regardless of what we’ve accomplished in the realm of art and entertainment. For us gamers, the scope of this hypothetical scenario has to be scaled down, for we already have trouble convincing other human beings that video games are a legitimate art form as is. When Roger Ebert, arguably the most famed and respected critic across all mediums much less his signature forte of film, was still alive and active, gamers attempted to sway the dean of critique to a more favorable viewpoint on whether video games were a bonafide form of artistic expression by suggesting that he play Shadow of the Colossus. Of course, being an obstinate old man at the time, he refused to humor any inkling of expending any of his valuable time and energy on such a “trite” and “pedestrian” form of entertainment. In my perspective, I think Roger Ebert was afraid of being proven wrong and losing an iota of his credibility upon his eventual reflection. Not only would I suggest that the haughty figures of older generations seek out Shadow of the Colossus to change their viewpoint, but I’d confidently bestow the game to any race of hostile aliens as a surefire way to prompt them to lionize us as masters of the universe. You’ll be thanking me if this ever becomes a reality. Shadow of the Colossus is one of the essential artistic pillars in the timeline of gaming’s history, equivalent to James Joyce’s novel Ulysses or Francois Truffaut’s film The 400 Blows. All arguments debating the place of video games in the esteemed echelons of fine art alongside its fellow entertainment mediums should be thrown completely out of the window, for Shadow of the Colossus proves the elevated potential of the interactive medium more effectively than any other game before it.

Revealing that the developers behind Shadow of the Colossus are Team Ico might garner an initial understanding of how the game achieves its magnificent artistry. Using their debut project Ico as a reference, the mission of this maverick Japanese studio is to trim the fat of the typical video game to an almost monastic degree, a “subtraction design” philosophy as specifically coined by director Fumito Ueda. Admittedly, video games commonly feature HUDs that aid the player’s understanding of the game’s scrupulous details and character status through a perpetual visual reference. While the necessity of such implements is warranted for most games, they do arguably diminish the immersive elements of gaming with a layer of artificiality. Using the Legend of Zelda series as a primary influence, Team Ico sought to strip the action-adventure base of the series and thematic fantasy tropes down to the marrow. Without the display of a health bar, maps, or an arsenal of items in the menu, Ico acted as an emaciated version of Nintendo’s iconic franchise for every single contextual aspect of the game. Still, I’ll be damned if Ueda’s minimalist design ethos didn’t effectively render something engaging, ironically accentuating all of the puzzle and platforming attributes we know and love from a series such as The Legend of Zelda by diluting their apparentness. Like the project of Team Ico’s namesake, Shadow of the Colossus also strives to evoke an aura of epicness through a meticulous waning of gaming’s excessive elements. However, Shadow of the Colossus did not compromise on that bombastic video game flair as Ico did in some aspects. Somehow, despite its continued ascetic efforts, Shadow of the Colossus is one of the most epically awe-striking video games that I’ve ever played.

What better way to ignite the player’s intrigue initially than to present yet another opening sequence with implied high stakes shrouded in a veil of ambiguity? I would comment that this type of introduction is a standby method for Team Ico to engage the player by piquing their curiosity just like Ico, but the context behind Shadow of the Colossus’s plot is admittedly a smidge clearer. Between the immaculate cliffs of a nameless, naturalistic landscape, a young man, who we dub as “Wander,” rides a charcoal-black horse with a fierce sense of determination. Upon entering an ancient temple fit for a pharaoh's tomb, the young man dismounts his horse and unloads his cargo onto the main chamber’s altar. Unraveling the cloak reveals a girl whose lifeless mien and ghostly skin complexion signify that she is freshly deceased. After unsheathing a glowing sword to fend off the bothersome black spirits that strongly resemble those from Ico, a discarnate voice perks up and informs the boy that resurrecting the girl may be possible via the usage of his reflective blade. With the transportation aid of his loyal steed, Agro, Wander must scour the outer limits of the land to find sixteen Colossi and slay them all as a chivalrous knight does to a dragon. Only by undergoing this daunting escapade will Wander allegedly restore consciousness to whom he presumably loves dearly. How am I privy to all of this exposition you may ask? Because the introduction duly provides it. After Wander places the girl on the altar, a disembodied mask tells us that the setting is a sacred realm foretold to revive the dead, explaining Wander’s impassioned efforts to travel to this remote, abandoned sanctuary. Perhaps the developers couldn’t let the player rely on their likely preconceived notions that this effete guy wearing a hairband is far more sinister than he seems and is going to great lengths to dispose of the body of a girl he has murdered. Some players would find the whole premise too heinous to continue onward. Either or, Shadow of the Colossus promptly exposes its context compared to what little was provided for the beginning of Ico. Hell, the introduction here features more dialogue than the entirety of Ico. This might give the impression that Shadow of the Colossus isn’t as narratively obtuse as Ico, an unfortunate sign that the developers got cold feet and decided to appease the commercial masses. Still, the absurdly lofty overarching objective at hand here for a seemingly unfeasible reward that Wander accepts without expressing a hint of skepticism presents an air of disconnect between the player and the narrative’s intentions. In the grand scheme of things, the player is still kept in the dark about what is really occurring. Also, surely the premise of rescuing a princess who is already dead subverts the hero and damsel in distress roles more cleverly than Ico did. Ladies, get yourself a little Romeo like Wander, who will trudge through death-defying odds like conquering over a dozen different beasts as big as Beverly Hills mansions for you with no questions asked even if you cease to exist (actually, don’t; for I cannot live up to those standards).

If Ico served as a prolonged, squalid depiction of a typical Zelda dungeon, Shadow of the Colossus extends the radius of Zelda’s breadth to the franchise’s open-world aspects. Naturally, because Shadow of the Colossus is a 3D game whose setting consists of the same topography as Hyrule’s first polygonal rendering, I must compare this game’s world to Ocarina of Time as I tend to do with all obvious successors that use it as a template. Discussing similarities between Shadow of the Colossus’s forbidden realm and Hyrule Field is more apt than the usual comparisons, for the few Shadow of the Colossus detractors gripe that its world is far too “empty and stiff” to hold their interest. What amuses me is that this criticism is exactly what I’ve always applied to Hyrule Field from Ocarina of Time, even though I always consider some semblance of clemency for its pioneering primitiveness. While I can understand why these negative descriptors could be assigned to the world of Shadow of the Colossus, they fail to recognize the intended scope of this barren wasteland. You see, the forbidden lands and Hyrule Field present a contrast between empty and “empty,” and you’ll just have to follow along to grasp my point. If we use the example of Hyrule from A Link to the Past, the kingdom’s overworld should be a sprawling environment with diverse terrain and a point of interest around every corner whether it be in plain sight or “a secret to us all.” All that Hyrule Field in Ocarina of Time amounts to is a mossy vestibule stretched out to the appropriately spacious diameter of a hub. I stated that Ocarina of Time didn’t sacrifice much in translating all of its refined 2D elements, but the Hyrule overworld is the most apparent compromise Zelda had to make during the complicated transition to the third dimension. When the technology has progressed where rendering an empty hub world is an endeavor fueled by artistic vision as seen in Shadow of the Colossus, the minimalist imperative can produce something spectacular. Outside of the towering temple where Wander begins his quest, the surrounding perimeter is a green grassy knoll surrounded by a blockade of canyons and chasms. Finding a route around the inconvenient environment in opposite cardinal directions will lead Wander to rocky cliff sides that resemble the shores of Dover or a fallow desert area parched by the comparative lack of moisture. Lying between the two radically different environments are sections with lakes, ravines, groves, and dimly lit forested areas where traces of sunlight only peek through to the floor. While the overworld here certainly checks off more ecological boxes than the flat field in the center of Hyrule, the entire landscape is so bereft of any activity that the silence is disconcerting. Besides the clip-clopping of Agro’s hooves, only the wind is an instrument in this close to absolute zero decibel soundscape. The atmosphere is so desolate that it's as if Wander is the very first lifeform, much less a human being, to set foot on this untouched, pristine landscape like Neil Armstrong landing on the moon. Wander’s surroundings are so removed from all traces of civilization that it’s almost as if he’s fabricating them in a dream all to himself. It would explain the perpetually ominous clouds overhead that never crescendo into precipitating, something sublime that accentuates the breathtaking view. The meditative undercurrent of this uncanny world is quite refreshing considering that several other Hyrule Field followers congest their hub settings with a little TOO much hustle and bustle.

If you’re the jittery type who cannot stand to bask in the beguiling ambiance for longer than necessary, you should be relieved to know that Shadow of the Colossus will always present a set goal of finding one of the Colossi somewhere in the overworld. One would think the sheer size of these mobile mammoths or the thunderous echos of their footsteps in the still silence of the setting would make the process of sussing out their locations easier than finding VD on a dive bar’s toilet seat but never will Wander spot one of these beasts from his peripheral. To direct Wander towards the locale of the current colossus assigned by the detached voice that speaks backward from the temple’s sunroof, he must raise his sacred sword skyward and reflect the sun’s rays like a solar-powered compass. If the radiation resembles a straightforward beam as opposed to a scattered burst, then that indicates that the colossus can be found in that general direction. This adjunct appliance to the sword seems like it completely mitigates the searching section of the hunt, but this beacon is no GPS. The narrow, singular reflective ray does not account for the aforementioned arduously conspicuous and unwavering geomorphology. Circumnavigating around the terrain in an attempt to close in on a colossus will always prove to be a meandering charade. Good luck finding the equivalent of the sword’s “reception” if the route to a colossus includes traversing through a forest or a narrow section of a canyon. However, as diverse as the terrain is throughout this world, one convenient aspect of the map is that it is relatively compact. Traveling to either opposite of the ecological spectrum, whether or not Wander will find himself smack dab in a colossus’s domain, will never take more than approximately a few minutes. The player should be relieved considering that Wander will automatically be teleported back to the temple because the voice above has apparently declared it as the omphalos of the operation. The game’s progression is constructed as a rinse-and-repeat process, but at least the restrained spread of the forbidden lands has made arriving back to the general vicinity of the next colossus less tedious. Unfortunately, reflecting light off of Wander’s sword won’t double in aiding the search for the crystal-tailed salamanders and the hearty yellow fruit hanging from the trees, shooting them with Wander’s pink bow with a limitless supply of arrows and consuming them to increase his maximum stamina and health respectively. However, Wander is already compensated with these stat boosts for slaying a colossus, so the grueling trouble of finding these infinitesimal things across the map should be discouraged to even the most devout completionists.

While the aura of traversing through the world of Shadow of the Colossus is drenched in layers of lethargy and interminable tension, the path of conquest is always exciting because of what lies at the end of every route. Besides the notion of successfully maneuvering over the world’s formidable terrain, simply encountering any of the colossi in their earthly domicile is its own reward. Upon encroaching on the territory of a colossus, a cutscene will trigger that showcases the magnificent marvel of extreme biology in its full glory. The “shadow” portion of the game’s title is not a minor allusion to enliven potential buyers with mystique: the colossi are gargantuan enough to eclipse the sun from Wander’s view and even chill him with the shade emanating from their…well, colossal immensity. When in the vicinity of a colossus, the serene tone of the overworld staggeringly catapults immediately into adrenaline-pumping action as if an alarm clock abruptly awakened Wander. While the stark commonality between these beasts is their physical enormity, their environmental conditions have granted them all distinguishable physical adaptations. The first colossi, Valus, features the anatomy of a minotaur creature, standing on two legs to support his massive, lumberjack frame. Sharing his relatively humanoid posture are the column-wielding Gaius, the geezer with a white, ZZ Top beard Barba, and the gravely serious-looking Argus. Still, they all approach the uninvited guest that is Wander differently during battle. Quadrupedal colossi include the wooly Quadratus, the crudely shaped equine creature of Phaedra, and the tortoise-esque Basaran. Other colossi’s characteristics are defined more by their environments. The laser-tusked Pelagia, giant gull Avion, and the electric eel Hydrus all reside along the area of a watery channel or basin, integrating themselves with their aquatic surroundings in varying degrees, but each of them obviously resemble radically dissimilar species. The same dichotomy of colossi types is also found in the desert area of the map, with Dirge burrowing beneath the sand while the sand snake Phalanx (my favorite of the bunch) gracefully soars above it high up in the sky. Surprisingly enough, there is even a trio of miniature colossi with Kuromori, Celosia, and Cenobia. Despite their relative dwarfism compared to their towering colossi brethren, these three are still scaled to the sizes of rhinoceroses with the same level of aggression. The Colossi are a wonderfully assorted bunch of imposing creatures, and whatever common ancestor they all share that has passed down their glowing eyes and arcane armor has formulated sixteen of the most imaginative monsters ever seen in the gaming medium.

Essentially, Shadow of the Colossus is a glorified boss gauntlet with intermittent travel sequences in between each colossus that allows the player to simmer in their latest onerous accomplishment. To divulge the rich gameplay mechanics involved in taking all of these colossi down, I’d have to reveal their puzzle-oriented secrets, and spoiling them would be a disservice to any prospective players and the colossi themselves by sullying their intimidating allure. All the input I can communicate is to not fear using the superior speed of Agro during a few fights and not to underestimate the smaller colossi. One encompassing aspect of defeating the colossi is that all of them will require scaling their mountainous bodies to subdue them. This intimate aspect of the fights is the game’s defining idiosyncrasy, and the prospect of climbing a colossus and riding its backside like a flea on a mangy dog is as exhilarating and unnerving as it sounds. Finding an entry point to scaling their ginormous forms is where the puzzle aspects of the gameplay are relevant, and this may involve taunting them with the bow and arrow or outsmarting them into fracturing their armor. Still, I cannot say which colossi these methods apply to. Once Wander manages to exploit their vulnerability to ascend upward onto the colossi, he must raise his sword as he would to find these beasts in the overworld to expose the tender points of their body signified by a glowing sigil. I guess this modestly-sized blade rivals the might of Excalibur because thrusting it in the designated exterior parts of the colossi will make them groan in agony and gush blood like a sieve. Wander’s only concern at this point is continuing to balance himself on the colossi as it thrashes around trying to knock him off, for they are intelligent enough to register that this puny man is trying to murder them and are rightfully upset. Even though it's illogical from a biological standpoint regarding some of the aquatic colossi, each of their bodies will at least have a clump of fur to cling onto to retain Wander's advantageous position.

Converging a level dungeon and its boss into one fully-fledged experience? Team Ico’s rumhamming of video game attributes is pure, masterful brilliance. Still, the turbulent interactions with the colossi remind me of one prevalent complaint some players share regarding the game’s controls and presentation. Truthfully, Shadow of the Colossus is rather sluggish, operating on a framerate that makes the character movement seem as if it's running in slow motion. This becomes an issue whenever a colossus knocks down Wander and will take what seems like an eternity to recuperate. Sometimes, select colossi will take advantage of Wander’s vulnerability and beat him down until he has been eradicated. The camera also tends to have a hard time holding onto the colossi as Wander does, which can also cause him to make a fatal mistake. These hiccups would normally devastate a game’s overall quality, but I trust that a fraction of Shadow of the Colossus’s imperfections is a deliberate effort from Team Ico. Because the framerate is glacial, it allows the player to feel the full, intended impact of the colossi. Whenever one of these brutes slams its feet into the earth, the shattering of the frame rate that occurs makes defeating them seem like an insurmountable undertaking. Flopping about by the hem of a colossus’s wooly coat in a languid frame of motion effectively highlights how removed from the ground Wander is up top of a colossus like the steep altitude is making his oxygen dwindle as quickly as his stamina gauge. While the presentation is technically unacceptable, one can’t deny that the linear qualities of shoddier mechanical performance make the gameplay resonate with the player.

The immediate falling action of shedding a colossi’s mortal coil with too many critically deep sword plunges should also resonate with the player. After the expedition of locating the colossus and the mental strain involved in finding a way to extinguish it, one might think that executing the seemingly inexecutable would inspire victorious feelings of joy. Alas, the scene of the colossi’s eyes turning blank and its body collapsing into the earth evokes a potent melancholy. Sure, we accomplished the task at hand, but at what cost? The archetypal story of man conquering beast stems back to at least the Middle Ages to Beowulf and Grendel, and it’s deemed as one of the most courageous feats that defines a man as a hero. Can we really assign Wander to the same celebrated category of men? Sure, this is technically his role if we apply what little context we’re given to the heroic tropes we’re all familiar with. Still, one cannot earnestly follow along with narrative tradition when these docile colossi have inflicted no harm on any other living being or the environment before being provoked by an invasive pest. And was the effort truly worth it when every short-term reward is Wander being knocked unconscious by ghastly tendrils that violently penetrate his body? The brilliant aspect of conveying this is that the game never overtly tells the player that Wander is the real monster in a game filled with them like a contrived plot twist. Through subtle clues, Shadow of the Colossus flips the classic hero versus monster story on its head where the concentrated blood flow gives the conflict some well-considered clarity. When these beautiful, majestic colossi cease to exist at our hands, we all wonder if real-life poachers who kill animals on earth have souls.

In reality, Wander is too insignificant to be the hero. From the beginning, he’s been nothing but the subservient tool to the temple’s undetectable landlord who has been praying on Wander’s desperation. His hinting at how to handle all of the colossi at idle moments during their encounters shows he has too much invested interest in seeing all of them fall, which cannot be a good sign considering the unclear correlation between riding the world of the colossi and the resurrection of Wander’s girlfriend. After finally facing the last colossi, a vertical behemoth named Malus whose head practically brushes up against the clouds, Wander does not travel back to the temple to celebrate his achievement with champagne and ice cream. An even more subtle detail in highlighting that Wander’s actions are injurious is that they are having a toxic effect on his well-being. By the fifteenth colossi, Wander will be covered by so many blue lesions, you’d think he was zombified. When the final colossi has been conquered, Wander is no more. He is a vessel for the ancient demon Dormin, the identity of the voice whose soul had been fractured into sixteen pieces and kept in the colossi as a drastic measure to stave off his return. For the past few cutscenes in between colossi, a group of villagers have been slowly approaching the temple and have managed to cross the bridge by the final cutscene. They are aghast to see that Wander has fulfilled the endeavor of reviving Dormin, chiding the boy for his foolishness. When Dormin fully encapsulates Wander, the player gets the chance to play as a colossus and smash the group of men into a paste. However, the men are wise and know exactly what must be done in the case of Dormin’s return. By throwing Wander’s sacred sword into a pool of water, it creates a ravaging vortex that pulls Wander in, ending Dormin’s reign of mayhem before it had a chance to begin. The men hightail out of the temple, with the bridge eroding from the vortex’s ferocity as a positive sign that entering it and interacting with Dormin will be harder to perform.

Somehow, despite Dormin’s deceptive promises, the girl who has been comatose throughout this whole ordeal awakens from her slumber and finds an infant in the pool who is implied to be a reborn Wander. I’m quite puzzled at how the girl has regained sentience when it seemed proven that she would never see the light of day again because all evidence was leading to Wander running a fool’s errand. The fact that he persists onward just to fail miserably at the end and die is what makes the game’s resolution beautifully tragic. Then again, he admittedly did bring all of this misfortune on himself, for not even Orpheus was this much of a zealous romantic. Like Ico, the fatal blow that befalls the protagonist is treated to a hopeful epilogue to keep the player’s spirits up. I can handle tragedy well enough, but I can admit that plodding further allows the player to consider their experience more after they turn the game off. Really, Agro returning to the temple on a limp leg was all the levity this ending needed. Her fall off of a crumbling bridge before the final colossi is genuinely the most devastating scene of the game, and seeing that she (or at least I’m assuming it's a she considering there is no visible, foot-long horse genitalia protruding from its crotch) survived made me cheer delightfully.

Speechless. Utterly speechless. This was my stunned reaction to witnessing the falling action of Shadow of the Colossus and its resolution. In all honesty, my mouth was agape through most of the duration of Shadow of the Colossus because the game is nothing short of extraordinary. Team Ico’s austerity is still on display here as it was in Ico, as seen in the game’s open world and the liberal loosening of the game’s narrative leaving the context up to the player’s interpretations. Still, dialing back the strict abnegation of gaming’s frills and thrills for Shadow of the Colossus resulted in a game far more compelling than Ico, while still retaining plenty of artistic triumphs that I admired about the developer’s previous title. Shadow of the Colossus is beautiful in every sense of the word: from the captivating climate of its uninhabited, windswept world, the titans to topple, to its poignant liner notes that make the player ask questions when the protagonist doesn't bother to. At the helm of this emotional rollercoaster is a unique gameplay mechanic that I don’t feel is hyperbolic to call it a visionary feat of innovation. If your character ever finds themselves gripping to the body of a herculean foe to skewer their weak spots, it means that Team Ico is collecting royalties. Does Shadow of the Colossus need more convincing that it should be an essential game to play for gamers and non-gamers alike? I don’t believe so.

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Attribution: https://erockreviews.blogspot.com

é bom mas ta lockado na playstation

Eu tinha medo dos Colossus. Desde sempre, um cagão.

Embora a queda frequente de fps e alguns outros problemas devido às limitações do console tenham me irritado, o jogo mais do que valeu a pena. Uma aventura épica e extremamente emocionante. Sempre será lembrado.


This game doesn't even need a review here, what more could already be said for this? It is a feat in every department, narratively, technically, visually, it just keeps getting better and better and making you go HOW THE F U C K did this run on a PS2???? timeless

Shadow of the Colossus mini golf would go so fucking hard

Quando eu era criança eu não sabia inglês, então eu não sabia como encontrar os colossos. O ato de explorar aquele mundo misterioso e lindo já era suficiente para me entreter por horas

minha experiência com esse game começou na minha infância, por causa de um amigo falando que era incrível, mas na hora de me apresentar o jogo ele simplesmente me jogou nesse mundo vazio e sem me dizer NADA do que fazer, e isso pra mim criança foi uma porra, oq me fez odiar esse game por anos e não entender o pq de gostarem tanto (VAI TOMAR NO CU MATHEUS).... mas ai esse ano eu decidi que era a hora de retornar e tirar a prova se eu realmente odiava esse jogo ou se eu só fui mal apresentado.

É... me faz pensar no eu do passado, aquela probe criança... ainda bem que eu retornei pra essa jornada, e que jornada.

É impressionante o quanto cada colosso te faz sentir um bagulho diferente, como e gostoso derrotar cada um, descobrir os pontos fracos, até os sustos não intencionais são incríveis, e tão louco andar por esse mundo sem ouvir nada além da Agro, alguns passarin e o vento... até que vem a trilha e quebra isso com maestria, simplesmente único o sentimento. eu nesses últimos dias vivi esse jogo e fazia tempo que um jogo não me prendia dessa forma, fazia tempo que eu não pensava em outra coisa além do que esse jogo vai me proporcionar agora, e mesmo depois de zerar sinto que ainda tem mais e mais.

Esse jogo simplesmente ta me fazendo tecer a maior review da minha vida. Agora eu entendo o pq de amarem tanto tanto essa obra.

E essa é a conclusão de uma pendencia que meu eu criança tinha, e fico extremamente feliz de dizer que conclui essa jornada.

Não me prometeram nada e entregaram tudo, incrível,a história, apesar de ser por boa parte interpretativa,ela é muito cativante,a gameplay do jogo é excelente, amei enfrentar cada colossos, todos são únicos e nenhum pouco esquecíveis, excelente, ótimo, incrível,joia do ps2.

very enchanting game with an incredible soundtrack, the colossus were all great to witness and fight except one, that bull like one, that one was ass. I loved it despite the clunky controls

The timeless colossus of the gaming industry

Shadow of the Colossus stands as a testament to the artistic potential of video games, transcending the boundaries of mere entertainment to deliver a profound philosophical experience. Released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and later remastered for newer platforms, this game continues to captivate audiences worldwide with its haunting beauty, enigmatic narrative, and thought-provoking themes. In this review, we'll delve into the philosophical underpinnings of Shadow of the Colossus and explore its revolutionary impact on the gaming industry, as well as the enduring legacy it has fostered among fans who continue to unravel its mysteries and debate its deeper meanings.

At its core, Shadow of the Colossus grapples with profound existential questions about morality, sacrifice, and the consequences of human ambition. The protagonist, Wander, embarks on a solitary quest to resurrect a deceased loved one by slaying sixteen colossal beings known as Colossi. However, as Wander progresses on his quest, players are forced to confront the moral ambiguity of his actions. Is the pursuit of personal desires worth the destruction wrought upon these majestic creatures? The game prompts players to reflect on the ethical implications of their actions, challenging conventional notions of heroism and villainy.

Moreover, Shadow of the Colossus explores themes of isolation and existential dread, as Wander traverses the desolate landscapes of the Forbidden Land. The sparse environment and minimalist storytelling evoke a sense of solitude, inviting players to contemplate the nature of their own existence in relation to the vast, indifferent world around them. The game's atmospheric soundtrack and breathtaking visuals further enhance this sense of immersion, drawing players into a mesmerizing realm where beauty and melancholy intertwine.

Upon its release, Shadow of the Colossus garnered widespread acclaim for its innovative gameplay mechanics, striking visual design, and emotionally resonant storytelling. Unlike traditional action-adventure games, which often prioritize combat and exploration, Shadow of the Colossus places a singular focus on the epic battles against the Colossi. Each encounter is a meticulously crafted puzzle, requiring players to analyze the creature's behavior and weaknesses to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. This novel approach to gameplay challenged conventions and inspired a new wave of experimental game design.

The gameplay mechanics of Shadow of the Colossus had a profound impact on the evolution of gaming technology, particularly considering its unique and innovative approach to game design. Here are some ways in which its mechanics influenced and shaped the future development of games:

Focus on Scale and Intimacy: While many games of the time focused on vast open worlds filled with secondary activities, Shadow of the Colossus opted for a more intimate and focused approach. Each encounter with the Colossi was a singular and immersive experience, standing out for its monumental scale and the close relationship between the player and their opponent. This demonstrated that games don't need to be huge in scope to be impactful, but rather offer deeply engaging and memorable experiences.

Breaking Action Game Conventions: While many action games emphasized frenetic combat and uninterrupted action sequences, Shadow of the Colossus challenged these conventions by offering deliberate and strategic encounters with the Colossi. Each battle was a puzzle-like experience, requiring players to observe the enemy's behavior and discover their weaknesses. This influenced a shift towards more contemplative and strategic gameplay in many subsequent action-adventure games.

Innovative Use of Technology: Shadow of the Colossus made the most of the technology available at the time, pushing the limits of the PlayStation 2 hardware to create vast and detailed environments, fluid animations, and impressive visual effects. The game demonstrated the potential of video game consoles to deliver cinematic and immersive experiences, paving the way for future advancements in graphics, physics, and artificial intelligence in games.

Ambiguous and Open-to-Interpretation Narrative: While many games of the time told linear and straightforward stories, Shadow of the Colossus adopted a more ambiguous and open-to-interpretation approach. Its enigmatic narrative and ambiguous ending challenged players to reflect on deeper themes such as morality, sacrifice, and redemption. This influenced a trend towards more mature and complex narratives in games, where players are encouraged to actively participate in constructing the meaning of the story.

Furthermore, Shadow of the Colossus pushed the technical boundaries of the PlayStation 2 hardware, showcasing the potential for games to be considered works of art. The game's expansive landscapes, dynamic lighting effects, and lifelike animations set a new standard for visual fidelity, demonstrating the medium's capacity for immersive storytelling. Its influence can be seen in subsequent titles that prioritize atmosphere and narrative depth over traditional gameplay mechanics, cementing its status as a landmark achievement in gaming history.

Nearly two decades after its initial release, Shadow of the Colossus continues to captivate audiences with its timeless appeal and open-ended narrative. Its enigmatic story and ambiguous ending have sparked countless interpretations and fan theories, fostering a vibrant community of enthusiasts who eagerly dissect every detail of the game's lore. From philosophical discussions about the nature of morality to speculative analyses of its hidden secrets, Shadow of the Colossus remains a fertile ground for intellectual exploration and creative expression.

Moreover, the game's influence extends beyond the realm of gaming, inspiring artists, writers, and filmmakers to explore similar themes of isolation, sacrifice, and existential angst. Its legacy can be felt in works of literature, cinema, and other forms of media, underscoring the enduring impact of its narrative and aesthetic achievements.

Shadow of the Colossus stands as a seminal work in the annals of video game history, pushing the boundaries of the medium and challenging players to confront profound philosophical questions. Its revolutionary gameplay mechanics, stunning visual design, and thought-provoking themes have earned it a place of honor among gaming enthusiasts and critics alike. As the years pass, its legacy only continues to grow, solidifying its status as a timeless masterpiece that transcends the limitations of its medium.

This review contains spoilers

Nota 9

Uma premissa que ao olhar de muitas pessoas possa parecer "chata" e "Vazia", pra mim foi uma das coisas mais curiosas e interessantes que eu já joguei.

A proposta de cara já me fisgou. Para mim foi simplesmente cruel da parte narrativa e muito tocante da parte audiovisual o preceito base para você enfrentar os colossos. Você precisa fazer de tudo para salvar alguém que você ama, até mesmo encarar a solidão de uma enigmática planície amaldiçoada e matar friamente criaturas que só estavam dormindo e desfrutando da paz da solidão desse mundo.

Você sente através das estruturas, do cenário, da geografia do mapa que aquele lugar contém uma história fascinante que nunca será nem sequer descoberta por nós. Você pode só simplesmente tentar a contemplar em sua jornada de ódio e tremenda tristeza. Toda vez que um deles cai você sente demais mesmo.

E para te emergir nesse mundo o jogo tecnicamente é impecável em todos os quesitos. O design é macabro, fantasioso e bem pé no chão; a trilha sonora e sua ausência é ideal para a contemplação do mundo e para o ar tenso das excelentes batalhas, e o som, a sonoplastia é assustadoramente bem feita. Você sente pelo som específico do vento em certas alturas, pelo jeito que sua voz ecoa, pelo pisar dos colossos, você sente uma imersão total naquele mundo.

E sério era simplesmente um colosso mais interessante e desafiador que o outro; que vibe de gameplay diferente, que tensão, que RAIVA QUE DÁ CAIR DESSES BIXOS. E tudo isso leva a combates extremamente grandiosos em proporção épica. Más seria mesmo épica? Enquanto você luta você sente a euforia que irá captar o seu espírito jovial, más ao completar seu trabalho você quase que prenuncia o que estaria por vir do final maléfico do jogo. Você só sente um alívio por ter acabado e uma simples e genuína melancolia.

(SPOILERS)









O "Acontecimento" da égua Agro é simplesmente irretocável. Você cria um senso de empatia com ela que é absurdo! Ela é sua única companhia nesse mundo totalmente vazio... Toda vez que você vence e é transportado para o templo está ela indo até você percorrendo diversos quilometros sozinha sem saber seu estado. Durante a batalha contra os mais terríveis colossos ela nunca o abandona mesmo ferida. Ela de fato age como um cavalo muito realista, você tem que ter cuidado ao cavalgar com ela. Tudo isso gera um sentimento de conforto perto daquele quatro patas.

Para você enfrentar o desafio final o jogador sabe muitíssimo bem que terá que correr com ela em um lugar frágil e ele o faz para encerrar a jornada. Quando ela cai, tanto o jogador quanto o personagem não tem volta, nem mais o que se apegar no jogo além do único objetivo de encarar o último dos desafios.

Reta final simplesmente primorosa. O desfecho imersivo da gameplay no momento da possessão do protagonista também é incrível. Só nos resta aquele sabor dúbio que ficou na boca e encarar os ótimos créditos. Os colossos eram guardiões que abrigavam espíritos malignos dentro deles para proteger o mundo, e mesmo após o próprio mundo estar em ruínas eles só queriam apreciar a paz que suas funções agora exercem. Nos créditos eles são apenas cadáveres se transformando em pedra, agora se tornando um com o mundo esquecido que nunca será entendido pelos futuros homens.

que jogo sensacional!!! foi minha primeira vez jogando essa obra depois de TANTO tempo ouvindo sobre ela e, meus senhores, que experiência avassaladora.
é curioso o fato de que, apesar de ser 16 BOSSES, você NÃO ENJOA. pelo contrário, dá sempre vontade de continuar o próximo.
Os gráficos EXCELENTES pra época, os modelos perfeitos e sem contar a FÍSICA. Foda demais.

ps: meia estrela foi tirada por conta do INSUPORTÁVEL do 15° Colosso. bjs

assisti meu mano Samuel jogar 👍

So good that I named my son Wander.

Incredible but the controls are absolute dookey stain

One of the games that made me appreciate life, being strong against adversities etc
This is one of the best games ever made

Lo jugué por primera vez en play 2 pero hasta que no salió en la play 4 no me lo pase, buen juego.

Shadow of The Colossus foi o jogo que me fez amar vídeo games, foi o jogo que me fez perceber que vídeo games é a definição de arte.
Tudo no game é feito de forma perfeita, não existe defeitos. é um jogo único e nunca vai ser esquecido.
Eu te amo, shadow of the colossus.


Shadow of the Colossus was a bit of a love-hate experience for me personally, but overall, I quite loved playing through it. Mostly some amazing boss fights, with innovative and great mechanics, and breathtaking setpieces. In terms of complaints though, some of the mechanics frustrated me to no end. Besides the inherent gameplay jank that comes with the game's age (I can excuse this), I disliked how little the game hardly conveyed information to you on the things you need to do.

I feel a bit ashamed to admit I needed to look up guides to a few of the bosses, but seriously, some of these mechanics I never would have guessed unless I was directly told of them. It made progression sometimes very frustrating. I'm not really talking about navigation and exploration either, those were some of my favorite parts of the game. Most of my complaints lie in the bosses, but besides those complaints, as I don't really feel like getting super specific, when the bosses mechanically clicked, coming out on top at the end of a fight really did feel incredible. It felt triumphant in a way I haven't gotten from a game in a hot minute.

On another note though, it's really cool to think about how influential this game went on to be in the years following its release. Much of said influence went into several of my favorite games ever. Breath of the Wild of course, but besides the obvious, climbing the colossi and following set-out mechanics to come out on top, I was even reminded of my time playing things like Destiny, fighting raid bosses through epic setpieces I still think about almost three years since quitting the game. The comparison may be a bit out there, but it's still a connection I think holds at least some merit.

To put my feelings about this game in more general terms, this is one of those touchstone-type games that people have and will continue to look back on as the start of so many exciting things in the medium. Now that I've played the game, I look at my catalog of everything I played and wonder how many of them wouldn't be there if it weren't for what this game did. Very happy I found a copy and got around to playing it. And that ending was spectacular.

Also posted on my blog :)

I would say that I like this version better than the 2018 remaster, even though I've played that version more times than I can count, but there's just too much bloom and it was starting to physically hurt my eyes.

Note that this is just a minor critique. I still think this game is a masterpiece and am more than grateful that I got to experience both versions.

That grip strength is insane

Jokes aside, beautiful game, like just beautiful. Made me feel some type of way. The OST, the world design, everything.
The story is also emotional despite being very mysterious, and despite the ending being slightly nonsensical I still love how it's presented and it overall does work
Game sure does have it's flaws, but it's one of the best experiences I've had without a doubt
5-star meal, Team Ico indubitably cooked