Unlike my other reviews, I don't have any story to tell about how I found out about Shadow of the Colossus, aside from just generally knowing that it is a game that is known for great boss battles and terrible controls. That's all I was expecting when I first booted up the game, but what I got was so much more than that.

Right off the bat, one of the most notable things about Shadow of the Colossus is its one-of-a-kind atmosphere. The gorgeous visuals and music make playing the game and traversing the decaying landscapes feel melancholic and beautiful, along with a sense of scale that simultaneously feels small and grandiose. That sense of melancholic beauty is also carried over to the terrific boss battles, as their unique design (Both visually speaking and mechanically speaking) makes fighting them feel fun while also making you feel sorry for killing off the only life that is left in this world. I was surprised with just how well Shadow of the Colossus managed to tell its story, as it threw a lot of great emotional punches while never feeling stagnant or losing its steam.

A lot of people have mentioned how terrible the controls are, and while they are undeniably janky and occasionally frustrating, it didn't detract from my experience with the game very much. If anything, it added to the satisfaction of beating the colossi and having a sense of mastery over the controls by the end of the game, at least for me. Overall, Shadow of the Colossus was a phenomenal and wholly unique game, and I'm now even more excited to eventually play Ico thanks to it.