Ico is a beautifully crafted nugget of a game that deserves its beloved reputation. I am playing this game for the first time 22 years after release and yet it captivated me more than many modern games. It's a puzzle platformer at its core, but ICO brings so much more to the table even with minimal dialog and action. The puzzles are minimalist but not trivial, each using the space of their environment tactfully. The overall level design evolves as the game progresses and finishes in a tight way that really wasn't seen again for several years after this game. The music is sparse but eerily beautiful and the sound design is second to none at the time. Ico lasts as long as it should, and by the end you have bonded with Yorda somehow even after no concrete character development. It certainly shows its age in some respects (collision, Yorda Ai, etc.) these minor inconveniences are trampled by the games strengths. A "no doubter" classic through and through, even 20+ years later I'd recommend Ico to just about anyone.