Shadow of the Colossus represents a unique approach to the action based
role-playing genre, but honestly, it is one that should be used a lot
more often. How many titles have we played where leveling up was a
requirement? Going to a certain area and tediously acquiring experience
just to keep up with the AI is very lame; as is stopping to fight
ridiculously boring and meaningless enemies such as skeletons, ogres,
and slimes. Once in a while though, a game comes along that tries to
break that boundary of repetition. And Shadow of the Colossus is that
game. The developers that brought forth the innovative classic Ico have
done it again and have presented us with a game that paints a picture
unlike any title in the oft-debated genre has done before.
As the game introduces you to the main characters, you can take a guess
as to what seems to be the problem. You see a young man and his horse
Argo, slowly walking through a massive temple, carrying the body of a
lifeless girl. His purpose at this destination is to attempt to revive
this woman, who appears to be a lost love. After some discussion with a
mysterious spiritual entity, your mission becomes clear, but at the
same time perhaps not as clear as you’d like it to be. The voice states
that the only way to restore the girl’s soul is to destroy sixteen
idols. The idols, statues that lie in the temple, cannot be destroyed
by a mere mortal such as yourself. So, take up thy sword young warrior
and journey into the land. There you will meet sixteen gigantic
creatures known as colossi; kill them all and the ritual will be
complete.
Quickly mounting on your horse, you venture out into the vast
landscape, and if it isn’t truly a sight to behold. And even though the
graphical quality may not be too impressive at first glance, it is the
superb art direction that makes Shadow of the Colossus so breathtaking.
Lush valleys spread across rolling green hills, windswept deserts, and
articulately crafted ruins will all be some of the sights to take in as
you progress throughout. Using your sword, you will be able to locate
each of the gigantic beasts simply by raising it into the sunlight. As
you do so, a luminescent beam will appear and point to the colossus you
are currently seeking. And as by tradition, a health and fatigue bar
will keep track of your endurance, allotting you a certain amount of
acrobatics and sword swings. Yet, this is as close to a traditional
action game as you're going to get. From here on out, it is nothing
like you have seen before.
You will understand this statement the first time you lay eyes on the
colossal beings. These beings, consisting of ancient technology, as
well as some living elements, tower over their respective domains.
Nearly every single one stands at least ten stories high and will make
your warrior feel like an insect in comparison. Whether it be running
frantically from a club-wielding giant to soaring thousands of feet up
on the back of an angry bird, the colossi are as diverse in appearance
as they are in their furious attack patterns. Patterns that you will
have to stop with the help of just three things: your bow, your horse,
and your sword.
Impossible.
That is what I told myself when I was face to face with the first of
the colossi, glaring at the meager amount of resources I had at my
disposal. Luckily for our protagonist, each monster has a weakness, and
finding this weakness is half the battle.
Now perhaps I can hit his leg with my bow, thus giving me the chance to begin the climb toward the weak point on his head.
Then again, maybe I can circle him with my horse and provoke him to
attack my current position. While he is taking the time to recover, I
can acrobatically jump from the horse to his leg and weaken him from
behind; allowing me to climb up his back-side and begin my attack from
there.
The options are seemingly endless and help keep the combat both intense
and fluid at the same time. Execution of your predetermined strategy
makes up for the other half of the battle and it is the resultant of
that plan that will be the difference between his defeat and yours. And
believe me when I say that each colossus will not make it easy for you.
Regardless if you know the key to beating them or not, each foe will
try to keep you away through a series of attacks. Several of which have
such force behind them that they can injure or disorient you, even if
the attack didn’t hit you directly. The realistic physics and hit
detection really make it feel as if you are right alongside these
creatures, with an experience furthered with the dual shock option kept
on. Accompanying the exhilarating encounters is a brilliantly
orchestrated theme that helps complete the dramatic scenario brought
about by the “David versus Goliath” esque battle.
If you happen to bypass the offensive barrage then you will have to
deal with the trouble of staying on each of the colossi, as they shake
violently to get you off. Keeping your grip, all the while watching
your fatigue bar, requires a great deal of attention, providing several
frustrating moments as well. Just try not to break the controller if
you happen to fall off the creature, when you have him at his last few
hit points.
So, you’ve downed your first colossus and you’re feeling quite good.
Instead of making your way to the next one, take a time out to relax
and explore the great outdoors a little. Notice the detail of a sunbeam
resting on the forgotten ruins in the forests just north of the temple
or the tremendous body of water situated beneath the series of
diversely shaped canyons. Another element that sets Shadow of the
Colossus apart from the crowd is the quaint feeling of barrenness that
encompasses its enormous world. No other soul aside from the main
character, his horse, the maiden, the colossi, and the mysterious
spirit reside in this peaceful plain, save maybe a handful of birds or
reptiles. This means no random thugs or barbarians, no ecto-plasmic
blobs, and no pointless mini-bosses. Nothing but you and your primary
objective, a situation that truly lets you sink into the role of the
character you’re playing. And giving you an incentive to succeed and
help the troubled hero accomplish his ultimate goal.
After everything is said and done and you are treated with a brilliant
finale, the game opens up a new dimension of play, that being the time
attack mode. Thought it was difficult downing the colossi before? Try
doing so with a timer in front of you, ticking down second by second,
giving you a greater sense of urgency, and providing a manly challenge.
The game-play is considerably tougher in this mode and will test the
type of gamer that enjoys the combat portions of their particular
adventures. This is what makes Shadow of the Colossus so rewarding;
catering to a range of gaming styles, while bringing something
completely new to the table, that actually seems to work. Such a feat
is rarely accomplished and it is what makes this gem seem so much more.
No game though, no matter how great the experience, is without a couple
of minor quibbles, and Shadow of the Colossus is no exception. First
off, the controls, especially when on the horse, feel a little too
loose. Turning corners or attempting to climb up a particular surface
will sometimes be troublesome due to the weight you have to apply on
the control stick. This becomes a further inconvenience when the camera
decides to be stubborn. Though it is not often enough to be looked at
as a negative, the views you receive when climbing up the colossi for
instance, can make it hard to see what you are doing. Especially since
you are pressed for time when hanging on for dear life. Nevertheless,
despite a subjective mis-queue or two (that anyone could adjust to with
time), Shadow of the Colossus is one of the most error free titles I
have ever had the privilege of playing; now if only I could say the
same for the other “innovative” titles out there.
In the end, the hardest thing to deal with is in knowing that the game
will eventually come to an end. Shadow’s brilliance lies in its desire
to be different from any other game out there. Even without a plethora
of characters to interact with or additional itemization with which to
equip your hero, the game succeeds because it lacks these features. It
is as if you have been handed a blank slate, a world to do with as your
own, and been given the chance to explore the possibilities as you see
fit. From the epic confrontations with the impressive creatures
themselves to the tiniest attention to detail, Shadow of the Colossus
is far and away one of the best in the action-RPG genre today.
Providing a gaming experience I’ve not felt since Ocarina of Time
itself.
