Shadow of the Colossus.

So... This is the game I always love to bring up when I argue about the artistic value in gaming. I've played lots of games in my life but there's only a handfull that made such a big emotional impact on me. I'll never forget the whole feeling I got on my first playthrough, the unbelievable music, the deeply emotional story and the heart-braking ending. So let's take things from the beggining.

The game starts with a cutscene showing the hero named Wander crossing this huge bridge, to get into this secret realm, on his horse (Agro) carrying a woman. On the center of the land there is a temple where he communicates with a voice named Dormin. He tells them that he can bring his woman back from the dead with one requirement; Wander must kill the 12 Colossi that inhabit the land, huge guardians, who are possesed by a dark force. Pretty simple.

or not.

So he wanders throught the land trying to find all the Colossi and kill them on by one. After the assignment comes the first shock. You start wondering into a land that is completely empty and pretty much dead! The only things alive are you, your horse and the Colossi. Also, there is no sound present, nothing, just the sound of your horse's galloping is breaking the silence. This super minimalistic design has the first deep psychological effect on the player; the land is so peacefull but also so threatening on the same time, also it's so depressing and lonely. You find ruins on your journey, broken structures with plants all around them, giving the hole realm a feel of abandonement, like something terrible happened and everything went exticnt, everything seems left and forgotten, untill you meet the Colossus you're looking for.

Here's where the super minimalistic design turns upside down and becomes super maximalistic! The (awesome) soundtrack kicks in, and the unbelievably huge creature comes towards you. From here the game turns to action/puzzle where you have to climb on the Colossus' body without losing your grip (theres a grip meter for this) and stab him in his designated weak spots. Gameplay wise it's very addictive even though not exceptionally hard (except the last few Colossi) so the game runs smoothly. The Colossi have great design, they look like a steampunk nightmare, half made from grass or wood and half made by metal and stone. Here though comes the second shock. Those creatures (most of them) are not even aggressive! They just stand there or sleep or fly peacefully around untill you come and start poking on them. After a while you start feeling bad you're killing those majestic creatures and start questioning the true motives of Dormin.

I can't say more about the story without spoiling the game for those who haven't play it yet. I can just say that it has one of the most memorable finales I've ever seen, truely heartbraking.

So, what makes this game art? What makes it a so memorable and deep experience? I'd say the combination of great writing-fantastic sountrack-great atmosphere. What happens after you get off Agro and upon seeing the last Colossus in the distance will always stay in my mind, so atmospheric, so emotional!  And the ending oh the ending!
Yeah ok, I could spend hours talking about this masterpiece. Maybe I shouldn't talk at all and just post screenshots and tracks from the OST (titled "Roar Of Earth" btw), I don't know, I did my best to show to those that haven't play this game why it is so great. Go get a PS2 now (or an emulator) and play this masterpiece now, or wait for the re-release on HD on PS3 along with Ico, the first game of the same developer.


Now, who can wait for the Last Guardian?

10/10 (and more)