Shadow of the Colossus (explain it to me!)

[shadysaiyan]

Okay, so i bought it the other day, knowing that its like a "cult hit" or somethin, but i figured i would still like it for some reason. Anyway i beat it today and i've got to say i was kinda of disappointed, for one, there's basically zero story at all, its just a run and go find and kill this colossus, and its literally orders. I get he wants to resurrect his girlfriend or whatever, but other then that there's nothing going on. there is also nothing going on outside, not animals at all, except some lizards and birds. but anyway after beating and trying to understand it, i think that the gameplay is really good and i loved the platforming and puzzling way to kill the Colossi.

But yeah, someone tell me why they think this game is really really good, besides the art style ( on that note, i thought the main character was a girl for the first like 20 minutes i was playing)

[Vekta101]

SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T FINISHED

You pretty much walked into the game with the wrong expectations.

The game is about 16 boss battles, it's not about a daring, brave quest, it's about defeating 16 beings that are 1600 times your size to save the one you love (it's not necessarily his girlfriend.. it doesn't explain who she is but the best theory is that it's his sister). IMO it would be absolutely pointless if on the journey you encounter mid-sized enemies which slightly hinder your true goal. How can the lack of other enemies be seen as a negative?

The story is that the one you love is dead (or on the verge of death) and the only way you can save her is to use the magic of the far away land. In case you didn't pick up on it from the multiple cutscenes, there are a group of people who are trying to stop you from using this magic for reasons explained in the final cutscene.

Basically the backstory is that the person who talks to you is a demon whose soul was split up into 16 parts and spread across the land. Every time you killed a colossus he became stronger. When you defeated the final one, he needed a sacrifice, so he chose you being that you were weak and vulnerable.

The problem is you walked into this game with the entirely wrong expectations. It's like walking into Call of Duty 4 and expecting a long, complex story.

The great part about this game is just how special it is. The entire experience comes together to form one of the most magical games out there. IMO it has the best music of any game to date.

[Karma]

I agree with vekta, it seems you walked unto this expecting a hack-n-slash. Sorry to disappointed. And art style is not synonymous with graphics. The worlds is set with beautiful sepia-toned environments and awe-inspiring landscapes, not to mention boss battles. It just seems that you prefer more hectic games where you do a lot of killing, but I'm afraid this isn't it.

[shadysaiyan]

@Vekta - Well for the enemies outside, i mean there was like nothing outside so while i was rideing my horse around it felt pretty boring until i get the the colossus, tha repeat the process from there. also there was only a different cutscene with those other people after like the 10th or 13th Colossus, so i didnt get what the heck was going on, But i mean there is no backstory and you have no idea who these people are, where they came from or anything at all. also the last Colossus, was a bitch i was fighting the guy trying to figure out waht to do after being on the second hand, over and over for like 2 hours yesterday, i ranomdly figured it out today and won. 13 (island one?), 15, and 16 took the longest for me.

[shadysaiyan]

I agree with vekta, it seems you walked unto this expecting a hack-n-slash. Sorry to disappointed. And art style is not synonymous with graphics. The worlds is set with beautiful sepia-toned environments and awe-inspiring landscapes, not to mention boss battles. It just seems that you prefer more hectic games where you do a lot of killing, but I'm afraid this isn't it.

Thats not it, i can get into any game that not sports, i just like games with a great story or action.

[Pan]

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZSXhuuRgB8) should sum it up pretty well.

[shadysaiyan]

Funny XD it did take forever to find some of them sometimes.

[Ladykiller]

Sorry to hear that you're disappointed, but this is without a doubt one of the best and most beautiful games that mankind has created imo. As the others have said, you came up and played the game with the wrong expectations.

To sum it up Ueda uses a unique style and philosophy of game creation called "design by subtraction." It strips a classic adventure story from all the unnecessary crap. The team would start off with something larger and they would work from there. Are towns full of people needed? No. Is a cast of 10+ characters necessary to make a good story? Nope. And so on...

What's left are the elements that DO matter. And in the core, that's what separates SotC and ICO from every other game out there - and ultimately, they turn out as more unique and better experiences. You don't need 20+ weapons, magic spells, special powers to make a great game. All you have is a sword, a bow, a horse, and your wits to defeat the 16 colossi in the game. And that's enough, alot of games nowadays go over the top when it comes to providing players with clues/means to succeed in the game and seem to have forgotten the simplicity that made videogames fun and engaging in the first place.

As for the story...I'll say it right now: Shadow of the Colossus has an AMAZING story. Unlike any other game, it keeps the story open for interpretation while still having engaging characters that deliver up until the last moment. And yes, I thought the ending was a beautiful way to end this fantastic game. Hopefully this would explain more as to why Ueda decided to go in this direction:


Q: Okay, so there's no canon backstory or explanation for the ending or
anything like that?
A: Not entirely. Ueda's one of those rare gamemakers who doesn't always have
an exact intention for a story per se. He's got an intention for a plot, plot
elements, and plot devices, but not always an intended explanation. He usually
wants the gamers to take their own story away from experiences with his games.
Obviously, there's some things that can't work in the context of the game, but
we'll get to more on that later. Hope this would help about explaining as to why Ueda created the game like that too:

Ueda's got his own interpretations for the story, but he usually calls it just
that: an interpretation. He takes his own personal analysis away from his
games, but he doesn't always make it official. He makes a point to let that be
known when asked what something meant in one of his games. That said, it IS
his opinion -- and he has confirmed it as canon -- that Shadow of the Colossus
is a prequel to Ico and that Wander will begin the line of horned boys seen in
Ico, making Wander Ico's ancestor.

[Ratchetcomand]

^I argee, Shadow of the Colossus is not a game for everyone and i did not like it at first. But i got into the game each time i play it just like Final Fantasy 7 when i first play it back in 1999.

[shadysaiyan]

Well even though i was disappointed a bit, i did like an enjoy the game.

@ LK - i just realized no names were spoken or given in the game either, and from that quote i guess i've got to play ICO now too :P i was gonna get it when i picked up SotC but it wasnt there.

@Ratchet - Well while i was playing it, after every Colossus i defeated, i was pretty much waiting for something to happen, but i kept being telported back to the same place, and that was pretty repetative, plus i could never even do anything in the shire but look at the girl, no a "*shake her* hay wake up already", nothing but look :p also if you guys had to pick, what would you say was your favorite Colossus? im not sure, i liked the ones that were people like, number 1 and 15 come to mind, i hated the dogish ones >_<

[Ladykiller]

Well even though i was disappointed a bit, i did like an enjoy the game.

@ LK - i just realized no names were spoken or given in the game either, and from that quote i guess i've got to play ICO now too :P i was gonna get it when i picked up SotC but it wasnt there.

@Ratchet - Well while i was playing it, after every Colossus i defeated, i was pretty much waiting for something to happen, but i kept being telported back to the same place, and that was pretty repetative, plus i could never even do anything in the shire but look at the girl, no a "*shake her* hay wake up already", nothing but look :p also if you guys had to pick, what would you say was your favorite Colossus? im not sure, i liked the ones that were people like, number 1 and 15 come to mind, i hated the dogish ones >_<

Actually, the only names that aren't given in the game are Lord Emon's men (not that they matter much anyway) and the Wanderer. The colossi's names were given out officially, but not mentioned in the game.

Lord Emon, Agro, and Mono (Wander speaks her name once when he wakes up and her name's also mentioned in the credits) are all mentioned in the game. Just gotta pay attention. ;)

I pretty much love everything about the game (some camera problems exist, but doesn't detract much from the overall experience), I just defeated all 16 colossi 2 days ago in Hard Time Attack mode which means I'm done - I've explored every nook and cranny including the secret garden and the Ico beach. Speaking of Ico, I liked it better than SotC but they're still both outstanding games in their own right. You can also get the Queen's Sword (from Ico) in SotC and a White Agro, the ultimate prize after beating hard time attack mode - which is hard as tits btw.

I liked most of the fights with the 16 colossi, but my favorite ones would be Avion (the bird like colossus), Dirge (the serpent that chases you from under the sand), Celosia (I like the ico reference there with the wooden stick), and Phalanx - aka the most epic boss fight ever. Nothing beats riding Agro across a vast desert and jumping aboard a flying serpent like colossus. :)

[Shadow the Hedgehog]

Actually, the only names that aren't given in the game are Lord Emon's men (not that they matter much anyway) and the Wanderer. The colossi's names were given out officially, but not mentioned in the game.

Lord Emon, Agro, and Mono (Wander speaks her name once when he wakes up and her name's also mentioned in the credits) are all mentioned in the game. Just gotta pay attention. ;)

I pretty much love everything about the game (some camera problems exist, but doesn't detract much from the overall experience), I just defeated all 16 colossi 2 days ago in Hard Time Attack mode which means I'm done - I've explored every nook and cranny including the secret garden and the Ico beach. Speaking of Ico, I liked it better than SotC but they're still both outstanding games in their own right. You can also get the Queen's Sword (from Ico) in SotC and a White Agro, the ultimate prize after beating hard time attack mode - which is hard as tits btw.

I liked most of the fights with the 16 colossi, but my favorite ones would be Avion (the bird like colossus), Dirge (the serpent that chases you from under the sand), Celosia (I like the ico reference there with the wooden stick), and Phalanx - aka the most epic boss fight ever. Nothing beats riding Agro across a vast desert and jumping aboard a flying serpent like colossus. :)
I thought tits were soft :(

[Ladykiller]

not when they're....

oops sorry, not for children. ;)

[shadysaiyan]

I don't read credits :P also yeah i forgot to mention the camera, it was very very annoying, most of the time wandering by itself. Also Argo the horse is retarded, he didn't listen that much and was very unfaithful to me in some of my colosus battle, just running away like a little bitch... :D also my play time is 10 hours and 2 mintues, mostly because of the last 2 bosses.

[TrevOwnz]

I beat half of it then watch my brother beat the rest of it and thought why bother I know how to do it and everything there is no point. I loved it but I do agree there should have been more life that a couple lizards. Did anyone get to the top of the castle thing. Took my brother awhile to figure it out.

[shadysaiyan]

^^ castle thing? do you mean the last colossus? (at a distance he shoots you on sight)

[TrevOwnz]

No the temple you start off in. The one were the girl is laying. You can climb it but its about a 30 min climb. Takes forever. At the top there is a well and stuff I think. Youtube it or something. My brother also ran completely down the road bridge. That took him a very long time to lol.

"The Fruit of the Dead
Each time you beat a Colossus, your strength meter will increase. If you make it large enough, you'll be able to climb up the back of the temple you first start in. Up top, you'll find the courtyard from the end of the game and the bridge that you entered on. There isn't much to do here, but you will find some fruit in the trees. Shoot it down and eat it and you'll decrease your health and strength meters. The only reason you might want to do this is if your strength meter is getting so big it is taking up too much of your field of view."

http://guides.ign.com/guides/490849/page_5.html

[finalfantaseer22]

zomg i loved looking around the world for lizards and that weird fruit, i got my endurance circle off the screen and my status bar was extrememly long too.

anyways, i didnt exactly read all these long analysi because i just dont feel like it right now but i def agree with LK with "but this is without a doubt one of the best and most beautiful games that mankind has created imo."

it's an absolutely stunning experience, and the game just wouldnt work without the mystery and "zero story". i absolutely loved the feel the game gave off... the graphic style is gorgeous and the world is HUGE, the design and scale of the colossi is outstanding, the music is FANTASTIC, and the mechanics work incredibly well and the gameplay, although pretty basic, is perfect for it. the only problem about this game is that i want more.

i seriously fell in love with this game.


No the temple you start off in. The one were the girl is laying. You can climb it but its about a 30 min climb. Takes forever. At the top there is a well and stuff I think. Youtube it or something. My brother also ran completely down the road bridge. That took him a very long time to lol.


i had no idea that you could climg the tower... thats really cool. i mean it shows the top of the tower at the end when the girl and teh horse walk up but i had no idea you could actually go up there... amazing.

i also hear theres this weird glitch that if you liek jump on to an eagle or whatever you can glide off one cliff and float all the way down to this beach place... it also sounds really cool but i have no idea how to do it or whatever...

about the road bridge i tried running down it and it went on forever and like argo wouldnt go any further and i had only gotten like halfway and then this random force of gravity push me off and i think i died... idk i dont remember but i know i tried.

oh yeah and i didnt really like ICO. so just because you liked sotc doesnt mean youll like ico.

[shadysaiyan]

@ Trev - I never even thought about running back up the shrine, well until i had already beaten the game and loaded my save file, the door at the top was sealed, so i just "took a big leap of faith" into the little water pool in the shrine >_>. pretty cool to know about that stuff though

@ FF22 - I didnt get my circle off the screen, but close. And bird flying, really? that wanderer would have to be really stupid to think he can just jump on an eagle, i mean, come on, an eagle cant carry a full grown person. plus he would leave his retarded horse behind and i don think this magical eagle will give him a ride back :D


and the game just wouldnt work without the mystery and "zero story"
ROFL XD


oh yeah and i didnt really like ICO. so just because you liked sotc doesnt mean youll like ico.

Well i want to play that too, for the story connection, well the one i would expect but never get :P

...again that horse is retarded...

Edit: i also forgot to mention that, the whole, what 10 seconds of playing as the darkness monster thing was kind of pointless, because no matter what you do the outcome is the same, i hate gameplay mechanics like that >:|

[Ladykiller]

As for Agro being "retarded", he's not. Ueda and his team designed it so it would be more realistic. A real horse wouldn't come the moment you call it, it takes more than that actually. Though the team did its best to balance it out.

Yes, you could climb the Shrine of Worship and go to the secret garden (as seen on the ending) from the outside. You need to utilize the diagonal jump glitch, otherwise, it's almost impossible without having an extremely large stamina circle. Once there, you could run the entire bridge (which I also did haha) or explore the secret garden. If you decide to eat the fruit there, you'll permanently decrease your stamina and life bars.

Also, it's possible to go "bird flying" from any kind of bird. I usually shine the sword at them to get their attention then jump from agro and hold R1. You can do the same thing with the ones that appear near Mono when you wake up. The same thing can be done with fishes/eels underwater. You could also go to *spoilers* the Ico beach (as seen in the ending of Ico) by going south west from the Shrine of Worship.

Other extra things to get are: a parachute, the Queen's sword, a harpoon, a white Agro and alot of other extras by beating it in normal and hard time attack modes. :D

[Vengeance]

I wish GAME weren't retarded so I could actually buy this game.

[shadysaiyan]

As for Agro being "retarded", he's not. Ueda and his team designed it so it would be more realistic. A real horse wouldn't come the moment you call it, it takes more than that actually. Though the team did its best to balance it out.


I know, but i would stand ther calling that hing for like 5 minutes sometimes, even when i see him in the distance looking at me just standing there, i would have to run up to the thing. and sometimes he would run up to me after i called him, and then just turnaround and walk away >_< what kind of faithful horse is that?



Other extra things to get are: a parachute, the Queen's sword, a harpoon, a white Agro and alot of other extras by beating it in normal and hard time attack modes. :D

Im too lazy :D

[Ninty]

To me its the best game ever created.

Too bad i dont have a Ps2 anymore. :(