ICO (PS2)
	Developer Sony Computer Entertainment Publisher Sony Computer Entertainment Reviewed by Mark Megerian [Feedback] [Author Bio] Review Date January 24, 2002

Rating (out of 5.0) 4.5 out of 5.0*

Judge for yourself

Strengths Gorgeous graphics. Clever Puzzle design. Engrossing storyline. Weaknesses A bit too short. Voices not translated into English (subtitled)

* Notes Gaming Voice ratings are based on the technical and/or gameplay merits of a given product as well as the developer's choice of features and delivery of same. Our rating is not an endorsement of the thematic content of a given title. Gamers and parents are cautioned to determine if such content conflicts or coincides with their values and beliefs.

I was truly immersed in the huge, gorgeous settings, and felt like I was really a part of the story.

In the game, you play the part of ICO, a young boy born with horns. These horns are cause for concern in his village, who feel he is somehow cursed, and he is banished to a desolate castle/prison. The game begins with cutscenes showing him being taken to the castle and how he is freed by some type of tremor that causes his "cell" to open. You now must use your wits and your considerable physical skills to escape the castle. ICO can climb chains, jump to ledges, traverse drainpipes hand over hand, and has many other impressive abilities. Some of these skills have been seen before, in games like Tomb Raider and Prince of Persia, but in ICO they look so much better. Walking across a narrow catwalk is one thing, but doing it with a lush forest in the background that seems to stretch for miles is really a sight to see.

Adding to the challenge is that ICO almost immediately comes upon a young girl also trapped in the castle. He takes it upon himself to not only free the girl from her cage, but to help her escape along with him. Mysterious shadow creatures lurk throughout the castle, and they will try to take the girl back if ICO strays too far away or leaves her behind. If they manage to capture her and pull her down into their shadow world, ICO dies and the game ends.

Most of the progress through the game is made by solving puzzles that give ICO an escape route. Pulling switches may lower a platform. Cutting a rope may release a counterweight that opens a doorway. Furthermore, the girl (her name, Yorda, is revealed in the manual) doesn't have the athletic ability that ICO has, so you often have to find an easier way through for her.

I have never been a huge fan of puzzle-oriented games, but in this case the puzzles are done extremely well. First of all, they aren't totally derivative like on many other games -- floating platforms in the sky, etc. In ICO, the puzzles make sense based on the setting. You can turn a crank to lower a drawbridge, or blow up a wooden barricade to get into a blocked room. Secondly, they are more intuitive and you can see the results of your actions. If you need to climb up to a ledge, you can look around and find a way up to it. If you pull a switch, you can see a platform get raised. Some games require you to do something then run around to every other room and see what was affected by your actions. This can get tedious and there is none of that in ICO. Its not the type of game that forces you to buy a guide or look for a walkthrough.

In this case the puzzles are done extremely well.

On the other hand, an experienced gamer and solid puzzle solver may find the experience to end a bit too soon. It's such a wonderful game, that you will be sad when it's over. The storyline is very well conceived yet leaves enough to your imagination that the entire story is subject to several interpretations. Why is the girl there? Why does she seem so weak and frail? Questions like this are answered, but yet you can still find yourself sorting through the details long after the game is over. Make SURE you sit through all the credits at the end of the game. There is a little surprise waiting for you afterwards that should not be missed.

Be thankful that they released this little gem in the U.S. at all.

One quirk about the game is that while it's subtitled in English, none of the spoken language is in English. This is a very minor drawback, and barely worth mentioning, because it's not a game that has a lot of dialogue. There are maybe five conversations in the entire game, so you can easily forgive the game manufacturer for not bothering to redo all the voice acting in English. Just be thankful that they released this little gem in the U.S. at all.

The fighting aspect of the game is conducted with a stick and with a sword -- no fancy weapons here. Again, that fits the setting and the story perfectly. Fighting consists of keeping Yorda safe from the hordes of shadowy figures that want to capture her. Once you get the hang of thisand learn to take on one enemy at a time, you should have no trouble with these baddies. The game provides save points at many key areas, so after solving a tricky puzzle or defeating a batch of enemies, you can save your progress by sitting on a couch with Yorda (trust me).

In summary, ICO is an excellent game. not to be missed by a gamer that likes to be immersed in a new adventure. If you like nonstop action, this isn't your game. If you like endless shoot 'em up battles, this isn't your game. But if you like an engrossing storyline, with gorgeous scenery, and truly top-notch puzzle-solving challenges, you must play ICO.