In the shadows
Henry Northmore play-tests the epic adventure that is Shadow of the Colossus on PS2.
any in the industry are suggesting Slim/on- oft/iv ('o/ossm may well be the last great game on the current generation of consoles the last to break a few boundaries and drop some jaws before we mothball our PSZs and break out the new breed (latest rumours hint at an October or November release for the PS3 following on from a spring release in Japan. though pessimists reckon the liuropean release won‘t happen till March 2007. Still. that could well be brought forward to thwart any early lead the Xbox 360 may have established). Xbos 360 has so far been solid and pretty to look at. but nothing has been groundbreaking. so Sony is eager to keep its current machine at the top of its game. And Shadow oft/(e Colossus is epic.
Your quest is to save the soul of a young maiden. and the details are shrouded in mystery. The only way you can triumph is by searching out and destroying the titular colossi. In essence Slim/on- oft/w ('o/osxm is a series of extended boss lights. and each of these huge monsters is a level within itself. And when we say huge we mean gargantuan. These half-stone. half- organie beasts are the size of tower blocks. The first time one of these
monstrous animals lumbers on screen. it is awesome. the Herculean feat of
bringing this shambling mountain to its knees seeming almost impossible.
You soon learn how to charge down these living statues on your trusty steed then clamber aboard. It‘s an exhilarating experience traversing these bizarre creations. spending most of the game clinging on for dear life as you traverse their huge bodies while your grip slowly weakens and you search for weak spots (or ‘vitals') then plunge your sword deep into their brain or various other locations. In many ways this is a pul/le game as much as an actioner: you must plan your attack and work out how to reach the correct point and do as much damage as you can before they shake you from their immense forms.
It may sound repetitive. but each colossus is a challenge in itself: the first two are primers teaching you the basics but the later levels offer all manner of surprises. Your horse is fun to control and the main character is nicely animated. But this will always be about the colossi. and they are spectacular. rooting the whole game in its own mythology.
There may be some moments of confusion as you desperately search for a method to mount and kill each beast. but the satisfaction of bringing down
these mega-structures is immense. This is an original concept pulled off
with flair and no compromises when it comes to sheer scale.
Shadow of Colossus (SCEE) P82 .0000 available from 17 Feb.
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Reviews
URBAN REIGN (Namco) 000
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oEVIL KINGS (Capcom) COO
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102 THE LIST 16 Feb—2 Mar 2006