Welcome to the list!
So I finally got a PS2 over Thanksgiving break, and utilizing black friday deals, got games for quite cheap. One of them: Shadow of the Colossus, has now joined the ranks of games like Kirby Superstar, Paper Mario 2, Suikoden 2, and basically every Mario sports-related title ever as one of my favorite games ever.
Seriously, I'm floored by it. Yeah, the framerate is choppy during battles, and the camera can be nightmareishly bad when sentient, but aside from that, I love everything about it. The environments are gorgeous and fleshed out, yet are still filled with just the right touch of desolation.. everything about it projects this perfect mood of solitude without forcing one specific environment.
Annnd then the guilt. The story is intentionally vague, but purposeful.. and the way they gave such life to the colossi and personality to them, their actions and reactions, as I started the game I felt very guilty having to kill them off. The fact that you're often exploiting their curiosity, their attempts to defend themselves and such.. it just felt wrong. Later when the fights became more difficult, complicated, and the colossi more aggressive, the feelings of guilt usually changed to overwhelming satisfaction in finally taking them down. I refused to use any guides on the playthrough, as I knew it would ruin the experience... and it was definitely better for doing so.
The music score was perfect, and they added some really emotional points juuuust to add a little more heaviness to the whole experience. Then the ending capped things off amazingly, and the new game options have added enough to keep me replaying it.
I can easily see how someone could have the game ruined for them, or not enjoy it. If I'd turned off the music, used a guide, played the game while doing something else etc... any of those I guarantee would've reduced the experience. But I have a feeling I played it exactly how they intended, and as such, the creative vision hit me perfectly. Was an absolutely fantastic game; I've never played or seen anything like it.
No updates on my life! =D
Seriously, I'm floored by it. Yeah, the framerate is choppy during battles, and the camera can be nightmareishly bad when sentient, but aside from that, I love everything about it. The environments are gorgeous and fleshed out, yet are still filled with just the right touch of desolation.. everything about it projects this perfect mood of solitude without forcing one specific environment.
Annnd then the guilt. The story is intentionally vague, but purposeful.. and the way they gave such life to the colossi and personality to them, their actions and reactions, as I started the game I felt very guilty having to kill them off. The fact that you're often exploiting their curiosity, their attempts to defend themselves and such.. it just felt wrong. Later when the fights became more difficult, complicated, and the colossi more aggressive, the feelings of guilt usually changed to overwhelming satisfaction in finally taking them down. I refused to use any guides on the playthrough, as I knew it would ruin the experience... and it was definitely better for doing so.
The music score was perfect, and they added some really emotional points juuuust to add a little more heaviness to the whole experience. Then the ending capped things off amazingly, and the new game options have added enough to keep me replaying it.
I can easily see how someone could have the game ruined for them, or not enjoy it. If I'd turned off the music, used a guide, played the game while doing something else etc... any of those I guarantee would've reduced the experience. But I have a feeling I played it exactly how they intended, and as such, the creative vision hit me perfectly. Was an absolutely fantastic game; I've never played or seen anything like it.
No updates on my life! =D