Shadow of memories review full#

Figuring out the tactics and procedures to properly climb one of these monsters is the task the reward is the tactile gripping of their fur and the relentless stabbing of their sigils. Every fight is a new exercise in behavior recognition and environmental awareness. The process of killing each colossus - specifically, how unique and different these encounters are - is what makes Shadow of the Colossus so special. It isn’t long until you wonder how noble this pursuit really is. It’s only then that they become violent (although some of them stay docile throughout their dying breaths). All of these creatures are calmly confined to their lairs until we awaken them. Less obvious is the juxtaposition between how quietly they dwell versus how aggressively we pursue them. The obvious juxtaposition is our hero’s inconsequential size compared to the staggeringly big colossi. The complete toolset for felling all of these beasts is limited to: A sword, a bow, and occasionally a horse. The vast openness of the Forbidden Lands makes it feel largely empty except for the nooks where the colossi peacefully rest. The story is light on details in a way that leaves plenty open to interpretation, but the minimalist design carries over to the environment and the colossi encounters.

Shadow of memories review full#

Your mindset is monotrack.įor a game full of colossi that are mostly enormous in stature, Shadow of the Colossus is remarkably minimalist. Each conquered titan comes with a sense of definite progression toward the ultimate goal, and an itch to immediately find the next one.

There’s no real deviation or distraction from the plan. By the guidance of an enchanted sword, he sets off across the Forbidden Lands to track down each colossus. The immediate sacrifice our protagonist makes is that he’s willing to slay 16 behemoths in order to restore life to this befallen woman. More than anything else, there’s an underlying motif asking what lengths you’ll go to for someone you love. There are themes of love, sacrifice, innocence, grief, and death. The narrative veers slowly and naturally without leaning on direct storytelling. It’s a traditional “stoic hero performs feats of bravery to save a fair maiden” adventure but almost all exposition bookends the game. Shadow of the Colossus is an obtuse and twisted fairy tale. Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment This remake’s fresh coat of paint isn’t there to hide any flaws, it’s there to highlight its perfections.ĭeveloper: Bluepoint Games, SIE Japan Studio That’s not hyperbole and more than a decade of affection speaking either this is the part where I feel obliged to confess this is my first time ever playing Shadow of the Colossus. It’s widely regarded as a popular candidate for the best game ever, and its design hasn’t aged a day in the 12 years since its original release. That’s not the case with Shadow of the Colossus. They’re remembered fondly but maybe they don’t hold up as well as they used to. They were groundbreaking and influential in ways that guided and evolved future game design. Some of the greatest games exist as the best representatives of an era or a genre. Shadow of the Colossus is a timeless masterpiece.