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[EverydayBeast]

This is originally a PS2 game released in 2001, was remastered on the PS3 apart of a “collection” with Shadow of the Colossus and in 2023 I am playing it for the first time on a “super slim” version of the PlayStation 3.

The cover art for the American version.

The PS3 “Super Slim”.

I am guessing a lot of gamers haven’t played Ico, but its advantage is playing with precision, carefulness and taking advantage of the environments. My gut tells me the controls for Ico are bad and isn’t ready to contend with todays games.

What ICO does best is in it's atmosphere, visuals, and it's story that has a young boy attempting to escape from a deserted castle city with the help of a girl named Yorda.



It’s just a deep, weird game and throughout my whole play session it was a treat to play. What does GAF think of Ico? Overhyped? Better than the last guardian?

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

All Ueda games are special but Ico is my favorite of the bunch. Love its puzzle platformer gameplay and its unique style overall....when that part later in the game kicks in, its a real tear jerker, at least it was for me. If you know, ya know.

 

[violence]

I remember buying the PS2 version on a whim for 4 dollars years after release. I was pretty surprised how good it was.

 

[Werewolf Jones]

This game is the reason why The Last of Us literally exists.

Still one of the best games ever. Bridge scene makes me cry every time.

 

[radewagon]

Man, what a great game. I still remember my friend convincing me that it was good because I didn't want to give it a chance after seeing the hideous cover art. Also remember messing around with the water in that little pool around the windmill because of how cool the physics were.

All around a phenomenal and unforgettable experience. Shame it's still locked on PS2/PS3 hardware.

 

[Danjin44]

It was really well made, When I played HD collection I was afraid its not gonna be fun because how old the game was but this game surprisingly aged really well.

 

[Black_Mamba]

It's a masterpiece, one of the games that had the biggest impact on me. But I think it's one of those games you had to experience at the time it was created to fully appreciate the art. It's a bit too late to play it in 2023, imo.

 

[Guerilla Munch]

Ico was comfy af

 

[TransTrender]

Great game
Replayed it in 3D and really enjoyed it

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

This is one of those games that makes you feel a unique sensation.

It's hard to describe. Kinda of "dream-like".
The only other game that made me feel like that was Shadow of the Colossus.

Team ICO had a strong vision for their games. Too bad Sony disbanded them.
Hope genDesign's next game is as good as ICO

 

[Sleepwalker]

I still havent played it. I have shadow of the colossus digitally on ps4 I think but not sure if ICO is included or stuck on PS3. I need to play these games.

 

[dotnotbot]

I still havent played it. I have shadow of the colossus digitally on ps4 I think but not sure if ICO is included or stuck on PS3. I need to play these games.

It's stuck on PS3, maybe it's also available through PS+ Premium streaming but I'm not sure

 

[Sleepwalker]

It's stuck on PS3, maybe it's also available through PS+ Premium streaming but I'm not sure

I have a PS3 so its no big deal, ill look for a copy. Ty

 

[LavitzSlambert]

I remember buying the PS2 version on a whim for 4 dollars years after release. I was pretty surprised how good it was.

Back during the glory days of cheap used games, I picked up Ico and MGS2 on the PS2 for $5 each.

Ico is still great, although it has definitely shown its age. Puzzles still exceptional but the escort mission combat and AI are not good. But the game is art and important for the lore, and as a precursor to Shadow of the Colossus which I maintain is one of the best games ever created. I need another Team ICO game

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Games like this are how Sony built their rep.

 

[Thaedolus]

One of the greats, the remaster is the way to go. Ueda game soundtracks are just

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

This game is the reason why The Last of Us literally exists.

Can you explain that please?

 

[anonychus]

I played it a year ago for the first time. I thought the atmosphere was phenomenal and the music fit so well, but man was the gameplay rough. For example, there was a tall ladder near the end of the game that took about 45 seconds to climb, so I went up it with Yorda. I hit the switch up top and went back down, called Yorda down, waited another 45 seconds, then I went to grab her hand when she was on the last rung and she took that as me wanting to climb it. She then went straight back up and wouldn't stop no matter how much I called her back. Waited for her to reach the top, called her back down again, yet another 45 seconds. The game has a lot of positive points, but it's also inexcusably clunky.

 

[struggler_guts]

This game is the reason why The Last of Us literally exists.

Still one of the best games ever. Bridge scene makes me cry every time.

fact? did bruce or neil ever say that? cause if so that'd be really cool. this was one of the first games I remember playing that made me FEEL

 

[EverydayBeast]

I played it a year ago for the first time. I thought the atmosphere was phenomenal and the music fit so well, but man was the gameplay rough. For example, there was a tall ladder near the end of the game that took about 45 seconds to climb, so I went up it with Yorda. I hit the switch up top and went back down, called Yorda down, waited another 45 seconds, then I went to grab her hand when she was on the last rung and she took that as me wanting to climb it. She then went straight back up and wouldn't stop no matter how much I called her back. Waited for her to reach the top, called her back down again, yet another 45 seconds. The game has a lot of positive points, but it's also inexcusably clunky.

Really good point for sure.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Also I think you can beat this game in one sitting and that’s not necessarily a bad thing I don’t think game length doesn’t equal quality.

 

[DonF]

Also I think you can beat this game in one sitting and that’s not necessarily a bad thing I don’t think game length doesn’t equal quality.

I remember this game was actually one of the few ps2 the was on a CD and not a DVD. I investigated and the game started development as a psOne game.

A truly influential piece. Such a unique and focused experience.

 

[Cashon]

I replayed this earlier this year as well. I have all but one trophy for it. Still an excellent game, in my opinion. I love the visuals, the Minimalist storytelling, and the atmosphere of this game. The save bench music still reminds me of the April I first played the original PS2 version, circa 2003-ish.

I think it's better than Shadow of the Colossus, but have still yet to play The Last Guardian for more than a half-hour or so.

 

[swaffles23]

I love ICO. still my favorite PS2 game. The music, art direction and atmosphere is all incredible. I might be one of the few who likes it more than SotC.

1. ICO
2. The Last Guardian
3. Shadow of the Colossus

Such an incredible trilogy of games

 

[Krappadizzle]

Man, I remember playing Ico in like 2 days non-stop. What a great game, very unique for it's time and it's aged well. That collection is great. I wish The Last Guardian would come to PC.

 

[semiconscious]

i ico...

 

[OGM_Madness]

This game is the reason why The Last of Us literally exists.

Still one of the best games ever. Bridge scene makes me cry every time.

Also, the reason why Dark Souls. ICO was so good, that Hidetaka Miyazaki quit his job and started a career in gaming, citing ICO as one of his biggest inspirations for Demon’s Souls & Dark Souls.

 

[SpiceRacz]

I played it on a whim back when it was streaming on PS+ on PS4. Beautiful game and easily among my favorites of all time.

 

[TexMex]

Bought it the day it came out on PS2 after being blown away by a demo that came in OPM. That water at the windmill!

 

[Danjin44]

Also I think you can beat this game in one sitting and that’s not necessarily a bad thing I don’t think game length doesn’t equal quality.

The game was perfect length, its not type of game that needs 100 hours play time.

 

[fart town usa]

I remember renting this with my buddy back when it first released. Played through it over the course of a Friday night. Had never seen anything like it. Amazing game. Timeless really.

I own the PS3 remaster too

 

[Werewolf Jones]

fact? did bruce or neil ever say that? cause if so that'd be really cool. this was one of the first games I remember playing that made me FEEL

It's Neil's favourite game and the two character aspect while first tested out in Uncharted 2 was fully realised with TLOU which is inspired by this game.

Can you explain that please?

I got you.

 

[Daneel Elijah]

Loved the game when I played it in emulation a few years ago. Shame that there is no PS4 or PS5 remaster.

 

[existensmaximum]

ICO was cool and had an amazing atmosphere but I remember that I stopped playing it because it was so stressful constantly running back to defend the girl from ghosts or whatever it was. I could never relax or really enjoy the game.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

The Feelz abound so you feel like you should excuse the horribly clunky gameplay
Sorry, can’t really feel emotional when every jump is so clumsy, every combat is a chore, and the companion I’m forced to carry around is *a word starting with r that the internet really doesn’t like*. I played through Ico twice. Nice lighting, nice environments. Bad game, no two ways around it.

Games like this are how Sony built their rep.

Oh there’s no doubt about that

 

[EverydayBeast]

I replayed this earlier this year as well. I have all but one trophy for it. Still an excellent game, in my opinion. I love the visuals, the Minimalist storytelling, and the atmosphere of this game. The save bench music still reminds me of the April I first played the original PS2 version, circa 2003-ish.

I think it's better than Shadow of the Colossus, but have still yet to play The Last Guardian for more than a half-hour or so.

Makes you see the auto save progression the couch was an awesome save point though.

 

[EverydayBeast]

The game was perfect length, its not type of game that needs 100 hours play time.

Yup short and sweet

 

[bender]

I remember getting stuck when it first released because they reworked the Windmill section from the PSM demo. Great game.

 

[Kyo]

The Feelz abound so you feel like you should excuse the horribly clunky gameplay
Sorry, can’t really feel emotional when every jump is so clumsy, every combat is a chore, and the companion I’m forced to carry around is *a word starting with r that the internet really doesn’t like*. I played through Ico twice. Nice lighting, nice environments. Bad game, no two ways around it.

I wouldn't say it's downright bad, but yeah, the actual gameplay is pretty mediocre. Especially the combat, which makes for a surprisingly large part of your activities. It's just tedious. I really like Ico's visual design and the animation work, but there's more to a game than just that.

 

[engstra]

One of my absolute favorite games of all time. My favorite of the Ueda games due to it's simplicity, incredible atmosphere and engaging story. The soundtrack is also top.
It's a shame they shut down Sony Studio Japan because everything Ueda created was so special. Hoping to see what he's been up to at some point.

 

[naguanatak]

All of Uedas games are in my top ten.
His teams create something special every time. Looking forward to GenDesigns next one.

Ico I played on a demo disc for the first time. Couldn't stand it, thought it was stupid and controlled horribly.
After I experienced Shadow of the Colossus for the first time I went back, played Ico and had a wonderful time. Sometimes circumstances and perception play a huge role.
It's the weakest of the three for me, but still incredibly special game.