ICO (PlayStation 2) review "Waif-like freaks who don't speak your language never looked so good..."

Somewhere between a hazy dream and reality lies the stunning new PS2 game ICO. Sony has combined the best in puzzles, graphics, and gameplay to offer PS2 owners a truly unique experience. Set in a truly huge, multi-leveled castle, the player assumed the role of ICO, a young boy who is the source of his village’s belief that everything that can go wrong will be ICO’s fault. Why? Well, he’s got 2 huge horns growing out of his noggin’ and they aren’t getting any smaller. So on his 12th birthday, Ico’s hauled off by some unsavory dudes and locked away in a castle of inexhaustible beauty and mystery to dwell among the lost souls of those with horns like his. There he meets Yorda, an ethereal young girl who’s been locked away in a cage by an evil queen. It’s you r job as Ico to lead Yorda throughout the perilous traps and obstacles of the castle to freedom. But the puzzles aren’t the only thing keeping you from escaping; the evil queen has dispatched an army of shadow-wraiths whose job is to kidnap Yorda at any opportunity.

The game’s about as easy as it gets to pick up and play. The control scheme is responsive, fluid, and virtually free of any clunkiness. Ico has no weapons list, no score, no menus, no time limit; it’s just you, a stick, a weird girl, and a heap of puzzles to solve while whackin’ some evil upside the head. And you know what? It’s fun. Darn fun. Sony’s taken a very simple formula and made it work with their signature attention to graphics and detail.

And what graphics they are. Ico boasts some of the most gorgeous settings and landscapes to grace any console ever, with lighting and shadow effects that raise the bar for future games. Sound effects like birds, wind, rotating machinery, and running water put you right in the middle of the adventure, totally blurring the line between gamer and game.

Of course, Ico isn’t perfect; there is very little music in the game, even in tense situations, and you don’t do too much battle with nether-world demons, which may turn off those who love the old hack and slash. Players may also become frustrated when having to lead a rather fussy Yorda throughout the castle’s traps. Sometimes the girl just won’t listen, and you’re forced to lead her over and over again towards the exits or up and down ladders. The game’s biggest drawback is its length. Like most of today’s games it’s over a bit too soon, but it sucks you in, riveting you until the end, which is surprisingly poignant and unexpected.

For those of you who have been disappointed by the PS2’s library of games thus far, Ico is a shining beacon of hope for what’s to come on the system and from Sony. It’s a blast to play, and it’s challenging, without leaving you stuck on puzzles so long that you want to chuck you r controller across the room. All in all Ico’s a gem, and a must have for PS2 owners.

Community review by matsuko (Date unavailable) A bio for this contributor is currently unavailable, but check back soon to see if that changes. If you are the author of this review, you can update your bio from the Settings page.