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[nenjin]

I went into it expecting nothing. SoC just is, it's not like it was trying to live up to anything. What surprises me, at the end of the day, is that what people have made that one-time experience into.

[Duke 2.0]

You can't replay SoC. There's nothing to do differently other than fall off at different places on the Colossi.

 I would argue that the hard mode time challenges unlocks some nifty stuff, but I would have to smack myself and acknowledge that they are basically the same fights with time limits on them. No specific feature needs to be brought up for me to provide ammunition to disagree with this idea here.

 This game goes by very quickly and at the same time very slowly. In the short term each fight doesn't feel that long, and in the long term you wonder how many more there could possibly be without always checking how many statues are left. My first playthrough was a haze of style and excitement, many details left unseen by my actions scanning desperately for a method of attack. A second playthrough allows you to better appreciate the landscapes, the arenas and the behaviors of the various bosses. It plays very differently when you already know how to beat the boss, and for those of us who loved the game it was sometimes funner.

[Darkmere]

I actually went into it expecting awesome. I don't buy consoles until years late so this was already in the classics collection at that point. I completely understand the "kill it coz its there" challenge aspect, and that's perfectly fine. It kept me going for several fights, but after a certain point it felt to me like the game was trying to coast along on all style and no substance. Also, as I didn't have time then to sit down and play the game straight, I'd have never noticed the visual cues you mentioned.

<Pointless aside>

I should say that as a writer, a great deal of my enjoyment comes out of examining game plots, sometimes this is much more fun than the game itself. This is the majority of my confusion about the game.

</Pointless aside>

Looking back, I know now that the game is a sequel (prequel?) to another game I never played, and that had I played the other game and finished this one SotC might have made more sense. That also sounds like the same logic of the Star Wars prequels abandoning all sanity and quality control because "you knew how it ended already."

If you guys enjoyed it, that's great. I think it'll always be the equivalent of Napoleon Dynamite to me, though. *shrug*

[Vibhor]

Plot as I know it: Nameless guy rides a horse and has a dead girlfriend. He wanders around and stabs big things. That's literally all I got from the first several colossi. I then felt an utter lack of connection or motivation and quit playing.

Start playing again and pay specific attention to the part where the nameless dude keeps his dead girl friend on an altar. Also, complete the game and cry manly tears.
You really cannot blame the game for you not paying attention can you now?

EDIT: Another point to note.
Always examine the nameless dude carefully after stabbing big things to death. You may find something intriguing.
Also, the music is boss

[Patchouli]

Playing ICO just allows you to tie up some ends and give you more questions to think about.

At least for me, the main appeals were just the mood and atmosphere. It was probably one of the first games I've played that gave me a sense of isolation and awe through the sheer scale of everything. And that soundtrack, good lord that soundtrack. That might be the whole "style over substance" thing you're talking about, but it doesn't bother me much. The story worked fine for me.

A second playthrough allows you to better appreciate the landscapes, the arenas and the behaviors of the various bosses. It plays very differently when you already know how to beat the boss, and for those of us who loved the game it was sometimes funner.

I know what you mean. Especially when you take into consideration the events that happen after you kill the colossi, I paid a lot more attention to them on the second run through.

[ductape]

If you guys enjoyed it, that's great. I think it'll always be the equivalent of Napoleon Dynamite to me, though. *shrug*

Wait! I laughed my ass off to ND. Not the best movie ever but it was unique, charming, and funny. Even if you didnt get the charm and didnt find it funny, it was unique...

Oh right, I get your parallel now.

[BigD145]

The big story reveal didn't really affect me, I suppose because I didn't embrace the willow-armed little kid slaying giants with teh uber sword story.

Legend of Zelda, and any Zelda games, must bore you to tears...

[nenjin]

Oh no, I loved those. Because there was something to actually do, and an actual world. The story was just a perk.

SoC comes down to what you like for. A lot of people point to it as Video Game As Art. Which is fine. As a game, it leaves a lot to be desired.

[lordcooper]

Two weeks until it releases

Here's a nice comparison video for y'all.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-ico-shadow-of-the-colossus-ps2-ps3-comparison

[Moghjubar]

Shadow of the Colossus was definitely a beautiful game worthy of experience, and perhaps a little extra playing just to explore or try a few things (anyone watched the speed runs?).

Also, speaking of trying things: Spoiler time about ending.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

  The ending: the inescapable pull toward damnation? Turns out you actually CAN outpace it.  Friend was doing this at our internet cafe, where a roll and skip just barely puts you ahead of the wind.  We called it "Hopscotch in a Hurricane".  We made him laugh several times and make him lose his concentration and drift all the way back.  Upon finally reaching the front, turns out the girl isn't even there, and theres a hard wall preventing you from exiting the area.

[DeKaFu]

Colossus is unquestionably my favourite game. I rented it not expecting anything special, and then after beating it I bought it the next day and never played it again.

The things I remember most strongly from playing it are a feeling of desolate wonder and the smell of wet stone.