Shadow of the Colossus

 PlayStation 2
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 1497 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,356 out of 1497
  2. Mixed: 66 out of 1497
  3. Negative: 75 out of 1497
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  1. Steeldude
    Mar 27, 2015
    7
    I'm gonna be honest, this game didn't vow me as it intended to. I played this game in 2014, so that may be the reason for that, nevertheless, i couldn't help but compare this game to Twilight Princess, as in my opinion those games share a lot of similarities - very similar art style, large bosses, environment puzzles, the possibility to catch animals, riding on a horse, using a sword and aI'm gonna be honest, this game didn't vow me as it intended to. I played this game in 2014, so that may be the reason for that, nevertheless, i couldn't help but compare this game to Twilight Princess, as in my opinion those games share a lot of similarities - very similar art style, large bosses, environment puzzles, the possibility to catch animals, riding on a horse, using a sword and a bow ...
    However, compared to Twilight Princess, a game of epic length with a deep story and massive dungeons, Shadow of the Colossus felt like a ride through an empty world. The story in this game is minimal and while I can appreciate the art direction, I found myself bored a lot with this game. Riding a horse through an empty and boring world while using an awkward navigation system is really not entertaining.

    The fights against the colossi are pretty epic, though. At least at first. After that, you realize that not only do you have to repeat the same pattern for each colossus (use a sword, find a weak point, climb him and stab him - yeah, there are some alternations, but you'll be doing this every time), but considering that there are only 16 colossi (which is not that high of a number) they are not that varied either - there are like 3 really tall guys, 3 snake-type guys, 2 small pig-guys - and all of these fights are quite similar which is a shame. I could take it if each battle was completely unique ... but what I get are minor alterations of foes I have defeated before.

    Unfortunately, that's not it, I couldn't help but notice that this game had FPS issues as well as locking-on and camera control in general was not very well implemented, making some fights more frustrating that they would have otherwise been.

    In my opinion, two words sum this game perfectly: Wasted potential. It really is sad, because this game could have been epic. But it's just ... good.    … Expand
  2. darkfury45
    Apr 12, 2013
    7
    Shadow of the Colossus shows that a man's spirit is much larger and more powerful than any other creature, spite its superior size. The game had epic music, beautiful detail, very few cut scenes, and real heart-string tugging (and straining) moments that just made you want to cry (or yell in frustration as you fall off the colossi). The only things I want to point out is that this game hasShadow of the Colossus shows that a man's spirit is much larger and more powerful than any other creature, spite its superior size. The game had epic music, beautiful detail, very few cut scenes, and real heart-string tugging (and straining) moments that just made you want to cry (or yell in frustration as you fall off the colossi). The only things I want to point out is that this game has a very lonely area, it's just you and your horse until the other guys show up, further more the camera angles are rather quirky; further more another thing is the distinct lack of weaponry and variation in the fights with the colossi. There was variation, i cannot lie, however only being able to wield a sword and bow to attack makes for a rather repetitive gameplay. Further more, the colossi each have their seperate aspects; avion requires careful maneuvering, basaran requires you to use the natural terrain, celosia and cenobia require a bit of parkour and a few tricks (such as avoiding being corner camped but other than that once you've taken care of those parts, it's simply climbing along the creature and stabbing their weak points; it would have been nicer to have a bit more variation in weaponry and requirements for slaying the colossi. I cannot hate this game, I am in love with it; however there are smoe small perks that can be tweaked to improve it.… Expand
  3. Botswana
    Nov 11, 2011
    7
    I didn't really appreciate Shadow of the Colossus until it was over. Both the story and art directions were brilliant in my opinion. I also applaud the innovation of the boss battles, and the concept of the game design. I think because of this the flaws in the game play are too often overlooked. I liked how simple the gameplay was, however I found it to be unbearably buggy at times.I didn't really appreciate Shadow of the Colossus until it was over. Both the story and art directions were brilliant in my opinion. I also applaud the innovation of the boss battles, and the concept of the game design. I think because of this the flaws in the game play are too often overlooked. I liked how simple the gameplay was, however I found it to be unbearably buggy at times. Specifically the camera angles, were atrocious at many times, the bow was hard to use, and the horse which derailed off course, was both counter intuitive and way too frequent. These made playing the game a chore, which is unfortunate because it such a brilliant game.… Expand
  4. wesker2012
    Mar 21, 2013
    6
    Shadow of the Colossus has some of the most gorgeous landscapes and ruins in gaming, but unfortunately its gameplay doesn't match up. Like Ico before it, SOTC suffers from floaty controls. Also, the galloping on the horse from collosi to collosi gets really tiring and the boss fights themselves get repetitive and since you don't get much overall satisfaction until the beast is finallyShadow of the Colossus has some of the most gorgeous landscapes and ruins in gaming, but unfortunately its gameplay doesn't match up. Like Ico before it, SOTC suffers from floaty controls. Also, the galloping on the horse from collosi to collosi gets really tiring and the boss fights themselves get repetitive and since you don't get much overall satisfaction until the beast is finally felled, it can make the overall experience very aggravating. Like its predecessor, it can feel like more of a chore to play than an enjoyable game.… Expand
  5. Rox22
    Mar 15, 2013
    7
    I though it was rather bland and average in terms of it's gameplay. The visuals were utterly stunning, and just seeing and figuring out each Colossus was a remarkable experience. BUT, it was all the in between bits that kind of ruined it for me. Traveling from one Colossus to another is tedious and time consuming and did give you enough time to think, what was the point of that? why notI though it was rather bland and average in terms of it's gameplay. The visuals were utterly stunning, and just seeing and figuring out each Colossus was a remarkable experience. BUT, it was all the in between bits that kind of ruined it for me. Traveling from one Colossus to another is tedious and time consuming and did give you enough time to think, what was the point of that? why not just fast travel because then it would be a really short game with little to it.

    Overall: My little gripes aside, the visuals alone are enough to warrant playing this game as they are beautiful, even by today's standards.    … Expand
  6. Treima
    Sep 23, 2010
    5
    Maybe you have to look at it differently than I did, but to me this game was nothing more than an above-average puzzle-platformer. I applaud Team ICO for the attempt, but this was hardly as great as everyone makes it out to be.
  7. SabrinaM.
    Mar 7, 2008
    5
    I rlly dont get why this game got such a great review.. i find the idea of the game was good but it got soo boring! when u see the first colossus your lke wow its huge but once u learn how to kill it its wtv .. cause afterwards u pretty much are doing the same thing over n over.. i dont kow why people freak out over the graphics i find them dull and boring but there is moments where the I rlly dont get why this game got such a great review.. i find the idea of the game was good but it got soo boring! when u see the first colossus your lke wow its huge but once u learn how to kill it its wtv .. cause afterwards u pretty much are doing the same thing over n over.. i dont kow why people freak out over the graphics i find them dull and boring but there is moments where the setting does look kinda nice. also the guy u play as doesnt even walk normal looks like he's dragging his arm as he walks , the horse is hard to controle and there's no story line ! u dont even get to learn more of guy your playing as so it feels like your just playing any arcade game… Expand
  8. BobK.
    Oct 27, 2005
    6
    Sloppy framerate, lackluster gameplay, predictable plot, and horrendous programming (esp. audio). Possibly one of the most overrated games in the last decade. Unique concept, yes. Does that classify the game as great? Hardly. Do yourself a favor and skip this one. I can only imagine how much Sony payed off the review crew to hype this garbage.
  9. FUCollosisCK
    Oct 29, 2005
    5
    Great graphics but you hold on to the right trigger 90% of game climbing the monsters. Find collosi, Climb, rinse and reapet save yourself.
  10. B.W.
    Oct 30, 2005
    7
    It's a good game, but not great. One boss battle after another; I can't help but feel that a real opportunity to tell a story between the battles has been lost. The game is beautiful but *DARK*. Turn all the lights out to play this one. The auto-exposure adaptations is cool at first, but keeps the game dark, which really hides the great artwork. Some really stunning moments and It's a good game, but not great. One boss battle after another; I can't help but feel that a real opportunity to tell a story between the battles has been lost. The game is beautiful but *DARK*. Turn all the lights out to play this one. The auto-exposure adaptations is cool at first, but keeps the game dark, which really hides the great artwork. Some really stunning moments and grand visuals are seriously marred by very bad controls and worthless camera system. These guys need to take cinematics 101.… Expand
  11. G.P.
    Jan 18, 2006
    6
    How are people raving about the graphics? They'd be fantastic with some antialiasing, less mip-mapped textures and triple the polygon count. Your outfit is a giant square with rough edges and some color. Your poor horse's tail is a triangle, for god's sake. The backgrounds aren't terribly inspired and the ground looks like something a 4th grader painted in art class. How are people raving about the graphics? They'd be fantastic with some antialiasing, less mip-mapped textures and triple the polygon count. Your outfit is a giant square with rough edges and some color. Your poor horse's tail is a triangle, for god's sake. The backgrounds aren't terribly inspired and the ground looks like something a 4th grader painted in art class. Perhaps its because I played the game on a high-def TV and Sony's official antialiasing policy is "let your TV do it". If anything, the graphics are the *worst* part of the game. The gameplay itself is inspired, the storyline (although a bit weak) keeps you interested and the graphics aren't so bad that they ruin the game...but it had a lot of potential and sadly fell flat on the technical side.… Expand
  12. Louis'sB.
    Mar 23, 2007
    5
    The background music was incredible and the graphics are probably the best ever to come to PS2. However, the story was really strange and how you fight the colossi is weird. What this game needed most was just more people. I mean, It's basically only you. If there were smaller, more numerous foes, I'd give it an 8.
  13. Fedzilla
    Dec 3, 2005
    5
    Game was alright, I was honestly expecting ALOT more, especially for as high as its rated. The game has a poor storyline (who is the girl?). The Colossi are cool but then not quite challenging enough. The control of the horse is horrid, and the trips to find the collossi get old fast. The Game was "pretty" but the game was just very lacking in substance. It needs more enemies, give us Game was alright, I was honestly expecting ALOT more, especially for as high as its rated. The game has a poor storyline (who is the girl?). The Colossi are cool but then not quite challenging enough. The control of the horse is horrid, and the trips to find the collossi get old fast. The Game was "pretty" but the game was just very lacking in substance. It needs more enemies, give us something to do on the LONG journey to the colossus. Your character is not very "hero like", and just seems very plain and wimpy, nothing to write home about. As far as game length, the game is very short, definitly a good renter, I beat it in a little over 8 hours and I think I took my time, and as far as replay value, I don't think so, my copy is going to be a christmas present, I have no use for it now.… Expand
  14. Inesdg
    Nov 27, 2006
    5
    This game is very very boring, I spent so much time lokking for the colossi, no dialogues, and boss fight are very exhausting and very very hardly to win... is this a masterpiece?
  15. AdamB.
    Apr 9, 2006
    7
    Shadow has brilliant graphics and sound, fluid controls, and a truly unique gameplay system. Like ICO, the presentation of the game instills a feeling of awe in the player in its subtle beauty. Sadly, the game has nearly zero replay value, and in fact becomes tiringly repetitive after the first few colossi. The lack of things to do, collect, or experience in the game is truly amazing; Shadow has brilliant graphics and sound, fluid controls, and a truly unique gameplay system. Like ICO, the presentation of the game instills a feeling of awe in the player in its subtle beauty. Sadly, the game has nearly zero replay value, and in fact becomes tiringly repetitive after the first few colossi. The lack of things to do, collect, or experience in the game is truly amazing; like an interactive movie, Shadow is a ridgidly linear product, where the director controls the game, not the player. But where these points would strongly mar traditional games, Shadow posesses such a unique, accessable, and visually stunning experience that SCEI can be forgiven for its mistakes, many times over.… Expand
  16. Warmonger
    Apr 21, 2007
    5
    Horrible camera angles ruined this game for me, I just couldn't get accustomed to them, I was constantly fighting with the camera to get a good view and what's with sending a boy to do a man's job?? I know it's part of the story, they did the same thing with ECO... (which was very fitting) but enough with the boys already!! overhyped!
  17. Vzhik
    Nov 19, 2015
    7
    Завораживающие ролики, нормальные, хоть и слегка однообразные боссы, классная музыка. Никакой дурацкой прокачки, тупых мобов и сбора лута.
    Если б не графика, была б мега-игра.
  18. thealexmott
    Mar 26, 2017
    6
    After all the hype, I really wanted to love this game. The world is inviting, your horse is rad, and your character seems more like a real person (he stumbles!) than the normal invincible superhuman you play as in video games. And giant monsters.

    But this game just made me depressed. After 3 or 4 Colossuses (Colossi?), I really just didn't want to kill them anymore. I liked these    After all the hype, I really wanted to love this game. The world is inviting, your horse is rad, and your character seems more like a real person (he stumbles!) than the normal invincible superhuman you play as in video games. And giant monsters.

    But this game just made me depressed. After 3 or 4 Colossuses (Colossi?), I really just didn't want to kill them anymore. I liked these things! Man, this game just made me feel dead inside. Had to stop after #7.    … Expand
  19. Viperstrike1193
    Jan 16, 2018
    5
    I've heard for years how great this game is and how it is one of the greatest games ever made, especially for the PS2 and have finally gotten around to playing it. Looking back at the reviews from the time I have to think they were playing a different game than I have been. This has not aged well at all. I give them points for attempting something supposedly new and different but theI've heard for years how great this game is and how it is one of the greatest games ever made, especially for the PS2 and have finally gotten around to playing it. Looking back at the reviews from the time I have to think they were playing a different game than I have been. This has not aged well at all. I give them points for attempting something supposedly new and different but the execution is awful. The camera and controls make this game nearly unplayable. I like the core concept but the horse won't do a thing you tell it and the bow is almost useless. I wanted to love this game but I can't. Scale and design will never make up for playability in my book.… Expand
  20. ErikB.
    Oct 28, 2005
    7
    The land is huge and beautiful (although a bit colorless). The fights are amazing. Play control was pretty good but the camera controls got a little squirrely in some of the fights. The main problem I had was the lack of story until the end; I had no connection to the main character and why the crap he was following the mystery voice from the heavens. The sound effects and music were The land is huge and beautiful (although a bit colorless). The fights are amazing. Play control was pretty good but the camera controls got a little squirrely in some of the fights. The main problem I had was the lack of story until the end; I had no connection to the main character and why the crap he was following the mystery voice from the heavens. The sound effects and music were perfectly matched to the action during fights, and really added to the fun. I really wish this game had come out on a next-gen console, because they could've really taken it to the next level and the action could be a bit more fluid.… Expand
  21. MartmanTOTO
    Nov 1, 2005
    7
    This game is a pretty good game. The action in the actual gameplay is probably the only part of the game that is liked, but that accounts for alot. You honestly don't understand @#$% of the plot though and aren't really put into the story. To sum it up, the action of this game is fun and not finding the colossus. Also the story isn't presented well
  22. tsakiym
    Dec 5, 2016
    5
    the game is perfect as an idea, its unique and bizarre.
    but when its time play it u need nerves of steel.. controls and camera its your main enemy.. definitely not gonna play it again

    story 9/10
    atmosphere 9/10
    music 8/10 (i was going for 10/10 but after 30sec its repetitive)
    controls 0/10
    camera 0/10
  23. Antemiz
    Mar 14, 2016
    7
    I didnt like this at first because i didnt no what i was doing, after that i was amazed but the bosses are hard, its not a simple game, especially where you need to locate
  24. Tassiorn
    Oct 14, 2021
    6
    it's a very average game, we can say that the game doesn't evolve from start to finish, what stands out is the level design
  25. B00tador
    Dec 4, 2021
    7
    A unique game, but I still think it's quite flawed in parts. A lot of the bosses just aren't fun.
  26. ZangBang
    Feb 9, 2023
    6
    Despite an underwhelmingly barren map, the adventure within egrosses the player, tasked to seek dangerous massive creatures scattered throughout an enchantingly subdued, desolate land, and slay them in a series of wonderfully diverse battles involving the environment and the creatures' bodies in highly imaginative, captivating ways that challenge both wit and reflexes. Soaked inDespite an underwhelmingly barren map, the adventure within egrosses the player, tasked to seek dangerous massive creatures scattered throughout an enchantingly subdued, desolate land, and slay them in a series of wonderfully diverse battles involving the environment and the creatures' bodies in highly imaginative, captivating ways that challenge both wit and reflexes. Soaked in spellbinding, atmospheric artistry through the combined efforts of a wistful narrative and contemplative mood.… Expand
  27. ATalkingPringle
    Sep 3, 2022
    6
    BRUH, CAN YOU LET ME POST MY REVIEW!? WHY DO YOU INSIST ON NOT LETTING ME EXPLAIN MYSELF YOU COWARDS!?

    Anyways, this game is decent will explain more when Metacritic lets me. Actual Review: While I do have issues with this game such as a few of the colossi sucking, the camera being obnoxious at times, the horse controlling poorly, the story not connecting with me, some technical    BRUH, CAN YOU LET ME POST MY REVIEW!? WHY DO YOU INSIST ON NOT LETTING ME EXPLAIN MYSELF YOU COWARDS!?

    Anyways, this game is decent will explain more when Metacritic lets me.

    Actual Review:
    While I do have issues with this game such as a few of the colossi sucking, the camera being obnoxious at times, the horse controlling poorly, the story not connecting with me, some technical issues, and the completion process being miserable (SERIOUSLY DO NOT COMPLETE THIS GAME!!!), it's still mostly enjoyable and I'd still recommend giving it a try, i swear! Especially on the PS4. Mainly because the strong parts of this game are really strong. The OST is great, the atmosphere made the game more immersive, and most of the colossi are wonderful to fight. These things alone makes finishing this game at least once worth it. They doesn't erase my frustrations with this game and I won't be coming back to it for a long while but check this one out. Just be prepared for some annoyances that may come your way.

    Score: 6/10 (Closer to a 7)    … Expand
  28. Yojimbo2015
    Jul 18, 2023
    6
    Rather oddball adventure in which you search a largely empty landscape to find a series of huge creatures you must defeat in turn to progress. Really just a glorified series of boss fights, SOTC is wonderful to look at but ultimately left me rather cold.

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best PS2 Game of 2005
4
#4 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2005
3
#3 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 77 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 76 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 77
  3. Negative: 0 out of 77
  1. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    90
    If you can appreciate artistry in games, if you hanker for an experience that transcends genre, if you want to see what happens when a creative design team is allowed to ignore sales numbers and flavor-of-the-month trends, by all means bring yourself into Shadow's world. [Oct 2005, p.98]
  2. Game Informer
    88
    A truly unique experience that inspires emotions in a way few games can. It has its share of problems, but I love it just the same. [Oct 2005, p.130]
  3. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    88
    It's unlike anything else you've ever played, and so you may love it or you may hate it. Count me firmly in the "love" boat. [Nov 2005, p.142]
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