Shadow of the Colossus

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2739 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,938 out of 2739
  2. Mixed: 417 out of 2739
  3. Negative: 384 out of 2739
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  1. Daniamxx
    Oct 11, 2020
    10
    Simplemente hermoso, te da esa paz y adrenalina que muy pocos juegos te pueden otorgar.
  2. ZaPaAl
    Oct 8, 2020
    5
    It has it's moments, some nice visuals and a unique atmosphere, but it has very little of content and gameplay. Controls and camera are extremly annoying. More then 50% of the game, right from the start, I kept asking myself over and over, why play this any further, it has hardly anything to offer.
    This game feels like they salvaged what they could out of a fatally drained budget and sold    It has it's moments, some nice visuals and a unique atmosphere, but it has very little of content and gameplay. Controls and camera are extremly annoying. More then 50% of the game, right from the start, I kept asking myself over and over, why play this any further, it has hardly anything to offer.
    This game feels like they salvaged what they could out of a fatally drained budget and sold it like having so little content was the plan all along.

    With the last bosses it did get more interesting, picked up a bit of suspense and finally the ending did make up for a lot of narrative that was missing most of the game. It is an experience, but as a game, it's over after 6-8 hours, and that only because you have to repeatedly travel over long and empty distances and if you go hunting a few useless lizards and fruits in a partially good looking, but mostly very bland looking environment.

    You can get probably get a bit more challengeing things to do and some new equipment in New Game+, but why would you really want to...?

    There is a very minor connection to The Last Guardian (basically in the setting, the climbing, and the general feel), but that is a very different "story" in quite a few aspects.    … Expand
  3. Dr_Unk
    Oct 6, 2020
    8
    This game is good. Just a couple gripes with this one. I got really bored when I would try to find each Colossus. but once you get to there the game becomes fun. All of the bosses where a good challenge. only a couple frustrated me. (The Turtle (9) and the Warrior (3)). The ending was also really weird. other than that, I recomend that you try it
  4. Jenneraptor
    Oct 4, 2020
    4
    The character is SO HARD TO CONTROL it takes all the fun out of this game. You waste so much time not because of your skill but because of how they made the character move and climb and hold on surfaces. It's such a shame because the rest is nice but if you can't control the character you're playing, it's not worth it
  5. TwoBe
    Oct 3, 2020
    7
    I don’t understand why people say this is a masterpiece. It was frustrating to play, frustrating to find the colossus, frustrating to use the freaking sword to find the colossus, frustrating to ride the horse to get to the colossus and frustrating to figure out how to battle the colossus; the help that they give you is bear minimum so there is a lot of stuff that you have to figure outI don’t understand why people say this is a masterpiece. It was frustrating to play, frustrating to find the colossus, frustrating to use the freaking sword to find the colossus, frustrating to ride the horse to get to the colossus and frustrating to figure out how to battle the colossus; the help that they give you is bear minimum so there is a lot of stuff that you have to figure out yourself, thus if you’re into puzzle games this game is for you.

    Nevertheless, once you start doing battle it’s really easy to win and turns quite fun trying to defeat the colossus.

    The landscapes were amazing, you can clearly see that they put a lot of effort in trying to picture a beautiful world, you can see the strong influences from the Scotland landscapes, and the Aztec and Cambodian cultures put together in order to create a world that it was just beautiful to watch.

    The ending wasn’t what I was expecting but it was good, it was different. In summary, this game wasn’t for me since I didn’t get much fun from it, but maybe it’s for you.    … Expand
  6. danteps4
    Sep 27, 2020
    6
    The camera is very curved, the horse gets stuck in the stones all the time, glitches pile, control curve, not responsive. The task is good but the implementation is lame.
  7. Labitoku
    Sep 25, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An absolutely great remake. Visually gorgeous, it retains the spirit of the original.

    Shadow of the Colossus tells us the story of Wander, one man ready to risk everything in order to save Mono, whose fate is told to be cursed and who had been sacrificed because of it. Wander travelled to forbidden lands with his horse Agro, where lives a godlike entity, Dormin, able to revive dead people, in exchange of one service. Destroying 16 idols, each of them corresponding to one colossus. As a player, you have to defeat them all.

    To do so, you have to find them first, in these open yet empty lands. As a gps, you have your sword, who reflects light towards the next colossus. Once there, you'll have to think on how to climb on them, and stab them to death in their weak spots. Colossi are not bosses, but levels, puzzles, that you'll have to solve in order to vanquish them. The plot is very simple, it is a remaster of "the hero going to save the princess from the dragon", but it is told very efficiently, with a simplistic yet strong narration, and a few more subtleties. Each colossus death feels like a murder, the death of something greater than you, who fell because of an egoist desire. One frag brings more sorrow than joy. The game ends with an masterpiece of a final scene, which deserves to be played / seen once.

    The soundtrack was one of the best ever made in a video game, and still is in 2020. Grandiose, in perfect harmony with the epicness of the fights. A classic.

    Like each of Fumito Ueda's games, it plays oddly, like almost nothing else. Wander is weak, vulnerable and has little balance when on colossi, Agro might be tricky to control, as you're not controlling directly the horse, but the rider controlling the horse. Gameplay choices, made to make you have a more complex feel of what you're doing, instead of creating fun and accessibility.

    Probably not everyone cup of tea, but one very beautiful example of video game as art. If you're ready to put aside nowadays codes to play an old game who was bizarre even 15 years ago, go for it, it will most likely worth it. A great experience.

    Camera do suck tho. But I never find it that constraining as some can say, whether it was in the original or in this one.    … Expand
  8. groovy_grady
    Sep 23, 2020
    10
    There are genuine issues with this game that I'm not going to ignore, such as the god awful camera controls. However, everything else in this game is stunning. Shadow of the Colossus is a clever inversion of the trope of giant slaying; something normally seen as an impossible, valiant feat. Yet here, it's this horrifying, dreadful task. Your own self interests lead you to slay theseThere are genuine issues with this game that I'm not going to ignore, such as the god awful camera controls. However, everything else in this game is stunning. Shadow of the Colossus is a clever inversion of the trope of giant slaying; something normally seen as an impossible, valiant feat. Yet here, it's this horrifying, dreadful task. Your own self interests lead you to slay these innocent beasts, most of which don't attack you on their own will. After defeating one, the game gives you a breather, almost to force you to reflect on the egregious action you just committed. The point where the final colossus looks at you, seeing its enemy as a living, breathing thing is just magical. If you're looking for a collecta-thon with tons of enemies, bosses, etc, this game isn't for you. Shadow of the Colossus is a truly transcendent, beautiful work of art that anyone can pick up and empathize with… Expand
  9. AsianJakePaul
    Sep 20, 2020
    9
    What a game. I must say, I wasn't expecting a lot of this game, and I got my money worth. My only complaint would be the horse's controls, they were awful. Otherwise, the gameplay was great, graphics were amazing, story was simple but very touching. Each boss battle was masterfully created and the puzzles were fair enough. Loved the ending. Overall, a little short but worth every penny. Solid 9/10
  10. RedDragon1240
    Sep 19, 2020
    3
    This is by far the worst game I've played in PS4. Very nice graphics but terrible camera, controls & gameplay. I don't understand how this game is considered a PS masterpiece if it's built on frustratio rather than fun. There is no story at all until the end. This is a game I will never forget, for it's one of the worst games I have played in my life.
  11. Stratos2000
    Sep 14, 2020
    5
    Played this first time on PS4.

    Does it look great? Yes!
    Are the gameplay controls good? No.
    Is it fun to play? No.
    Would I recommend the game? No.
  12. bergcamp101
    Sep 14, 2020
    6
    I'm sorry, and I really am, but I played it only in 2019, and it's mediocre now... Nice mechanics, but dark plot...
  13. Xiggest
    Sep 12, 2020
    10
    This game was incredible, it made me feel the beauty of the game world as if I was watching through those eyes of the first time on ps2! Truly an excellent remaster, true to the original spirit and marcelous to look at!
  14. vc21223
    Sep 6, 2020
    2
    The camera and controls are absolutely awful. It makes it hard to focus on the actual game. I can't enjoy the beauty of the graphics and atmosphere because when I try to look around, the damn camera just keeps forcing to me to look forward.
  15. JamesDrawsThngs
    Sep 2, 2020
    9
    When Shadow of the Colossus first released on the PS2 in 2005, it was unlike anything people have played before. A sprawling, open world where your only objective is to defeat 16 mythical Colossi that roam the land for your own personal gain. It was lauded for its technical prowess, the bosses themselves, and served as a prime case of video games being seen as a form of art. The game hadWhen Shadow of the Colossus first released on the PS2 in 2005, it was unlike anything people have played before. A sprawling, open world where your only objective is to defeat 16 mythical Colossi that roam the land for your own personal gain. It was lauded for its technical prowess, the bosses themselves, and served as a prime case of video games being seen as a form of art. The game had its fair share of issues, and it certainly wasn’t for everyone, but it’s just so wholly unique in its presentation and design that you can’t help but at least admire it. 13 years later, a ground-up remake of the game was released for the PS4, and for my money it is the definitive version of this classic.

    Of course, the most obvious improvements are found in the game’s presentation. The game looks positively gorgeous. Each environment in the game is pain-stakingly recreated with modern textures and graphics, and the Colossi look even better than before (and they already looked great on the PS2). It all helps to fully bring out the best of the original’s stellar art design. The main character Wander does look a tad off though, mostly in his face. The game also runs considerably smoother than originally, as the PS2 release was really pushing the hardware to its limits, and you have the option to sacrifice some visual fidelity for increased framerate. The orchestral soundtrack has always been one of the best parts of the original and remains pretty much untouched. Music isn’t always present though, as it only appears when it absolutely needs to. It can range from being haunting and beautiful to bold and grand, perfectly suiting each moment.

    The core gameplay remains the same as the original, but with some much needed tweaks. As mentioned, your goal is to kill each of the 16 colossi in this forbidden land in order to bring back the one you love. With the help of a mysterious voice, your sword and bow, and your trusty steed Agro, you set off to do just that. Aside from killing a few lizards and eating some fruit in the over world to increase your health and grip, killing the colossi are the only thing you’ll be doing in this game. You’ll be using Agro to travel around from one point to another, and using your sword to help you navigate. This is one of the reasons why a game like this would be a hard sell to your average player. You can easily view this as being barren and dull, but given the core themes of the game and the context of the type of land you have trespassed on, adding other people or things to do would be a detriment. The world itself is artistically beautiful, and it instinctively makes me want to explore and soak in my surroundings.

    Now let’s talk about the colossi themselves, as they are the real meat of the game. While some are considerably smaller than the others, most live up to their name exceptionally. These are not mere sword fodder for you to mindlessly slash at. Each colossi has a puzzle element to them, having weak points on different parts of their body, and half of the challenge comes from simply figuring out how to get on them and finding their weakness. If you take too long, though, the mysterious voice does offer hints. Once you do, it’s a literal struggle to hang on to them for dear life while they attempt to fling you off. Each colossi has a creative method of getting on them, and once you do and that glorious music kicks in it is absolutely thrilling. It does help that the controls in this version have improved a bit since the original, namely its control scheme. The original options are there for those who prefer it, but the revamped scheme feels so much more natural. Wander is easily prone to tripping and falling, though, so you’ll need to take that into account. Your horse Agro behaves rather realistically, and when traveling through narrow passages she usually does a good job of navigating through them automatically. The game also features a photo mode because every major Sony release needs to include one, so if you are interested in that it offers a good amount of features.

    Shadow of the Colossus was an incredible achievement on the PS2, and its staying power and legacy continue with the PS4 remake. If you have ever been curious about this game, or are just looking for something different, this version comes highly recommended.    … Expand
  16. CrazyRanger
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Worst game ever! Don't waste your time!!! It was never worthed a remake! Damn! What a bad story!!!
  17. Bonzo213
    Aug 26, 2020
    9
    I never planned on paying for this game, and only picked it up for free in March, but I was greatly surprised. I now fully understand why this game is adored. It’s beautiful, fully of life, but also with a tint of despair. The giant colossi look amazing and are a blast to fight. The only thing keeping this game from a perfect score, are the controls. The camera is pretty unresponsive mostI never planned on paying for this game, and only picked it up for free in March, but I was greatly surprised. I now fully understand why this game is adored. It’s beautiful, fully of life, but also with a tint of despair. The giant colossi look amazing and are a blast to fight. The only thing keeping this game from a perfect score, are the controls. The camera is pretty unresponsive most of the time and the bow play is very slippery. Other than some frustrating moments with the AI, this is a masterpiece game and defiantly deserves the love.… Expand
  18. MemphisX
    Aug 22, 2020
    9
    игра предоставляет новый интересный опыт, где можно вечерком, вернувшись с работы, пободаться с очередным титаном! Получше Последнего Защитника будет.
  19. Jamcait11
    Aug 21, 2020
    1
    The controls and camera action make this game unplayable. This is a basic and fundamental criteria of any game. I couldn't play for more than an hour or two because it was so annoying. It's a darn shame because the world looks lovely and is so atmospheric.
  20. Reverend2
    Aug 19, 2020
    2
    So disappointed by this after years of waiting to play it and reading rave reviews. As with so many games it is ruined by the ridiculously long and boring cut scenes. I don't want to have to sit through 15 minutes of cliched and poorly animated storyline before I even get to use the controllers. Then there are the awful controls themselves. I'll leave it there, but would someone pleaseSo disappointed by this after years of waiting to play it and reading rave reviews. As with so many games it is ruined by the ridiculously long and boring cut scenes. I don't want to have to sit through 15 minutes of cliched and poorly animated storyline before I even get to use the controllers. Then there are the awful controls themselves. I'll leave it there, but would someone please tell the developers to stop with the cut scenes, sack their wannabe film directors and get back to good old fashioned gaming.… Expand
  21. Galix
    Aug 16, 2020
    8
    Un clásico de PS2 traído de vuelta a la vida con un maravilloso lavado de cara y bastante conservador con respecto al original tanto para lo positivo como para lo negativo.

    Lo bueno: - Como ya he dicho el lavado de cara es espectacular y el juego se ve precioso. - La banda sonora permanece en silencio pero golpea con epicidad cuando tiene que hacerlo. - El modo contrarreloj y los    Un clásico de PS2 traído de vuelta a la vida con un maravilloso lavado de cara y bastante conservador con respecto al original tanto para lo positivo como para lo negativo.

    Lo bueno:
    - Como ya he dicho el lavado de cara es espectacular y el juego se ve precioso.
    - La banda sonora permanece en silencio pero golpea con epicidad cuando tiene que hacerlo.
    - El modo contrarreloj y los objetos desbloqueables son un buen incentivo para rejugar el título.
    - Los diseños de los colosos son brutales y encontrar la forma de derrotarlos puede llegar a suponer un desafío.

    Lo malo:
    - El mapa es muy grande pero no hay incentivo para explorarlo más allá de buscar árboles para aumentar la estamina.
    - A estas alturas se echa muchísimo en falta un sistema de viaje rápido en un juego como este. Vale que el original tampoco lo tenía, pero no habría estado mal añadirlo.
    - Si bien como ya he dicho tiene algún incentivo para volver a jugarlo, el juego de por sí es bastante corto.    … Expand
  22. fedehorn
    Aug 16, 2020
    6
    Nothing to say from an artistic, graphic and poetic point of view but this game has serious problem with the controls and the camera. It's impossible that when you aim with the arch the character is stuck on the ground, both with left and right analogic you can only move the aim. The character often moves in jerks, and using the horse is something frustrating. Sometimes the game designNothing to say from an artistic, graphic and poetic point of view but this game has serious problem with the controls and the camera. It's impossible that when you aim with the arch the character is stuck on the ground, both with left and right analogic you can only move the aim. The character often moves in jerks, and using the horse is something frustrating. Sometimes the game design seems doesn't allow you to do thing like climbing on objects where you seems allowd to. If they could have improved the level design and the controls the game would have gotten a better result.… Expand
  23. Oronaro
    Aug 16, 2020
    0
    Выдержав пять часов ада, я всё-таки решил написать отзыв.

    1) Невероятно скучный геймплей. Первые два колосса кажутся, чем-то новеньким, чем-то что может зацепить тебя на пару часов. Так и есть, этого геймплея хватает ровно на пару часов, дальше идёт рутинный геноцид колоссов с отвратительной игровой физикой. => 2) Анимация и физика игры. С самого начала игры, тебе кидают в глаза убогую    Выдержав пять часов ада, я всё-таки решил написать отзыв.

    1) Невероятно скучный геймплей. Первые два колосса кажутся, чем-то новеньким, чем-то что может зацепить тебя на пару часов. Так и есть, этого геймплея хватает ровно на пару часов, дальше идёт рутинный геноцид колоссов с отвратительной игровой физикой. =>
    2) Анимация и физика игры. С самого начала игры, тебе кидают в глаза убогую анимацию в игре, которая сопровождает тебя всю игру. После на это все накидывают такую же убогую физику, как персонажа, так и его коня, которая время от времени будет подрывать твою пятую точку во время игры.
    Сюда же хочу отнести механику игры, которая, не изменилась со времён PS2.
    3) Сюжет. Я понимаю, что во всех подобных играх от Японской студии, всегда замысловатый сюжет, у которого нет определенного финала. И этот же феномен, присутствует в данной игре. Двигателем сюжета служит какая-то умершая девушка, которую надо обязательно возродить любой ценой, девушка, о которой во время линейного прохождения игры не было сказано ничего. И этот факт, не влечет тебя к игре, ты не сопоставляешь себя персонажу, не можешь проникнуться его эгоистичным стремлением. Ведь с самого начала игры, очевидно, что некие колоссы существуют не просто так и убивать их не стоит. Все это накладывается на тебя и твое восприятие игры, что в конечном итоге приводит к тому... что ты управляешь обычным болванчиком, который может пачками уничтожать колоссов, благодаря АоЕ мечу.
    Признаюсь, что конец сюжета смог меня немного удивить и задуматься, однако тянуть путь к это концовке (5-6) часов, однообразного геймплея, того не стоит.

    Это основные претензии к игре, но есть и много других, более мелких. Которые так же портят впечатление от игры.

    На последок хочу сказать, что игра была "переиздана" для тех, кто играл в нее на PS2. Для новых игроков, таких как я, думаю она не подойдёт. Взял ее по PS+, после прохождения зашёл посмотреть ее цену и невероятно удивился, 33$ на момент 2020 года. Игра которая не поменялась со времён PS 2, кроме шакально натянутых текстур, того не стоит.    … Expand
  24. Basilis5
    Aug 11, 2020
    7
    I decided to quit the game after the 8th colossus. It's a beautiful game with indifferent (for my taste) story, very limited gameplay that made me feel bored, and and interestingly challengin puzzles that didn't keep me commited perhaps due to bad gameplay.

    It's not a game for everybody. Gamers like myself who enjoy rise of the tomb raider, last of us or even ff7 might feel sleepy after a    I decided to quit the game after the 8th colossus. It's a beautiful game with indifferent (for my taste) story, very limited gameplay that made me feel bored, and and interestingly challengin puzzles that didn't keep me commited perhaps due to bad gameplay.

    It's not a game for everybody. Gamers like myself who enjoy rise of the tomb raider, last of us or even ff7 might feel sleepy after a few hours. But i can see why some people consider it a gem. It has some epic elements but need gamers who live puzzles and slow pace.    … Expand
  25. SWFan523
    Aug 9, 2020
    10
    Video game perfection. A heart wrenching story with excellent combat and colossus battles.
  26. Ruzaky
    Aug 6, 2020
    7
    This game looks very beautiful. Gameplay tho, Half fun half frustrating, Colossus is like smal puzzle battles, some of them is boring waiting games.
  27. Robert88
    Aug 3, 2020
    10
    There is a reason why this game was released on nearly every single PlayStation Console ... it is pure greatness ...What more needs to be said one of the all time greatest games ..
  28. HRChan
    Aug 2, 2020
    9
    My experience with this game was great until the 11th colossus, the control got a little wonky there and the colossus won't give me a window to stab it, but otherwise this game is a great remake of the original game from the PS2! If you guys love a big world that just has big enemies and they're literally it, 16 bosses for you to kill and a very beautiful environment for each and every oneMy experience with this game was great until the 11th colossus, the control got a little wonky there and the colossus won't give me a window to stab it, but otherwise this game is a great remake of the original game from the PS2! If you guys love a big world that just has big enemies and they're literally it, 16 bosses for you to kill and a very beautiful environment for each and every one of them!… Expand
  29. Martma
    Jun 25, 2020
    3
    This game is unplayable at times here are the problem with the game:
    -bad camera angle which makes it a nuisance to play -the bow feel awful to use
    -the world is empty they could have you just kill a bunch of bosses without the need to travel there in the first place - annoying to use the compass (sword) to find the next boss -the story isn’t that compelling imo -the character takes a nap    This game is unplayable at times here are the problem with the game:
    -bad camera angle which makes it a nuisance to play -the bow feel awful to use
    -the world is empty they could have you just kill a bunch of bosses without the need to travel there in the first place
    - annoying to use the compass (sword) to find the next boss
    -the story isn’t that compelling imo
    -the character takes a nap every-time he gets hit therefore when he get up again he will immediately go down again
    -most boss were good to look at but tedious to fight (wasn’t fun) -jump mechanics feels sloppy -the horse is unresponsive Now I know this is a remaster/ remake but I can’t over look these issues, this makes it hard to enjoy the story overall making this I think the most overrated game out there with the praise it got.    … Expand
  30. quanta
    Aug 1, 2020
    0
    SOTC's atmosphere is great and its art-style is inspiring. However, the gameplay is mediocre and the controls are plain bad. It has a lot of potential, a 10/10 on some elements and 4/10 on some others. It's a bit overrated because some people are willing to forgive its abysmal controls.
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best PS4 Game of 2018
8
#8 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2018
16
#16 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 100 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 97 out of 100
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 100
  3. Negative: 0 out of 100
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Apr 24, 2018
    80
    Perfectly polished and improved cult game – even with better controls! Killing giant monsters has never been so much (melancholic) fun. [Issue#283]
  2. Games.cz
    Apr 24, 2018
    90
    A tribute to the Fumito Ueda will delight the veterans of the original game same as introduce this classic to the newcomers, who are not tuned on a nostalgic note. An ideal opportunity to improve your video game education and a wonderful experience in the same time. Some clumsy controls and occasionally stubborn camera can’t ruin the great experience.
    Read full review
  3. CD-Action
    Apr 3, 2018
    70
    It’s a good remaster, but frankly I find it unnecessary. Those who have already played the game on PS2 or PS3 will find nothing new here, and those who didn’t have the chance to get acquainted with it probably will not understand what we saw in Shadow of the Colossus 12 years ago, when gaming reality was completely different. [03/2018, p.66]
See all critic reviews »