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
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. jonjohn048
    Sep 11, 2023
    9
    Shadow of the Colossus is one of those games I've never even heard about it back then but after so much nonstop discourse around it, I picked it up after I got a PS4 Pro but then never bothered to play it again with how busy I got. I can definitely say for sure that was a mistake since it ended up being the strangest masterpiece I ended up playing and I for sure regret not diving into itShadow of the Colossus is one of those games I've never even heard about it back then but after so much nonstop discourse around it, I picked it up after I got a PS4 Pro but then never bothered to play it again with how busy I got. I can definitely say for sure that was a mistake since it ended up being the strangest masterpiece I ended up playing and I for sure regret not diving into it sooner. The few but key things that made this game work for me and what I believe are the sole reason why it's so beloved come down to the world, visuals, soundtrack, story, and bosses. Starting off, one look at SOTC's map might look like a very barebones map with absolutely no reason to explore it with how there's no side quests, NPC's, side enemies, interesting collectibles, or even any in game events. But that's the entire point since because of how you can only hear is the occasional bird chirping in the air and your horse galloping through the land as you travel and hear nothing else, it gives off a sense of loneliness that you don't normally feel in open world games making you feel like something is constantly off about what you're doing. Plus, it's therapeutic in a way thanks to it's emptiness meaning as you move around the world, instead of talking to NPC's, constantly looking at the map to figure out where to go, finding any collectibles, stare at any UI, or doing anything that could interrupt the experience, the game instead allows you to fully take in the world leaving you both immersed and relaxed as you're riding around. Finally, due to the emptiness of the world, it gives off a sense of mystery that you want to explore to see what you could discover which is exactly what led it becoming a cult classic. Looking at gameplay footage on the PS2 version, I could tell the game pushed that console to it's very limits with it looks surprisingly good nowadays, but the PS4 version is something short of beautiful with how it's so detailed while also keeping the original atmosphere. I came into this game expecting nothing from the soundtrack and on the surface, I wasn't really blown away by it initially as I was taking on one of the colossi, but then as I took it down, instead of heroic and congratulating music, the music gave off a sense of sadness and horrible feelings instead making me feel like I did something wrong hinting of the bigger picture in the future that something was wrong. Speaking of which, the story starts off so simplistic but leads to something bigger at the end and leaves you wondering so much and the fact that not much is said benefits the story since it leaves asking so much stuff even by the time you reach the end credits. Finally, the bosses are easily the biggest highlight of the game since you have 2 weapons and don't improve much aside from health and stamina hence making you feel so weak compared to the colossi meaning you can't just rush in and just go wild with them since that's nothing short of suicide, the colossi are instead an inverted dungeon in a way since you have to use your environment to figure out how to kill them and it's always satisfying to figure out how to kill them, the designs are PHENOMENAL, and when they kill you, the game over screen showing each individual colossi feels like a person's nightmare enhancing the creepiness of the game. Now as much as I loved this game, there were a few but big problems that did mess up my time with the game. Firstly, the camera is a bit clunky and can be a problem if the colossi's limbs get in the way. It wasn't necessarily that hard meaning the speedrun trophy was way too easy. Finally, what ruins it for me is that some of the colossi are pretty unbalanced especially the 11th colossi soft-locking me and left me infuriated instead of frustrated. Overall, this game was absolutely amazing and I can't thank Sony for keeping the game alive with this remake and can't wait to see how this IP will move forward (or honestly, if it's not going to, its fine enough)… Expand
  2. Jony_traaa
    Sep 6, 2023
    8
    Increíble poder jugar a Shadow de Colosus en tu PS4 con mejores gráficos, la verdad es buen juego, tiene muy buena historia, además también tiene una banda sonora que funciona perfectamente para cada momento.

    El juego puede llegar a ser algo repetitivo, te puedes cansar un poco, porque es hacer todo el rato lo mismo de maneras diferentes, no voy a decir mas para no hacer spoiler. La    Increíble poder jugar a Shadow de Colosus en tu PS4 con mejores gráficos, la verdad es buen juego, tiene muy buena historia, además también tiene una banda sonora que funciona perfectamente para cada momento.

    El juego puede llegar a ser algo repetitivo, te puedes cansar un poco, porque es hacer todo el rato lo mismo de maneras diferentes, no voy a decir mas para no hacer spoiler.

    La dificultad/duración depende de varios factores, de los cuales dependes tu como usuario, no te dan facilidades que en otros juegos si que te las dan, en este juego tendrás que pensar un poco, pero tampoco lo considero extremadamente difícil (no lo he jugado en modo difícil)

    Es curiosa la manera en la que este juego cuenta la historia, ya la descubrirás si decides jugar a este juego, cosa que te recomiendo, es un juego cortito, es diferente a otros juegos, creo que es algo que deberías al menos probar.    … Expand
  3. Killerpummkin
    Sep 5, 2023
    6
    The graphics are very impressive, the soundtrack is sensational, the puzzles could be better, but the gameplay is frustrating.
  4. Not_too
    Aug 30, 2023
    0
    The camera is the main culprit for my sore of 0. There is honestly no excuse that justifies how much you have to wrestle with that thing.
  5. Mvko
    Aug 29, 2023
    10
    Il gioco mi è particolarmente piaciuto, soprattutto per l'atmosfera e i giganti nel gioco, consiglio di giocarlo per un po', alla fine non è un gioco che dura troppo e secondo me dura il giusto per un gioco di questo tipo
  6. Lazzakz
    Aug 21, 2023
    10
    Definetly deserves all the praise. One of the most effective games at capturing the loneliness of an open, beautifully crafted world. Heartbreakingly sinister.

    10
  7. Richard_dias
    Aug 14, 2023
    8
    That was a freaking great game back in the PS2, I couldn't even believe what I was sawing when I played it for the first time. Fumito Ueda really did something, and inspired a lot o people with his work.
    This PS4 version delivers a visual uplift to the game, but nothing more really - and that is the problem. As much as it looks like a modern game, it doesn't feel like one, and maybe that    That was a freaking great game back in the PS2, I couldn't even believe what I was sawing when I played it for the first time. Fumito Ueda really did something, and inspired a lot o people with his work.
    This PS4 version delivers a visual uplift to the game, but nothing more really - and that is the problem. As much as it looks like a modern game, it doesn't feel like one, and maybe that could have been improved too.    … Expand
  8. pelona39
    Aug 14, 2023
    6
    Never play the classic version before, but still...

    Story Simple story and emotional, great one! Sound/music Well done i guess... Gameplay Gameplay is fine, but I really hate how the camera work... automatically rotate camera sometimes annoying. Horse sometimes not responding, no check point while exploring map... when you died while exploring, whatever you already manually    Never play the classic version before, but still...

    Story
    Simple story and emotional, great one!

    Sound/music
    Well done i guess...

    Gameplay
    Gameplay is fine, but I really hate how the camera work... automatically rotate camera sometimes annoying. Horse sometimes not responding, no check point while exploring map... when you died while exploring, whatever you already manually save your progress or not, you'll respawn to the beginning place and you have to re-explore it again.
    And the final boss's difficult is really too far to compare to the other bosses.

    Graphic
    Amazing, great landscape, well-designed old monuments and colossus.

    Overall
    Still recommended even tho 6/10    … Expand
  9. thehoang123
    Aug 14, 2023
    10
    This maybe the best PS game of all time i ever played. Better than these QTE, cutscenes Trash (TloU, GoW).
  10. OwlScowling
    Aug 11, 2023
    6
    A beautiful, lonely, wonderful game that is ultimately held back by abysmal controls and camera. I started this game immediately enthralled. Even the empty world has a sense of foreboding solitude that feels bold instead of lazy. The setup feels like an incredible start to a hero's journey. However, the controls make this game nearly unplayable. I've been playing games for most of my lifeA beautiful, lonely, wonderful game that is ultimately held back by abysmal controls and camera. I started this game immediately enthralled. Even the empty world has a sense of foreboding solitude that feels bold instead of lazy. The setup feels like an incredible start to a hero's journey. However, the controls make this game nearly unplayable. I've been playing games for most of my life and I'm very competent at them. I could not make heads or tails of the control scheme from very early on. There would be bizarre camera movements just trying to find the next colossus or incredibly broken animations when trying to do the most basic of attacks.

    When I rolled for the first time, I literally laughed out loud due to how silly the animation looks. Your character literally throws his shoulder into the ground and awkwardly ragdolls back into position. I actually told my wife to look at the screen because of how silly it was. I would be lying if I said this game wasn't anything special--there is absolutely a sense of real magic to it. But I also can't in good conscience recommend anyone spend money (or perhaps valuable time) on a game like this as it currently stands. I don't think an update is coming five years later. But it is an absolute shame that such a widely acclaimed "masterpiece" feels nearly as clunky as QWOP or Getting Over It.    … Expand
  11. JBreed
    Aug 4, 2023
    10
    The greatest game of all time! From it's unique art design, emotional and powerful story, and soundtrack, Shadow of the Colossus is a phenomenal journey from start to finish with one of the greatest plot twist in gaming history. Each colossus feels unique to their environment. Although the open world can be argued as "empty" but it gives the player free range to explore and use theirThe greatest game of all time! From it's unique art design, emotional and powerful story, and soundtrack, Shadow of the Colossus is a phenomenal journey from start to finish with one of the greatest plot twist in gaming history. Each colossus feels unique to their environment. Although the open world can be argued as "empty" but it gives the player free range to explore and use their imagination to what the forbidden lands were. This ambiguity adds to quality of the plot. This is one of the games I consider a must play.… Expand
  12. majesty_x
    Jul 31, 2023
    8
    Graphics: 8/10; Storyline: 7/10; Gameplay: 8/10; Atmosphere: 9/10; Music: 9/10; Summary rating: 8/10
  13. Bugjam8
    Jul 19, 2023
    10
    Shadow of the Colossus es una obra maestra atemporal que ha cautivado a jugadores de todo el mundo desde su lanzamiento original en PlayStation 2. Con su remasterización para PlayStation 4, este juego sigue siendo una experiencia única y conmovedora que puede animar a cualquier persona a adquirir el juego y disfrutarlo en una consola PlayStation. Aquí están algunos de los aspectosShadow of the Colossus es una obra maestra atemporal que ha cautivado a jugadores de todo el mundo desde su lanzamiento original en PlayStation 2. Con su remasterización para PlayStation 4, este juego sigue siendo una experiencia única y conmovedora que puede animar a cualquier persona a adquirir el juego y disfrutarlo en una consola PlayStation. Aquí están algunos de los aspectos positivos del juego:

    1. Ambiente mágico y visualmente impresionante: Shadow of the Colossus te transporta a un vasto y misterioso mundo lleno de belleza y melancolía. Los paisajes expansivos, las ruinas antiguas y los efectos visuales impresionantes crean una atmósfera cautivadora y te sumergen en la historia épica.

    2. Historia conmovedora y minimalista: La narrativa de Shadow of the Colossus es sencilla pero poderosa. Interpretas el papel de Wander, un joven en una búsqueda desesperada para salvar a una doncella sacrificando a los colosos que deambulan por el mundo. La historia está llena de simbolismo y teje una narrativa emotiva y evocadora que deja espacio para la interpretación y la reflexión.

    3. Diseño de los colosos: Los colosos son el núcleo del juego, y cada uno de ellos es una asombrosa hazaña de diseño. Desde su tamaño imponente hasta su variedad de formas y comportamientos, enfrentarte a estos gigantes es una experiencia emocionante y épica. Cada batalla es única y requiere estrategia y destreza para descubrir y explotar sus puntos débiles.

    4. Jugabilidad única y desafiante: El juego se centra en la caza y la derrota de los colosos, lo que te lleva a explorar el vasto mundo y descubrir sus secretos. Las batallas contra los colosos requieren paciencia, habilidad y una comprensión táctica de sus movimientos. Esta mezcla de exploración, plataformas y combate crea una jugabilidad única y desafiante que te mantendrá enganchado.

    5. Banda sonora emotiva: La música de Shadow of the Colossus es emotiva y evocadora, aportando una capa adicional de inmersión y emoción a la experiencia. La partitura melancólica y épica acompaña perfectamente los momentos de calma y las batallas épicas contra los colosos, creando una experiencia auditiva inolvidable.

    Shadow of the Colossus es un juego que trasciende las barreras del tiempo y sigue siendo una experiencia única y conmovedora en la actualidad. Con su ambiente mágico, historia conmovedora, diseño impresionante de los colosos, jugabilidad desafiante y una banda sonora cautivadora, este juego es una razón convincente para adquirir una consola PlayStation y embarcarte en una aventura épica que te dejará una profunda impresión.    … Expand
  14. isikt11
    Jul 8, 2023
    6
    The atmosphere and visuality are really good but the gameplay is a real struggle. You don't just fight with the giants. You also fight with the camera and gameplay. I would never think riding horse to be this hard. I closed the game after 2-3 hours playing, the gameplay was irritating.

    I
  15. Davidnotavailab
    Jul 1, 2023
    10
    This game made me apreciate video games as a work of art and not just a way to waste time; very beautifully done the only complain i have is the camera.
    WTF IS THIS ALL I HAD TO SAY AFTER IVE FINISHED IT?
    i kinda get it but this game has so much more that i can talk about. First of all the story is incredible right from the start because its so minimalistic u dont know what to expect at    This game made me apreciate video games as a work of art and not just a way to waste time; very beautifully done the only complain i have is the camera.
    WTF IS THIS ALL I HAD TO SAY AFTER IVE FINISHED IT?
    i kinda get it but this game has so much more that i can talk about.
    First of all the story is incredible right from the start because its so minimalistic u dont know what to expect at all. And the game takes such a sad turn at the end, the bossfights are gorgeous, and the world is so pretty, the atmosphere is great even tho the world is literally empty. Its in my top 10 games of all time, and its not my favorite it is still one of the most unique games i ve played    … Expand
  16. Robospy1
    Jun 28, 2023
    5
    I know people love this game, but sorry, this doesn't do it for me. I appreciate what they were going for, but the controls have aged poorly (which shouldn't be a problem for a remake) and the game is just kind of boring. The Collosi aren't even fun to fight, which is the only interesting part of the game, whereas the open world is empty and a waste of time. I'm sure some people will sayI know people love this game, but sorry, this doesn't do it for me. I appreciate what they were going for, but the controls have aged poorly (which shouldn't be a problem for a remake) and the game is just kind of boring. The Collosi aren't even fun to fight, which is the only interesting part of the game, whereas the open world is empty and a waste of time. I'm sure some people will say that the emptyness and lonelyness is part of the art here, but it just isn't enough to keep me invested.… Expand
  17. Uncl3s4mbr
    Jun 19, 2023
    7
    Boring game for my taste. The graphics are great, the environment beautiful, but the controls over the horse sucks, the camera control sucks and the Colossus are easy to kill. The hardest part is to find the Colossus. This game are for the people that like the explorer and contemplate the environment.
  18. YannySp101
    May 1, 2022
    7
    Shadow of the Colossus was a fascinating experience for me because I didn't play the original version on the PS2 back then, however, it was more complicated than I expected.
    After hearing how unique and special this game is for years now, I finally decided to play it.
    The story in Shadow of the Colossus is slightly ambiguous, but the vast, empty environments and the melancholic atmosphere    Shadow of the Colossus was a fascinating experience for me because I didn't play the original version on the PS2 back then, however, it was more complicated than I expected.
    After hearing how unique and special this game is for years now, I finally decided to play it.
    The story in Shadow of the Colossus is slightly ambiguous, but the vast, empty environments and the melancholic atmosphere make up for the story's ambiguity. Overall, it's a surprisingly decent story even if it's absent for the most part.
    Unlike the story though, the gameplay is very basic, even though it's oddly enjoyable and satisfying.
    The Colossi are absolutely spectacular; they're undoubtedly the highlight of the game, alongside the immense scale of the game and its gorgeous environments.
    Also, the music is really good and the audio design is fantastic.
    However, even though the gameplay is interesting, the repetitious nature of the gameplay loop gets slightly boring after a while, and the controls, camera and handling are so clumsy and bad in some instances, they make the game almost unplayable at times, ruining the entire experience, and that's very unfortunate.

    Pros:
    + Serviceable narrative
    + Exciting albeit basic gameplay
    + Immense scale
    + Stunning visuals
    + Great music

    Cons:
    - Tiring gameplay loop
    - Very awkward controls, camera & handling

    Narrative: 6/10
    Gameplay: 4/10
    Music: 8/10
    Graphics/Audio: 9/10

    Final Rating: 6.5/10
    - Pretty Good -
    Shadow of the Colossus looks like a PS4 game, however, it still plays like a PS2 game, unfortunately.
    Regardless, it's a very unique and special experience even to this day... I just expected something more from a high quality modern Remake.

    Do I recommend it?:
    If you're looking for a fun videogame experience, I probably wouldn't recommend it, but if you're looking for a unique videogame experience, I'd say yes.    … Expand
  19. HydrophobikFish
    Jun 9, 2023
    9
    Atmosphere and boss battles are completely unparalleled. The art direction is evocative and the very premise is novel enough to be memorable.
  20. nebirosity
    May 18, 2023
    0
    It is astonishing to me that SOTC can still be this player unfriendly even after a remaster, the game literally fights you at every turn and sucks every bit of potential fun from the experience. The visuals and sound direction are spectacular but neither means anything in the face of gameplay this excruciating.
  21. Yellsirskii
    May 14, 2023
    8
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  22. 113
    May 12, 2023
    1
    WTF is this game anyways. All you do is ride around on a horse and climb giant stone monsters and stab them with a pointy sword. I do not understand. What makes this game worse is that there is no cute girls. You would think if the creators wanted this game to sell more, they would try to appeal to the average player. They all want cute girls, everyone knows this.
  23. FRIST_008
    May 8, 2023
    7
    Довольно годный логический босс файт, который оставляет у тебя ощущение, что ты маленький, а и не так просто тебе то, убить что-то большое на самом деле.
  24. Novvos
    May 5, 2023
    4
    It's less than "ok". Feels like playing a better version of Pong. Same story, equal gameplay. Working on my pile of shame, but this game is a shame and absolutly overrated!
  25. Elite_Soldier
    May 3, 2023
    9
    Shadow of the colossus had an amazing soundtrack that accompanied when fighting bosses. The gameplay itself was fun and made you feel insignificant to the titans, what made this great is the ending that hits you out of nowhere.
  26. KPS5
    Apr 29, 2023
    1
    This is probably the most overrated game of all time. Boring and repetitive, I can’t believe people think this is a masterpiece
  27. dark0153
    Apr 19, 2023
    0
    Piece of **** game - devvelopers cant even bother to fix the broken climbing section in the first couple of minutes of gameplay but this **** got remastered somehow
  28. keshudioo
    Apr 12, 2023
    3
    The game is boring with an awful camera work and clumsy physics. Landscape is nice, though.
  29. Thegamesup
    Apr 3, 2023
    9
    اللعبه جميله ..................................................................
  30. Diegomaycry666
    Mar 30, 2023
    10
    Um remake a altura de seu jogo original, as terras proibidas que já era linda no original, se tornou ainda mais agora! e os colossos também entram nessa, muito mais detalhados e assustadores, graficamente impecável, a gameplay mantém a essência, um pouco limitada, porém é esse o intuito, já que controlamos wander, apenas um jovem rapaz sem muito treinamento, buscando de forma desesperadaUm remake a altura de seu jogo original, as terras proibidas que já era linda no original, se tornou ainda mais agora! e os colossos também entram nessa, muito mais detalhados e assustadores, graficamente impecável, a gameplay mantém a essência, um pouco limitada, porém é esse o intuito, já que controlamos wander, apenas um jovem rapaz sem muito treinamento, buscando de forma desesperada reviver uma donzela, que as vezes acho que nem passa pela cabeça dele que ele está lutando contra colossus 100x maiores que ele.… Expand
prev
Page:

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 »