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The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection
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The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection

201195/100
SimulatorAdventure

Fantasy · Open World

A masterclass in environmental storytelling, the collection hinges on the deliberate pacing and evocative spaces of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. The former asks you to solve light environmental puzzles, all the while shepherding a vulnerable companion through a decaying fortress. Shadow of the Colossus is defined by its monumental boss fights, each a puzzle in itself, and the desolate beauty of its world.

About The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection

Details
Ico: Ico (イコ, pronounced "Ee-ko"), a horned boy, is taken by a group of warriors to an abandoned castle and locked inside a stone coffin to be sacrificed. A tremor topples the coffin and Ico escapes. As he searches the castle, he comes across Yorda (ヨルダ, Yoruda), a captive girl who speaks a different language. Ico helps Yorda escape and defends her from shadow-like creatures. The pair makes their way through the castle and arrive at the bridge leading to land. As they cross, the Queen, ruler of the castle, appears and tells Yorda that as her daughter she cannot leave the castle. Later, as they try to escape on the bridge, it splits up and they get separated. Yorda tries to save Ico but the Queen prevents it. He ends up falling off the bridge and losing consciousness. Ico awakens below the castle and makes his way back to the upper levels, finding a magic sword that dispels the shadow creatures. After discovering that Yorda has been turned to stone by the Queen, he confronts the Queen in her throne room, who reveals that she plans to restart her life anew by taking possession of Yorda's body. Ico slays the Queen with the magic sword, but his horns are broken in the fight and at the end of it he is knocked unconscious. With the Queen's death the castle begins to collapse around Ico, but the Queen's spell on Yorda is broken, and a shadowy Yorda carries Ico safely out of the castle to a boat, sending him to drift to the shore alone. Ico awakens to find the distant castle in ruins, and Yorda, in her human form, washed up nearby. She wakes up and smiles at Ico. Shadow of the Colossus: The story of Shadow of the Colossus begins as Wander enters the forbidden land, traveling across a long bridge on his horse, Agro. Unknown to the player, prior to entering, Wander had stolen an ancient sword, which is the only weapon capable of slaying the colossi.[34] Led to the massive Shrine of Worship at the center of the region, Wander carries with him the body of a maiden named Mono. A moment later, several humanoid shadow creatures appear and approach Wander before he easily dismisses them with a wave of the ancient sword in his possession. After vanquishing the shadow creatures, the voice of the disembodied entity known as "Dormin" echoes from above, expressing surprise that Wander possesses the weapon. Wander requests that Dormin return Mono's soul to her body, which Dormin states may be possible on the condition that Wander can destroy the sixteen idols lining the temple's hall by using the ancient sword to kill each colossus the idols represent located throughout the land. Despite being warned by Dormin that he may have to pay a great price to revive Mono, Wander sets out to search the land for the colossi and destroy them.

Top 4 Alternatives to The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection

1
Rating
Critic & community
70
Match
Recommendation strength
90%

Praey for the Gods

2021 · Action

This indie title directly channels the spirit of Shadow of the Colossus, tasking players with felling gigantic beasts in a frozen, desolate world, combining exploration with monumental boss encounters.

Why recommended

  • The entire game revolves around the epic struggle against colossal creatures, requiring players to climb and exploit their weaknesses, making it a spiritual successor to Shadow of the Colossus.
  • Criteria - Adventure is interwoven with survival mechanics and exploration of a vast, frozen island to uncover secrets and find the next monumental challenge.
  • The game is a dedicated Singleplayer experience, focusing on the player's solitary quest against overwhelming odds in a desolate, beautiful world.
2
Rating
Critic & community
86
Match
Recommendation strength
85%

Like Shadow of the Colossus, this game emphasizes a solitary journey across vast, beautiful, yet desolate landscapes, where the true challenge lies in traversal and overcoming environmental obstacles rather than constant combat.

Why recommended

  • Features a singular protagonist undertaking a monumental task in a vast, often empty world, fostering a sense of isolation and grand adventure similar to Shadow of the Colossus.
  • Criteria - Adventure is central, as players must navigate treacherous terrain, plan routes, and manage resources to deliver crucial cargo across a fractured world.
  • The core gameplay loop involves careful planning and strategic traversal, akin to figuring out the 'puzzle' of how to approach and defeat each Colossus.
3
Rating
Critic & community
92
Match
Recommendation strength
78%

While lacking direct combat, Outer Wilds captures the spirit of discovery and monumental scale, where understanding your environment and its secrets is paramount, much like deciphering the weaknesses of a Colossus.

Why recommended

  • Exploration and discovery are the primary drivers, with players uncovering the mysteries of a solar system through environmental clues and experimentation, echoing the sense of wonder and puzzle-solving in Shadow of the Colossus.
  • Criteria - Adventure is the core gameplay loop, focused entirely on unraveling a grand mystery through exploration and understanding the world's unique mechanics.
  • The game is a pure Singleplayer experience, designed for solitary contemplation and discovery, similar to the introspective journey in the source game.
4
Rating
Critic & community
78
Match
Recommendation strength
72%

Experience epic battles against massive creatures, where strategic climbing and targeting weak points are key, offering a similar 'kaiju' combat feel to Shadow of the Colossus, but within a more traditional RPG framework.

Why recommended

  • Features a unique climbing mechanic that allows players to scale large monsters and target their weak points, directly mirroring the iconic Colossus battles.
  • Criteria - Strategy is crucial in combat, as players must analyze enemy patterns, exploit weaknesses, and coordinate with AI-controlled pawns to overcome formidable foes.
  • The game emphasizes a Singleplayer experience, though with unique asynchronous online elements through the pawn system, keeping the focus on the player's journey.

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