The ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection

Product Details

Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
ASIN: B002I0J5FG
Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches ; 3.8 ounces
Media: Video Game
Release Date: September 27, 2011

By : Sony
Price : $37.70
You Save : $2.29 (6%)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Two Award-Winning Classics Return
Remastered in HD with full stereoscopic 3D support, the ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection brings together two of the most highly-acclaimed single player video games of all time into a single package, playable on PlayStation 3. Relive the magic and fall in love with these PlayStation 2 classics all over again, or discover the wonder of the two of gaming's most beloved games for the first time, now available in crisp HD resolution, 7.1 surround sound and fully stereoscopic 3D compatible. Additional features include: five exclusive behind the scenes bonus videos featuring the making of ICO and Shadow of the Colossus and a sneek peek at the upcoming Team Ico release, The Last Guardian; two dynamic XMB themes based on memorable scenes from ICO and Shadow of the Colossus; and Dualshock 3 wireless controller support.

ICO
Enter a world of enchantment and wonder, where once was, is nevermore. Ico, a mysterious boy, has been expelled from his village to an isolated castle. Within his confines, he begins to have eerie dreams of rescuing a young princess from the evil spirits that dwell within the fortress. Blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, Ico embarks on a quest to save the princess and along the way, discovers his own cryptic fate.
Key Game Features

Embark on a heroic quest in ICO, encountering mysterious obstacles and enchanted wonders within a forgotten world
Explore more than 30 immersive levels within large, vibrant worlds
Solve a variety of mind-bending puzzles and overcome the evil that resides within the castle
Deep, involving storyline that will captivate you for hours

Shadow of the Colossus
Experience a majestic journey through ancient lands on your quest to bring a girl back to life by defeating sixteen gigantic beasts. On the back of your trusty horse, explore expansive landscapes and seek out each Colossus in its own place of hiding, armed with only your wits, a sword and a bow. Each one represents a unique challenge as you attempt to find its weakness and topple it.
Key Game Features

An artistic masterpiece developed by the critically acclaimed game developers of ICO
Innovative gameplay combines the puzzle and action/adventure genres
Journey across picturesque landscapes and unearth the ferocious beauty of the 16 Colossi
Combat each Colossi with great skill and resourcefulness of a magical sword and sturdy bow and arrow
Overcome a variety of terrain challenges placing great emphasis on pure exploration
Travel on horseback across miles of ancient land

Additional Screenshots

The ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection

The ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection

Product Features

ICO and Shadow of the Colossus on single PS3 Blu-ray disc remastered for HD resolution
Five exclusive behind the scenes videos featuring the making of ICO and Shadow of the Colossus and a sneek peek at the upcoming Team Ico release, The Last Guardian
Two dynamic XMB themes based on memorable scenes from ICO and Shadow of the Colossus
Fully 3D compatible and Dualshock 3 wireless controller support
Full PlayStation Network trophy support

Customer Reviews

It's difficult to believe that over 10 years have passed since Ico was first released, alongside other 2001 classics like Metal Gear Solid 2 and Final Fantasy X. Unlike those two games, Ico fared poorly in the sales charts, despite its incredible graphics, great story and gameplay.
However, this was not the end, as 4 years later, the second game by "Team Ico", Shadow of the Colossus (SotC), was strongly promoted and achieved much better sales figures.
Now, Sony has breathed a second life into these games, thanks to this hi-def PS3 re-release.
Both games have been significantly enhanced in this PS3 remastery by Bluepoint Games (who also remastered the God of War Collection and the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 2 ; 3 games), with the most important changes being:
+ 720p or 1080p 30fps framerate, with very little slowdown as found in the PS2 version during intense Colossus battles
+ Native widescreen support for Ico
+ Gameplay is ported from the European version, with the extra puzzle, weapon, and other small changes
+ Trophies! [16 for Ico, 31 for SotC]
+ 7.1 surround sound
+ Behind the scenes videos + 2 dynamic themes (yours to keep!)
+ Reversible cover insert containing original cover art for both games
= 3D support (but only at 720p, and framerate reduces down to 15fps during some of the battles in SotC)
- Textures appear to be more detailed, but they still look blocky close up, and the polygons look the same
- The menu/map in SotC is stretched on a widescreen TV, while the menu for Ico looks sharp and completely redone
I have already beaten Ico and the first few battles of SotC on PS2, and am finding this remake just as enjoyable, especially since there is virtually no slowdown even at 1080p. Do realize that both of these games are relatively short with limited replay value (<5 hours for Ico and <10 hours for SotC, much more if you want all of the trophies). The high production values of both games is maintained during their short stories, and you will likely spend several hours just looking at the beautiful environments in both games (especially Ico). The orchestrated music during each battle in SotC is terrific and fitting, as are the ambient sounds throughout both games. The controls are very simple, but some of the puzzles/colossus battles are incredibly challenging the first time around.
An in depth comparison of the various graphical settings can be found at eurogamer.net [...]
For the $40 MSRP, you are still getting a good bargain, even if the games have been out for 6-10 years, as the visual experience is so much better on an HDTV (if you don't have an HDTV, get one).
Now go out and save a "princess"!

Regardless of whether you had played ICO or Shadow of the Colossus when they had came out or not, are a game aficionado or a casual player, you owe it to yourself to have these rereleased titles. There are very few people who would claim that these two games are "overrated", as there is much to appreciate, discover, and enjoy in both. These are two timeless, beautiful classics made better. They are very hard to fault.
I won't go into any detail on the content of these two games, as they are best left to player discovery for those playing for the first time. I will say that as adventure games, they fulfill their role and unlike many games these days, does not force unnecessary exposition and plotlines down your throat. They are very minimalist and like a well told story, leave it up to your imagination to fill in some of the blanks.
For the most part, I generally regard older games re-released in HD to be overpriced money grabs by gaming publishers, but every so often, the publishers will do it right. Shadow of the Colossus, in particular, stands out in that it presents the game in the way it was meant to be played. The framerates are much smoother than the original PS2 release, and the atmosphere and presence of the Colossi carries much more impact, as the suspension of disbelief is not interrupted by the aliasing (jagged lines) that plagued the originals.