Dreaming of Ico

Finished Shadow of the Colossus today and despite only clocking in a total of 8 hours and 59 seconds I feel exhausted, like I've been on long trip. I also feel very happy and I'm glad that the ending was much more upbeat than I expected. I should also give a nod to the soundtrack which really stood out, especially towards the end and it really complemented the mood of the game. But this game is much more than the total playtime you receive or the sum of its parts, it's like an unforgettable experience and I already feel bittersweet about finishing it, like with any great game. It almost feels unfair to call it a game, it's more like minimalistic art contained within a game, I know it sounds pretentious but this is one of those rare times where a game has more in common with a wonderful piece of art. I love how the game leaves alot of things unexplained and forces you to draw your own conclusions on many things. I can only speaking for myself but I found it obvious that the game is a prequel to Ico, though one can only guess how many years separate the events in the two games.

Wander receives his horns for releasing Dormin by defeating the colossi, all for his own selfish desire to return Mono to life, and as one of the characters - Lord Emon - expresses towards the end of the game, his hope is that if Wander survived he might someday be able to atone for his crimes. I can't help but feel that it all ties in with Ico, especially since Ico seems to be a descendant of Wander and a vessel of redemption for Wander and the bloodline. Ico acts selflessly by helping Yorda, protecting her from the shadow-like creatures and putting himself in danger to save her. Wander gains horns for his crimes while I read that Ico loses his horns during the game which is pretty telling of the difference between the two protagonists. Now I'm really excited about getting my hands on Ico, I really want to find out more ties between the two games and the gameplay of holding hands with Yorda to guide her seems like something really special. It's a real shame that these games have turned into rarities these days because they both clearly should be considered modern gaming classics. I consider them as such and that is why my gaming collection will not be complete without them.