Best Game You Never Played: Ico

While everyone will be busy with games like Crysis and Halo this holiday season, it's easy to forget that games can have a milder, less violent tone to them. I know, it's true, like zomg!!!

One such game came out for the PS2 back in 2001. It was called Ico, and it was from the same developers that brought us the excellent Shadow of the Colossus. I'm sure many people have heard of the game, but have never tried it, seeing how it has had limited releases in the past. But I urge, if not beg you, to try and pick up a copy of your own.


The story is simple, you play as a young boy, named Ico, who is being sacrificed at a castle with apparently no admission fee, because of the set of horns that have grown on his head, which supposedly brings his village bad luck. While locked away in his "sacrificial pod" some rumbling of the dated machinery of the castle loosens the rock the pod is sitting on and thus it tumbles open, freeing our protagonist. Along the way, you find a girl named Yorda that was also locked away, and thus you being your quest to escape the castle.

The main gameplay mechanics are simple, and is similar to what we have seen in games like Prince of Persia and Tomb Raider. You explore the environment, solving puzzles that will lead you to the next door. But in this game, you also have to guide Yorda around since she has a magical power to open certain doors to make you progress. Of coarse, Yorda is not as nimble as you, so you must leave her behind and create simpler paths for her to follow, sometimes using her as elements of the puzzles themselves.

Just to throw in a bit of action, occasionally shadowy figures will come and try to capture Yorda, which obviously prevents you from moving further. A fairly simple combat system involving a piece of 2x4 also adds a challenge in itself since attacks must be planned and quick. This adds yet another level of depth to the game.

On top of all this, you also have a fantastic artistic style (yes, similar to SotC) with a great use of Bloom lighting, atmospheric sound effects, and the perfect musical score.


The icing on the cake though is your connection to the characters. You really care for Ico and Yorda, as they obviously care about each other. This is further supported with a story that gives you just enough to know whats going on, and it all leads to a satisfying ending.

My only complaint was that it was rather short, but the fun to be had is well worth it. If nothing else, it offers up a true gaming "experience" that not many titles can mimic.