Great game but it's because of the fact that it's a blue disc my PS2 has had trouble reading it I even clean the laser on my PS2 and damn thing still has trouble reading it also the graphics look like because this was originally supposed to be a PS1 game but due to hardware limitations it was move to the the PS2 It's a really fun Puzzle solving Platformer but you will better playing the HD remaster version on the PS3 due the fact that blue discs is harder for a PS2 to read. It's playable don't get wrong but it's a sometimey game sometimes it works sometimes it don't work but it's hidden gem that didn't sell to well worthy of being part of your collection.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
ICO sets it self apart from every other game. In terms of graphical presentation ICO's world can be called the Mona Lisa of PS2 games. The sharp contrast between the shadows and light along with the subtle colors of nature really are a sight to behold. The sound design in ICO is also brilliant, instead of playing some musical tune over and over the game's ambient sounds take over. This immerses the player deeper into ICO's world. Early on in the game you rescue a girl from a cage, you pull her by the hand in an attempt to free her and yourself from the crumbling ruins of a castle. It's a very simple premise for a game, but it's told in such a way that makes it believable. The character animations are very detailed, and the way that the characters move has a lot of emotions to it. The girl that ICO pulls is frail, you can really sense her vulnerability through her motions. This game is the best argument that one could make; that games should be viewed as art.Read full review
I originally bought ICO when it first came out some years ago. The gameplay first appears to be fairly simple; solving puzzles while running around outdoor environments and fighting monsters. However, unlike seemingly similar games, the focus of the gameplay is the protection of a second character whom is unable to attack or defend. Additionally, the second character is uncontrollable by the player, and must be led through the labyrinth of puzzles by holding her hand and dragging her along while demons and monsters attempt to return her to her place in the prison. As both characters are right at that prepubesent / early adolescent age, there is an innocence and a necessity in their relationship not easily found in videogames these days. There is no swearing, gunplay, extreme violence, or nudity; just stunning gameplay. ICO is a true testament that these elements do not always denote a masterpiece (tetris anyone?). Controls for the game are perfect and the camera never ruins the experience. Additionally, the feel of the game simply has to be experienced first hand and is not easily described. The visuals in the game are breathtaking as they are expansive. The player always has that "jack and the beanstalk" feeling while roaming the areas, yet never seems to waste time walking from one end of the world to another. The puzzles always push the player in the right direction. The audio is also perfect for the game. Music scores do not play continuously (much like Tombraider 1), adding emotion and feeling to certain areas of the game. In addition, the lack of music at times is sombering. You can hear your footsteps echo in the large areas and through corridors. You hear your companion yelling in an undecipherable language from around the corner or outside where you left her as demons/monsters attack, dragging her away. I am a hard core gamer at heart, but my wife is not. However she fell in love with this game as well. So this is kinda like a benny for all of us gamers out there whom have girlfriends / wives keeping away from the video game scene. This one will make her see the hidden beauty and depth which a video game can possess (worked for me, and now she's hooked). It is simply an understatement to call ICO a must have game. It is a masterpiece. Get it if you are able and experience why this title, which is rarely written about in the mainstream video game circles, always seems to crop up when discussing the top video games of all time. Hope my gushing over ICO convinced YOU to buy a copy of your own. Thanks for reading, BaugherclRead full review
I'd long heard about Ico. Both in print and by word of mouth the legend came to me. There was this sleeper hit, a game simply called Ico, and it was the most unique RPG experience ever crafted. I ignored it for years, but the name Ico kept popping up. It seemed that I, as a gamer, was missing out on something cultural... like Star Wars, A Clockwork Orange, Deliverance... something that persisted in cultural memory and would continue to haunt me unless I, too, shared in the experience. So I bought Ico in 2008, seven years after it came out. And I promptly continued to ignore it in favor of the PS3/360 games that now littered my collection. March 20th, 2009. An old friend came up and as we tired of Street Fighter IV and sought something different to do I brought up Ico. "Hey, I've got this game. It's old but it's supposed to be amazing. We could take turns..." Four hours and forty-five in-game minutes later and my life is enriched. Ico is all that it's cracked up to be. It WAS an experience. For such a short game to live so vividly in play... this is the game that Myst should have been. Described as minimalist it is, nevertheless, rich beyond description. Ico flys in the face of modern gaming logic that decrees that all must be loud and powerful and complex in order to satisfy. My experience in Ico will not soon fade and will never be forgotten. I'd love to tell you more about this game but I refuse to give any spoilers so here's the rundown: Story: 10 - A perfect 10. This story is everything it needs to be. Gameplay: 10 - Intuitive controls make this a pick up and play for everybody, regardless of skill level. Music: 10 - Most of this game's sounds are ambient. Birds, footsteps, breathing. When music occurs it is ethereal and appropriate. Camera: 9.5 - The camera is the only annoyance in an otherwise perfect experience. It is locked in each room and although it is movable it always snaps back in place. It can make navigation a bit of a challenge and the game's expansive setting could have been more richly experienced without the snap-back feature. Replayability: 9.5 - The North American release is shafted of ALL of the cool extras. Regardless the short length of this game means it's not a hassle at all to play through it again. In fact I can almost guarantee you'll want to. Bottom Line: Get this. While it's length makes for a great rental your collection is improved by the inclusion of this masterpiece. I can say if the US version ever hits the PS3 store it is mine in a matter of seconds.Read full review
I bought this game based on all the rave reviews and the fact that my wife and I were looking for a game based on problem solving and puzzles. It has lived up to my expectations completely so far...we haven't put in a lot of time on it yet but it is challenging without being too heavy on button mashing fights. It works for two people because you can help eachother with suggestions on how to open the door, reach point X, solve the puzzle etc. It is a one controller game. Although the game was published several years ago now, it was totally worth the money I spent to by it used on ebay. Plus the controls are so simple you don't need instructions or anything. The learning curve is very short but the game has stayed challenging. I would recommend it.
WOW! This game totally blew me away. ICO is a must for any Shadow of the Colossus fans, as this game takes place in the same world and is a sequel to it (though made a few years before SoTC). For anyone who loves solving puzzles, and can enjoy a game for its beauty and not so much the fighting aspects, this will definatley be worth the investment. It has easily become one of my favorite titles. You really grow to bond with Ico, and Yorda, the princess you rescue, and the atmosphere the game creates is unlike any other. It's rare I've played any game and actually grew to feel for the characters and attach myself to them in this way - you have to play it to know what I mean. The graphics are superb, the architecture of the castle and surroundings is nothing less than amazing. Though the plot and storyline are pretty simple, and only simple combat takes place, it matters not. The game more than makes up for it in other, unique ways. If you want to play a game that truly pulls you in, a game that I can describe as 'moving art', then do yourself a favor and buy this game! SoTC fans will especially find an appreciation for this game, though sadly, ICO did not initially sell well and many fans never even get to play ICO. Granted, you can enjoy one without the other, but together they are definately even moreso amazing. The only thing I didn't like about the game was it ended so soon, only about 7 hours of gameplay my first runthrough, and less thereafter. TEAM ICO is rumored to be making more games now though, and I for one cannot wait to see what they come out with.Read full review
Ico is a legendary game for the playstaion 2, it is deffintoly a tend setter and a unique experiance like no other, its a very fun game that makes you use your mind and wit to solve and learn how to play rather than some tutorial or some one telling you how to play. The game itself has a great storyline allthough short, as the game can be beat in one to two sitings or around 8 hours its very enchanting and brings new things to the table with charicters youll never forget. it also feels very human as the charicter you play allthough having horns growing from his head is a normal boy with no powers, so it is easier to connect to him as you try to fight your way through the baddies and taking yorda by the hand and helping her along the pathways and puzzles. all and all its an amazing game and is a must have for any RPG owner, as even 10 years from now ill have to break out my ps2 and play it to relive the epic story that is ICO.Read full review
I've been wanting to play this since it came out, but I did not have a PS2 at the time and years later when I got one I couldn't find it in any stores. I ended up getting Shadow of the Colossus, which was awesome and further made me want to play Ico. I finally got a copy through Ebay and it met every expectation. The game at its base is an extremely toned-down Zelda game. There is little fighting, and the core concept is to solve the environmental puzzles that lead to the next area. What the game has that others don't, however, is serious emotional depth. Not forced feelings brought on by cheap dramatic narrative, but an authentic involvement achieved through genuine interest in the characters and beautifully crafted environments. The simplicity really is the key- toning down the action and leaving out power-ups and varying weapons allows a person to focus on the characters and their surroundings. The detailed settings and perfect sound effects really make you feel Ico's position of being abandoned and lost in an unfamiliar place, but not without hope. The emotional connection created between Ico and Yorda, who speak different lanuages but relate in their predicament, is remarkable. It is an incredibly short game, but I did not feel cheated in the slightest. In fact, the brevity might have been to game's benefit, as emotional involvement or not, the gameplay never really changes and possibly would have dimmed the game's resonance if drug out further. Anyway, it really is a worthwile experience all around. I wish more games would exercise this sort of artistry in their development. I'll probably just have to wait for the follow-up to Shadow of the Colossus.Read full review
I like the game however the camera view isn't very easy. Can't get a behind ico so I can see whats ahead of me.. And not very many clues to find a weapon other that the stick..
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I got this game because of the great reviews it got over the years. It's a real classic puzzle game (going back to ye olde Myst days), with a touch of combat thrown in to keep you on the edge. Pretty basic plan: You (Ico) get stuck in a castle, find a mysterious imprisoned girl (Yorda), and now you both have to escape while fighting the interference of your captor (The Queen). The puzzles are clever, sometimes sneaky, but you never really get bored or frustrated (not like Myst). The combat system is minimalist, really kinda button-mash (good if Tekken ain't your kind of thing), but it's not the main focus of the game. Also, in spite of the sparse dialogue, you really get drawn in to the game and the characters. You really want to escape and save the girl even though you don't know much about what's going on. Probably the only thing I'd complain about is that it's a bit too short (took me about a week). You don't finish it feeling dissatisfied or cheated (on the contrary), but you just wish there was a bit more. All in all, it's really well put together and flows nicely.Read full review
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