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.
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