Less is more
You play the role of a young bull horned boy, Ico. Because of his horns he is to be sacrificed when he is come of age. A small flock of villagers takes him to a huge castle and places him in a standing tomb. He manages to escape, and when doing so he discovers an etheral figure locked in a cage. It turns out to be a girl, Yorda, and together you set out to escape the the shadow demons lurking in the dark and the sky soaring walls of the castle. The narrative is very simple, but it fits this game nicely. There are only a few cut scenes that tell this story, but they are tastefully minimal and elegant.
The gameplay is equally minimal. The control scheme is simple, and you will grasp it almost instantly. In combat you basically only fight one type of monsters with one set of moves. There is only a handful of weapons to your disposal including the secret ones. Your motivation for fighting of the demons is to protect Yorda, as they will take any chance they get to kidnap her into the shadows. Those craving action better look elsewhere as this game focuses more on puzzle solving than combat. And it is in the puzzles the game really shines. They are clever and logical. The puzzles requires you to search the beautiful environments. You can move the camera in a limited fashion, and as this can seem a bit frustrating at times, it also enhances the creators visual direction. There are also physical puzzles that requires you to jump, climb, and shimmy through the vast interior and scenery. But, you are not the only one trying to escape the castle, and a huge part of the game is your interaction with Yorda. The game will require you to create paths for her as she is not as mobile as Ico. This includes unlocking doors, lowering platforms, moving bridges and narrowing paths so she can jump over and fall into your arms. When Yorda is close by, you can grab her hand and together you will run away from shadow demons, activate switches, and even saving requires you both to sit down together on huge stone benches. It is through this interaction that the relationship between the two really builds up. The puzzles never get tedious, and they remain diverse and clever all through till the end.
The controls may not be spot on, but this is because of the amazing animation and the way that Ico moves. He is a young boy, and thus moves in a more whimsical fashion, than say Dante from Devil May Cry. So as the controls may be a bit raggedy, they still work and stay true to the realism and the aesthetics of the game.
The game also sports some amazing visuals. It may not be a technical marvel, but it shows amazing artistic sense. This game is a work of art, and though parts of the gameplay and the story follows the saying "less is more"(which this game is a fantastic example of) the graphics are lush and detailed. The environments are mainly overgrown and lush nature and stone solid buildings that are masterly designed. The interiors are crumbled and overwhelmingly huge. The game may not have the textural detail as games like Silent Hill 2, but with simple but beautifully executed effects, the game really comes to life despite the gigantic static architecture. The trees move in the gentle breeze and are big and beautiful, the water has some of the best ripple effects I have ever seen on this console, the light from the sun is very realistic and reflects beautifully on every surface, the crackling fire of a torch casts light and creates realistically moving shadows, the few instances of life like the birds are amazingly animated and this also goes for the characters. The character animation in this game really shows how unrealistic the animation is in other 3d games. The animation really brings out the identity of the characters. Ico moves whimsically as the young boy he is, and Yorda's moves are timid but at the same time brings out her ethereal presence. The characters are beautifully designed, and I especially fell for the gothic design of the Queen, the main villain of the game.
There is no orchestral grandiosa of a soundtrack sporting this game, which is a very good decision in my opinion, as it follows the minimal tradition of this wonderful title and as the environments truly speak for itself. The sound consists mainly of ambiance fitting the locations, and great sound effects. The occasional music that do occur is very fitting and does not scream out for attention. The voice acting is also very good, and is in a foreign language with subtitles, an other good decision by the creators.
The game is however, very short. This is indeed sad, as the quest is so enjoyable. Though, I trust the creators on this choice, as it may have ruined some of the experience if it had dragged on any longer. But, the game is such a beautiful experience that you will come back for more time and time again. There are also some unlockables as you finish the game, like new weapons that adds to the replay value. Ico is an unforgettable experience that will carve its way into your mind and never let go.
This is a game you will surely remember for years to come. The story may be simple and minimal, but at the same time it is elegantly presented and makes for a beautiful experience. The ending, that in most games in this genre is highly anticlimactic, is very beautiful and rewarding. If you crave for something different, this is the game to choose. It has an aura of presence that will forever have a special place in my heart.