Few puzzle games can match Ico's brilliant simplicity and artistic beauty.
But where other puzzle games are forced to use an assortment of tools, tricks, and characters just to keep things interesting, Ico remains startlingly simple throughout. You can run, jump, swing your wooden stick, and lead the princess around... and that's it. That's all you ever need for the next 30 or so hours. Did I mention that there are almost no spoken words whatsoever? Even the soundtrack takes on a minimalist (yet powerful) approach.
You'd think this game would get boring within the first 5 minutes. Quite the opposite, I found it enthralling. Due to the simplicity of the characters, story, and controls, the player is able to focus on the environments and the calm that accompanies the sound of the waves and the birds flying overhead. The creepy shadows that constantly try to steal the princess away are a wonderful contrast to the blinding purity of princess Yorda herself and add a sense of urgency to the game's brilliant variety of puzzles. This game is unique, artsy, and the absence of violence and gore is very refreshing to say the least.
If you enjoy puzzles or art then I can't recommend this game enough.