"Overrated"

Intro:
After seeing nary a poor review on this game from any of the major publications or websites and the Gamespy #1 ''Most Underrated Game'' award (undeservingly beating Planescape: Torment which I consider to be the best RPG and one of the best games ever), I had unreal expectations for Ico. But alas, I have been greatly disappointed. Let me forewarn you though that I have not invested a substantial amount of time in this game - around 5 hrs - and am near the end of the 2nd stage (out of 6) so it may get better but I simply don't care to go on. Just please remember that I am writing this review not having completed even half the game.

Story:
First off, I play games of this type mostly for the story -which is almost nonexistent in Ico. You are an outcast that must try to escape the castle you have been imprisoned in with the help of a princess that can magically open would-be roadblocks - sounds promising, but I have not seen too much elaboration of the plot. I would trudge on with the boring puzzles if there existed any semblance of story, but this is not the case. To put things in perspective - I just finished the first Max Payne, which is a pure action game, but the story just walks all over Ico's. The puzzles you solve don't really reveal any more of the story - they are mostly just so you can get the sorry princess to an area that she can't reach otherwise b/c she cannot get her sorry ass to make long jumps, climb chains, etc. I feel like I know very little and have no attachment to the main characters. But maybe the story is there - but 5 hrs is a little much to be playing without injecting a bit more plot and development.

Gameplay:
This is mostly a platform/puzzle game with fighting thrown in the mix. The puzzles are all about using the various ledges, chains, and structures in the landscape to make it to the next area; a nice change from the ''find the item/key'' puzzles but lacking any excitement. The fighting is ridiculously rudimentary - attack and jump- attack. Button mashing in all its glory. Further adding to the doldrums, there are only a handful of enemies - black shadows that almost all look the same. And when they gang up on you, it gets to be like trying to avoid Microsoft. Get knocked down and Ico takes a nap before getting up. By the time you do manage to pull your horned self up, a flying shadow will have swooped down and carried Princess Yorda off and you get to repeat the mindless obstacles and button mashing since the last save point. For the most part, the puzzles are logical and fair - just remember that nearly every item be it a box, bomb, etc is there for a reason. But other parts of the puzzle design are downright asinine - for example (PUZZLE SPOILER AHEAD) you have to knock down a bridge. Hmmm...the bombs to do it are in the room prior to the one the bridge is actually in and the bombs are seen from such a distance, that they look like freakin' flower pots. What looks like bombs in the room w/ the bridge are actually just barrels - so I spent about half an hour trying to light the barrels. Ah, and the light. If you didn't know that there were bombs in the other room (b/c they look like flower pots), you would have no idea whatsoever to knock the chandelier down for a flame to light the bomb - uhhhh...horrid design. Maybe if the instruction manual had a picture of a bomb...

Graphics:
Ico received heaps of praise in this department and it is well-deserved. The graphics are indeed very impressive, even after 2.5 yrs. However, there have been much better. Try Rygar: The Legendary Adventure for the PS2 if you want to be blown away. The animation though is sweet -reminds me of ''Flashback'' for the Genny. Ico scales up and down chains with the grace of a monkey. The physics of Ico running and literally dragging Yorda around with her arm fully extended and legs trying to frantically keep up is so believable. Ico pulling Yorda up as she dangles from a ledge, on the brink of taking a 500 ft plunge is sheer beauty.

Sound:
Like all the other reviews have mentioned - no music, just ambient noise. An orchestrated soundtrack would've been nice. The sound effects from the birds chirping to the grunts and groans of the characters are good though.

Challenge:
Some of the battles are frustrating (see example in ''gameplay'', above) as are some of the puzzles (again, reference ''gameplay''), and some of the platforming elements are annoying, requiring a perfect jump. But overall the game is fairly balanced. 6-11 hrs is what I have read to be the time for completing this game, which for $10-$15 isn't too bad.

Replayability:
Like all puzzle games, no since in playing again once you know how to solve the puzzles unless you want to admire the pretty visuals.

Fun:
No story + boring puzzles + frustrating battles = go play ''Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker''

Summary:
With its flawless animation and pretty graphics but lack of story and depth, Ico is purely just eye candy. What people call one of the most underrated, under appreciated games ever met a well-deserved fate (poor sales).

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 01/16/04