Ico
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| Ico | |
| Missing image Ico_box_usa.jpg U.S. PlayStation 2 box cover for Ico | |
| Developer(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | September 30, 2001 |
| Genre | Action-adventure game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
Ico (pronounced "ee-ko") is an action-adventure game exclusively released for the PlayStation 2. The game was developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment.
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Synopsis
The player of the game takes on the role of "Ico", a young boy born with a pair of horns, who must escort a princess named "Yorda" safely out of a castle without her being kidnapped by the animated shadows that infest the castle or the player being killed by the castle's numerous environmental hazards. Despite high critical reviews, the game fared poorly in stores, though it has become a cult hit among video game enthusiasts.
Ico is noted for its highly individual artistic style. Key factors contributing to the game's absorbing atmosphere include the lack of any HUD; a bleak and washed-out use of colour; low key use of in-game music, played only in selected scenes of the game; and atmospheric ambient background sound effects. It makes effective use of minimal dialog and story to forge strong emotional connections with the characters and environments in the game. It includes action, adventure and puzzle elements.
Regional variations
There are major differences between the releases of the game in different locales. The US version was rushed to release to meet an early shipping deadline and as such misses features present in the EU and Japanese releases, such as expanded dialogue (on a second playthrough the subtitles that were indecipherable runes the first time through are now translated) and the option to have a second player control the princess. Another second playthrough bonus is a secret weapon which resembles a lightsaber from Star Wars. There were also a few changes, tweaks and additions made to the game itself. Most notably, the Waterfall puzzle is more complex in the Japanese and European versions than the US version. The US and Japanese versions were also released in CD-ROM format, while the European version came on a DVD-ROM.
Ico_box.jpg
Screenshots
Ico05.jpg
Ico07.jpg
Ico09.jpg
Ico10.jpg
Ico31.jpg
Ico121.jpg
Awards
2002 Game Developers Choice Awards
- Excellence in Level Design
- Excellence in Visual Arts
- Game Innovation Spotlights
2002 5th AIAS Achievement Awards
- Game of the Year
- Original Game Character of the Year
- Excellence in Game Design
- Excellence in Level Design
- Excellence in Visual Arts
- Game Innovation Spotlights
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was released in Japan as Melody in the Myst and the songs composed by Michiru Oshima. The tracks are:
- prologue
- coffin
- impression
- Castle in the Mist
- beginning
- Who are you?
- darkness
- heal
- The Gate
- Queen
- continue
- déjà vu
- Shadow
- Entity
- collapse
- You were there (Main Theme)
Successors
A successor from the same studio, ostensibly retaining the atmospheric style of Ico, is in development; its Japanese title is Wanda to Kyozo which may be translated roughly to Wanda and the Colossus. In Europe and the United States it will be marketed as Shadow of the Colossus.
External links
- Official Website (japanese) (http://www.i-c-o.net/)
- Ico Fan Site (http://hk.geocities.com/icofan)