ICO - Im not sure I can handle it...

[007]

Finally got myself a PS2, and more importantly, a copy of ICO. It's been a while, but it's still worth it.I fired the game up about an hour ago. And i've been exploring the game since.

First impressions are great, the visuals are absolutely stunning. Especially for a PS2 game. Loving the backgrounds, it all looks stunning. Seems a little linear, but still make sme think what to do, and how to get past the area.

Something which I don't like, and I know it's me. Is kind of the isolation, and also the worry of the girl. I really don't like to leave her side, and when some of those shadow people come, I get really stressed out, and when they've grabbed her. (3 times so far!) I stress.

Where do they take her if they get her? It get's me pretty tense, which might be a good thing. But i'm not sure if I can play through the whole game taking all this. (And relax)

Am I the only one, that feels this way? And gets really worried about the girl? Has ICO sucked me in?

Also, if anyone could fill me in on the story that'd be ace. Why am I here? Why is she here? And why the hell is this castle so fooking huge!

[Ian(not Ian)]

You're having a laugh Mr. Bond...
You have been a respected member of this forum for a very, very long time.....

Yet you have never played ICO???

[Tom Salter]

I just started it for the first time recently too. Never really had a dabble, although it's been in my collection for ages.

I find it annoying when you leave the girl alone, and the shadow people come to get her, no matter where she is. I like exploring on my own, the girl can gtf

[007]

You're having a laugh Mr. Bond...
You have been a respected member of this forum for a very, very long time.....

Yet you have never played ICO???

B)

I had a PS2 at launch, kept it untill GTA: VC, played teh ICO demo, didn't think much of it at the time, as there was no hype or no talk of it at all. Sold my PS2, and then the talk of ICO began.

Seriously, I don't think i'm going to be able to take this game and give it the finishing it deserves.

[kona]

You're in there because you were born with horns and the people from your town think you're cursed. So they lock you up in there until you die.

As for Yorda, I don't want to spoil it and say why she's there. Well it's not a big spoiler as there isn't that much of a backstory:

->Open Spoiler<-

from what I remember the queen of the shadows is her mom, and they've locked her up in the cage until she turns into a shadow herself

Anyway, finish the game. It's quite short really, and definitely worth playing to the end. Or maybe you should go and get some decent super monkey ball scores instead

[Eight Rooks]

I just started it for the first time recently too. Never really had a dabble, although it's been in my collection for ages.

I find it annoying when you leave the girl alone, and the shadow people come to get her, no matter where she is. I like exploring on my own, the girl can gtf

I venture a hesitant opinion the game isn't really for people like you.

I never get people who were driven up the wall by Yorda. I know the PAL version supposedly has improved AI for her, but still; I willingly accepted from the start that I was supposed to be protecting her, that she was pretty much helpless and needed me to watch over her constantly. I wanted to help her - more, really, than I've ever felt involved with any other NPC in a videogame. Why would you want to go to another room without her? O_o (Although there are a couple of puzzles where you have to, IIRC.)

Heh, it's just one of those titles that renders me incapable of rational thought/accepting the idea that there might be people who don't like the game. No! Even considering it causes me pain! Nooo!

An absolute work of genius, and something everyone who has a PS2 - and doesn't have a heart of stone - ought to play. I have never felt such a surge of relief at seeing the ending of any other game; it puts every single FF title to shame for starters.

[Magnakai]

Nonono, Kona.

->Open Spoiler<-

the queen is going to use Yorda's body when her own one fails her. She's just keeping her locked up until such a time

[Tom Salter]

What I do like about Ico howevr, is the way it breaks down consistent rules about videogames.

For example, Tomb Raider, created the levels from squares, and you knew where you could go, and where you couldn't. You knew exactly how far a running jump would take you. Ico completely dismisses that, and does things naturally. I don't mean in Ico's movement either, the girl as well. I was truly amazed on that part by the windmill by her athleticism.

I never get people who were driven up the wall by Yorda. I know the PAL version supposedly has improved AI for her, but still; I willingly accepted from the start that I was supposed to be protecting her, that she was pretty much helpless and needed me to watch over her constantly.

Don't get me wrong, I like protecting her. But, Ico moves around so easily, I'd rather run around the castle myself exploring everywhere, bring that girl with me just takes too much time :P It just pissed me off when I thought she was safe as I went exploring, and as I was wandering around the castle she got caught and molested by them things.

[Madbury]

Hey cool, I've just started playing this again. Didn't get very far first time round. I totally agree that Yorda can be a complete pain in the arse, but at the end of the day she is the focal point of the game.

Perhaps the game may have benefitted from a more "Head over Heals" type of approach, but then again it is Yordas character and isolation from your character, which adds extra atmosphere to the title.

Some of the puzzles are very impressive in their scope and execution and the environment not only looks fantastic, but has a very real function in the way the game plays.

[martTM]

Perhaps the game may have benefitted from a more "Head over Heals" type of approach

Wha... so you're suggesting Ico should give Yorda a piggyback, or carry her around on his shoulders like you're at a concert? Maybe they should be able to run faster or jump higher when doing it too.

And to fair, Tom, I still think you're missing the point. If Yorda was as athletic and agile as Ico, then wouldn't she have escaped on her own? The fact is (and this is going to sound horribly sexist, so apologies there... but then, it's the case in a lot of classic fairy tales), Yorda is a fragile, innocent girl who needs a hero to take care of her - you can't just expect her to keep up with Ico stride for stride, or look after herself while you're off galavanting around. Again, this may sound weird but you're treating it like a game - roaming around to try and see everything before approaching the problems at hand - rather than giving all your attention to Yorda who, as has been said here, is the focus of the game. You think she's safe while you're running around doing the explorer bit? She's never safe. The enemies are shadows who can pass through walls, for god's sake. That's the whole thrill of the game right there.

It's been said here already, but if you are genuinely getting pissed off by the shadows attacking her when you're not there, rather than a) panicking and rushing to her aid and b) feeling guilty for leaving her in the first place, then Ico really isn't for you.

My two cents, anyway.

[Madbury]

:lol

yeah I tend to agree. Although some donut blowing, piggyback jumping, prince charles darlik head controlling action would be a welcome addition for ICO2.

[Alf-Life]

I love the castle design... it's only after say the halfway mark you start recognising far-off areas... I was starting to think that point was never coming.

I also love the lighting, did anyone else notice they sort of fake the shadows -- the first 'half' of the shadow, nearest the object causing it, is sharp - raytraced - think Rare or Nintendo games, while as it gets further it's more of a standard blurred shadowmap. From a distance it looks teh sex, but if you zoom in you can see where the raytrace shadow becomes the shadowmap.

Anyway, back to the game, I agree with MartTM but I also have to say your/Ico's survival is as dependent on her as she is to you, since she opens those stone doors.

It's a strange game, because looking at it and playing it it looks pretty generic - like Prince of Persia would be in 3D (before Sands of Time), I mean, looking at the pure gameplay it doesn't innovate that much, it's a standard adventure-puzzle game... but all the little touches like no HUD, no (or very little) music add up to make it... well, beautiful.

[womblingfree]

Where do they take her if they get her? It get's me pretty tense, which might be a good thing. But i'm not sure if I can play through the whole game taking all this. (And relax)

Am I the only one, that feels this way? And gets really worried about the girl? Has ICO sucked me in?

Also, if anyone could fill me in on the story that'd be ace. Why am I here? Why is she here? And why the hell is this castle so fooking huge!

Read this:

http://www.tokyopia.com/tk/archives/000260.php

If you don't have ten years spare to learn Japanese then ask some bright sparks at Tokyopia.

Anyone here read it?

[Spatial]

I'm ashamed to admit I've never played it either, although of late I've been thinking of picking up a copy.

I may pop over to the local shop after work and see if I can pick up a copy on the cheap.

[Len]

Do it, it really is a wonderful experience.