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Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and The Last Guardian
Is this going to be the best trilogy of computer games ever when the third one comes out? The trailer doesn't give much away but it's still enough to make me start putting some 50p's in a 'PS3 Fund' jar.
I don't think I've ever loved a game as much as I have Ico. I went around my mates house, saw him playing it and then bought a PS2 just to see more of it. It was a wonderful experience, full of cleverly designed levels, huge landscapes you knew you'd one day reach and a game dynamic never seen before. I've played it through about 4 times now and each time I still marvel at the level design and artwork.
And SOTC... well, I liked it a lot first time around. I showed it to everyone I humanly could such was it's vastness. I started replaying it this week in fact and it gets even better with repeat plays, with some Colossi even adapting their attacks second time around and forcing you to find a new way to bring them down. Which in itself was heartbreaking to do - I actually found myself feeling bad for loading up the next level.
But then, they never 'felt' like levels. There were no real HUD's in the games or story; just you, a foreign land to explore and some of videogaming's finest sound design to accompany you.
I'm sure as names they get bandied about in certain circles a bit too much, but unlike Okami or Tomb Raider which are flawed but have a similar 'otherworldly feel', these two games represent to me what games COULD be like. Conversely, I've not enjoyed any game anywhere near as much as these two since. Indeed they've highlighted how average most titles in fact are.
But replaying them has reminded me of just how unique and brilliantly imagined videogaming can be.
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So, were you a fan? Will you get the HD versions of them if they come out on PS3 as rumoured? Think The Last Guardian will be more of the same or on another level?