One of the largest among the 16.

Each and every Colossus is a battle to be remembered. The first thing that strikes you (unsurprisingly) is how huge these things are; never before has a game put you up against a foe hundreds upon hundreds of times your size, armed with only a sword and a bow. After the short introductory cutscene to each foe, it’s just you and the giant – and the frantic search for the key to defeating the beast begins. There’s no hack-and-slash here; each Colossus is a puzzle to be solved. The end result is always the same: after stabbing their weak points enough times, the beast will die. But getting to those weak points can be a challenge even for the most seasoned puzzle-crackers. Simply put, these fights are some of the most brilliantly conceived boss battles in videogame history.

Aside from that, the Colossi battles give the term “cinematic gameplay” new meaning. Each and every encounter is more than just a fight; it’s an absolute visual feast. Imagine clinging to the wings of a massive flying beast as it soars miles above the ground, trying its best to shake you off. Or holding on for dear life as a freakishly large watersnake dives below the surface with you in tow. The moments are impossible to describe, and nothing else in the world of videogames compares to them.

The game’s powerful atmosphere is present even in during the hecticity of the battles. The music, as I’ve discussed before, compliments the situations beautifully. The sense of loneliness is still present; despite how many Colossi you take down, each new encounter is a daunting experience. You’ll always feel woefully underwhelmed and overmatched.

One of my personal favorites.

So, uh, what are you waiting for? Go buy it. And while you’re at it, sniff around for a copy of it’s spiritual predecessor Ico as well. Yeah, I know we weren’t able to talk about Ico this week (glares at Ethos), but it’s still an awesome game.

Goodnight everyone; I had a fantastic time Team ICO-ing with you this week. Now it’s time to honor one of the greatest Sci Fi epics ever told…

It’s been a long time since I played through Sony’s modern classic, Shadow of the Colossus. As Ethan pointed out earlier, I’m not really one to replay games. But a special week calls for special measures, so I dusted off my copy of the game (which, thank God, is the original black label version) and fired ‘er up.

The first thing that (re) occurred to me was the fact that SotC has one of the best soundtracks composed for any videogame, ever. The musical accompaniment to the opening cutscene does a fantastic job of setting the proper mood, invoking a sense of mysticism and wonder as you watch our hero venture into the forgotten land where the game takes place. Not being a fan of extremely obscure animes, I can’t measure the soundtrack against Ko Otani’s other works – but I’m willing to bet that he outdid himself here.

The soundtrack performs fantastically on its own – hence why I have it sitting in my iTunes playlist, playing as we speak – but the quality of the music itself is only half the story. It goes without saying that the mood of a game heavily depends on having the right music at the right moments, and Shadow of the Colossus succeeds at this in a way that few other games have.

Beware of blood geysers...

Once Wander engages the Colossus, the music instantly switches to a bombastic, frenetic, and appropriately desperate tone. The fight has begun, but the air of confusion still lingers; you’re still unsure what to do or expect.

With a few good stabs to the leg, the beast stumbles to the ground. Once again, the music changes; speeding up considerably, and taking on a slightly more hopeful tone. Like yourself, the soundtrack is less confused, but still desperate.

Finally, after repeated wounds to the head, the creature falls. The music calms, and becomes almost saddening as we watch the peaceful giant crumple to the ground in death. You’re reminded of the fact that, fearsome as it was, the Colossus meant no harm to you – and, indeed, was content to simply ignore you until you began stabbing it.

The soundtrack may be one of the most essential elements to the unparalleled mood that Shadow of the Colossus creates, but it’s just one of many. Over the course of the week, I’ll be discussing them all in detail.