(November 1, 2005) — Almost four years ago, close to the Playstation 2’s launch, a game named “Ico” was released. The game embraced a simple interface and a truly intuitive control scheme. Critics widely regarded it as one of the best games on the system. Yet for some reason, gamers never caught on. Four years later, the creators of “Ico” are releasing a new game which uses the same cinematic, simple and intuitive features that made “Ico” so successful. The game is called “Shadow of the Colossus.” The game has a very simple story. The player is a young boy whose girlfriend is dead. He travels far and wide to greet a mysterious power that can raise her from the dead. However to do so, he must defeat 16 colossi. These colossi range from 40-100 feet tall, truly massive beasts. However, each has certain weaknesses which require the player to think. The push of the game to make the player think is one of the most fun and exciting aspects of the game. Imagine circling a 40-foot tall beast in the heat of battle, figuring out a way to defeat him. This rush of excitement is truly something no other game can provide like “Shadow of the Colossus” can. The controls of the game are solid and very simple and intuitive. The gameplay consists of riding on horse back through a vast and very open-ended world which varies in terrain and climate dramatically. In each of these unique terrains lurks a colossi which you must climb to defeat. Cut-scenes and scores go hand in hand. The epic, beautifully orchestrated music truly adds to the feel and excitement of the game. The game itself looks like a movie. The camera angles all contribute to the epic and adventurous feel of the game, making the player feel truly immersed in the world of the Colossi. The Playstation 2 is getting old, but graphically, “Shadow of the Colossus” shows that the venerable Playstation 2 can still pack a graphical punch. The Playstation 2 has recently lacked a number of great games.Truly though, this drought is remedied by “Shadow of the Colossus.” The game is not one of the best on the system. It is the best on the system.