Published by
Developed by
Released

Platform
90
MobyRank
100 point score based on reviews from various critics.
4.0
MobyScore
5 point score based on user ratings.

Description

Ico is a boy with horns. At the age of twelve when his horns grew large enough the elders send him away to be sacrificed to prevent evil spirits from attacking the village. Entombed in a crumbling ancient castle Ico only manages to begin his escape when a freak earthquake shakes loose the vessel he has been locked in.

Ico shortly meets a Princess named Yorda who has also been imprisoned by the evil Queen. Ico must negotiate the puzzles of the ruined castle and escort the Princess to safety. She, as well as Ico, cannot climb or jump, so Ico has to clear or create a path where there is none. Yorda is the only one capable of opening the many magical doors necessary to escape. Ico needs her as much as she needs him, so he must protect her from the many evil spirits that will try to take her away.

Shown through a third-person perspective, mixing action-based exploration gameplay with puzzles, the game has no HUD. Other striking features are the soft lightning visual style, later adapted by many other games, low-key use of in-game music, and conversations through a fictional language, leaving much to the player's imagination. The game takes place in the same universe as Shadow of the Colossus (2005), to which it is a sequel.

Part of the Following Group


Merchant Title Platform Price  
Amazon
Ico PlayStation 2 $34.91  
Ico PlayStation 2 $34.91  
ebay.com
ICO    
Not an American user?

User Reviews

Action and meditation at once... is this possible? Unicorn B. Lynx Bronze Star Contributing Member (63297) 4.29 Stars4.29 Stars4.29 Stars4.29 Stars4.29 Stars
One of the Playstation's finest. DANIEL HAWKS ! (1246) 4.57 Stars4.57 Stars4.57 Stars4.57 Stars4.57 Stars
The Princess and the Draggin' Terrence Bosky Bronze Star Contributing Member (5237) 4.29 Stars4.29 Stars4.29 Stars4.29 Stars4.29 Stars
Mystical and pretty, and with a bit of retro-cool. Shazbut (155) unrated
Annoying for women, pleasant for men! Melody (119) 4.57 Stars4.57 Stars4.57 Stars4.57 Stars4.57 Stars
The only computer or video game so far that I would unreservedly call "artistic". Also fun and playable weregamer (157) 4.67 Stars4.67 Stars4.67 Stars4.67 Stars4.67 Stars
Superb environmental puzzles with a pair of characters that you will care about. Random Fiste (9) 4.29 Stars4.29 Stars4.29 Stars4.29 Stars4.29 Stars
Finally a really really good PS2 game nullnullnull (1480) 4.86 Stars4.86 Stars4.86 Stars4.86 Stars4.86 Stars

The Press Says

Just Adventure Nov 07, 2001 A 100
Game Chronicles Oct 15, 2001 9.5 out of 10 95
IGN Sep 25, 2001 9.4 out of 10 94
videospiele.com Apr 08, 2002 92 out of 100 92
Christ Centered Game Reviews Mar 10, 2007 89.5 out of 100 90
GamesAreFun.com (GAF) Apr 27, 2003 9 out of 10 90
4Players.de Mar 28, 2002 90 out of 100 90
Game Revolution Oct 09, 2001 B+ 83
GamePro Sep 25, 2001 4 out of 5 80
GameCola.net Jan, 2003 7.2 out of 10 72

Forums

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Trivia

ICO was first intended for release on PlayStation 1. Also, Yorda was due to have horns, not lead character Ico.


This entry to the MobyGames database was contributed by nullnullnull (1480) on Oct 15, 2001.
 

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