Shadow of the Colossus/PS2 gems

[gaiages]

I tried to get into SotC twice, but to no avail. I did not enjoy the controls, but eventually I got used to them... thing was, if I stopped playing the game for whatever reason for more than a few days (work tends to be that reason), I find myself struggling way more with the controls than I thought I should be, and set it aside for a long period of time. Not that I've given up on the game (I have the ICO/SotC HD collection), but it's a tad difficult for me to get into personally unless I have the proper time investment.

That said, I had similar problems with ICO's controls, though I managed through that one at a slow pace. Great game overall, regardless of the controls.

 

[AuroraXIII]

Xenosaga, Odin Sphere, Zone of the Enders, and Fatal Frame III!

 

[Casval]

For some reason, I really can't think of any other really good PS2 games, the gems I mean. Obviously there's FFX-XII, SotC and ICO I talked about...Okami I definitely like...
Anybody got any suggestions for the classic PS2 games that must be played?

The Metal Gear Solid games, 2 and 3.

 

[Casval]

I'm actually not too big of an MGS fan, but I really liked MGR:R this year. I'm pretty sure my good track record with Platinum Games helped...

What's your favorite Platinum game, if you don't mind the digression?

 

[Ehren]

I particularly enjoyed the .hack//G.U. trilogy, as well as Castlevania: Curse of Darkness and Dark Cloud/Dark Cloud 2.

 

[AuroraXIII]

Bayonetta, the one and only. Digress away!
"Sapientia" is actually my favorite boss battle in Bayonetta. It is just too awesome.

I take it you must be getting a Wii U for Bayonetta 2?

 

[AuroraXIII]

Yeah it has barely any interesting games at the moment.

The new project from the Xenosaga team looks pretty cool though. http://www.mognetcentral.com/threads/monolith-softs-x.307/

 

[Ehren]

There's something about the Castlevania series that intimidates me so much. I think there's a new one coming out...uh...Lords of Shadow 2, I think. I read an article about it, and I'm not sure if the style is my thing, but if I know someone who has it, I'll definitely give it a try.

I've been playing and enjoying it, but it's really different from the so-called Metroidvania titles. It comes with its fair share of frustrations (like MP regeneration requiring you to build a hit bar without getting hit yourself), but I enjoyed the voice acting and one particularly annoying puzzle section that made me feel awesome once I'd completed it. If you like sidescrollers (the Metroidvania way), this probably isn't any good for you. Same with the PS2 Castlevanias, although Lament of Innocence actually does try its best to emulate the sidescroller feel. Curse of Darkness is very different from older Castlevanias, but it has an awesome crafting system and there's a monster mechanic I really enjoyed.

The only Castlevania I wouldn't recommend you at least try is Judgement for the Wii. It's a fighting game, and the controls are very awkward. It's also tougher than most fighters I've played, with some fairly frustrating stage mechanics and a side-mode that can go die in a fire as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Tsukiyomi]

I'm, what's the word, it basically means fanboying over something, vent? Anyway

I'm very very excited for the week in October when Shadow of the Colossus will be free for PS plus. I have the fund for a 3 month subscription so I just need to wait. Even f i'm absolute garbage at the Colossi battles, I know i'll have a blast just exploring. I can't WAIT to climb ruins particulary. Something always makes me giddy about ruins,

 

[Tsukiyomi]

Oh, I hope you like it! *crosses fingers*
Isn't Sony just amazing? xD
However, I think you'll find there aren't a ton of ruins or things to explore in SotC. It's definitely a huge world to explore, but more like an open expanse, and a beautiful one at that. There's some nooks and crannies to seek out, though. Oh! And when you're playing and want to know some cool easter eggs, let me know. ;D

It's the week SotC becomes free for plus. Just need to wait a few hours for the store to update so I can download.

 

[Tsukiyomi]

Does it come with ICO as well? I haven't been on PSN in ages, or I'd look myself.

No but Ico was free last month, and still is, so I can play both.

 

[Azuardo]

If you can, play ICO after SotC. Your mind may just blow.

Heh, I see what you're getting at, but Shadow of the Colossus came after Ico, since it's the spritual successor to it. I would play the games in the order they were released, but that's just me.

 

[Tsukiyomi]

Heh, I see what you're getting at, but Shadow of the Colossus came after Ico, since it's the spritual successor to it. I would play the games in the order they were released, but that's just me.

Wasn't there a rumor that Ico is the sequel? I dont know how to hide stuff in spoilers but you know what I mean if you saw the ending of SotC

 

[Azuardo]

Wasn't there a rumor that Ico is the sequeL? Like [spoilers]

lol well if you already know about the message behind it...

What I'm saying is, even if Ico is considered the actual sequel in terms of the storyline/timeline, it's normally an idea to play games where that's the case in the order they were released, especially if it's your first time playing through them, as you get to understand the messages conveyed and how they went from one idea to the other. It doesn't matter greatly in this instance, but I wouldn't tell someone to play Crisis Core first and then play FFVII. I would tell them to play the games in the order they were created and released so you see exactly how the designers went from one concept to the other.

Personal preference, of course :]

 

[Tsukiyomi]

Oh yeah I play games in the order that they are released too. This time i'm playing SotC first mainly because i'm looking forward to it more than ICO. If I end up enjoying it then i will more than likely try ICO

If the PSN store ever freaking updates.

 

[Zack]

Clearly you would play them on the order they were planned. The experience is much stronger in that regard when it comes to revelations.

 

[Tsukiyomi]

So appearently the versions of the games on plus for free are from the ICO/SotC collection...so it would make a bunch of sense for them to include SotC before ICO was taken off of the free games list. I'm DLing both now. So slow though.

 

[Tsukiyomi]

Go for it. I know i'm not gonna be able to defeat the Colossi on the first few tries so any help would be appreciated.

 

[Zack]

What are your thoughts on ICO, if you don't mind me asking? Before you said SotC was your favorite game of all time (I like this guy!), so...

ICO is also in my Top 5 but for different reasons. It was the best escort mission in a game and I loved the back half of the game. There's some tedium but it's rather on the short side so it doesn't overstay its welcome.

 

[Tsukiyomi]

I just beat the first colossus. Yeah i'm shocked too. but it was surprisingly easy, and unbelievably fun. I wasn't even looking for it, I thought all those ledges led to something else.