Shadow of the Colossus HD

Release Date: September 22, 2011

Action, TPP, fantasy, sandbox, remaster/remake, action adventure, PlayStation exclusive, singleplayer

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A remastered version of the cult action game Shadow of the Colossus from 2005, designed for PlayStation 3. Compared to the original, the production can boast primarily higher quality graphics (mainly due to the increase in resolution to 1080p), the use of stereoscopic 3D technology and a set of trophies.

Plot
Mechanics
Game modes
Technical aspects

Shadow of the Colossus HD is a remastered version of the cult action game released on PlayStation 2 in 2005. The production was released on PS3 and developed by Bluepoint Games studio. The game is available as a separate title (in digital distribution) and as part of the Team ICO Collection (also in a physical version).

Plot

The main character of Shadow of the Colossus is Wander, a young man trying to bring back to life a girl named Mono, who was sacrificed during a mysterious ritual. To fulfill his goal, the hero crosses the borders of the Forbidden Lands separated from the rest of the world and enters into a pact with a dark force known as Dormin. It turns out that his beloved can be resurrected - the protagonist must eliminate the sixteen titular Colossuses, creatures resembling gigantic, animated statues. Equipped only with a sword and a bow, the hero and his horse Argo set off on a dangerous journey.

Mechanics

The action in Shadow of the Colossus HD, released on PS3, is observed from the third-person perspective (TPP). The game focuses on an exploration of a vast open world consisting of a desert, the ruins of ancient buildings, or even a forest and picturesque valley. Another important element is the fights against the sixteen Colossuses. We track down our targets using the light emitted from our sword (a narrow beam means that we are moving in the right direction). After winning, Wander wakes up in the temple, where he accepts the next task of annihilating another opponent.

The fights take place in real time and different sceneries (on land, in water, in the skies). Individual enemies differ not only in appearance and size but also in their characteristics and weaknesses. While some Colossuses walk majestically on the surface or fly calmly in the air and don't attack unprovoked, others behave more chaotic and aggressive. The latter happens especially when Wander climbs over their furry parts of the body (to avoid a painful fall, pay attention to the endurance indicator), trying to reach one of the weak points - we need to stab it with the sword several times to weaken the enemies. Some fights also require us to use Agro's help - the mount is a real support on the battlefield, because it can distract the opponent's attention (we can also use a bow) and allows him to get to hard to reach places. The developers tried to make the horse behave like a real animal - our companion sometimes refuses to obey, and in a situation of direct danger, he is forced to flee.

Game modes

After completing the story, we unlock two more modes. In addition to the additional difficulty level (Hard), we can also play in Time Attack mode.

Technical aspects

Compared to the original, Shadow of the Colossus HD on PS3 offers improved visuals - the main difference is the 1080p resolution; moreover, the production uses stereoscopic 3D technology (however, this requires a special TV). The PS3 remaster also offers trophies.

Last updated on May 12, 2020