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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Make the Grade
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
 GAMES: 
(Also known as "Wanda and the Colossus" or "Wanda to Kyozou" in Japan) In Shadow of the Colossus, players take the role of a young man seeking the truth of an ancient tale of power hidden in a mystical land. Shadow of the Colossus is a majestic journey through ancient lands to seek out and destroy gigantic mythical beasts. With a trusty horse at your side, players explore the spacious lands and unearth each Colossi. The uneasy task of defeating a Colossus relies on intelligent puzzle solving and action oriented gameplay. Armed with strong wits, a mystical sword and a sturdy bow, players use cunning and strategy to topple each behemoth. [Sony]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 100
Gaming Age
These battles are INSPIRED. Seriously. Take your favorite boss fight from each of your favorite games, and imagine them mashed together into one incredibly breathtaking environment that requires you to think, explore, and ultimately act.
 100
EuroGamer
It’s a masterfully understated, beautifully simple, engrossing ride that's as palpitatingly thrilling as it is serenely calming. It's also one of the most consistently compelling and memorable games we've ever played (or witnessed, for that matter).
100
Thunderbolt
Long stretches of riding across deserted, yet gorgeous, environments, punctuated by moments of sheer, adrenaline-pumping terror. The shockingly realistic animations (especially for your horse and the colossi), vast, streaming landscape, stirring soundtrack, and wistful story all combine with the game’s minimalist gameplay to create a videogame experience unlike any other.
100
AceGamez
A very important game that shows original concepts can reign supreme - it takes video gaming to a higher form of art that is rarely seen anymore and leaves most other games in its very large shadow.
100
GameCritics
My first time through the game was the best eight hours of gameplay I've experienced in years, and it's game's only gotten better with subsequent playthroughs.
100
Four Fat Chicks
Simply put, this game is so brilliant that it ought to be fined. Created by the same team responsible for 2001's critically acclaimed "Ico," it follows a similar sort of theme and demands even more sentimental investiture than its predecessor did. Its elegant simplicity, its beauty, its unbelievable capacity to draw you in are without peer. I have never played a game like Shadow of the Colossus, because there are no games like it.
100
Sydney Morning Herald
The first glimpse of a mighty colossus in this breathtaking adventure is awe-inspiring. Their size, fearsome power, deafening roars and otherworldly looks are both terrifying and fascinating.
100
3DAvenue
If Shadow Of The Colossus were a movie, it's pretty clear that it'd be Orson Welles' best known work, "Citizen Kane." Not that it's in black and white -- although it's not the most colourful of titles -- but simply because it's a masterpiece of a game in terms of artistic direction and scope.
100
Just Adventure
Shadow of the Colossus, like ICO before it, is in a class unto itself.
98
Just RPG
This game is a true masterpiece, comparable to only a handful of incredible games...The gamer who has the patience and courage to plunge into the game will, without a doubt, find a truly wonderful experience, of such impact that it will live in his or her memory forever.
97
BonusStage
A fantastic adventure that really draws the player into an emotional story with dramatic gameplay. The colossi battles are the greatest 16 boss battles you’ll ever play, and the later colossi really test your wits and patience.
97
Game Over Online
I can’t stress how many risks needed to be taken to make a title like this, but it is extremely successful at every single one. If you own a PS2, you owe it to yourself to get this title.
97
IGN
A true masterpiece in terms of art direction and, dare I say, cinematography. From the fights with the colossi to exploring the world to basically just standing back and letting it all soak in, Shadow of the Colossus is an amazing experience and an absolute must-have title.
96
GameZone
Groundbreaking camera system, amazing soundtrack, perfect visuals, and controls that are unique but obviously from the developers of "ICO." The technology that makes it all come together is baffling.
96
eToychest
Nothing like this has ever been played before, and like a true classic will probably never be reproduced. Even if a player finds the gameplay uninteresting, or if the lack of anything other then sixteen boss fights makes them uncomfortable, this game can still be enjoyed for the art direction alone.
96
Gaming Target
Exquisite, peerless, and redefining video games as we know it.
96
IC-Games
It will enrich your world, a studio offering a small postcard of an old master amongst a sea of others providing painting by numbers.
95
GameBiz
Shadow of the Colossus is one of those games that have to be experienced and has something that most games lack, originality.
95
WHAM! Gaming
A sprawling fantasy masterpiece that needs to be experienced to be appreciated.
95
Deeko
A brilliant Playstation 2 title that not only defines itself as being a definitive gaming experience, but also serves to exemplify how video games can also be representative of great works of art.
95
Stuff
Slaying these giants provided us with some of the most gratifying moments of our entire lives.
95
1UP
It's a game that dares you to exhilarate while hammering you with consequence. In short, Shadow of the Colossus breaks storytelling barriers none of us knew existed. It's the rare game for which the often overused words "ground-breaking" were truly reserved for, and it's enough to make you regret every stupid coin you ever collected.
95
PSM Magazine
Bottom Line: if you care enough about games to read this magazine, you owe it to yourself to play Shadow of the Colossus. [Dec 2005, p.96]
95
Siliconera
A brilliant title that takes the best aspects of platforming, puzzle solving and larger than life battles packed into a single epic.
95
Gamers Europe
The true colossus here is the game itself – it just raises the bar for everything that follows to a stratospheric level.
94
Pelit (Finland)
A clever action-adventure. The huge climbable colossi are interesting enemies and they look magnificent. [Feb 2006]
94
Armchair Empire
At heart, Shadow of the Colossus seems to me a bit like the work of a Transcendentalist in that it begs us to examine the world the hero lives in and leaves us unsure of whether we made the correct choice in our interactions with nature.
94
Next Level Gaming
I sat in awe every time I went into battle because the colossi were so cool.
94
Worth Playing
It will likely give you goosebumps with its cinematics and rousing musical score, and it often amazes with the excellent sense of size.
94
PGNx Media
The game’s aural presentation is equally splendid. The voice acting is amazing; it often times uses a fictional language that enhances the game’s dreamy atmosphere.
94
AtomicGamer
The tense and exhilarating action is broken up perfectly by moments of true serenity that really make the world feel more real, even if it is "emptier" than what most gamers are used to.
93
Gamezilla!
With a simple interface, very very light narrative, and some of the best boss fighting I’ve ever seen, I loved Shadow of the Colossus.
93
Jolt Online Gaming UK
If you have a PS2 and don’t purchase and play both ICO and "Shadow of the Colossus," you’ll have done the gaming equivalent of going to a five-star restaurant and only eating breadsticks. It’s essential stuff.
92
Ferrago
To put it simply - Shadow of the Colossus is a unique experience, that no one should be unlucky enough to miss.
91
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
Not as perfect as Ico, but one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking and imaginative experiences on PS2 which deserves to be played by everyone who loves games. [PSM2]
91
Into Liquid Sky
Visually, SOTC is all about the artistic flair and presentation. The same wispy, dreamlike style present in ICO returns, but with more Aztec/Incan influence in both the main character's attire and the way the Colossi appear.
91
Game Revolution
Shadow of the Colossus puts its money where its mouth is, providing unrivaled boss fights in an uncommonly realized world. You won’t find moments like these anywhere else, and its few mechanical problems do little to bring down this absolute goliath of a game.
90
TotalPlayStation
Technical hurdles keep the game from being as fluid and immersive as Ico was, but it's still a triumph of game design that ten years from now will still be recalled fondly. This is a game for everyone, and everyone needs to buy it. Now.
90
Play Magazine
It is a game of tremendous emotion, of sadness and exhilaration, tragedy and wonder. [Nov p.80]
90
GamerFeed
The presentation itself is stunning, but it's the battles with the colossi themselves, in which no two are the same, that will make your journey that much more breathtaking.
90
Yahoo! Games
Original, gripping, and outstandingly produced, Shadow of the Colossus is not to be missed.
90
GameSpy
The odds of Sony dropping a first-party title better than this for the rest of the year are slimmer than a supermodel on the Atkins diet.
90
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
If you can appreciate artistry in games, if you hanker for an experience that transcends genre, if you want to see what happens when a creative design team is allowed to ignore sales numbers and flavor-of-the-month trends, by all means bring yourself into Shadow's world. [Oct 2005, p.98]
90
Cheat Code Central
Pinch me, I'm dreaming. I think I've just played the perfect videogame. Director Fumito Ueda's vision is extraordinary thus making Shadow of the Colossus one of the most unique experiences I have ever had the pleasure of undertaking.
90
GamePro
As a genre bending title that straddles the divisions between action, fantasy, adventure and puzzle games, Shadow of the Colossus pulls off a titanic feat by creating an immersive and highly entertaining experience that doesn't collapse under the significant weight of its own lofty ambitions.
90
NTSC-uk
The towering giants aren’t the meat of the experience – it’s the beguiling landscape which proves itself to be the biggest colossi of them all. Sprawling, mystical and dream-like, it can never quite be laid to rest or overcome.
90
netjak
It is a game unlike any other game out there, a truly unique and special experience. It blows ICO away in pretty much every aspect (technically, ICO's controls were better), for those of you considering this game on ICO's merits.
90
RewiredMind
Everything that an epic adventure needs to be. Memorable enemies, a story that allows the player to use their imagination, tight controls, and one of the most impressive soundtracks of recent note.
90
PALGN
As a signpost to the potentially thrilling future of videogaming and an experience like no other title before it, it's almost unquestionably a ten.
90
Games Radar
But if you really want something different and meaningful, you must play this. You will remember some of these battles for the rest of your gaming life, and you may never play another game that blends art and action this seamlessly.
90
Computer and Video Games
It's a game that'll remind you why you got into games in the first place. Essential. [PSW]
90
Boomtown
Unique, visually stunning and utterly involving.
90
Console Gameworld
Despite its problems, this is an excellent example of innovation. The sheer size and scale of the adventure alone make this title worthwhile.
90
Computer Games Magazine
it just goes to show that not every game has to be an 80-hour sandbox of something for everyone. [Dec p.87]
90
DarkStation
Just when you thought it was safe to store that PS2 away, Sony presents an absolute gem of an action game with genuinely jaw-dropping visuals.
90
Da Gameboyz
SOTC must be played to be enjoyed to it’s fullest as the compelling storyline and moving music will instantly hook the gamer to explore it’s depths completely.
90
Gamestyle
It manages to enlarge its scope from being something which entertains on a functional level to becoming something that emits enchantment and appreciation on a purely 'emotional' level.
90
DailyGame
A brilliant concept that's perfectly executed, resulting in a must-play game.
90
games(TM)
It’s achingly beautiful, deeply involving and as breathtaking to watch as it is to play. [Christmas 2005, p.90]
90
Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
Huge and beautiful, but hopefully not as doomed as its beasts, Colossus deserves to sell ten times what "Ico" did. [Jan 2006, p.94]
90
GamerNode
Overall, Shadow of the Colossus is equal parts puzzle and action. Figuring out how to defeat each Colossus is as rewarding, if not more rewarding, than actually defeating the beast itself. This is a gaming masterpiece.
89
Gamer 2.0
A superb game, one that surpasses "ICO," and no one should allow their eye to skip over it at their local game retailer.
88
Game Informer
A truly unique experience that inspires emotions in a way few games can. It has its share of problems, but I love it just the same. [Oct 2005, p.130]
88
Electronic Gaming Monthly
It's unlike anything else you've ever played, and so you may love it or you may hate it. Count me firmly in the "love" boat. [Nov 2005, p.142]
88
Gamers' Temple
Shadow of the Colossus is experienced as much as it is played.
87
GameSpot
The game's fighting and pacing are in stark contrast to those of typical action games, but with a little patience and a taste for high-concept adventure, you'll find an experience here that's unlike any other.
86
Gaming Horizon
Shadow of the Colossus is a spectacular game for the PlayStation 2 with splendid visuals, a great artistic atmosphere, a unique horse mechanic, and magnificent, towering colossi – but it’s limited by the power of an aging system.
85
Electric Playground
While Shadow of the Colossus may not have the best ever PS2 graphics, what it does have is pretty pleasing.
83
Game Chronicles
A great experience but it almost seems like a niche title for those who really like boss fights. As for me, boss fights are generally the least enjoyable part of a title for me.
83
GameShark
It is however obvious that the life cycle of the PS2 has just about reached its peak, and new hardware is desperately needed to avoid the kind of framerate and texture quality issues glaringly present in this title.
80
Edge Magazine
There’s not much that can be said about Shadow Of The Colossus. Not because there aren’t pages to be written about the designs of the colossi, the wisdom of some of the puzzles involved in defeating them, or the deliberately ambiguous implications of the story, but because this is a game with so little content that to discuss specifics would be to tarnish an experience that needs to be approached with as few preconceptions as possible. [Christmas 2005, p.98]
80
G4 TV
Technically underwhelming yet artistically stunning, what Shadow of the Colossus manages to achieve is remarkable. Not only is it an engrossing, very playable game, it delivers a thunderous emotional punch with only a handful of characters.
80
Total Video Games
Much like "ICO," Shadow of the Colossus simply defies categorisation and is simply an experience unlike any other. It manages to evoke emotion and create an attachment to the player unlike any other videogame I can remember.
78
My Gamer
In the end, it's like a great looking but uncomfortable pair of shoes; you hope you can break them in and get used to the pain, but after living with them for a week or two you realize it won't get any better.
78
The New York Times
While the game lacks a sense of purpose, the battles themselves are incredible, each distinct and imaginative, requiring a mix of wit and muscle. They can also be remarkably difficult.
75
PSX Extreme
It’s a beautiful game with a unique concept, but its deeply flawed execution and almost complete lack of a story make it far less appealing than "ICO."
60
Times Online
Shadow of the Colossus has more style than real substance and it is slightly baffling why Fumito Ueda, the game's creator, didn't develop this into something a little more Zelda-esque in order to make best use of the world he has created. He might have had a classic on his hands.
Sandeep K. gave it a9: Sam K. gave it a10: we loole gave it a1: Mark M. gave it a1: Sam J. gave it a10: Steve S. gave it a1: Chris H. gave it a9: |
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