A HORNED BOY.

A girl in white.

Welcome to the fairytale world of Ico.

Now seven years old, the fact that Team Ico have produced only one other game since, and are currently in production of their third, should go a long way towards proving just how phenomenal it must have been. And still is. Featuring arguably the most impressive visuals of any game this far produced, and a haunting soundtrack that as all the more poignant for the fact that the game relies far more on a distinct lack of music to create mood.

The basic premise is fairly simple. You play a young boy of approximately ten years of age who was born with a set of horns growing from the sides of his head. This seems to be some form of taboo in his local village, for reasons which are never really explained. The game opens with a group of men on horseback walking up a winding path through some woods to an immense fortress which has clearly seen better days, and is on it’s own island accessible only via a large bridge, or by boat. The decrepit nature of the architecture is important to the plot, as it is a combination of this and the young boys ingenuity which allow him, and the young girl Yorda, to ultimately find their way to freedom.

When I first heard about the game, specifically the focus on leading the young girl (approximately fourteen or so), barefoot and dressed all in white, by the hand, I was more than a little dubious. The symbolism of it all seemed just a little too strong, and I was concerned that the focus would be far too suggestive in nature. However, unlike many Japanese productions, this was simply not the case. Innocence and corruption are far more important themes than simple sexual innuendo. Or rather, that was the impression I took from it all. And as Fumito Ueda-sama (the Director and Lead Designer) has said, he intentionally left the specifics to be somewhat vague. Arguing that it should be a unique experience for each player, and that it should be left to us, as individuals, to take from it what we will. Something which I and many other fans of the game, agree that he has succeeding in creating.

There are a number of factors which combine to make this game such an outstanding experience. Not least of which is the animation style. Utterly mind blowing for the previous generation of gaming (when it was released) and still a major contender in the High Definition era. Rather than focusing on a push for photo-realism, the environments are rendered purely to be as stunningly beautiful as possible. Lush colouring, beautiful clear water and glare from the sun being only some of the things which combine to make this a truly breathtaking game to behold.

This game really was the first time when I played it again simply for the joy of pausing to look around me. Either to watch the water lapping against the shore, or to see the high peaks of mountains or other parts of the island fort in the distance. Almost everything you see along your journey can be reached at some point, which means you have the opportunity to think about potential obstacles and work out solutions far before actually being confronted with them. And this is extremely useful because the puzzle solving side of the game is far more integral to progression than bashing away at the strange shadowy creatures which will attempt to drag Yorda away.

If you should happen to ever find yourself struggling to work out what you need to do next, then turn to Yorda herself. She’s a smart girl and will often be able to work out what needs to be done to move on quickly. Though she will rely very much on the player to do much of the work. Such as moving weights onto pressure pads and climbing chains to reach areas that are otherwise inaccessible. It could be argued that Yorda’s apparent infirmity is sexist and degrading, but when you consider you first find her dangling hundreds of feet above the ground in a cage, perhaps it’s not so surprising that she seems to be a little lethargic at times. After completing the game for the first time, there’s even the option of changing to a two player mode which is nice, but would probably have been better if added as an option from the start.

Still, the game is a true joy to play, and though short, there’s so much symbolism in there that each time you play through it there will always be something else to think about. Though it would have been nice if there were alternate methods of solving puzzles or multiple paths to explore. It’s not a game for everyone, especially those who prefer a far more action packed experience, but for the people who are interested in an engrossing, thought provoking, completely beautiful experience, Ico is about as close as you can come, and firmly proves that you don’t need amazingly advanced technology to produce stunning visuals.

Graphics: 9.5/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Audio/Music: 9.5/10
Plot/Scripting: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.5/10

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Also check out Avatar: The Last Airbender-Into the Inferno, Avatar: The Burning Earth and Avatar The Last Airbender!

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1 player action/adventure
Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Developer: Crystal Dynamics, Buzz Monkey Software
Release: June 5, 2007
ESRB: T (mild suggestive themes, violence)

“LIVING IN THE PAST ISN’T USUALLY A GOOD THING”

Unless you happen to be Lara Croft, of course. Lara’s back, reliving her first adventure in celebration of the original game’s ten year anniversary. The folks at Crystal Dynamics threw her one hell of a party too, plucking the best moments from the first game and combining them with some new features spawned over the decade. The result is one impressive combination of nostalgia and innovation, even on a platform that’s been dwindling away in the shadow of its successor.

So how are these two elements balanced in Anniversary? The plot is parallel to the first game: Lara is contacted by Jacqueline Natla to recover one of three pieces that comprise the lost Scion of Atlantis. Lara accepts, prompted by the research she and her father had done on the Scion, and sets off for Peru.

As the story unfolds, Lara travels to the other three original levels; Greece, Egypt and the Lost Island of Atlantis. The sub-levels remain almost identical to the original’s layout, with the only exception being that the Cistern and the Tomb of Tihocan are now merged together in the Greece levels. There are also some very minor changes in the titles of a few of the sub-levels, but it’s doubtful that anyone except the hardcore Tomb Raider fans would notice them.

To get the full scope of how much the game has evolved from its humble beginnings, you don’t need to look much further than the legendary Croft Manor. We saw a stunning overhaul to the Manor in Legend, yet Crystal Dynamics felt the need to do it again for Anniversary.

It’s gone way beyond being just the training level, even though it is advised to give it a quick run-through before diving into the real game. It’s packed with enough puzzles and gymnastic feats to keep the hardened Tomb Raider fan busy for at least an hour. It’s a delightful sneak peek of what’s to come in the game.

And the game does deliver. With the addition of a few new moves, the developers expanded upon the levels in a way we could only dream of while playing the original. Lara can now perch on top of poles, and the grappling hook made a comeback from Legend.

If you wished you could able to swing along a wall with a great view of the Sphinx in 1997, it may have taken a decade, but your dream has come true. The introduction of the adrenaline dodge system is interesting, but takes some getting used to. It’s a fantastic device to use against bosses; however against regular enemies it seems rather pointless.

The levels themselves are shorter than the original’s, but you rarely see games the length of the ones released in the late 90’s anymore. It’s a lot longer than Legend though (a reason for rejoicing for those who felt Legend ripped them off a bit). The most notable levels of the first game—St. Francis’ Folly and Midas’ Palace—were completely revamped, yet still inspire the same breathtaking moments of the original’s.

The best example of this is the fire room in Midas’ Palace. What used to be a room that required well timed jumps on top of igniting pillars has become a truly hellish environment that pushes Lara to the full extent of her physical capabilities. Even though some things were left out for the sake of streamlining gameplay, you’ll be hard pressed to find a level that disappoints.

What the game boasts in content however, it lacks somewhat in visuals. There’s no getting around the fact that the PS2 is a last-gen console, and it’s just not up to what the PS3 or XBOX 360 can do. That being said, the graphics aren’t horrible, it just feels at times that they could be better. Quite often they feel muted, almost as if a slight haze is hanging around.

The camera is also an issue with quite a few people. While the camera angles felt smooth and updated in Legend, it feels as if they have taken a step backwards in Anniversary, feeling shifty at times, and being way to close to Lara at others. It’s nothing that a few seconds of adjustment won’t fix, but you have to stop and wonder why the option to have it fix itself like it would in Legend was left out. Luckily, after a level or two you will have adjusted to it.

People who like nitpicking games might notice that some of the textures and floor and wall tiles are a bit repetitive at times, though it’s doubtful if this will affect anyone’s overall opinion of the game. The one area where graphics have improved without question though is Lara herself.

Ms. Croft has come a long way since we first met our favorite video game heroine, leaving behind her polygonal body in Angel of Darkness and never looking back, and with good reason too; she’s never looked better.

Even though the game isn’t perfect, it’s simultaneously a huge step in the right direction for the Tomb Raider series, as well as a great tribute to its groundbreaking past. People who have played the series since its debut and newcomers alike will enjoy this game for months to come after purchasing it since the levels are so interactive there are many ways to get to point A to point B.

Tomb Raider: Anniversary has given a bit of new life to the aging workhorse that is the Playstation 2, a nice thing for both the series and the console.

Final score: 8.5

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Image via Wikipedia

Maybe I am a bit old school here, or maybe I just really bought into the idea that cheaters never prosper, but when it comes to the subject of using cheats in a video game, well I just don’t get it really. I mean sure a cheat makes the game easier, it can also get you past a tough part of a level, or give you super invulnerability so you don’t have to worry about dying.

Yet for some reason this just seems to be counter productive to me. I mean what the hell is the point of making the game easier? I thought the whole point behind playing the game in the first place was to engage it on its level and see if you could still win.

Again I just don’t get it. For me (and this means for me, not for you) the joy of gaming is in the play, its in the fact that I have to use a set of skills to get past a monster, trap, or other devious obstacle that are all designed to frustrate me. When I do, I get a sense of accomplishment, I feel like I did something.

If I were to use a cheat I would just feel like I used a cheat. How can I actually say I beat a game if I used a cheat to do it? How can I actually put the game away with a feeling of time well spent, when I know inside that I had to cheat in order to do that?

Perhaps I am old school and will never understand using a cheat to win a game. Yet I kind of have some pride in the fact that when I say I beat a game, that means I took the time to actually figure out how to win, it also means I used my own skill, and my own cunning to win. Maybe its just me but it will be a cold day in hell before I ever go online and type in the phrase top PS2 cheats or anything similar.

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Though it went through some difficult patches and received a hefty dose of criticism, there’s no doubt that the addition of online gaming added a great deal to the PlayStation 2’s repertoire.

Early detractors were many. Sony’s online strategy was slow in developing, and sent many of the more dedicated gamers who wanted online action over to the Xbox, a system with a more centralized and developed online plan from the start.

The PlayStation 2 was not online capable upon launch, and the initial release of the network adapter was slow to catch on, as many add-ons are. Early online games had limited numbers of players available, often forcing gamers to sit idly by while waiting for some action.

When the network adapter began to be bundled together with new consoles and more online games were released this situation steadily improved, though most would admit that it did not approach the level of Xbox Live.

Most PlayStation 2 games with online capabilities still have their servers running, meaning it’s not too late to get started playing your PS2 online. Finding an opponent on the other hand could prove more difficult.

With its massive library of games, it’s unsurprising that the PS2 is well represented across numerous genres when it comes to online games. It features multiple shooters, including the SOCOM series, a number of Tom Clancy games and a trio of Call of Duty’s. Sports games are plentiful across every sport imaginable, including baseball, hockey, tennis, golf, basketball, football, skateboarding, etc.

Racing fans have a number of options, be it simulation style racers like the Formula One and NASCAR series, off-road racers like the ATV Offroad series, or street racing affairs like the Midnight Club and Need for Speed series.

Even RPG fans are represented, with online play included in the action-RPG’s Champions of Norrath and its sequel Return to Arms, as well as Phantasy Star Online. A couple of MMORPG’s are still playable, Final Fantasy XI and Everquest Online Adventures.

With its huge number of games and lower than ever price, the PS2 has continued to sell well to this day, even outpacing its newer sibling the PS3 at times since its launch. Many gamers can still be found on the PS2 online gaming battlefields, so if you ever wanted to join the fray, you still have time.

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There are few things as irritating as a scratched PS2 disc. No, that is not quite correct. There is nothing in the world as infuriating or disappointing as a scratches PS2 disc. In fact I can’t think of anything else that puts quite the cramp in my day as a scratched disc.

What really sucks is that half the time the scratch does not reveal itself until you have put several hours into the game, and you have reached the cut scene everyone has been talking about. Then bam, the machine freezes up. Now as this happens you are thinking, it can’t be a scratch, I am sure that it is just a small bug that will work itself out after I reload from my last save

However as we all know this is a vain hope at best. In fact now the problem isn’t so much figuring out what the problem is. It is figuring out how to fix scratched PS2 games.

Image by Icky Pic via Flickr

Luckily other people have had problems with scratched discs long before the PS2 and so technology is available to fix a scratched disc. The problem is that not all technology is created equal and there is a chance that any particular scratch repair machine is not going to be able to do the job.

So you have a couple of options. The first, to got to a local electronics store and buy one of the scratch repair machines. The problem you have here is that most of the time the ones that are available are either cheap and worthless, or cost more money than you realistically want to spend. So now that buying your own may or may not be feasible what other option is there?

You can always go to a video game store and see if they offer the service. As a matter of fact most of these stores do offer this service. They even offer it for free. However they in no way guarantee the game. So you can trust that the guy behind the counter knows what he is doing and won’t destroy your disc, or you can fork over some serious cash for your own. Either way a scratched PS2 disc is a serious problem. Go figure.

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