Rebuilt from the ground up by Bluepoint Games and JAPAN Studio, SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS on PlayStation 4 system introduces the awe of its unforgettable world and towering creatures to a new generation of gamers, while allowing long time fans to revisit the beloved masterpiece with unparalleled visual fidelity and improved performance.
Many consider Shadow of the Colossus as the greatest game ever made upon its 2005 release for PlayStation 2. The game focused on a young adventurer who must slay a plenty of ancient beasts in order to save the life of a loved one. Shadow of the Colossus art design, story beats, large world setting, and involved boss battles made it an instant classic.
The one thing we can say with certainty is that this PS4 remake of Shadow of the Colossus figures to be the game that will test the technological limits of the PS4. 12 years after falling in love with the original Shadow of the Colossus, playing the PS4 remake will brought that same rush of beauty, fear, and heartbreak we felt back on the PS2. Descending the steps of the temple, riding across the central field, stumbling upon the first Colossi, and ultimately striking it down was one of the most unforgettable moments in gaming history at the time, at least as far as I am concerned.
Just to get this out of the way, it seems that the PS4 remake will be visually rebuilt from the ground up, and absolutely gorgeous. Visually, it is hard to imagine someone being able to tell that it is based on a 2005 game unless they already knew that fact. The textures on the characters, environment, and Colossi are all incredibly-realized. In addition to this, the visual upgrade also improves certain gameplay elements, such as scoping out stretches where sunlight falls through a forest canopy and allows you to use your sword as a compass.
The sense of scale is something that amazed me when I originally played Shadow, and it only continues to impress me over a decade later. Seeing Wanderer and his horse Agro dwarfed by these hulking ancients never ceases to amaze me. Along with this, the visual enhancements make taking on a Colossi as terrifying as it is melancholy. On the flip side, climbing on the tufts of fur of the first beast made me feel legitimately bad that I was killing this living, sentient creature whom I had disturbed by intruding on its home.
I’m happy to report that many of the technical shortcomings of the original 2005 game have been remedied this time around. It seems that the draw distance will be dramatically improved, allowing us to gaze all the way across the opening plateau. I dont know for you, but I can’t wait to see how these improvements make some of the more visually-arresting Colossi look.
This project certainly shines when you compare it to the PS3 remaster which was a good, but fairly standard, take on the classic original. This one, however, really does show how the right processing power can bring a classic title to life. It certainly doesn't hurt that Shadow of the Colossus has always been a good looking game and that its HUD-free presentation affords it a very cinematic presentation style that. However, it looks that everything is not so perfect with this remake. Most notably is the camera, which still has a tendency to develop a mind of its own while climbing a Colossi. Along with this is the fact that the archaic control system of the original has been seemingly untouched, which is definitely a bummer.
While I wish that the controls will be modernized, I couldn’t help but marvel at just how gorgeous one of my all-time favorite game worlds will look now. I dont know about you, but I will be more than happy to forgive those things in order to experience Wander’s heartbreaking journey once again in February 2018. Just in case you need more proof that the Shadow of the Colossus remake may just be the most visually striking game on the horizon, I will bring you this latest trailer for the game which seems to serve as a showcase to its shocking beauty. The trailer you can find here.
