The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection

{{main|Ico|Shadow of the Colossus}}

Within Ico, the player controls a boy named Ico, cursed by being born with horns on his head, and locked away in a remote empty castle by his village. Ico manages to free himself and comes across a young frail girl, Yorda, who is chased by shadowy creatures that try to drag her to a different realm. Ico helps Yorda escape, ultimately discovering that her mother is the Queen that resides in the castle and is trying to use Yorda to extend her own life.

Shadow of the Colossus is considered a spiritual sequel to Ico, and later stated by its creator, Fumito Ueda, to be a prequel set in the same world as Ico.{{cite web | year=2005 | title=The Long-Awaited Spiritual Successor to ICO Arrives Mid-February in Europe | editor=GameSpot site staff | url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/wandaandthecolossus/news.html?sid=6141938 | work=GameSpot | access-date=July 1, 2006}}{{cite magazine |author1=McNamara, Andy |author2=Berghammer, Billy |name-list-style=amp | year=2006 | title=Colossal Creation: The Kenji Kaido and Fumito Ueda Interview | url=http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200602/N06.0216.1853.30213.htm | magazine=Game Informer | access-date=July 9, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060427023222/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200602/N06.0216.1853.30213.htm |archive-date = April 27, 2006}} The player controls a young man named Wander seeking to bring life back to the body of Mono, a woman that he cared for, by completing the task of killing sixteen monolithic beasts that wander the landscape. With his horse Agro, Wander locates each lair and destroys the beasts, slowly being overcome with dark energy, but fueled by the opportunity to reunite with Mono.

The core game and story for both Ico (2001) and Shadow of the Colossus (2005) remain unchanged with the remastered versions. For the remastering, both games have had a graphical overhaul to allow them to support modern high-definition displays up to 1080p. With the more powerful PlayStation 3, both games feature a fixed frame rate of 30 frames per second; the original PlayStation 2 version of Shadow of the Colossus was noted for pushing the limits of the older console and often suffered from framerate losses.{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-ico-shadow-of-the-colossus-ps2-ps3-comparison | title = Ico/Shadow of the Colossus: PS2 vs. PS3 | publisher = Eurogamer | date = 2011-09-08 | access-date =2011-09-10 | first = Richard | last = Leadbetter }} Both games support stereoscopic 3D, taking advantage of the original design of the games with considerations towards depth-of-field viewing, as evidenced by the large landscapes.{{cite web | url = http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2010/09/17/fumito-ueda-interview/ | title = Fumito Ueda Interview | first = James | last = Gallagher | date = 2010-09-16 | access-date = 2010-09-16 | publisher = Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe}} Both games in the collection support 7.1 surround sound.{{cite magazine | url = https://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/09/two-classic-games-get-facelifts-and-a-playstation-3-release/ | title = Two Classic Games Get Facelifts and a PlayStation 3 Release | first = David | last = Banks | magazine = Wired | date = 2011-09-08 | access-date = 2011-09-08 }}

Ico{{'}}s remastering is based on the European version, which features additional content that did not make it into the North America release of the original game, as well as some altered puzzles from these original releases. Specifically, upon completing the game, the player can restart to see the English translations of the mysterious language that Yorda, the player character's companion, uses, and a two-player mode with the second player in control of Yorda. Though there was consideration for inclusion of PlayStation Move motion control support,{{cite web | url = http://www.vg247.com/2010/09/19/ps3-ico-and-shadow-of-the-colossus-may-support-move/ | title = PS3 Ico and Shadow of the Colossus may support Move | publisher = VG247 | first = Joe | last = Anderson | date = 2010-09-19 | access-date = 2010-09-19 }} it was not released with it.

The collection includes bonus content, including two XMB Dynamic Themes and exclusive video content for Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, and Ueda's next game, The Last Guardian.{{cite web|url=http://www.videogamer.com/ps3/ico_shadow_of_the_colossus/news/ico_and_shadow_of_the_colossus_ps3_to_include_bonuses.html|title=Ico & Shadow of the Colossus PS3 to include bonuses|date=2011-07-21|last=Orry|first=Tom|publisher=Videogamer.com|access-date=2011-08-01}}

Prior to the announcement of the Collection, two other remastered collections of PlayStation 2 games had been made for the PlayStation 3: the God of War collection, and the Sly Cooper collection. There had been strong interest by Fumito Ueda, the project lead for both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, to prepare such a collection for the Team Ico games.{{cite web | url = http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3176239 | title = Fumito Ueda Wants To See ICO and Shadow of the Colossus on PS3 | first = Matt | last= Leone | date= 2009-09-25 | access-date = 2010-05-26 | publisher = 1UP.com }} Initially, Ueda was not "too excited" about porting the games, given that they were designed specifically for the PlayStation 2 hardware.{{cite web | url = http://www.1up.com/news/fumito-ueda-reflects-ico-shadow | title = Fumito Ueda Reflects on Ico, Shadow of the Colossus Remakes | first = Kevin | last = Gifford | date = 2011-09-14 | access-date =2011-09-14 | publisher = 1UP.com }} Ueda also noted that such a conversion may be difficult due to the complexities Team Ico had to create to push the technical limits of the PlayStation 2, but felt that it was still possible.{{cite web | url = http://kotaku.com/5368694/shadow-of-the-colossus-creator-hints-at-movie-involvement-wants-ps3-ports | title = Shadow Of The Colossus Creator Hints At Movie Involvement, Wants PS3 Ports | publisher = Kotaku | date = 2009-09-29 | access-date = 2010-05-26 | first = Stephan | last = Tolito }} As the PlayStation 3 became more popular, and PlayStation 2 consoles became rare, Ueda reconsidered his position on giving players of other consoles the opportunity to play these games. Ueda noted that such a release would depend on Sony's executives.

Work on the conversion for the collection was done by Bluepoint Games, who had previously performed the remastering for the God of War collection.{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-ico-shadow-of-the-colossus-hd-collection | title = Tech Analysis: Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection HD | first = Richard | last = Leadbetter | date = 2011-09-10 | access-date =2011-09-10 | publisher = Eurogamer }} The staff of Team Ico assisted in the process. Ueda considered Bluepoint Games "real craftsmen" in this porting effort, due to their understanding of the fundamentals of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus and passion for the games. Though it was Team Ico's idea originally to provide stereoscopic 3D, Ueda praised Bluepoint for their work in fine tuning the 3D effect, taking advantage of the scale and camera provided by the existing games; Ueda stated that the developers "made it into something beyond what I imagined". Team Ico considered adding new game content to both games. One example Ueda noted was adding in several colossi that were cut from the PlayStation 2 version of Shadow of the Colossus. Ultimately, Ueda and the team decided not to make any such content-oriented changes or additions, concerned that they might be considered "half-baked" by players, and instead opted to stay "faithful to the base work".

The collection was formally announced at the 2010 Tokyo Game Show.{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/30390/Retail_Listing_Media_Report_Point_To_Team_Ico_PS3_Collection.php | title = Retail Listing, Media Report Point To Team Ico PS3 Collection | first = Kyle | last = Orland | date = 2010-09-13 | access-date = 2010-09-14 | publisher = Gamasutra }} In the months prior, the collection's existence was hinted at by industry rumors and appearances of the collection in online vendor catalogs.{{cite web | url = http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3179492 | title = Ico, Shadow of the Colossus HD Collection Rumored for Q1, 2011 | first = Kris | last = Pigna | date = 2010-05-26 | access-date = 2010-05-26 | publisher = 1UP.com }}

In North America and Europe/PAL regions, the two games were released as a single collection.{{cite web | url = http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/09/15/ico-and-shadow-of-the-colossus-collection-hits-ps3-spring-2011-with-3d/0 | title = Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection hits PS3 Spring 2011 with 3D | first = Sid | last = Shuman | date = 2010-09-16 | access-date = 2010-09-16 | publisher = Sony Computer Entertainment of America}} This version features a reversible cover insert, with the original PlayStation 2 cover art for both games on the inner side of the case. Because of the criticism of Ico{{'}}s original North American cover art, the North American version of the collection used the European/Japanese cover by Ueda. However, bilingual copies from Canada do not include the reversible artwork, they have a blank white interior.{{cite news|last=McElroy|first=Griffin|title=Ico and Shadow of the Colossus has reversible boxart, Last Guardian not at TGS|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/ico-and-shadow-of-the-colossus-has-reversible-boxart-last-guard/|access-date=2011-09-10|date=2011-09-08|publisher=Joystiq}}

In Japan, they were released as separate titles,{{cite web | url = http://ps3.ign.com/articles/112/1120651p1.html | title = Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Remakes Confirmed |date =2010-09-14 | access-date = 2010-09-14 | publisher = IGN | first = Anoop | last =Gantayat }} though retailers sold a boxed collector's set containing both games and additional material.{{Cite web | url = http://www.siliconera.com/2011/06/17/ico-and-the-shadow-of-the-colossus-in-a-deluxe-package-just-for-japan/ | title = Ico And The Shadow Of The Colossus In A Deluxe Package Just For Japan | author = Spenser | date =2011-06-17 | access-date =2011-06-18 | publisher = Siliconera }}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 92/100{{cite web | url = https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-ico-and-shadow-of-the-colossus-collection/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3 | title = The Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection (PS3) | publisher = Metacritic | access-date = 2011-09-10 }}

| EuroG = 9/10{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-09-08-ico-and-shadow-of-the-colossus-collection-hd-review | title = Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection HD - Review | first = Christian | last= Dorlan | date =2011-09-08 | access-date = 2011-09-10 | publisher = Eurogamer }}

| GI = 9.75/10{{cite magazine | url = https://www.gameinformer.com/games/ico_and_shadow_of_the_colossus_collection/b/ps3/archive/2011/09/08/review-time-can-t-touch-team-ico-s-classics.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110924025947/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/ico_and_shadow_of_the_colossus_collection/b/ps3/archive/2011/09/08/review-time-can-t-touch-team-ico-s-classics.aspx | url-status = live | archive-date = September 24, 2011 | title = Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection | first= Joe | last = Juba | date = 2011-09-08 | access-date = 2011-09-10 | magazine = Game Informer }}

| IGN = 8.5/10{{cite web | url = http://ps3.ign.com/articles/119/1193190p1.html | title = Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection Review | first = Ryan | last = Clements | date = 2011-09-08 | access-date = 2011-09-10 | publisher = IGN }}

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The collection received strong positive praise from critics on release, based on the original titles as well as on the improvements made in the high definition port.{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/37498/Critical_Reception_The_ICO_amp__Shadow_of_the_Colossus_Collection.php | title = Critical Reception: The ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection | first = Danny | last = Cowan | date = 2011-09-28 | access-date = 2011-09-28 | publisher = Gamasutra }}

During the week of its release, the game was the top selling game across all platforms in both North American and Japan, based on sales data from Amazon.com.{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/37559/Saling_The_World_ICO__Shadow_of_the_Colossus_Collection_Heads_Domestic_Charts.php | title = Saling The World: ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection Heads Domestic Charts | first = Danny | last = Cowan | date = 2011-09-30 | access-date = 2011-09-30 | publisher = Gamasutra }}

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{{reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/ico-and-shadow-of-colossus-collection-ps3.html}}

{{Team ICO}}

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