From the original to the remaster and now to the remake. This refers to "Shadow of the Colossus"Shadow of the Colossus," the now cult classic sequel to "Ico," was originally released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005 and then re-released in 2011 as part of the "Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection." Now, "Shadow of the Colossus" is being released again, this time with a completely new graphical style and once more under the direction of Bluepoint Games.
Released in 2005, "Shadow of the Colossus" was showered with awards upon its release. Its deliberate narrative structure, which focused not only on the heroes but also on the game world itself, set new standards for its time and helped the game achieve its current cult status. Bluepoint has succeeded in delivering a faithful recreation of "Shadow of the Colossus," making the game appealing to a new generation while capturing everything that made the original so charming.
A rather unusual story
"Shadow of the Colossus" plunges the player into a melancholic adventure, the likes of which few games dare to attempt. Even before the game itself begins, we see our protagonist Wander on his trusty horse Agro, carrying a seemingly lifeless person in his arms, embarking on a grueling journey across mountains and through deserts. This scene immediately sets the tone for the entire game and fills the player with anticipation for the hours to come.
With a seamless transition from the title screen, adorned with an imposing temple, Wander's story begins. Inside the temple, Wander places the lifeless body of a young woman named Mono on the altar, destined for sacrifice. She is believed to be fulfilling a cursed destiny. Then, a thunderous voice, seemingly both male and female, introduces itself as Dormin. Through this voice, Wander learns that the young woman can be brought back to life by defeating 16 colossi that roam the land. The adventure begins…
"Shadow of the Colossus" wastes little time on dialogue, and generally very little is spoken as Wander wanders alone through the land. Here, the setting clearly tells the story. It is evidently the land Wander has entered that is considered sacred and ancient, serving a religious purpose. Ten years ago, "Shadow of the Colossus" told a story without many words, leaving the thinking to the player, and was highly praised by both the press and players for it. The fact that the story still works so seamlessly and effectively, while simultaneously establishing Wander, Mono, and Agro as well-developed characters who ultimately win the player's heart, only confirms this. 
In terms of gameplay, "Shadow of the Colossus" is relatively simple. Wander's task is to find and defeat the colossi, but their locations aren't marked on the map. However, his sword allows him to roughly pinpoint the direction of the nearest colossus and quickly head in its direction. If he holds the sword up to the sunlight, a focused beam appears as soon as he looks in the direction of the next colossus. The exact route to the target isn't revealed; instead, you have to fight your way through canyons and forests until you roughly locate the giant's resting place. Once you've found the colossus, the next step is to locate its weak points. Here, the sword comes into play again, its beam revealing the colossus's Achilles tendons. After that, it's time to climb, which is often easier said than done. Often, you have to solve small puzzles to get onto the giants' backs, while also keeping an eye on your stamina, as climbing is exhausting and the colossi constantly try to unseat Wander with all their might. Gameplay-wise, everything remains the same and still requires a lot of patience. Bluepoint Games consciously chose not to change the gameplay too much, as it also symbolically represents the burden Wander carries – heavy and sluggish.
The most beautiful remake so far
Graphically, “Shadow of the Colossus"In a completely new guise. Bluepoint Games has literally left no stone unturned, redesigning every graphical aspect of the game. Therefore, it's more of a remake than a remaster. The result is a fantastic-looking game that, despite its vastness, is incredibly beautiful, vibrant, and overwhelming. Players familiar with earlier versions will immediately recognize the love and effort that went into this. For example, the enormous cliffs, once clunky polygon blocks, are now brimming with detail. The dense forests scattered throughout are particularly impressive. Here, light filters through the leaves, illuminating the dense forest floor, while the wind whips around your ears and birds chirp – a place that truly invites relaxation. Above all, owners of an HDR TV will be treated to an imposing and spectacular display of light."
On the PlayStation 4 Pro, the game also offers a Performance Mode and a Cinematic Mode. The first mode, true to its name, is geared towards performance and runs at 60 FPS at a resolution of 1080p. Those who prefer dynamic 4K can choose the Cinematic Mode, in which the game is displayed much sharper and uses more or stronger effects such as ambient occlusion, but only runs at 30 FPS. Which mode you prefer is often a matter of personal taste, although the game looks great on any TV.
Musically, “Shadow of the Colossus"The game still features a lavish orchestral soundtrack, which is used sparingly. The music is only truly used in cutscenes and battles, while Wander's explorations of the land are accompanied by background noise. The deliberate absence of music, however, also creates a consciously induced feeling of loneliness, whereas the battles against the colossi, underscored by music, convey a rather adventurous impression. Voice acting is also present, but as with "Ico" and "The Last Guardian," it is in a fantasy language that each player can interpret as they wish."
