Shadow Of The Colossus And The Connection To The Amiga

Is this the best game ever made?

Shadow of the Colossus is a particularly challenging game for me to write about because, well, it’s one of my top three favorite games of all time. It has been released three times already, and every single version has completely blown me away in ways no other game has managed to.

You might be thinking, “Wait, if you’re such a huge fan, wouldn’t you be able to write endlessly and passionately about it?” And that’s absolutely true! But my goal here is to create a thoughtful article—one that not only captures my admiration for the game but also draws connections to the Amiga era, making it more than just a standard review.

Shadow of the Colossus love it or hate it?

Shadow of the Colossus is one of those games that people either love or dislike, at least according to various discussions online. I can understand this perspective to some extent, as the game feels more like a piece of art than a traditional game. Above all, it’s an experience that demands your full attention, with all your senses engaged—everything in the game is designed to be felt, not just observed.

If the game doesn’t resonate with you, it’s likely due to one key factor: it requires an openness to emotional storytelling and a willingness to invest a part of yourself to truly appreciate its depth.

The first game after Another World that felt like a real book?

What strikes me most about Shadow of the Colossus is how everything in the game feels like it was lifted straight from an art book. While the original PS2 version didn’t have the sharp visuals of the stunning PS4 remake we see today, it had something truly unique—an atmosphere and artistry that no other game at the time could match. Despite its occasional framerate struggles and controls that could test your patience, it still managed to captivate players completely. For me, it wasn’t just a great game—it was the best game ever made.

No life, emptiness and huge bosses.

Shadow of the Colossus is essentially a vast map with 16 Colossi spread across it, waiting for you to find and defeat them. The landscapes are expansive and nearly devoid of life, yet they feel incredibly alive thanks to the game’s breathtaking setting. This emptiness amplifies the sense of isolation and unease, drawing you deeper into the experience and making the journey feel even more profound.

One of the best openings in a game ever.

Shadow of the Colossus embodies many hallmarks of a classic Japanese game—boldly unconventional and unafraid to take risks. While these choices work remarkably well most of the time, it becomes clear early on that this isn’t a game following the traditional styles we’ve grown accustomed to.

For me, it was the stunning combination of style and music in the intro that hooked me like no game had before. The story is deceptively simple: a boy, a horse, and a deceased girl, with one mission—defeat all the Colossi to save her. On paper, it might not seem groundbreaking, but the way Team ICO crafted the intro made it impossible for me to put the controller down.

Third time is the charm?

With its breathtaking graphics and stunning locations, Shadow of the Colossus feels almost like stepping into a dream. Thanks to the PS4 version, the experience is now even more immersive, with refined controls and smoother framerates making the game fully playable in a way that enhances its timeless appeal.

Meet Wander (or Wanda) and his trusty sword, a unique weapon capable of revealing the weak points of the mighty Colossi and the only tool powerful enough to bring them down.

Wander uses the sword to reflect sunlight, casting a beam of light to guide him toward the location of the next Colossus. While the sword and your bow and arrows remain unchanged throughout the game, the focus isn’t on upgrading weapons but on improving Wander’s stamina and health. These can be enhanced by finding hidden apples and lizard tails scattered across the land—though they are rare and well-concealed. Fortunately, your stamina and health also increase with each Colossus defeated. To replay battles, you’ll need to finish the game and start a new playthrough, with all your upgraded stats carrying over, making the experience even more rewarding the second time around.

Meet Agro, a horse you’ll come to love in ways you never imagined.

Your horse, Agro, plays a crucial role throughout the game. The vast open landscapes are far too expansive to traverse on foot, making Agro essential for covering long distances efficiently. Additionally, there are areas only Agro can navigate, as well as several boss battles where the horse becomes a key part of your strategy.

The locations in Shadow of the Colossus are absolutely stunning—some of the most breathtaking visuals ever seen in a game, wouldn’t you agree?

What truly elevates it, though, is how incredible it looks in motion. Every element feels alive, with constant movement bringing the world to life, and the sound design adds another layer of immersion, playing a vital role in the overall experience.

The mission is straightforward: climb to the top of each Colossus, locate its weak point, and strike it with your sword.

While it might sound simple, the reality is far more challenging. Finding a path to the top—each Colossus offers multiple routes—requires strategy and patience, all while the Colossus actively tries to shake you off or harm you. To make things even trickier, you can’t cling to the Colossus indefinitely, as holding on and climbing drains your stamina. This means you’ll need to find moments to rest and recover before continuing your ascent.

So, how can we trace Shadow of the Colossus back to the Amiga?

The game’s director, Fumito Ueda, who also helmed ICO and The Last Guardian, got his start on the Amiga. He chose the platform for its impressive graphics and animation capabilities. Ueda had also seen a popular Amiga tech demo called “MEGADEMO,” which was actually the famous RedSector (RSI) MEGADEMO.

Ueda went on to create several projects on the Amiga, including work for TV and other future ventures. Eventually, he sent a CG animation to a company named Warp, known for their cinematic games (like the D series), which marked the beginning of his career in game development.

As a dedicated Amiga user and gamer, Ueda found inspiration in European titles such as Another World and Flashback—in fact, he even incorporated elements of these games into Shadow of the Colossus. After growing tired of working at Warp, he reached out to Sony with his own game idea, which would eventually become the beloved ICO.

Another World is probably where it all started…

Here’s a glimpse of the art and inspiration behind Ueda’s work—yes, this is the Amiga version of Another World, and it’s clear that Ueda was a true Amiga enthusiast.

If you’re interested in reading the full interview, you can find it here. There are other resources out there, but this one is definitely worth your valuable Amiga time.

What’s particularly fascinating about this story is that the Amiga had a presence in Japan for several years. Numerous TV shows were created entirely on the Amiga, and many significant 3DO and PlayStation games (like Parappa the Rapper) were developed on the platform as well. While we all know there’s a strong global love for the Amiga, it’s always fun to learn that the European Demoscene was instrumental in selling Amigas in Asia.

OH MY GOD! but WHY?

Bluepoint Games first remastered Shadow of the Colossus in 2011 for the PS3, and that version was more than impressive. So, when they announced a complete remake in 2017, my reaction was a mix of excitement—OH MY GOD!—and confusion—Why?

Just over six months later, I was playing the new remake, and all I could say was OH MY GOD!

I’ve included a short video (FULL OF SPOILERS!) that highlights the differences between the three versions.

The new remake addressed all the issues that critics had pointed out. The game now feels much more polished, with no fog, motion blur, low polygon counts, broken controls, or framerate drops. It’s essentially the same game, but cleaner, and it works seamlessly without undermining either the original or the remastered version.

That said, the sense of mystery from the PS2 version is gone, and I do miss that a bit. The limited draw distance and the graphics’ demanding nature gave everything a dreamy, almost surreal quality—at least, that’s how I remember it.

The new remake is visually stunning—without a doubt, one of the best-looking games ever made. The attention to detail is flawless, and everything exudes artistry. However, I highly recommend that fans experience both the original and the new remake to truly appreciate the evolution of this masterpiece.

The Collectible…

This is the original European PS2 release, featuring a rather nice and colorful slipcase. It was my first true collectible on the PlayStation 2, and yes, this game—along with Prince of Persia and God of War—was one of the main reasons I decided to buy the console again in 2005 (I had one back in 2000/2002 but sold it at some point).

The contents inside are just as impressive as the front cover—epic is the best word I can think of. The art cards included are among the most memorable and striking I’ve seen for games of this generation (PS2).

The verdict…

I’ve always wished for a special edition box for all three versions of Shadow of the Colossus, but I never came across one. There was a really nice review copy sent to some sites and magazines for the PS4 version, but I ended up with the standard edition since, well, this isn’t exactly a super-special PlayStation site!

Shadow of the Colossus is a truly fantastic gem of a game—one of the best I’ve ever played, and it held that title for a long time, only recently surpassed by last year’s God of War (2018).

Haven’t played Shadow of the Colossus yet? Then go grab it right now and give it a chance. If you have a “PlayStation Now” subscription, you can find it there as well!