Slideshow for ICO's development

[musical]

This slide demonstrates why games like Ico, Eternal Darkness, and Metroid Prime stand out. QUALITY over quanity. 20 hours of solid game instead of 50 hours of emptiness.

Sadly, "4 years development" is probably the reason we don't see more games like Ico or an Ico 2. It's too expensive for Sony to invest in that many man-hours.

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico09.jpg



MORE:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico01.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico03.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico04.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico05.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico06.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico07.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico08.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico09.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico10.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico11.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico12.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico13.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico14.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico15.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040329/ico16.jpg

[fahrvergnugen]

Very cool stuff. ICO's one of my favorite all-time games.

[allsport11]

ICO is by far the best game for the PS2 IMHO. Wish it would have sold more than the 20,000-30,000 copies it did. We would have gotten a sequel.

[blissfulnoise]

According to this article (via Magicbox), Ico sold more than 250,000 copies in the US (more than in any other country) and 650,000 worldwide.

http://eurogamer.net/forum_thread_posts.php?thread_id=16235&forum_id=1

Not too shabby, but underwhelming for such a remarkable game.

[Jasoco]

What is Ico about? My store has it clearanced for $10 right now. (I'm waiting for it to drop to $3 like the others.)

[blissfulnoise]

What is Ico about? My store has it clearanced for $10 right now. (I'm waiting for it to drop to $3 like the others.)

It's about a boy who is brought to an ancient castle for sacrifice who escapes and meets a mysterious girl. The two set off to break their literal and proverbial bonds by overcoming the obstacles in their way.

It also features a loveseat that doubles as a 'save game' spot.

You can't beat that!

It's the best PS2 game I've ever played (slightly ahead of Rez). And arguably the best case for an electronic game as an art form. Very much worth 10 pictures of George Washington.

[Jasoco]

I bet my brother would love it. Hopefully they'll drop the price and he can play it. Sounds like it's right up his alley.

[blissfulnoise]

Let me follow up my brief synopsis by saying that the game is NOT an RPG. Outside of the boy (Ico) and the girl (Yorda) there is only one other character in the game.

It's essentially a platformer that's way heavy on the puzzle and very light on the combat. Your job is protecting Yorda from being wisped away by shadowy creatures, for if you lose her, its game over. As a result, you have to help her get past obstacles and puzzles. She can climb, and jump, but pretty much only if you're there to help her. So you're doing a lot of path clearing to progress through the castle. Through the ordeal, I found myself forming a real bond with Yorda. Something very few other games have really captured.

Let me reiterate that the game is quite magical (not an adjective that I like to use) and that graphically, it's still unbelievable to witness some 3 years after it was published. Every element of the game sparkles with such refinement it's difficult to even play any other game after it. All people who fancy themselves gamers should give it a fair spin. It's truly beautiful.

[musical]

BUY IT NOW for $10. Because if you don't, you'll end up paying $50 on ebay. Ico is one of those games that sold poorly, is rare, and now people are willing to pay big bucks to get it.



Also, it doesn't sound like anything special, but it's one of the few games that make you FEEL LIKE YOU'RE THERE. It's very immersive and very artistic. When I was a kid, I used to daydream about exploring a gigantic, bewitched castle.

Ico's the first game that allowed me to actually do it.

[junglehunter]

ICO is by far the best game for the PS2 IMHO. Wish it would have sold more than the 20,000-30,000 copies it did. We would have gotten a sequel.


There is going to be a sequel. It's going to be called NICO. They decided to release it because there was a small (but dedicated) fanbase for the game. :)[/quote]

[Jasoco]

[There is going to be a sequel. It's going to be called NICO. They decided to release it because there was a small (but dedicated) fanbase for the game. :)
Let's hope the same happens for Beyond Good and Evil.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

[There is going to be a sequel. It's going to be called NICO. They decided to release it because there was a small (but dedicated) fanbase for the game. :)
Let's hope the same happens for Beyond Good and Evil.

Sadly it most likely won't. Michel Ancel Said he would make a new BGAE if the game was a success. Seeing as how it was selling for 9.99 at circuit city a month after it's release i highly doubt it.