Sealed ICO $27 - good deal?

[farfel]

$27 - worth buying?

[PDorr3]

i was at best buy today, they had copies for $15.
Is ICO finaly becoming rare? I should pick up a sealed copy for a few years down the road....

[Half Japanese]

I would say no. I don't think Ico's so much in danger of becoming rare as much as it is of being discovered so long after it's release date. Same goes for other Sony first-party titles that were overlooked like Okage and Drakan.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

i was at best buy today, they had copies for $15.

I think TRU is selling it for 9.99.

[TheRedEye]

If you can play PAL games, pony up the extra cash and get the European version. Because, if you're like me, you're going to buy the American one and love it so much that you'll want to import the superior European one too.

[Crush Crawfish]

Hmmm.....I still need to buy ico. $27 isn't bad, but you can find it cheaper. I actually bought Ico once, but It was a defective used copy, and I never got around to buying a new one. I've heard nothing but great things about it, though I actually have no idea of what it plays like....

[allsport11]

I am the biggest Sony hater but I personally love this game. One of the most beautiful games released and I don't use that word to describe games too often. :D Not sure about $27 though, still see it around $9.99-$14.99 new.

[Berserker]

What makes the PAL version superior?

I couldn't find anything about it on google.

[TheRedEye]

What makes the PAL version superior?

I couldn't find anything about it on google.

First, the box art. There's a lovely classical painting on the European version, and a horrible CGI render of Bilbo Baggins on the U.S. version. In addition to that, the European version is actually more like a later revision. It's like North America was a test audience. The solutions to the puzzles have been improved, they added a new secret weapon, they extended the ending with an entirely new interactive segment, and if you beat the game, you get loads of extras: video filter options, a two-player mode, and the gibberish language in some cutscenes translated to English, so you know what the characters were really saying.

[TheRedEye]

Here, comare:

http://www.theredeye.net/hosted/icocompare.jpg

The European version is even a special "collectors edition" with a foldout case and these neat little photo cards and stuff.

[TheRedEye]

From an eBay auction:

http://www.theredeye.net/hosted/icopal.jpg

[wberdan]

i saw that for 7.99 at sams club a year ago, and it didnt interest me enough to buy it then, even


willie

[video_game_addict]

What makes the PAL version superior?

I couldn't find anything about it on google.

First, the box art. snip..


I think we as Americans get screwed over royally on packaging. Look at Dreamcast games, Saturn games, NGPC, most everything nowadays, PAL copies are always a little nicer. They just have to wait a bit longer & pay a bit more, although with currency prices the way they are now, it's probably less in Europe vs what we as Americans pay. :| Japanese box art is often way more elaborate than what we receive & they do special limited editions on like every crap game that comes out, so if you want the limited ed, 1 of 5,000, special release version of Barbie Action Detective, you can get it, with full fold-out poster, mini sample perfume, fancy dancy lace trimmings, the works.. It's so not fair to be in the US of A and be a gamer these days.. :(

Back to the topic at hand though, wasn't ICO marked down to $5 at Circuit City awhile back? I know I've bought it for around $9.99 at some point somewhere, but I think it was cheaper than that now. I think $27 is too much. Check the local stores first, it's everywhere around here.

[Berserker]

I diggeth the extra stuff, and the box art does look much nicer... I think I need to get this game now.

I'll get the NTSC version, since I'm definately going to want to play it. I've heard lots of good things about it too, just never got around to checking it out for whatever reason.

[allsport11]

Also the PAL version is on a DVD not CD like the American version.

[nildem]

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=50010969&loc=108&sp=1&queryType=

$12.99 plus shipping @ Buy.com

Enjoy.

[TheRedEye]

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=50010969&loc=108&sp=1&queryType=

$12.99 plus shipping @ Buy.com

Enjoy.

You got me excited, thinking it was the European Collector's Edition.

[farfel]

http://www.theredeye.net/hosted/icocompare.jpg
I prefer American. It's more personal and has a closeup of the beauitful woman you must save

[Vroomfunkel]

just like to clear up a coupla things here ...

First, there were two versions released in Europe - the collector's edition and the standard edition. The collectors edition (with all the postcards and the fold out box, and the outer sleeve) is much harder to find than the standard one, as you might expect. So don't snap up the first cheap PAL Ico you see and expect it to be the special edition. It probably won't be.

Secondly, prices - in the UK at least - are by no means cheaper than in the US. Standard release price for a game here is £40 - £50. That's $70 - $80.

It sucks.

Vroomfunkel

[suppafly]

I´ve seen it several times on ebay for around 10 US

[blissfulnoise]

I prefer American. It's more personal and has a closeup of the beauitful woman you must save

:eek 2:

Wow, I've never heard anyone say that.

The American cover art doesn't represent the game at all (short of a kid with horns and a stick). The render of Yorda ("the beautiful woman") on the american cover doesn't look anything like her from the game.

Now the European / Japanese release captures the sense of space in the game very well. Additionally, it conjures the feeling of isolation that you pick up while playing the game. It also shows the bond between The Boy and Yorda much more clearly, invoking the games main premise.

The American box art seems to intend that you're out to rescue another princess by fighting through a castle. The European box art indicates that you're escaping from said castle together (which is the correct visual for those who haven't played the game) as the duo heads away from the structures.

The American box art is just another render from the game slapped on the cover. The Euro / Japanese release is much more metaphoric and captures some of the magic and beauty that's in Ico.

I bought the Euro: CE version for just that reason.

Spoilers for the European release:

After finishing the game, a second person can control Yorda. And there is a hidden weapon (a sword of light) to be found that's even more powerful than the sacrificial sword or the Heaven sent mace.

[farfel]

I prefer American. It's more personal and has a closeup of the beauitful woman you must saveNow the European / Japanese release captures the sense of space in the game very well. Additionally, it conjures the feeling of isolation that you pick up while playing the game. It also shows the bond between The Boy and Yorda much more clearly, invoking the games main premise.




I look at the Euro box and just see cold, heartless buildings. Sterility.

I look at the American box and see people who I can connect to and feel compassion for. I feel affection.

I prefer American.

[TheRedEye]

Ico might not be the game for you.

[Ed Oscuro]

Bump for tilting at windmills LOL

Thanks for the info, RedEye!

[Jred]

"I look at the Euro box and just see cold, heartless buildings"

This fits the game really well actually.. and if anyone ever finds a website that has the translated text, let me know :) I loved this game.

[killersquirel]

I love Ico and I have the american version. I would really like to get a copy of the deluxe pal version. Does anybody know of an online store that sells them, or do I have to go the ebay route?

I really, really like the pal cover art better. I like the whole look of it, although I have to say that the american cover art isn't that bad (there's much worse out there), but I really like the look of the pal cover better.

-mike

[farfel]

Ico might not be the game for you.
Played twice and loved it!


www.gamefaqs.com has the translated text.