Shadow of the Colossus (from makers of ICO)

[Murr]

i was so pumped for this and my PS2, after 5 years of loyal service, is disc read error'ing on anything I put in there. I called tech support to see about getting a free repair because of the class action shiz and they wouldn't give. Sent an email, maybe I'll hear something or call later today and hope for different supervisors.

[Lord Thanos]

Disc Read Error - Fix (WARNING: This voids your warranty, if you still have one)

http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/hardware/ps2.ars

No fancy tools required, just a couple of screwdrivers, pliers and a can of air

I fixed mine myself following their instructions, my 5 year old PS2 plays all games now except for the blue bottomed discs, but am sure if I kept trying I would've made those work as well

Just a tip, in case you can't get Sony to fix it for ya

[Murr]

Yeah I saw those, will consider it if they're fuckers.

[frott]

Well, the reason for my disc read errors was that the different media has different spinning rates, and the magnet/clamp that held the CD to the spindle was slipping since the magnet/clamp they used in many PS2s were pure shit.

The fix was getting a stronger clamping mechanism, and had nothing to do with adjusting the laser.

[Ham n Cheese]

I've got to pick this game up asap.

[Hateyou]

Went to an EB and a Gamestop, was sold out at both places Haven't seen a game sell out in a long time, although I don't buy console games like I used to. Best Buy had a few copies, I hate buying there but oh well, couldn't find it elsewhere.

Played it for 3 hours or so now and I'm allready blown away. This game just has a damn good atmosphere, something that's missing from most new games.

Graphic-wise I was thinking it was decent until I got to the first colossus, then I was blown away. Man they did a hell of a job making those things look and feel just fucking massive. It's great on my HD wide screen

Challenge-wise I think it's great so far. The first colossus owned me 4 or 5 times before I figured out how to climb him. The second one didn't kill me but it took me forever to figure out how to just get my first grip on him.

Man this game is fun as hell

[Clug]

Originally Posted by frott

Well, the reason for my disc read errors was that the different media has different spinning rates, and the magnet/clamp that held the CD to the spindle was slipping since the magnet/clamp they used in many PS2s were pure shit.

The fix was getting a stronger clamping mechanism, and had nothing to do with adjusting the laser.

Frott, did you do this fix yourself and if so do you have info on it? Like where to buy one, etc.

[Szlia]

I would guess shops are sold out because ICO sold very few copies so the retailers did not take a lot of Shadow of the Colossus.

Btw, if you buy, play and like Shadow of the Colossus and enjoy it, you owe to yourself to find, buy and play ICO if you never did.

[kudos]

I played this demo about a month back and it was the most boring thing I've ever played for PS2.

[Jubee]

Originally Posted by kudos

I played this demo about a month back and it was the most boring thing I've ever played for PS2.

QFT

[Zehn - Vhex]

It's a strategy/puzzle game, not an FPS sirs.

Anyways..

The hardest thing to get a handle on is the camera controls. Once you get it down it's much easier, but at times it can be as annoying as Kingdom Hearts camera.

[Belefuu]

You must have some horrible mutated kind of ADD to not be able to enjoy this game. It's like 5-20 minutes of exploring an amazingly designed, beautifully rendered world in between boss fights, ie, the part you are doing all the boring shit to get to in most other games. And really, if you find these fights boring, I don't even know what to say, you must just be fundamentally different from me (and about 90% of other people it seems).

The only complaint I can level is that it is indeed too short... only in the sense that you want something so good to last so much longer, opposed to saying the designers should have done more with the game or something of that nature. After about 4-5 hours of leisurely playing I'm already on Colossi number 8 Each successive one has definately had the "oh shit that's fucking awesome" effect though.

[Hateyou]

This game is fucking amazing. I'm to colossus #14, I think I'm around 8 or 9 hours played. The world design is brilliant and very nice to look at. Trying to figure out wtf to do on some of these is a bitch, and I love it.

Best game I've played in a long time. I really hope there is a sequel to this, I know I'm gona want alot more once I've beaten it.

Edit: I do agree the camera can be a bitch sometimes

[Szlia]

The only way I can see a sequel to that game is if it sells a lot of copies and Sony pressures the team to make one or makes one without them. Ueda does not like the idea of sequels.

[Pancreas]

For those wondering about renting or buying. You can easily beat the game within a few days of casual play. I played through in 10 hours and I doubt that's too far from average. However there are a few bonus features.

After the credits role you can make a save file that starts you over fresh. Except now if you "pray" in front of the colossus statues in the shrine of worship you can enter a time attack mode. Each colossus has a set time limit to beat. For every 2 Colossi you defeat in time attack you get a special item you can access from the map menu. If you defeat all of time attack modes you can change the color of your horse to brown when you start or load a game by holding square. From what I have been able to see it's not any faster, just a different color.

Also when you defeat the game you gain access to a (Hard Mode). Here you start a fresh game without access to time attack mode. I tried the first fight just to see what the major changes were. You start off with smaller life and grip meters for one. The colossi have more life or you do less damage either way it takes more hits to bring em down. And finally I saw the addition of an extra "vital" spot. It was still a pretty easy fight though. Hopefully Hard modes gets a lot harder as my only bitch was that a lot of the fights were too easy.

I am sure if you beat hard mode and save you'll get to access hard mode time attack.

Basically if you don't feel the need to play through the game more than once, rent it. I personally enjoyed it enough that the $40 feels well worth it.

Last bit: I haven't bothered going to any forum sites or looking for spoilers but the way the game plays out deffinitely makes you feel like there are multiple endings. Mostly just dealing with the events from the last colossus battle onward.