ICO is mostly a quiet title in terms of and sound effects, and this is not only appropriate to the world, but a masterpiece of silence. The sound effects are as one would expect them to be, and when the game does present some music, it’s the kind of thing one would expect to hear in such an environment. The whole title can be summed up as more of an experience within another world than a game itself, and its restraint in the use of noises that would slam a player over the head is a mark of sheer artistry. To boil it down to its core, ICO is a puzzle-solving type of adventure game with a smattering of thrown in for flavor. The actual battles that take place with use of a Z axis are easy to overcome, and mostly revolve around the shadow creatures that are constantly on your tail. It is the goal, as mentioned above, for players to lead the princess to safety. This is not as easy as it might sound due to the fact that she can’t move on her own, needs her hand held all the time, speaks a foreign language, and is sought after diligently by the minions of her captor. The gameplay really begins to shine when you realize that the path the hero chooses to advance to the next area is inaccessible to Jorda for one reason or another, and requires rethinking to get her through. Manipulating the environment to bring her home is replete with challenges that, ultimately, like any adventure game worth its salt, lead to that enormous feeling of accomplishment when completed correctly. It cannot be stressed enough that players should get through this title the first time without any outside hints or influences in order to enjoy it thoroughly. ICO does suffer from that old adventure game curse of zero replay potential once completed, so rushing through the first time will just waste your money. The game, from beginning to end, can be completed in three hours once you know what you’re doing, which isn’t nearly enough time to digest all the beauty this title has to offer. Do yourself a favor and accomplish this quest on your own… even if the first time through takes ten hours. In short, ICO is one of those rare gaming experiences that come along so infrequently in recent days. Fans of the old-school adventure titles are going to adore this game, and a purchase is recommended here without hesitation. However, if you’re looking for Solid Snake-type antics and have an itchy trigger finger, ICO will probably have nothing to offer you… but do yourself a favor and try it anyway. It is the kind of immersive experience that defies words, but conveys emotions across a picture tube perfectly.

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By Russell Garbutt