The new Shadow of the Colossus trailer foreshadowed what early reviews are saying, which is that the PlayStation 4 remake breathes new life into the PlayStation 2 classic.
Shadow of the Colossus was first released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005 and then remastered for the PlayStation 3 in 2011. However, even after so many years, the game's formula still works, translating into a massive masterpiece for the current-generation PlayStation 4.
Shadow Of The Colossus For PlayStation 4: 2018's First Must-Have Game
Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida clarified in June 2017 that Shadow of the Colossus for the PlayStation 4 will not be a simple remaster. Instead, the game will be a full remake, and reviews are claiming that it might be the best one yet.
Shadow of the Colossus for the PlayStation 4 retains the groundbreaking concept of the original. The player controls Wander, who is tasked to track down and kill 16 gigantic creatures. Wander travels the game's world on Agro, his trusty horse, looking for the Colossi and then figuring out how to take them down. There is absolutely nothing else in the game aside from this massive undertaking.
"Shadow of the Colossus benefits a lot from having a contemporary remake," wrote Kotaku's Chris Kohler, explaining that with the player spending so much time moving through the game's landscape, the near-photorealism of the environment offered by the remake is simply amazing. Shadow of the Colossus looks great at 30 frames per second on the PlayStation 4, but playing at 60 frames per second on the PlayStation 4 Pro is even better.
There are still some remnants of the 2005 classic game, though, with details such as a slightly revised but still outdated control system, a sometimes-problematic camera, and the usage of a hard-to-read Papyrus font, according to Polygon's Chris Plante. However, all those things are part of the game's allure.
"What's stunning, today, is that Shadow of the Colossus retains that sense of inventiveness, magic and awe. The scale of the land, the beasts, the emotions — it still stands above the majority of the competition," Plante said.
"While it's true that Shadow was starting to show its age in 2011 and is continuing to do so in 2018 — even rebuilt from scratch — those who've played the title before will revel in the new life that Sony's breathed into the classic," wrote Stevivor's Steve Wright.
Shadow Of The Colossus PlayStation 4 Remake: For Both Old Fans And Newcomers
The PlayStation 4 remake of Shadow of the Colossus has undergone several tweaks to make it easier to pick up for newcomers. Among these changes are improvements to the bow-aiming system, the camera, and a customizable HUD.
However, players who already completed previous versions of Shadow of the Colossus are still recommended to pick up the game.
"Having beaten Shadow of the Colossus many times over on the PS2, I wasn't sure I needed the remake for the PS4," said BGR's Jacob Siegal. "And yet, within an hour of diving back into this stunning, desolate world, the remake had already won me over."
The Shadow of the Colossus release date will be on Feb. 6. In just a week, new and old players alike will experience the re-telling of the tragic tale of Wander and the 16 Colossi.
