Ico
Ico (stylized in all caps) is a 2001 action-adventure video game by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It was first released in September and December 2001 for North America and Japan, respectively, with a March 2002 release for Europe. It was first re-released in Europe with its spiritual successor, Shadow of the Colossus, in 2006. A high-definition remaster, included in the Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection, was released for PlayStation 3 in 2011. The story follows Ico and Yorda as they escape an abandoned castle to save each other from being sacrificed. Players control Ico, who must protect Yorda from enemies, assist her across obstacles, and solve puzzles.
It was designed and directed by Fumito Ueda, who wanted to create a minimalist game based on a "boy meets girl" concept. Originally planned for the PlayStation, Ico took approximately four years to develop. The team employed a "subtracting design" approach to reduce gameplay elements that interfered with the game's setting and story in order to create immersion. Ico introduced several design and technical elements that have influenced subsequent games, including a story told with minimal dialogue, bloom lighting, and key frame animation.
Ico has received critical acclaim for its art, original gameplay, and story. It received several awards, including "Game of the Year" nominations and three Game Developers Choice Awards. Considered a cult classic, it has been called one of the greatest video games ever made, and is often brought up in discussions about video games as an art form. Despite its critical success, the game suffered poor sales, mostly attributed to its minimal marketing.
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