Shadow of the Colossus Retrospective

[@SuperRosel]

Ok so here's a funny reflexion/theory (don't know if it really deserves to be called that) I've had while watching a SotC playthrough : doesn't the world where the story takes place (the forbidden lands or whatever you want to call it) have a *lower gravity* than the one we experience on earth ? This idea came to me at first when I saw Wander moving. I have never seen a character moving like this in any other games (and I really like it honestly)... I have no idea of how the motion is coded whatsoever, but somehow Wander seems to "ragdoll" a little bit while running, which overall gives me the impression that he is very light and almost floating. This 'floaty' feeling is even reinforced when you see the character jumping and climbing. He seems to have very little difficulty to wall jump from a point to another - like most video games hereos you might say. When you watch him perfom a simple jump, the physics seems sort of wrong according to our habits. Wander can go much higher and further than any person on earth, and the jump looks a bit like it's in slow motion... (of course you could argue that the developers simply struggled to code motions that "look real") More clues : the falling damages are really low. Wander can litterally fall of a giant colossus without dying. Similarly, [spoiler alert] Agro falls down the collapsing bridge and manages to survive, only having a leg broken or something. Even more clues : if you grip a pidgeon in the temple, it will carry you in the air for a short distance... That is definitely weird according to our terrestrian habits, and this surely was coded on purpose by the developpers. Finally : a lower gravity could justify the existence of giant creatures such as the colossi (some of them even being able to fly despite their massive proportions). Basically, our gravity field prevents the existence of such gigantic creatures, because past a certain size the body starts to collapse by itself since the resistance of the internal structure (that depends on the typical surface of the body) cannot compete with the exploding mass (that depends on the typical volume)... (there are probably a ton of articles discussing this out there if you are interested) There you go, if you managed to read through all this, you deserved this virtual cookie ! Take it :) (btw, sorry about poor phrasing or eventual grammatical mistakes, I'm french)

[@dileloco15]

SuperRosel Dude...you... TO THE TOP!

[@TheEnigmaStyle]

SuperRosel You just blew my mind. That's good stuff! I second the other guy too, this comment needs to be at the top

[@divinedbag]

+SuperRosel great insight

[@Self-Referential]

What about giraffes?

[@SuperRosel]

+Kanshi Talon Well played sir.

[@specknacken6507]

Matthewmatosis on a stream awhile ago: "SotC was enjoyable on multiple levels as it was not just a 'Team Ico Game' but also the 'Big Epic Boss Fight Game'. The Last Guardian though is just a 'Team Ico Game' where you have to have a certain mentality to really enjoy it. And that mentality is patience."

[@boups625]

Where does he stream?

[@SergioSergio12345]

@@boups625 Twitch, I believe

[@alonor5189]

@@boups625 He streams on his second channel, titled "Matthewmatosis Extra".

[@BlinkLed]

Shadow of the Colossus is so in depth that there's a channel on youtube (Nomad Colossus) entirely dedicated to exploring various aspects of the game. One of my favorite things that I never found on my initial playthrough was the hidden garden. It's briefly seen in the final cutscene but can actually be accessed by climbing up the side of the main temple area. But in order to do it, you need multiple playthrough's worth of grip gauge. When you finally reach the top, you find trees full of fruit. Astute players know that eating fruit increases your maximum health, but the fruit in this garden actually reduce you maximum health. It's a very interesting thing most players will probably never notice.

[@robertsonkev]

Right, this game is crazy

[@Antiformed]

Everyone knows about that, it's the only reason there is to keep increasing your Grip gauge (so you can scale the temple).

[@dannemannen18]

@@Antiformed no having more grip makes it easier to fight a Collosi. Obviously. I don't think everyone knew about this. I did but I platinumed this game. You can also walk on the bridge and if you go all the way to the other side there's a breeze so you can't leave the land. Pretty cool.

[@draakgast]

@@dannemannen18 did you watch that ons video: the final mystery explained. It's a video going in detail how to open a secret door

[@dannemannen18]

@@draakgast yes

[@SGlongboard]

i never noticed this until watching this video but the 11th Colossus has webbed feet. This is just another subtle way of telling the player that the dried up land past its little temple was a lake. Jesus the detail.

[@Bunny-zg4hd]

That's actually a bi-product of an earlier design in development where the 11th colossus would drop into the lake and you'd stab it as it swam in the lake, hence the webbed feet. This is also the reason why the 5th colossus has such a huge tail; you used to dive underwater to avoid bursts of wind from the colossus' wings and reach its tail and climb up, but when they decided to remove the 8 deleted colossi the 5th colossus adopted the strategy of the unused colossus called Roc, where you would shoot it in its frill with your bow to knock it down, then climb onto it.

[@Felix-Sited]

@@Bunny-zg4hd Why are you replying after such a long time?

[@HavikXIII]

I think a much less subtle clue is Dormin telling you the alter is at a lake... smh

[@chowmeower]

@@Felix-Siteddude you’re allowed to reply whenever you want it’s the internet

[@Felix-Sited]

@@chowmeower 7 years? I was curious.

[@joringedamke5597]

I remember two things about this game: sore thumbs and the tagline, "Some mountains are scaled. Some are slain." That, and I know few other games that look so bleak yet beautiful.

[@TheSergio1021]

This game is truly a masterpiece.

[@superjervis]

+TheSergio1021 Exactly

[@lurtz8656]

+TheSergio1021 It remains my favorite game. Odds are, it'll stay that way.

[@ISetYourFaceOnFire]

It's a few hairs away from a masterpiece for me. Although I only played it this year for the first time ever, I got heavily frustrated with some of the bosses, and having to repeat the monotonous task of re-climbing them if I made the mistake of not managing my stamina bar because some of the bosses like to start seizing. Each boss being a different puzzle is a great and rewarding experience but in between all that, it can be a clunky and mundane experience at times, with large stretches of emptiness in the world that you ride through on your horse, which from an art standpoint is beautifully realized and a technology achievement, it makes for just a dull gameplay experience among other things, which I don't see a lot of people pointing out. They just praise everything.

[@Pravdolub]

you lie

[@ryudjn6590]

@@ISetYourFaceOnFire people don't complain about the world being empty, because it's so for the atmosphere and story sake. In my book the boss battles totally make up for these few minutes in between. But I completely agree with you, that the game can get very annoying if you don't know the solution to a fight.

[@TheEpikak]

Hadn't played this in about 5yrs and just replayed it the other day. Thought the "awe" factor would definitely be gone, but those emotional moments in the end still had me holding back tears. A timeless masterpiece.

[@XxCQOTDxX]

You should be making a living off of this, unless you're not about that lifestyle. Either way you are incredibly talented at analyzing and likewise explaining the strong points and shortcomings of a lot of different styles of games.

[@kingofthesharks]

I got this game in 2005 because I've always loved Godzilla and giant monsters as a kid. I had no idea I would be analyzing and exploring the symbolism and mystique for hours after I initially beat it. I made many of my buddies play it just because it doubled as a fun puzzle game (like your conclusion implied) where you can watch the thrill of climbing together. But I've always valued the emotionally resonant aspects of SotC a bit more. Many of the design/aesthetic choices blew my mind in years ago and still do today upon repeat sessions in HD. The paling skin of Wander, the light pillars across the land, Agro's fall, the vacuum pool at the end, and the fact that some colossi don't even attack you first. Not to mention unintrusive easter eggs, like grabbing onto birds/doves for brief flight, standing on Agro, increasing your grip with Lizards, and the Secret Garden I never got to, SotC quickly became one of my top 10 favorite games of all time, and encouraged me to look at the potential of games differently. The opening is beautiful, the ending is bittersweet, the music is sweeping, and the visuals are grand. Nearly everything was unforgettable. The hardest thing to say about Ueda's games is whether or not to recommend Ico or SotC first to gamers unfamiliar with them. Like you said, Ico requires a specific mindset to enjoy (especially through some clunky controls), one that may only be acquired by some gamers if they enjoyed the more accessible SotC first. Yet Ico is also the predecessor, not to mention arguably less epic or powerful than its successor (and I tend to save the best for last). Regardless, I think the absence of a tight, sequential storyline between the two benefits both games, and I'm glad Ueda and his team have received the positive recognition they deserve over the years.

[@DPtdryste]

I remember playing this back to back with Chrono Trigger after playing some PS3 games and really getting a new appreciation for older games and when “art” is a design intention set out by a team as opposed to just “fun”.

[@dmc1673]

God the soundtrack for this game is so remarkably beautiful, it alone makes this game worth playing Can't wait for the last guardian.

[@Pan_Z]

16:00 yes, such a weak attempt that only took away one-third of the wanderer's health.

[@wonderguardstalker]

The implication there is that it could've killed you instantly if it knew it could

[@watashinihayumegaarimasu7609]

Such a weak attempt that it sent Wander flying back a few meters.

[@titanspirit7238]

I've had the Ico / Shadow of the Colossus HD collection on my shelf for 2 years now, still sealed. Think I'll play through it this weekend, my gaming backlog is immense!

[@exiled5160]

well... did you play it?

[@fillername236]

well... did you play it?

[@HelderCH]

well...did you play it?

[@TENRAN432]

welll... did you play it?

[@terencesdurag2823]

well… did you play it?

[@ButtermilkTuesdays]

13:46 This is such a great point, and many developers should take note of it.

[@Cykaima]

I'm watching this while eating doritos and crying

[@alphahellscream928]

Atmosphere was key in this game. Very haunting, making you feel very lonely and suspenseful.

[@HectorTheGenuflector]

One of the first games that made me realize that games really *could* be art.

[@kirbymaster5]

Abici Although it's my favorite game of all time, I really don't like putting it on a pedestal solely for having artistic merit. Doing so implies that any game less "artistic" is inferior, which just isn't the case. All video games, whether they want to be or not, ARE inherently art, so they don't have to prove to me that they can be perceived as such. SotC set out to be on the same level as something like the Mona Lisa and succeeded greatly at it. That's what makes it so good. Compare that to Bioshock Infinite, a game that WANTS to be full of artistic merit, but can only attempt to be so by masking itself in a supposedly deep plot and highly scripted segments because at its core is a game that appeals to the lowest common denominator. If Infinite had just set out to be a fun shooter and not something intelligent, perhaps it could have been something I regard as highly as SotC

[@BeastOrGod]

Abici One of the first games that made me realize that art really could be game!

[@nealkelly9757]

Abici Roger Ebert disagrees from his grave

[@HectorTheGenuflector]

Neal Kelly I guess you could say he's... dead wrong.

[@nealkelly9757]

Abici Haha yep he is, but seriously you should look up his ridiculous essays against video games, he was a pompous ass

[@tru_spartan_117]

Incredible game imo. I met my best buddy in middle school trying to tell kids about this game when it came out. He just happened to play it too; we hit it off and hung out every weekend until we graduated high school. He took his life last year. RIP BRYCE, LOVE YOU BROTHER.

[@PilotTails]

You're really thorough, and you don't ramble. You always set up the points you cover just before you do. Wow! I played this game already and I'm impressed! Also, loved the Zelda review series, besides Majora. Still hav yet to play that and I'm trying to save myself

[@doflamingodonquixote1929]

Legendary Game. Absolute Masterpiece for generations to come

[@kummer45]

You made me cry of happiness with this review. It was simply amazing. The narrative is illustrative and the details of your description is precise and overwhelming. And yes, you made me excited again about Shadows of the Colossus. You managed to bring curiosity, enigma and uncertainty about a game that was cleverly designed. Sir, you found your talent. I'm glad you took your time to share your visions with us. The description is so long and interesting at the same time that made me asking for more. I can happily hear your analysis for hours. That magic is yours. You gained another level of comprehension and abstraction about the art of game design. Kudos to you sir.

[@kummer45]

In this era, execution wits and intelligent insight is scarce. I was simply explaining my happiness about the execution on this video.

[@pangur3257]

Nicely said, brother. Hope you're good and well after all these years.

[@Slop_Dogg]

This video was uploaded 8 years ago. When this video was made, Shadow of the Colossus had released 9 years ago. Time flies.

[@MrEdit-ic7th]

And now this comment is almost a year old.

[@JusteUnOod]

3:55 "Turd person camera". I'm so sorry.

[@Inh3r1th0rp]

Your videos are something special man. Few commentators manage to make me sit down and watch a 30-40+ minute youtube video, and you are one of them.

[@Terszel]

Ueda's question was more likely "Do we need to include regular enemies in the game? Do they add anything that contributes to the core game that makes their inclusion worthwhile?" rather than "Wouldn't it be cool if we made a game with only bosses". On the post-design doc for SotC, they write that most of the time in development was spent on the rendering engine for the terrain and the giant colossi and their AI to give them a more grand scale, so you really feel like you accomplished something when you defeat them, regular enemies probably don't convey that sense of accomplishment so they drop them

[@ThePreciseClimber]

"Do we need to add pointless collectibles, Ueda-San?" "Yesss."

[@Antiformed]

It's more like there is just more of the world for the Wanderer to take away. Besides killing the Colossi, he can also kill all the lizards searching for white-tails, and consume the last pieces of edible fruit left. The fruit on top of the temple however is obviously sacred and forbidden, so consuming that punishes the Wanderer instead.

[@selder_7]

if there was a museum for games this would be in it, it's atmosphere and emotion are incredible, not to mention it is the definition of epic

[@ZeroHero3d]

Easily one of my favorite games ever! I always love hearing people talk about it, discuss it, or appreciate it. Because at the end of the day, it deserves everything it's earned. A truly remarkable game, and one that should never be forgotten. Truly one that is a must play for any avid gamer.

[@timmadone8930]

I love hearing people talk about this game too. It seems like everyone that has experienced S.O.T.C. has something to say about it. And now 16 years later it's still being talked about & new discoveries are still being made. And if we're really lucky a sequel or at least a director's cut might be in the works. In the meantime we have "Praey For The Gods" which is a true spiritual successor. The full complete game should be out next year.

[@nicolasradrigan21]

I remember stumbling across this channel back when bioshock infinite was released and instantly subscribing. Awesome in-depth reviews, I remember watching them all on a whole afternoon. Glad to know you've made new ones.

[@MoonlitXDream]

One of the most comprehensive, analytical, enjoyable reviews I've ever seen--and for one of my favorite games! This was a pleasure to watch, Matthewmatosis.

[@cordia96]

06:00 Yeah, that's why I wasn't impressed by Titan Souls.

[@Symplasia]

Great video, but why did you leave out information about the fruit that increases your health, and those that decrease it permanently? Also the lizard tails that improve your stamina weren't mentioned. No mention of unlock-able items, and little quirks like holding on to fish and birds either? They may seem irrelevant to the core mechanics, atmosphere and story, but they're still pretty swell features. Eating the fruit and killing the lizards can really fortify the idea of The Wanderer having a negative effect on the land.

[@alexradice8163]

Ya and the birds that eat fruit really put a negative impact on the land

[@jacket2038]

I honestly just want to say that Agro's controls are so wonderfully underrated. Agro feels wonderful to steer and the slight delay add so much to riding her. And the bonus stunts are such a wonderful addition.

[@RPGgrenade]

I think my favourite part about the ending vortex sequence isn't just that you can try to run to her to no avail, but that depending on how much time you spent to increase the grip meter through exploration, the longer your suffering COULD become during the sequence. Due to the fact that you can grab onto certain parts of the floor and EVEN the vortex pool's edge as you're getting sucked in (I recorded my first playthrough and this happened to me), the only things preventing you from being sucked in at that point is your will and your grip meter, either prolonging your suffering making you resist fate as much as possible, or simply giving in to it and accepting fate as is.

[@spookydonkey42]

matthewmatosis is several hundred thousand subscribers shy from where he ought to be. i can't prioritize this guys videos enough. seriously insightful. diamond vid mate, cheers.

[@IamWillHarrison]

Another PHENOMENAL video!! This has quickly become one of my favorite channels.

[@jerodwolf5582]

I wish Matthew would talk about the last guardian. Good or bad, you have to admit Matthew is pretty good at spotting the important details, and brings about a sense of understanding to those who have not even played a game.

[@NatStarlight]

Your last line about appreciating both aspects most accurately describes my experience with the game. It's a brilliantly set up game, yet also an emotional experience, not just in terms of the colossus encounters and slaying of them, but also in the lonely periods of exploring the Forbidden Land with Agro. Shadow of the Colossus is an easy game to appreciate for numerous reasons, and I'm sure many value it as one of their favorite games of all time, but this game spoke directly to me on so many levels, and as you put it in the end, this elevated it to a place that no other game had or since has reached. When I think about this game, I don't just think about the colossus fights, I often just think of the beautiful hidden areas I found on the map and the quiet moments spent with Agro. I've always had an emotional attachment to animals, and I often cite Agro as my favorite companion, and character that I've gotten most attached to, in all of video games. I've played a lot of story-heavy games, so I think that's quite an accomplishment that what would just be a mode of transportation in other games elicited this response and I think this also speaks to the power of the video game medium. Then again, this was all perfectly set up for me and there was no way I was not going to get emotional when my only friend in an interactive world is a faithful animal. Off topic, and forgive me if you've heard this request a lot (perhaps from myself in a different comment...I can't quite remember), but I'd love to see your take on the first four Silent Hill games; they would lend themselves perfectly to this kind of analysis. And if you haven't played them, I highly recommend them (Silent Hill 1-4, the four games made by Team Silent; it's important to distinguish them from the titles that came later which bear the Silent Hill name, but are really only just that: Silent Hill in name only).

[@homersimpson90210]

It was years before I realised the characters speak a made up language, nice touch on the creator's part. And those beaches and plant groves bare a striking resemblance to Ico's ending. Wanderer being reborn with Ico's/dormin's horns, the hidden dam, the garden, Dormin reading backwards as Nimrod, for a game with little explicit exposition, there's an endless amount of interesting stuff just below the surface.

[@TheFitchproductions]

this game is just in a league of its own, honestly greatest of all time IMO. now give me last guardian and we might have a contender

[@the_real_powerbuoy]

I'm so thankful the Cynical Brit pointed me to your channel. Awesome stuff, please keep it up!

[@Diamond1234548]

+Andreas Lagerkvist TB is aware of Matt's existence? my fanfiction has been confirmed cannon

[@andrerocca1005]

Dude you are a fantastic reviewer. I'd call you more of a Video Game analyst. Great work man.

[@Blarghasaur]

Every time I see a new Matosis video in my subscription feed, I get legitimately excited.

[@b0tster]

Ach! I've been anticipating this for such a long time! Thanks matmat! Sooo excited to watch this!

[@geordiewood]

I have even more respect and love for SOTC after watching your video, which I didn't think was possible. Thanks for such a comprehensive and captivating analysis of one of my absolute favorite games, of any generation.

[@timothypark8303]

This is the best analysis I've ever seen on KZbin, by far.

[@SirTobyGirl]

I love the way that while discussing the contrast between the roaming of the land and the colossus battles, the video itself pans back and forth just like the game. Matthewmatosis is the god-tier game critique

[@kirbyza]

I waited to buy and play this game myself before I watched this video. The wait was worth it. Amazing video, Matthew. Your commentary is always enjoyable and thought provoking.

[@harrison.kaiser]

21:59 I think that, while the shadows surrounding the wanderer represent a piece of Dormin that's been freed, each of the doves might represent the spirit of a slain colossus. alternatively, there's the fact that they're surrounding Mono, which could mean they're pieces of her soul/life force being reassembled, or maybe they're also pieces of Dormin that are assembling to re-soul her, in the same way that the shadows assemble to ensoul the wanderer at the end (gauging how Dormin is holding up both ends of the bargain)

[@J0NNO]

I really really loved this video. Some great points made, with an awareness of the reasons behind the game designer's choices. A really enjoyable watch that seemed objective until the very end, just a really nice cleverly constructed analysis. Really thinking about what it is that makes this game what it is rather than just vague praise. brilliant.

[@LC-sc3en]

I would bet real money that the inclusion of the collosus health bar came after play testing. The number of times I have seen streamers just keep stabbing at a faded mark and not look for others is hard for me to comprehend. I think without it a lot of people wouldn't know they were making progress and would only stab the mark once or keep stabbing and assuming equal effectiveness after the mark was expired. Boss death by paper cut is deeply unsatisfying for both player and devs reading the reviews from those players

[@realkingofantarctica]

As much as I appreciate the PS4 remake, nothing will beat the bleak yet beautiful, melancholic minimalism of the PS3 version's open-world.

[@jacket2038]

I did the math and there are 20,922,789,888,000 different possible ways to organize the colossi. Great video by the way!

[@brianstell6099]

it speaks to the beauty of the simplistic but deep relationship between the player and agro that just watching this review is enough to make me tear up when I see his seeming death. I never heard of this scene or anything before I played the game and it shook me so deeply

[@Lastcastor]

Happy New year bro. Nice to hear from you again

[@anonmcanon2610]

Matthew, all of your reviews, retrospectives, and critiques are very informative and fun to watch. You somehow manage to instill a sense of optimism on the outlook of my most beloved hobby when gaming journalism has never looked more bleak. You have more integrity and talent as a video game journalist (and historian) than any other hack on IGN, Gamespot, or even KZbin. Don't give up your natural wit, fairness, and in-depth coverage, because those qualities define your internet persona, and these videos would be next to pointless without them. I eagerly anticipate your next video, as I have already viewed them all multiple times. Cheers!

[@rohankhan371]

My favorite game of all time, and I knew if anyone could do it justice, it would be you. Great review!

[@PurpleIsAmazin]

This game makes me cry like a baby. This video was a good reminder of that.

[@NotaSkeleton]

As someone who spent an embarrassingly long time on certain colossi, I have to say that the frustration actually plays in the game's favour. The more you struggle to defeat a tough enemy, the greater the satisfaction of finally taking it down. It very much reminded me of beating an NES game as a kid and letting go of the sweaty controller at last in a sigh of relief. Overcoming such challenges is one of the reasons why I enjoy video games and SotC provides that sense of triumph like few other games. I've been waiting for this review and it was, again, good. Though, I do feel as if you could have talked some more about the environment. In particular about how the game rewards exploration with not only beautiful scenery not found if simply going straight to the colossi, but also the fruit and lizards which increase your health and stamina respectively. Then, there is the whole development history and the large number of cut colossi and areas(some of which are still in the game, though left unfinished). These things don't really impact the review, but, I feel it could have been included.

[@leon9021]

Awesome work man. Its good to finally see someone that goes into the depths of this game and pays attention to all the little details that makes the game so much more than what it could have been. You even enlightened me on some things I didnt notice and I thought I was a super hardcore fan :D so thanks a lot.

[@shane_was_taken]

Thanks for posting this! This is one of my favorite games and I as soon as I saw that you had a review up for it I was extremely happy. Thanks.

[@JesusIsAMoose]

one theory i really like is that when dormin talks, it seems to have a male and female voice talking at once, representing good and evil, and the shadows standing over wander are the evil pieces and the doves are the good pieces. Or maybe life and death, since the shadows dont seem to be "alive", more like ghosts or spirits and the doves are obviously alive. And when the female voice leaves at the end, that means the big black monster is just the pure evil of Dormin. And while writing this comment I had a thought. The female voice is gone because it was using the good power to bring Mono back to life (Which adds the to life/death theory I just mentioned), and the evil power transformed wander. This means that Dormin's spirit lives on in Wander and Mono, Wander being evil and Mono being good.

[@JesusIsAMoose]

he doesnt die, he gets reborn as a baby with horns. presumably with the evil inside him.

[@UnicornStorm]

***** but is it really about good and evil? maybe it's about preservation and destruction, the two main forces of nature.. I do like your life/death theory more than good/evil...

[@CruelestChris]

What does Dormin do that's actually evil? It strikes me it's not that Dormin is an evil God, it's an _enemy_ God. I mean you have to walk past a line of statues of Dormin's aspects as you enter the valley, what does that say about Dormin's people? Would an evil God extend it's hand to save the one mortal who believes in it? See I always figured the Colossi represent aspects of Dormin, split off from him to remove Dormin's power. The small ones are passions, something a God has little time for, while the giant ones represent higher thought and a noble nature. The last one, the one Dormin doesn't dare show the Wanderer until he'll understand exactly what he's looking at? The one that's bound in clamps around its feet and literally smouldering? That would be hate.

[@brunobb1]

Best reviewer I know. Amazing review as always.

[@timmadone8930]

In the U.S. the game was released in 2005. The only colossus where you absolutely have to use Agro during battle is colossus 10 (the sand worm). Using Agro during colossi battles like no.9 & no.13 makes things easier, but isn't required. S.O.T.C. continues to be played, discussed, scrutinized, studied, more than 19 years after it's initial release. That really says a lot on just how special & unique the game is. "Praey For The Gods" is a good spiritual successor that needs more love & a physical release. Nice review/discussion.

[@middlemencomms2545]

You have no idea how excited I get whenever I see a new video from you

[@bobbysnobby]

A fantastic in depth look. I do think that Shadow of the Colossus is one of the games the gamer community can put forward as a work of art, although its not perfect. To me its easily in the top 5 of the best games ever made. I feel like you give a very reasonable and defensible critique of all the games you review, and although I disagree with some of your conclusions about how damaging or beneficial certain components are, I have yet to find a point that you bring up that I find unfounded. All and all the cumulative experience of all your reviews/in-depth looks I find you to be the most unbiased and fair writers in my long treks on the internet, and for that you have my thanks, and my support.

[@lerigan]

I love how the review closes with the most elegant pun you'll ever hear in your life. :)

[@KarimElHayawan]

Amazing work as usual Matthew. I would like to expand on the point of the barrenness of the Forbidden Land. I've always felt that this sense of isolation and emptiness that the game tries to conjure isn't there just to build up empathy and sympathy to the Wander (as you astutely mention) but also to increase the sense of guilt and self-doubt of the player in the action he kills the colossi. The Forbidden Land is, to the player, apart from plants, limited small animals and the colossi basically dead and with every action the player undertakes he is making it "deader" by a huge steps. This act of destruction makes the player re-think his relationship to the world. I think this also works beautifully with the fact that the wander is most definitely the aggressor and not the colossi. This is for example a much better and cleverer way to comment on player choice than say the cheap way of Bioshock. The barrenness of the Forbidden Land I think is also a strong sign that it's some kind of prison for Dormin.

[@Gerkinman]

Love your reviews, I really wish their were more people out there who went into the level of detail and thought that you do with your videos.

[@phalweev]

Another brilliant review Matthew was great to re-tread this game you hit on so much of what made this game such a chilling and enjoyable experience.

[@GolDKill-kd8on]

Thought this was more of a summary of what the game is then a retrospective. Loved this game!

[@ShapurTheLegend]

I wish the colossi tried harder to fight you rather than just shaking relentlessly. Also I wish that the colossi's heath-bar were removed and swapped for actual physical behaviour of the colossi. Near death they should behave slightly differently to signal progression in the fight. It makes it more dynamic. Sif the Grey Wolf starts limping near death but I'm not necessarily suggesting that the colossi should be easier/weaker when near death like Sif does

[@Polomance862]

ShyanTheLegend That was the point though, these collosi were all settled to a method to be defeated. Some were aggressive, others were passive, and almost pacifistic. These creatures were not anticipated to be slain by anyone. Their intimidating nature often were the only signal needed to get someone to flee., however the Wanderer's determined nature braved through the Colossi forms to overcome the beasts. The player's emotion is really driven upon each collosus's death. For ones like the flying serpent, you might feel extremely guilty for killing such a beautiful creature. With the sand colossus, you might feel proud for overcoming such an aggresive creature.

[@mandatorial]

Now that you mention the order they are fought in, I have always wondered if they could be encountered in any order from the start, kind of like the dungeons in the first Zelda game, with only the last one being locked in the beginning. The sword rays would still be in order so that a new player could take the intended order if they wanted a gradual difficulty curve, but experienced players would still have the freedom to start with the colossus they preferred. Obviously, it would be hard to have all the colossi loaded at once scattered around the land, but couldn't they be loaded bit by bit as the player got nearer? I feel like there's a lot of workroom with the vast distances and waiting time. I also think that the end-game item upgrades should be hidden around the land as a reward for exploration, but still only optional, and not necessary so that a player could go through the whole game with the minimal weapons. I think it's a no-brainer when they already have the lizards and fruits from the get-go, but more importantly, the unlockable items are of so little use to the player when they get them and they are aquired in a bad pacing. When the player gets them, they have already cleared the game, and you can't even bring them over to a Hard Mode playhtrough. Secondly, they don't feel natural to aquire as you go through the story, it's more obvious to clear them all in succession because you might as well clear one more time attack "while you're at it" instead of forcing the player to find them scattered around and get them over time while enjoying a campaign run. Generally, I feel there should be more free choices in the game that actually affected the way the game could be played. Because the bosses are mere puzzles with not many alternative solutions, they fights aren't as dynamic as they could have been. You don't feel like fighting an unpredictable monster when there's a single path to defeat it. Maybe I should review this game myself. :P But I'd rather take the games that you don't plan to do.

[@DeoMachina]

I'm fairly certain I got lost once on the way to one of the battles, and found a suspicious looking heap in the middle of a circle. Turns out I was to come back later to wake it up. So I don't think you can fight them out of order.

[@jkdesesseintes]

The feels of encountering a wonderful youtube channel... it's like hearing the "Nameless Song" for the first time again.

[@adrienperie6119]

After all these years I'm still completely amazed they could do this on PS2, this is probably the best looking game I have ever played on that console. It really shows how poorly current day developers are exploiting consoles technically.

[@Henchman.24]

Another great video. I haven't played Shadow of the Colossus or Eco, but seeing as I don't plan to I greatly enjoyed your analysis as usual, and it let me appreciate this game without playing it myself. 10/10

[@TheKrigeron]

Great review. I just glanced at the videos on the right and knew I had to subscribe.

[@steelcurtain187]

This was brilliant. Great job covering this masterpiece my friend

[@b0tster]

"The following video for the Last Guardian contains spoilers for the entire game. If you haven't played it I highly recommend you do so before watching further."

[@ploglo13]

You are my single favorite youtuber, keep up the good work!

[@Aquineth]

I just finished replaying the game last night. Perfect timing! Thanks again for your excellent commentary

[@phillipvance864]

The Last Guardian Retrospective is planned for the near future right :D?

[@King_Waddle_Dee]

YES! I WAS SO WAITING FOR YOU TO COVER THIS GAME!

[@poobertop]

This game is gorgeous. I've always heard it was a game worth playing, but I'm just as happy to watch a review about it by you. The constant fluid character animations blow me away, especially when mounted on a horse. Games fail to get this right even in next gen. Thanks for this Matt, what's next?

[@franz888]

The only thing this review lacks is when discussing if the HUD was necesary or not (grip gauge and health) he never mentions that both of them are upgradeable (even is shown that he upgraded them) which for me is a reward to the struggling player that spends time exploring the land.

[@TheReaver1234]

the upgrade that you are talking about is a natural boost in the gauge. it happens after beating every colossus as you progress through the game

[@MsMegadude64]

I think the hint system should've been activated by aiming your sword light at the sun for 5 seconds or something similar.

[@annpc8266]

Western developers can only dream of creating such a masterpiece.

[@Bread_n_Roses]

What a dumb statement.

[@Nalhy]

@@Bread_n_Roses It's true, tho.

[@coomer8265]

@@Bread_n_Roses so where is the western game?

[@OCMOOO]

Fucking sweet, I love your reviews! I honestly think they are the best. Full stop.

[@johndough6225]

I enjoyed your video a lot. I can't wait for your future videos. I'd love a breakdown on horror games. *The main arguments against Dormin are that it looks evil. After all it has big scary horns and it was sealed away, so it must be.* Let's not forget Dormin wielded a dark power like the Queen's and was a giant version of the shadows in the Castle. Dormin doesn't just look evil, it is an amalgamation of dead souls that slowly corrupted Wander. Dormin was presented throughout the game as a disembodied voice associated with light. Divine, you could say. What's ironic is that it turned out to be the opposite of what it was presented as. *It's ironic that the most damning things against Dormin are the same things which seem not to matter at all when playing as Ico.* There is significant difference between Wander and Ico at the end of their respective games. Wander has deteriorated: he's dirty, pale, weak, and has grown horns. Nothing about that screams good. On the other hand Ico loses both of his horns, symbolically cutting ties to Dormin, the Castle, and his cursed destiny.

[@midnite22767]

Its a shame most will never be able to experience how beautifully designed this game was. There's a reason it is ranked by some critics as one of the most captivating and visually stunning games EVER made! Thank you for this video!

[@iaingarner80]

Great vide. Only found this channel recently and it's been amazing!

[@LiquidSnake1988]

I cannot emphasize this enough, This game has the most User Friendly Gameplay. The camera and the movements. The horse riding is still by far the best one. MGSV one of 3 top game series of all time, still not able to top this game's realistic horse riding.

[@Jonnyjy]

One of my all time favorite games.played back in 2007,and now in PS3. A rare gem that i recommend to all players that pursuit something far more that just play.

[@DogfaceGames]

What an absolutely fantastic analysis of a brilliant game, and as the first video of yours that's come up in my subscriptions, I'm very glad I subscribed. :P Keep it up!

[@hemangchauhan2864]

While this is a very through and beer well written review, I couldn't help but to agree on 23:20 Game takes a two fold approach. It's good for those who need an emotional experience as well as for those who need an action filled and satisfying play. Personally I didn't expect anything at start, then after six battles, I felt the latter and on a very good way, but towards the end the former side emerged. I teared up after the last boss fight. And the ending was unforgettable, especially, the wind dragging back Wander, while I was pushing the stick forward really hard, just to get ahead. So, more and more people will like it natually

[@IVIUT3D]

Avion hitting the water in silence always makes me feel like I may have made a wrong choice somewhere. It only feels worse as you learn to speedrun Avion better and better. I learned to drop from wing to wing during the barrel roll and then I could drop from wing to tail on the 2nd barrel roll, doing it so fast and then you see that death scene, yay sadface.

[@salsamancer]

I didn't mind the tutorial, there are a ton of undocumented mechanics in the game for players to discover. Horseback archery and acrobatics, flying sword plunges, boosted jumps, etc... It's rare that a game with such a compelling narrative is also so engaging and fun to play. It's something that seems completely alien to the modern indie scene and it's love of walking simulators.

[@Dzzy123]

I hope that The Last Guardian comes out someday

[@rockomundo]

Done!

[@hitmanwolf]

...and it is shit. :D

[@ignotumperignotius630]

mmmmmno it's different

[@TheDakattack3000]

It's a test of patience and I think it's good. Definitely the weakest of the three but not even close to bad.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

NOT even fucking close.

[@jonahhunt5143]

This guy is an amazing he should get more credit

[@stevebob240]

I love this game, I think it's a masterpiece. Thank you for discussing what decisions were made to make this such a beautiful game.

[@charon132]

I'm glad we have your voice to add some much needed variety to an otherwise homogeneous environment of nepotistic praise.