The Cult Classic That Secretly Inspired The Game Industry

[@codymuller5744]

I think of it as a cycle. Zelda inspired ico, ico inspired dark souls, dark souls then goes on to inspire zelda, and zelda inspired elden ring, the list goes on. They all borrow ideas from each other

[@callderr]

Ico and SotC had such a strong effect on me I wrote my Masters thesis on design by subtraction. Fumito Ueda doesn't miss

[@sylvainregnier2665]

Hello, you ! If you don't mind ; how did your thesis go ? If it's accessible somewhere, I'll be happy if you could send me a link(reading only). It's because I'm pondering about incorporating substraction in storytelling, though that ain't for a game, but for an animated series. Do you still have it? Anyways, thank you for your time, Mr. Calder. 😊

[@callderr]

@@sylvainregnier2665 Overall it's average imo. If you want I can send you it and a list of all the articles I referenced

[@callderr]

@@sylvainregnier2665 Is the business email on your channel the best way to send it to you?

[@sylvainregnier2665]

@@callderr Ha, schiutt, my message got deleted. I was going to ask : yes, with pleasure ! Send it the way you want, I'll make do with it. 😃

[@callderr]

@@sylvainregnier2665 Sent!

[@yourhomiechillinvibes]

There is something special about games that are different or hidden gems. Ico, Okami, Dragon's Dogma, Godhand, Parasite Eve are all just classics. 👌

[@suicidalkangarooz]

It's a shame video games are too costly to get stuff like this outside of indie games. It was cool when weirder games were published and put up with all the biggest games in the industry.

[@simond4868]

Okami was critically under played by people, such a good game

[@HATCHETCLUB]

Love to see someone giving Dragon's Dogma its flowers! I was twelve when it came out, it feels like I've been playing it ever since lol. There's something about the way the story is told, I can't help but keep on revisiting it.

[@Malhonn]

Dragon's Dogma is a hidden gem? i thought it was a pretty mainstream game, never played tho

[@V4Now]

Another game that was cruelly misrepresented was Haunting Grounds.

[@lilysotrue]

Ico is just one of those games where once you play it, you can’t forget it. i started out by watching my dad play this game, and i was hooked immediately. i picked it up myself for the first time when i was only 6 years old, and i never looked back. over the years, i’ve completed this game hundreds of times and know practically everything that there is to know about the game. i loved it so much, so when i was 8, my dad custom made me an Ico costume so i could be him for Halloween one year. i would even make my sister play it with me, not as in play the game, but as in i would drag her around my childhood apartment and pretend that she was Yorda and i was Ico. eventually my uncle found me some Ico shirts, (which were super rare and were pretty much nonexistent at the time, still almost nonexistent now, so i still don’t know he did it) and now my 5 year old sister wears them instead of me, and watches me play the game from time to time. so, yeah. i apologize for the long comment, i just had to jump at the chance to discuss the game that changed my life in so many ways. i’m definitely going to go boot up my old ps3 and replay it now.

[@Mystic_Ode]

That’s a really heartwarming story!

[@olevet75]

there's 60fps patch if you want to emualte, looks incredible

[@proudtobeme1ashkente]

Now this is true. I never finished the game. Just like Dark Souks and all its cousins it was too exhausting for too long so I gave up on it but I never forgot about it. So every time I see it I wish I could finish it, but I just can't keep up enough energy and drive to go through a never-ending escort mission. I play games for fun, after all. Not as a chore.

[@TheOverlord2D]

When playing Ico, I could never bring myself to run while holding Yorda's hand unless absolutely necessary. The way she stumbled while trying to keep up with you made me feel so bad that I'd just take her hand and patiently lead her around the castle.

[@NadDew]

lol I hated her, there's no insult I didn't say about her. but I guess because I was a tomboy girl and I hated how she needed help. I wasn't the target audience for that game, that being said I loved that game it was really something special, and I love it more now after I grew from my crazy and extreme feminist mindset 😅

[@vorcanvorcan9032]

​@@NadDew I sincerely hope you mean you grew after going through the experience of being corrupted by extreme feminism... And not because you still subscribe to it. 🙄 To me, it wouldn't matter if it was a girl leading a boy, girl leading girl, boy leading boy, or any which way you want imagine it. It also wouldn't be "wrong" for either male or female character to be more or less capable than the other. We are all individuals after all. 🙂

[@simonrockstream]

@@NadDew Bro. The point is not that she is a "girl that needs help". You're completely missing the point of the game if that is the only thing you saw.

[@tzzeek]

@@simonrockstream What can you expect from a feminist?

[@vivvy_0]

​@@tzzeek can't you guys read?

[@simond4868]

God the PS2 had so many bangers and this is definitely up there 😩 more games like this please

[@kpdelaney6460]

Honestly! I played a Katamari Damaci and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince on my older brothers ps2 when I was little, and the games are so good! Really creative and fun games to explore. I then played the uncharted series, Ico, and SotC over the past few years, and I’m still amazing at how good that console’s game library was. I wonder why ps2 has so many incredible games.

[@DavidStrife7]

There's certainly something about that era, where the limiting shackles of PS1 and festering for a decade with crude 3D capabilities in general, ignited imaginations and creativity within the industry so that when the PS2 came around, it was really unleashing a torrent of suppressed and compromised visions. Definitely something special about that era for sure. I'm still not convinced it's rose tinted glasses. I can play a classic from this era I've never heard or seen before, and still have a great time with it.

[@FingerinUrDaughter]

is that a joke? this piece of shit is barely even a game.

[@teneesh3376]

But where would we get them sick dances and cat ears? I hate so many AAA games now

[@durbeshpatel3047]

​@@DavidStrife7alot of the ps2 games hold up very well, with modern control schemes, high def emulation, and better fps, alot these games look and feel better than modern games

[@lakeslake4122]

In a period of hype trains and knowing everything about a game before it even comes out, nothing and I mean nothing is more satisfying than a game that makes you piece together the story through gameplay.

[@kpdelaney6460]

Yes! And being able to do it all without guides. The puzzles of Portal, Gorogoa, and Ico are so satisfying to me because I’m able to solve them on my own.

[@Jonas-yl4gn]

agreedd

[@thraftofcaanan281]

I never played Ico but one game from the same studio that really got to me was The Last Guardian. I was so moved by that game and loved the companionship between the boy and Trico. To me The Last Guardian was my masterpiece that people say Ico or Shadow of the Colossus was for them and it makes me happy to have that for myself. I ended up getting a tattoo on my right forearm that was related to the tattoos that the protagonist has as well. The reason that game gripped me so strongly was because at the time I was struggling with alcoholism and self hate, but while all of that was going on I had this cat that my sister got me named Maria (who I named after lady maria) and she was like my own personal emotional Trico. She helped me through so many dark moments while I was drinking and I actively resisted self harm because your cat won't understand why you never came home. Edit: you're probably one of my favorite youtubers right now because you make really positive emotionally charged videos on things that you love and my wife loves your videos now too

[@InternetPitstop]

beautiful comment man, thank you for sharing this and being a viewer!

[@lemming9984]

I played Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus on PS2 as they came out and loved them. When PS3 and 360 came out, I didn't know what to get, neither had any great launch games. Last Guardian was announced as in development for PS3, so I went out the next day and bought a PS3. Obviously it never arrived on PS3, but on PS4. I like it, but as all the reviews said at the time - the camera does spoil the game. Looking forward to Ueda's next game!

[@jonathanhayes7101]

ICO really helped me after I got f’d up as a first responder after 9/11. Two or three years later, I got to meet Ueda in Tokyo. I spent about half an hour with him and translator, and played a pre-release version of SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS. We mostly talked about ICO; your sense of his goals in the game design were spot on, particularly the stuff about eliminating distractions, including the HUD. One thing you almost said but didn’t quite go there: Ueda told me (with a grin) that at one level, Yorda also functioned as Ico’s health meter. I haven’t played video games as much in the last decade or so, but just beat TLOU Pt. 1 on the PS5; the connection to ICO wasn’t obvious to me until you pointed it out, but you were really right. Also, I love the minimal HUD-adjacent display they used, again cutting down on distractions. Thank you so much.

[@devicing]

The emotion that I feel when I hear “heal” or “Castle in the Mist” is truly indescribable. I couldn’t even begin to think of how many hours I spent alone on walks, staring up at the sky and just dwelling in the atmosphere they create

[@ViridianCrisis7]

The feeling of solace in games like Ico where you’re just a small part of something massive and grand is such a beautiful feeling. The relative silence of standing alone and looking out over a location or looking up into a massive structure is something I’ll never get tired of

[@amannpriyamkhan5394]

I just finished playin ICO, few months ago during my college vacations I was searching for ps2 games to play I dont know what about it but the coverart for ICO really made me feel something and I wanted to play it, it was one of my best decisions I absolutely adore everything about this game especially Yorda, because she had problems running and more importantly because I wanted to spend as much time as possible with her all the time we were together I held her hand and walked very slowly along side her, savoring those moments In the end when I was reunited with yorda it filled my sad heart with just pure bliss I have savestates of the first time I met her and the first time we sat on the stone couch together and other save states are for moments when we were together in places where there was bright green grass and soft sunlight where I will be standing relaxed while yorda would be walking near a pegion observing them I love those moments I absolutely love ICO ❤❤❤

[@KopfdesRiesen]

Damn your channel grew a lot over the last year. Still clicking on your notifications immediately because you, your style and what you are covering presented in a way that just scratches my early 2000s Child brain for some reason. Keep up the great work man

[@t0xcn253]

You said it, this channel has my attention no matter what the subject is, everything about the style and presentation is just exactly what I want to see.

[@jjj8317]

I love his work. It is authentic, you can see his passion on it. It really feels like a warm blanket when you were kid on a cold winter afternoon

[@RealEroSennin]

You realize “his style” is not his right?

[@LifeOfCraig]

It’s like NakeyJakey but he puts out a video more than once every 16 months

[@MrLemmanz]

He is a nakeyjakey clone, but at least he put a lot of videos.

[@meeth3r]

10:51 very relatable. I was on another floor when she first got caught and in panic, I couldn't find the way down. I desperately jumped down to try to save her. That's how I found out fall damage exists. (Also when I realized I started to care about Yorda)

[@kpdelaney6460]

fr it’s so perfectly executed. Such a strong bond without words

[@evieyak]

Just noticed that both Ico and Elden Ring feature characters who are banished from their home due to being born with horns, which is considered a “bad omen.” They’re even called “Omens” in Elden Ring.

[@jaykennedy8418]

Idk how long you’ll keep this up because I know you have to grow your channel and tbh get that bag. But rn, I can’t thank you enough for doing videos/topics that feel genuine and new. Nothing is ever forced. Nothing ever feels like it came out of a content engine. A lot like Ico, I think your channel is going to have a lot of influence on many many creators to come, like the Nakey Jakeys and Unhhhhs of old

[@Torinna_]

I grew up playing Shadow of the Colossus and have played through the game over 30 times. But I didn’t play Ico until a few years ago and hot damn was it amazing. It gave me that same feeling I had when I first played SOTC. Team Ico’s games are absolutely phenomenal

[@LeedleLee457]

Ico is so underrated! The art and atmosphere are so beautiful! There's a theory that the reason the shadow creatures do not attack Ico is because the creatures themselves are the souls of the previous sacrificed horned children. So they viewed Ico as one of their own.

[@realradec]

Hey dude you might not see this but thank you for talking about this cult classic. I've played this for the first time last year via the HD Collection on PS3, and I absolutely loved it. Went so far to even get the Platinum trophy. I will always appreciate anyone shining a light on this special game. It's definitely the most important Sony first party release ever, inspiring all sorts of PS franchises we love and adore now like OG and new God of War, Uncharted, The Last of Us etc. I really wish there was a Bluepoint style remake of this game, so a whole new audience can experience how special ICO is. Ya earned a sub from me, looking forward to your next vid!

[@Myles_c107]

It’s so fun too see your production quality go up in every video

[@Robersora]

Also the wardrobe 👀

[@Myles_c107]

@@Robersora frrrr 🥶🥶🥶

[@Klosterliv]

Maybe he can afford a yoga ball for the next one... Or why not a bean bag chair

[@FingerinUrDaughter]

this guy is plastering himself over the video, slav squatting all over the place. this is the definition of shit-tier quality. ive seen higher production quality on americas funniest entires.

[@Chris-bz2rf]

​@@Klosterlividk I like how he stands it kinda like how you have a bunch of thoughts so you give your shampoo and conditioner bottles a lecture on how deep one piece goes and it's lore and politics or just pacing around your room

[@GoldLight73]

Never played the game myself sadly, but I’ end heard nothing but praise from everyone who has. Ico may not have succeeded financially, but it definitely succeeded in a far more important way: leaving an impact.

[@nnnnmhughuuhhjiijj9457]

It's usually the innovative and profound games that get short end of the stick.

[@royareyzabal823]

I've always been very protective of the people I loved, even as a child. I guess it's my motherly side acting up or something, but I was always taking care of people. So playing this game not so long ago made me feel exactly what taking care of other kids felt like to me. I just wanted to protect Yorda from her mother, just like how I desperately wanted to protect my friends from their burdens. I have a very deep connection to this game, and I'll forever hold it dearly in my heart. Thanks, Mr. Ueda, you made a masterpiece and a defining piece of media, one after the other.

[@Stefarooh]

This for me was the first game where environmental storytelling really had its first major impact. The environment is as much of a character in the game as the two protagonists and I remember being blown away by the castles verticality, size and scope, which was something I had not encountered in a game until I played ICO. Also how the game gets ICO to bond with blind ghost girl Yorda with very few words but mostly gestures and touch was illuminating for its time. It really hit you in the feels by the end of the game, simply due to the warmth of the relationship that develops between the two characters throughout the adventure. By the end of it you really feel like Yorda's protector. Amazing game for its time. A lot of modern audiences don't realise how so many of their modern games were influenced by ICO and approach it with combat in mind and end up being disappointed when it was never about combat.

[@unclechair2208]

I myself had little to no experience with Ico cause I never had a playstation and was a born a bit too late to play it, but I am more than used to games that make you feel things. When you mentioned Miyazaki and his experience with Ico it reminded me of my own journey with MGS V and how it changed me forever, or how Flower made me feel things I can not explain by simply moving a bit of wind arount. This was a really emotional and great pitstop thank you my legendary internet roommate.

[@InternetPitstop]

Yeah man the feeling you describe is exactly what Ico does and thank u for commenting! you really get it!

[@moonflower1616]

I literally have Ueda's Ico art as my phone case. I love that game, but the parts where you have to leave Yorda behind stress me out so much that it's hard to want to play it again. My anxiety would get so bad when the monster music would start and I wasn't near her. 😩

[@isallogrenow8853]

I will never forget how hard i tried to protect Yorda from the shadows. Never i have experienced something like that in videogames prior or after. Truly a masterpiece. Also in Italy we got the De chirico cover and i am so happy to have it phisical.

[@alfredhigglestein2828]

The realisation you have to hold the button continuously just to hold her hand is just so simple but so powerful in how it completely changed the way I viewed mechanics used in this game as well as other games. Also this video slaps, was cool to see how much its influenced games and its creators over the past two decades since its release

I was there that fall in 2001. Bought ICO, Silent Hill 2, Jak and Daxter, Twisted Metal Black, GT3, GTA3, and Shadow of Destiny. What an amazing year with unforgettable classics. ICO felt so special even in that collection of games. I think about the game often even as an adult. I finished the game in tears back then as a kid and I'll always love the game. ❤

[@MrInuhanyou123]

Yoko taros entire monochromatic and crumbling ruined world game asthetic was according to him directly inspired by Ico. That shows how inspirational it really was

[@majesticeagle5461]

Oh wow! It inspired a game nobody knows about!

[@Cainleer]

​@@majesticeagle5461no one knows Nier Automata?

[@majesticeagle5461]

@@Cainleer yep!

[@flamingmanure]

ure either delusional or joking/trolling, cant tell tbh@@majesticeagle5461

[@nnnnmhughuuhhjiijj9457]

​@@majesticeagle5461The most obvious bait in history of mankind.

[@emilysaul4002]

I bought ico when it came out. I played the demo and eagerly awaited the release of the full game. I’ve replayed it dozens of times. Ico will always have a place in my heart.

[@ainejohnna4945]

I was busy playing soul calibur 2 with my cousins around the mid ps2 era and I feel like I missed out not knowing of this game being on the same console! I grew to ADORE storytelling games like Dreamfall, Final Fantasy, Legend of Dragoon, Okami, etc. Definitely would've remembered Ico. Thanks for reminding us and putting those of us (me) who don't know onto Ico, I'm adding it to my "Play"list for sure. p.s. nice to see the Castle in the Sky appreciation! That beautiful movie has such a special place in my heart and I can also see Pazu & Sheeta in Ico & Yorda

[@mrfcauthen]

I'm so happy this game is still getting the attention and praise it deserves. I rented this game when it came out and it blew my mind. I expected all games to be like Ico from then on since it was so obviously a step forward for games in general and seemed like a natural progression from the pinnacle of ps1 gaming. Then nobody talked about it at all until SotC was on the horizon. It was completely ignored by all the major gaming publications, which controlled a great deal of influence in the early 2000s. Anyway, thanks for reading my life's story and thanks for taking an interest in this brilliantly moving masterpiece.

[@nightmaree22]

I know it's not a new idea and has been said before, but thank you for highlighting that video games are an art form. So much love and passion go into making a video game's world, aesthetics, characters, and in-game culture, and I feel like people who don't play video games barely recognize that. As an art student who dreams of one day being part of a game company and creating their own story, this video is a wonderful reminder to keep going and to continue being inspired. Keep up the amazing work IP

[@kpdelaney6460]

I played this game for the first time last year, and it was phenomenal! Beautiful music and atmosphere, smooth character movement mechanics, satisfying puzzles, and an amazing story and world. I then played SotC a few weeks after, and it had more amazing music and movement mechanics way ahead of its time. Like you said in the video, the way you need to hold the button to hold her hand, or in sotc, hold the button to hang onto a ledge, is such an underutilized game mechanic that adds so much immersion for me; more games should do that when it suits the action. These games hold up so well today imo. There were a few spots where there was a bit of frustration with the game (similar to the first Uncharted) but overall Ico and SotC are so special to me. Exploring their worlds feels like a dream at dawn. I’m honestly amazed at how perfectly they captured that feeling: the sunlight is hitting your eyelids and making everything in the dream look over-exposed, but you push through the visual confusion because the story and world in the dream is so interesting. This happened to me a lot when I was younger, and I always tried so hard to fight the sunlight beckoning me awake to stay in the dream just a little longer; I’d eventually lose my focus and I’d be out of the dream and looking at my ceiling, and I’d have to come to terms with the likelihood that I’d never be able to return to that dream. The end of Ico, where the castle is falling apart and the beautiful credits music plays, captures this feeling of knowing you’ll never be able to return, but reflecting fondly on the dream. Ico and SotC capture a uniquely nostalgic aesthetic that’s hard to explain, but it’s deeply engrained in me.

[@tallmyster1323]

Thatgamecompany's MMO game Sky is definitely almost an extension on Ico's hand holding. The games literal core mechanic surrounding making real friends with real people in it will result in the ability to hold hands with a friend and walk with them (or they walk you) to places they go. Not to mention the other wholesome things like hugging, high fives, piggyback rides, or even dancing. I am almost certain these are natural extensions who's ancestry goes back to Ico.

[@loaf_iii9558]

Your videos take me back to a simpler time where I just watched NakeyJakey religiously in highschool, thank you for that.

[@flyingscarf5863]

"Heal" OST helped me so much through tough times, the game itself has an inexplicable vibe, kinda like silent hill, but on the medieval side. Strange yet extremely soothing. Superb music, superb game. Thanks for your vids IP! Take care 🌲

[@EduardoIsSmiling]

It might sound weird and dramatic, but i feel a emotional,psychological and spiritual connection to ICO. I spend years playing that game because i would always drag as much as possible in each little section of the game just so i can enjoy and feel the enviroment to it's max. I spend years without actually completing the game and replaying it again and again from time to time because i didn't want to know and feel like that world have ended. ICO represented a journey in my life, it represents a point of security and stability, somewhere i know i can go to escape reality.

[@Crooked_Mantis]

I feel you. If I had no obligations or responsibilities I'd probably just play ICO forever.

[@lupmaeji4832]

I love learning about the inspiration of games and how they inspire other stuff

[@bzb333]

that bump pulled me from my task at hand. looked over, saw the message and smiled. your content is superb, very well done, keep grinding!

[@Tike151]

The music and the environment still make me feel wonder to this day. The world feel so lonely but beautifully. Only a few things in life do I obsess over as much trying to find that feeling in other games or media. Those golden days of gaming on the PS2 are still some of my favorite memories.

[@poxaneuz]

Bro, you are literally my comfortable channel right now

[@EmileeAshe]

I'm so glad others appreciate the charm of ico's atmosphere 🙏🙏🙏 it's a beautiful piece of art, and the music really adds to the loneliness of the castle and characters. It's hauntingly beautiful💖

[@obenohnebohne]

I recently replayed the game and I was blown away by how good the game is. It is reduced to the max. It is a wonderful journey with emotional impact. No HUD, amazing architecture and two lost souls trying to escape. The soundtrack gives me chills.

[@hemangchauhan2864]

I've been watching video essays for over 8 years, so I'm always glad to find videos with actual analysis done. I knew everything about going into this video, but your writing brought out new perspectives. Esp how you connected ICO's design (holding hands) with all other aspects of game. Nice mid bump too.

[@voidler]

I remember playing a demo in a game store as a kid and was hooked. Just ten minutes stuck with me but I didnt know what the game was until many years later and fell in love again when i played it all the way through

[@stardawgguava.]

You’ve unlocked a memory of a game for me that I forgot was even in my brain. These nostalgia trips you take me down will always send me

[@kaylalong9093]

This game literally shaped my life. I remember being probably 3 or 4 and getting a PS1 trial game and Ico being on there. I begged my dad for it every time we went to the mall. Being so young, my dad mostly played and I watched. I remember just getting stuck on puzzles with him. I am planning on getting an Ico tattoo here soon.

[@andou_ryuu3205]

Story games are my favorite types of games by far so it’s really nice to learn about one of the first games that showed how to tell a story in a way that can only be done by this medium. Thanks for the video!

[@imnotlikeanyone]

this video reminded me of the hours I spent in front the TV with my PS2 playing ICO and Shadow of the colossus, so nostalgic. Thx for that.

[@Gromper7878]

This is one of the most glowing reviews of a game I've ever seen, and it convinced me to want to play a game I was never previously interested in

[@plantnt489]

Ueda's games have such a special vibe, I dont know why but everytime I see frames from SoTC a tear wants to come out, i think is for how beautiful it is

[@surihix_hive]

One part that I still remember ICO for was the vibration. as you are holding Yorda's hand, the way your controller vibrates has a bit of weight and that sells the whole feeling of you holding someone's hand quite well. there is a genuine feeling of weight as you are moving the analog stick with the accompanying tiny vibrations coming from you holding Yorda's hand.

[@chrislail3824]

I played this when it came out due to a demo they released. It was the area where you had to ride the blades of the windmill up to get to the next part of the level. Something that seems so casual and throw away was so magical then. I was lucky that I had friends that were open to game suggestions and trusted when I said something was good. This was definitely a game that started a long path of fairly artistic games that had emotional and gameplay impact of that generation.

[@nikita2679]

Thank you so much for artistic references behind Ico, newer heard of both artists. And the whole production level of your video is insanely good as well. We need more content like this!

[@bp3177]

This is the video that inspired me to literally buy a PS3 to play the remastered version of ICO. Hearing the massive praise and effect this game had on the gaming industry I knew I had to play it and see what the hype was about. So I played it and I can definitely say I’ve never played a game like this and it emotionally impacted me that no game has ever come close to. I was close to tears and my stomach was doing kickflips watching Yorda carry Ico and put him in the boat and say “Goodbye”. As well as the angelic theme song “You were there” literally gave me goosebumps and hit me in the gut with the feels. It was totally worth almost $300 to play this masterpiece of a game and I commend InternetPitstop for inspiring me to do so.

[@thatguymatt5816]

Dude ico was a PROFOUND experience for me. I love that you are covering it. Keep it going man 💪🏽

[@misatokatsuragi9111]

Really like the bumps, ive rekindled my love for video games by going back and play a bunch of games id never checked out out as a teen. Its awesome to learn about games such as Ico, i feel like its what makes gaming so special to me now.

[@grigorygorbatyuk8626]

Amazing video! ICO is one of my all time favourite games! ICO is timeless, beautiful and so much more than just a game! Thank you for this great entertaining and informative video which gives ICO respect it deserves! Peace! (also thanks for including various qoutes from other developers and for mentioning influential painters names - gotta check'em out) btw subscribed! your style's really cool, love the humor and editing

[@HeHndz]

I’ve vaguely heard of this game, but now, after watching this video, you got me interested like a lot

[@liamcox9043]

New IP video was just what I needed today. I missed out on a lot of great games as a young kid, and this was one of them, but watching your videos always manages to make me nostalgic

[@AnAppleInABox]

I've now watched this video like 5 times since it was uploaded. Idk why I love it so much. It's just a vibe that comes with watching you explain such a classic game. I ended up buying I copy for the PS3 that comes with both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus and am waiting for it to arrive. I can't wait to check it out, especially with my friend playing Colossus Remastered not long ago.

[@michaelsalazar8583]

Another Pitstop to make my week a lil bit better 😌🙏

[@poentecontente]

4:15 that song give me chills everytime, my soul starts crying with sadness but also with hope

[@benmcgiggles7655]

TL;DR - Thank you, I'm so glad to see videos on this masterpiece. I played Ico for the first time pretty recently, but it had this same profound effect on me even with all future games to compare it to. Thank you for posting this. I think this game has a solid case for most underappreciated game of all time. Up there with the first Dragon Quest for just setting so many standards in the industry. Shadow of the Colossus has been one of my favorite games since I played it as a kid, and I had the PS3 collection, but I never got very far in Ico and would always head back to SOTC. Then, last year as an adult, I figured "Oh what the hell, I've had Ico for so long, I should finally finish it. Went in totally blind, knew nothing about it's reputation, and I was just in awe at this game once I started playing. I ended up beating the game the next day, because I was so glued to it. It felt like I had just unearthed this piece of history that had totally flown under my radar. And while I still prefer Shadow of the Colossus, Ico is more than worthy to stand alongside it as masterpieces. And it still had that effect on me with no nostalgia, so that's how you know it's good.

[@reggieallen1270]

I love when you talk about older games. I think a video on the first game you remember playing would be great. My first game was Sly Cooper on the PS2

[@ros9764]

I've never played or watched gameplay of Ico or SotC but ever since i have played Sonic 3 & Knuckles it has become my favorite game of all time mainly because of that story through gameplay you just talked about. The entire game being on one huge island, the narrative arc of Knuckles of how he goes from a regular bad guy to the person who helps you because he is the guardian of the place, the multiple hidden paths you can take with different abilities and so much more can tell you without a single word of dialogue how these characters are in terms of personality and what makes them so special. I can list even more reasons as to why the story works so well but that would make this comment unnecessarily long

[@HADAHLIA]

in love with this nakey-jakey adjacent presentation you have going on! + kings field iv music. my family could never really afford games for the ps2 in my childhood but these games still evoke such an ethereal nostalgic feeling within me

[@Kolket1389]

Wow, you really opened my eyes. I never even heard of Ico before

[@musician971]

That bump music was fire 🔥

[@Psychadelico]

Man I love to see Ico getting the recognition it deserves on the KZbin scene. I was a young dude when I watched my cousin play through Ico and it never left me. Also, the Soulsborne series being my favourite games EVER, I have to thank you for the info about Myiazaki. Knowing that without Ico there would probably be no Soulsborne just makes me love it even more

[@samtrue1]

Man, I love you and thank you so much for going the extra mile with things like adding the soundtrack playlist to the description. A lot of this music I haven't heard in years and trying to remember the names of the songs is impossible. Thanks for the nostalgia trip!

[@InternetPitstop]

No problem man! Always want ppl to find the tunes

[@jordantaylor4390]

Everything you upload is like a trip directly into my childhood! Amazing stuff!

[@kaviero4499]

Bro that mid bump was amazing, they never miss

[@brushketo]

You Gabagool this vid hit my flood gates and cracked them open and ngl in defense to hold them for not tearing up 😭🤌 was tempted in 10 seconds in to say poopah Stinkah the colossus sucked cause played it when wasn't exactly that open minded . . Or in a place to hear anyone out and just felt weird Lost world level of nostalgia for a game I never played. . . Keep up the work . . Genuinely was going to write off this video and take it off my currently viewing tab. .

[@imtireding]

this pop up on my feed bruh, can't tell you how excited I got. it's my no.1 game but rarely see love for it like ueda's other games. great vid tho, another awesome channel found :)

[@Manuel-wp6uq]

It’s crazy I just finished playing this game and happened to find this video. I cried really hard at the ending. Such a beautiful game

[@caseyclyde3006]

Great video, thanks. This is a game that's really stuck with me. Just in terms of atmosphere, I think it is one of the all-time greats, along with Riven and Majora's Mask.

[@mutantshrimp168]

This is not confirmed but I would bet anything that Made in Abyss (one of my favorites animes, recommend, beautiful but also really dark tho) have huge inspirations from Ico as well. I mean just look at Reg, the design it's way to similar to be a coincidence. There's also a ton of themes that overlap between both medias. The somber but beautiful world, a story about relationships and mutual growth. So yeah, I'm pretty confident that Made in Abyss exist partially thanks to Ico

[@thatsannoying]

Damn, I gotta play this. Also greatly appreciate the mid-bump 🙏🏽

[@dr.pepper3652]

Thanks for put visibility on this game, I probably encountered it in the past, but it wasn't explained this well. I never played when I was a kid, but it gave me the vibe of Kingdom hearts. Appreciate also the hard work you put in your videos, they're amazing!

[@Emarella]

You sir have excellent taste. ICO has been my favorite game of all time since I played it over 18 years ago. I had NO idea it was so influential to so many other incredible games (some of which I’ve also played and loved), so the research was almost as appreciated as hearing someone gush about it ;)

[@alexsandifer5139]

Glad I've been able to watch the rise, I know you'll take this channel to even greater heights. You could be talking about pretty much anything and it would be engaging, your storytelling ability is so rare. Not to mention the pixel art and '90s anime aesthetics are nostalgic and calming

[@finlay.s3813]

I saw one of IP’s videos a few months ago where he mentioned ICO’s vibes, and I had such a strong compulsion to play it that I ended up buying a second hand ps3 and a physical copy. Then of course I played the ps4 version of shadows of the colossus and the last guardian just to complete the trilogy. Super hyped for the next GENdesign game, and I love following their Instagram and KZbin pages because they have a bunch of behind the scenes content that went into the development of Ico, like storyboards and prototype character designs.

[@JBlackMage2]

4 videos in a month? You're on fire dude, love the videos

[@andrewbreazna]

That was an incredible bump sir

[@yashA.456]

didn't know about this game at all and I can totally see the inspiration from Ico in Shadow of the Colossus it's insane. It feels like they're walking around in the same world. loved this video, your style is so cool. love the fact you have a greenscreen and are literally inside the video haha also your way of talking is really enjoyable. keep it up my dude 🙏🙏

[@ima_jesus]

ICO has become such a part of me from when I played it with my brothers as a child. It really sticks with you like nothing else. What a banger of a video

[@lucyintheskyye]

Hi Internet pitstop. I watched the first few minutes of this video and heard you mention this game in another video of yours. And I just HAD to stop and give it a try before finishing this video. I just finished the game and I wanted to say thank you for introducing me to this game

[@cozyweatherfilms]

Brothers was one of the first games to actually make me cry at the end and that controller mechanic is what really sold it. You feel the struggle and growth of the characters through the thumbsticks alone. I didn't know that it was inspired by Ico, but it makes so much more sense now.

[@OGBuddah]

You nailed it again man, great work! Do not under estimate how inspirational your work is.

[@ausbigdaddy1]

Just found your videos. Dude! Immaculate vibes.

[@Bane_Amesta]

My dude, thank you for this video. Ico needs, no, deserves more love. Still pissed at Bluepoint for no making an Ico remake like it rightfully deserves.

[@ninjasteph9561]

I loved this game but had almost forgotten about it. Thanks for unlocking a memory!

[@youtubeur]

really great video! This game reminds me a lot of "The King and the Mockingbird" an animated movie made in the 80's, exploring the game gave me the same feeling as watching that movie maybe because of the graphisms and the way the castle fell apart at the end (i really recommend watching the movie it's a good one!)

[@limpstool6263]

just binged all this man’s vids on the toilet, great content, keep it up

[@realtayo42]

This truly is the channel we didn't know we wanted but the channel that we needed. Phenomenal work Mr. Pitstop, I shall continue stopping by everytime you delve into the depths of the internet.

[@lunch_trey]

Ico and Yorda's relationship is one of my favorites in gaming/fiction in general. It's the perfect example of a healthy codependent relationship: both need the other's abilities to progress and neither values their life over the other's. Despite being separated by a language barrier, these two characters still put enough trust in each other all because their desire to live outweighs any doubts.

[@Moon13Dreams]

I never had a system to play Ico, but the first time I heard you describe the handholding mechanic and the integration of the mechanic with the story, I was hooked! I also hope for a reboot so more can enjoy this game and storytelling

[@teamshaft3106]

Man idk if you’ve seen NakeyJakey but yall have a very similar passionate video essay vibe and really hit all my nostalgia in these great videos. I hope to see more and more of your videos. you’re doing a fantastic job and hope to join your patreon soon and consume as much of your content as possible ❤️

[@InternetPitstop]

Thank you man! And yes Jakey was a big influence on me! Also that be awesome man we have a bunch of different type of content all over the patreon!