Simply Stunning
This game sets you down in an expansive, yet eerily empty landscape dotted with crumbling ruins of long-forgotten civilizations and the towering, titular mountains of flesh, fur, and stone.
Although there is little in the way of a direct narrative, the towering monuments waiting to be discovered lend the game an immense feeling of history. Furthermore, the quiet resoluteness of our nameless hero, combined with the way he visibly struggles against his gargantuan foes provides an immense emotional heft. At the same time, the portrayal of the colossi's deaths evokes a certain degree of sadness as the once imposing beasts reveal complete and total vulnerability in their dying moments. This sense of regret is enhanced when one revisits the locales of previous battles, only to discover that the remains of fallen enemies have faded into barely recognizable mounds of dirt and stone, giving the player an unshakable sense that something grand and mythical has vanished from the world.
Technically, the game is no less impressive. The cloth animations are, admittedly, somewhat blocky, but the movement of the protagonist and the colossi are both startlingly realistic. Additionally, the hair and fur effects are the most impressive of any game I've ever seen on the PS2. Likewise, the game's amazing orchestral score cycles through wistful, foreboding, and epic compositions where appropriate.
Unfortunately, this game may not appeal to everyone immediately. The focus on wandering through vast open terrain instead of progressing through traditional "levels" may be uncomfortable to veteran gamers. Likewise, the action sequences, although visually stunning, require more puzzle-solving skills than quick reflexes, thus straying from traditional formulae. Furthermore, the sheer enormity of the game, combined with the subtlety of its presentation may not fully sink in without multiple playings.
Yet, despite these minor shortcomings (and, in some ways, because of them) Shadow of the Colossus remains an unparalleled masterpiece. This game is one of a select few that crosses the boundary between entertainment and art.