Retrospective: Shadow of the Colossus Remains the Gold Standard for Remasters

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Over the weekend, I chose to revisit Shadow of the Colossus on my PlayStation 5, which I’ve had since it was added to PlayStation Plus Extra. Previously, I completed the game once before as a remaster, but this time around, I felt drawn to re-experience it.

As a devoted enthusiast, I embarked on my customary routine – diving into a fresh adventure, mounting Aggro, brandishing my sword high, and chasing the radiant beacon towards the first Colossus. And then it struck me: this revamped masterpiece could very well be the finest remaster I’ve ever experienced.

Back in the early 2000s, Shadow of the Colossus was one of the initial games I played on my PlayStation 2. It was a game like Kingdom Hearts, Devil May Cry, and God of War that left a lasting impression on me as a child. However, Shadow of the Colossus stood out from the crowd. This was my introduction to the creative mind of Fumito Ueda, who also created Ico, and it set a standard that not many others could match.

The game was shrouded in enigma and had an eerie, dreamlike quality. Completing it on my old, damaged CRT TV with my PS2 Slim left me puzzled about its mind-bending finale for days as I searched the internet for answers. It was the perfect sort of strange—the kind that leaves you doubting everything. Had I been the antagonist? Eventually, I let it go and other games took its place during the PS2 era, such as Persona 4. Yet, Shadow of the Colossus continued to linger in the recesses of my memory.

2018 arrived, and Bluepoint Studios bravely endeavored to remaster the entire game for contemporary players – and they hit it out of the park. As soon as I laid eyes on it, I felt compelled to revisit. I yearned to re-experience it, but now with stunning visuals optimized for a high-quality monitor rather than the outdated CRT.

Incredibly, the game was still just as amazing! I’m amazed at how Bluepoint achieved this feat – they somehow managed to recreate the very same game that captivated me, but it felt like a fresh, contemporary remake. The quality shone through – the graphics were improved, and the lighting was nothing short of breathtaking. Battling each Colossus with their enhanced fur physics and dynamic lighting made it feel tailor-made for a modern audience.

The collection of Colossi stayed the same, along with the tale. Yet re-experiencing it with a contemporary perspective was more impactful than anticipated. Witnessing Wander defeat each towering giant sequentially was as impressive as ever. Reuniting with Aggro brought back emotions I wasn’t prepared to relive so strongly. And indeed, seeing my cherished horse suffer once more was heart-wrenching all over again.

Back then, it was a game that seemed far ahead of its era. Even in 2025, not many games have equaled Shadow of the Colossus’s unique minimalist design and eerie, dreamlike atmosphere. Granted, there are Zelda games, but Link has never battled against sixteen colossal creatures like those in Shadow of the Colossus.

This remastered version is not just a great game, but a superior one, skillfully enhanced in almost every aspect where the original fell short. I sincerely recommend it to anyone owning a PlayStation 5, or even those who can spare $20, for embarking on this journey, whether you’re a newcomer or a returning visitor to that stunning, solitary world. To wrap up, here’s a video by Jacob Geller discussing the game’s enigmatic puzzle.

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2025-04-17 18:43