<s>
is	O
an	O
action-adventure	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Japan	O
Studio	O
and	O
Team	O
Ico	B-Application
,	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Sony	O
Computer	O
Entertainment	O
,	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
video	O
game	O
console	O
in	O
2001	O
and	O
2002	O
in	O
various	O
regions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Originally	O
planned	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
,	O
Ico	B-Application
took	O
approximately	O
four	O
years	O
to	O
develop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
protagonist	O
is	O
a	O
young	O
boy	O
named	O
Ico	B-Application
who	O
was	O
born	O
with	O
horns	O
,	O
which	O
his	O
village	O
considers	O
a	O
bad	O
omen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
his	O
explorations	O
of	O
the	O
fortress	O
,	O
Ico	B-Application
encounters	O
Yorda	B-Application
,	O
the	O
daughter	O
of	O
the	O
castle	O
's	O
Queen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Queen	O
plans	O
to	O
use	O
Yorda	B-Application
's	O
body	O
to	O
extend	O
her	O
own	O
lifespan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Learning	O
this	O
,	O
Ico	B-Application
seeks	O
to	O
escape	O
the	O
castle	O
with	O
Yorda	B-Application
,	O
keeping	O
her	O
safe	O
from	O
the	O
shadowy	O
creatures	O
that	O
attempt	O
to	O
draw	O
her	O
back	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Throughout	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
controls	O
Ico	B-Application
as	O
he	O
explores	O
the	O
castle	O
,	O
solves	O
puzzles	O
and	O
assists	O
Yorda	B-Application
across	O
obstacles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
introduced	O
several	O
design	O
and	O
technical	O
elements	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
story	O
told	O
with	O
minimal	O
dialogue	O
,	O
bloom	O
lighting	O
,	O
and	O
key	O
frame	O
animation	O
,	O
that	O
have	O
influenced	O
subsequent	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
rereleased	O
in	O
Europe	O
in	O
2006	O
in	O
conjunction	O
with	O
Shadow	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Colossus	I-Application
,	O
the	O
spiritual	O
successor	O
to	O
Ico	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
high-definition	O
remaster	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
alongside	O
Shadow	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Colossus	I-Application
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
in	O
The	B-Application
Ico	I-Application
&	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Colossus	I-Application
Collection	I-Application
in	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
is	O
primarily	O
a	O
three-dimensional	O
platform	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
controls	O
Ico	B-Application
from	O
a	O
third-person	O
perspective	O
as	O
he	O
explores	O
the	O
castle	O
and	O
attempts	O
to	O
escape	O
it	O
with	O
Yorda	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
camera	O
is	O
fixed	O
in	O
each	O
room	O
or	O
area	O
but	O
swivels	O
to	O
follow	O
Ico	B-Application
or	O
Yorda	B-Application
as	O
they	O
move	O
;	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
also	O
pan	O
the	O
view	O
a	O
small	O
degree	O
in	O
other	O
directions	O
to	O
observe	O
more	O
of	O
the	O
surroundings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
includes	O
many	O
elements	O
of	O
platform	O
games	O
;	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
have	O
Ico	B-Application
jump	O
,	O
climb	O
,	O
push	O
and	O
pull	O
objects	O
,	O
and	O
perform	O
other	O
tasks	O
such	O
as	O
solving	O
puzzles	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
progress	O
within	O
the	O
castle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
actions	O
are	O
complicated	O
by	O
the	O
fact	O
that	O
only	O
Ico	B-Application
can	O
carry	O
out	O
these	O
actions	O
;	O
Yorda	B-Application
can	O
jump	O
only	O
short	O
distances	O
and	O
cannot	O
climb	O
over	O
tall	O
barriers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
must	O
use	O
Ico	B-Application
so	O
that	O
he	O
helps	O
Yorda	B-Application
cross	O
obstacles	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
by	O
lifting	O
her	O
to	O
a	O
higher	O
ledge	O
,	O
or	O
by	O
arranging	O
the	O
environment	O
to	O
allow	O
Yorda	B-Application
to	O
cross	O
a	O
larger	O
gap	O
herself	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
tell	O
Yorda	B-Application
to	O
follow	O
Ico	B-Application
,	O
or	O
to	O
wait	O
at	O
a	O
spot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
have	O
Ico	B-Application
take	O
Yorda	B-Application
's	O
hand	O
and	O
pull	O
her	O
along	O
at	O
a	O
faster	O
pace	O
across	O
the	O
environment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
are	O
unable	O
to	O
progress	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
until	O
they	O
move	O
Yorda	B-Application
to	O
certain	O
doors	O
that	O
only	O
she	O
can	O
open	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
creatures	O
attempt	O
to	O
drag	O
Yorda	B-Application
into	O
black	O
vortexes	O
if	O
Ico	B-Application
leaves	O
her	O
for	O
any	O
length	O
of	O
time	O
,	O
or	O
if	O
she	O
is	O
in	O
certain	O
areas	O
of	O
the	O
castle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
can	O
dispel	O
these	O
shadows	O
using	O
a	O
stick	O
or	O
sword	O
and	O
pull	O
Yorda	B-Application
free	O
if	O
she	O
is	O
drawn	O
into	O
a	O
vortex	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
shadow	O
creatures	O
cannot	O
harm	O
Ico	B-Application
,	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
over	O
if	O
Yorda	B-Application
becomes	O
fully	O
engulfed	O
in	O
a	O
vortex	O
;	O
the	O
player	O
restarts	O
from	O
a	O
save	O
point	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
will	O
also	O
restart	O
from	O
a	O
save	O
point	O
if	O
Ico	B-Application
falls	O
from	O
a	O
large	O
height	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Save	O
points	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
are	O
represented	O
by	O
stone	O
benches	O
that	O
Ico	B-Application
and	O
Yorda	B-Application
rest	O
on	O
as	O
the	O
player	O
saves	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
European	O
and	O
Japanese	O
releases	O
,	O
upon	O
completion	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
has	O
the	O
opportunity	O
to	O
restart	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
a	O
local	O
co-operative	O
two-player	O
mode	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
second	O
player	O
plays	O
as	O
Yorda	B-Application
,	O
still	O
under	O
the	O
same	O
limitations	O
as	O
the	O
computer-controlled	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
tremor	O
topples	O
the	O
coffin	O
and	O
Ico	B-Application
escapes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
helps	O
Yorda	B-Application
escape	O
and	O
defends	O
her	O
from	O
shadow-like	O
creatures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
they	O
cross	O
,	O
the	O
Queen	O
,	O
ruler	O
of	O
the	O
castle	O
,	O
appears	O
and	O
tells	O
Yorda	B-Application
that	O
as	O
her	O
daughter	O
she	O
cannot	O
leave	O
the	O
castle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yorda	B-Application
tries	O
to	O
save	O
Ico	B-Application
but	O
the	O
Queen	O
prevents	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
awakens	O
below	O
the	O
castle	O
and	O
makes	O
his	O
way	O
back	O
to	O
the	O
upper	O
levels	O
,	O
finding	O
a	O
magic	O
sword	O
that	O
dispels	O
the	O
shadow	O
creatures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
discovering	O
that	O
Yorda	B-Application
has	O
been	O
turned	O
to	O
stone	O
by	O
the	O
Queen	O
,	O
he	O
confronts	O
the	O
Queen	O
in	O
her	O
throne	O
room	O
,	O
who	O
reveals	O
that	O
she	O
plans	O
to	O
restart	O
her	O
life	O
anew	O
by	O
taking	O
possession	O
of	O
Yorda	B-Application
's	O
body	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
slays	O
the	O
Queen	O
with	O
the	O
magic	O
sword	O
,	O
but	O
his	O
horns	O
are	O
broken	O
in	O
the	O
fight	O
and	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
it	O
he	O
is	O
knocked	O
unconscious	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
Queen	O
's	O
death	O
the	O
castle	O
begins	O
to	O
collapse	O
around	O
Ico	B-Application
,	O
but	O
the	O
Queen	O
's	O
spell	O
on	O
Yorda	B-Application
is	O
broken	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
shadowy	O
Yorda	B-Application
carries	O
Ico	B-Application
safely	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
castle	O
to	O
a	O
boat	O
,	O
sending	O
him	O
to	O
drift	O
to	O
the	O
shore	O
alone	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
awakens	O
to	O
find	O
the	O
distant	O
castle	O
in	O
ruins	O
,	O
and	O
Yorda	B-Application
,	O
in	O
her	O
human	O
form	O
,	O
washed	O
up	O
nearby	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
wakes	O
up	O
and	O
smiles	O
at	O
Ico	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lead	O
designer	O
Fumito	O
Ueda	O
came	O
up	O
with	O
the	O
concept	O
for	O
Ico	B-Application
in	O
1997	O
,	O
envisioning	O
a	O
"	O
boy	O
meets	O
girl	O
"	O
story	O
where	O
the	O
two	O
main	O
characters	O
would	O
hold	O
hands	O
during	O
their	O
adventure	O
,	O
forming	O
a	O
bond	O
between	O
them	O
without	O
communication	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ueda	O
's	O
original	O
inspiration	O
for	O
Ico	B-Application
was	O
a	O
TV	O
commercial	O
he	O
saw	O
,	O
of	O
a	O
woman	O
holding	O
the	O
hand	O
of	O
a	O
child	O
while	O
walking	O
through	O
the	O
woods	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
manga	O
series	O
Galaxy	O
Express	O
999	O
,	O
where	O
a	O
woman	O
is	O
a	O
guardian	O
for	O
the	O
young	O
hero	O
as	O
they	O
adventure	O
through	O
the	O
galaxy	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
thought	O
about	O
adapting	O
into	O
a	O
new	O
idea	O
for	O
video	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
cited	O
his	O
work	O
as	O
an	O
animator	O
on	O
Kenji	O
Eno	O
's	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
game	O
Enemy	B-Application
Zero	I-Application
,	O
which	O
influenced	O
the	O
animation	O
work	O
,	O
cinematic	O
cutscenes	O
,	O
lighting	O
effects	O
,	O
sound	O
design	O
,	O
and	O
mature	O
appeal	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ueda	O
was	O
also	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
Another	B-Application
World	I-Application
(	O
Outer	B-Application
World	I-Application
in	O
Japan	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
used	O
cinematic	O
cutscenes	O
,	O
lacked	O
any	O
head-up	B-Application
display	I-Application
elements	O
as	O
to	O
play	O
like	O
a	O
movie	O
,	O
and	O
also	O
featured	O
an	O
emotional	O
connection	O
between	O
two	O
characters	O
despite	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
minimal	O
dialog	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
cited	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Mega	I-Operating_System
Drive	I-Operating_System
games	O
,	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
,	O
Lemmings	B-Application
,	O
Flashback	B-Application
and	O
the	O
original	O
Prince	B-Application
of	I-Application
Persia	I-Application
games	O
as	O
influences	O
,	O
specifically	O
regarding	O
animation	O
and	O
gameplay	O
style	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
help	O
of	O
an	O
assistant	O
,	O
Ueda	O
created	O
an	O
animation	O
in	O
Lightwave	B-Device
to	O
get	O
a	O
feel	O
for	O
the	O
final	O
game	O
and	O
to	O
better	O
convey	O
his	O
vision	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
three-minute	O
demonstration	O
reel	O
,	O
Yorda	B-Application
had	O
the	O
horns	O
instead	O
of	O
Ico	B-Application
,	O
and	O
flying	O
robotic	O
creatures	O
were	O
seen	O
firing	O
weapons	O
to	O
destroy	O
the	O
castle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ueda	O
stated	O
that	O
having	O
this	O
movie	O
that	O
represented	O
his	O
vision	O
helped	O
to	O
keep	O
the	O
team	O
on	O
track	O
for	O
the	O
long	O
development	O
process	O
,	O
and	O
he	O
reused	O
this	O
technique	O
for	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Shadow	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Colossus	I-Application
,	O
the	O
team	O
's	O
next	O
effort	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ueda	O
began	O
working	O
with	O
producer	O
Kenji	O
Kaido	O
in	O
1998	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
idea	O
and	O
bring	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
interim	O
design	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
shows	O
Ico	B-Application
and	O
Yorda	B-Application
facing	O
horned	O
warriors	O
similar	O
to	O
those	O
who	O
take	O
Ico	B-Application
to	O
the	O
castle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
originally	O
focused	O
on	O
Ico	B-Application
's	O
attempt	O
to	O
return	O
Yorda	B-Application
to	O
her	O
room	O
in	O
the	O
castle	O
after	O
she	O
was	O
kidnapped	O
by	O
these	O
warriors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
consisted	O
of	O
two	O
programmers	O
,	O
four	O
artists	O
,	O
and	O
one	O
designer	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
Ueda	O
and	O
Kaido	O
,	O
forming	O
the	O
base	O
of	O
what	O
is	O
now	O
known	O
as	O
Team	O
Ico	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
reflection	O
,	O
Ueda	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
subtracting	O
design	O
may	O
have	O
taken	O
too	O
much	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
did	O
not	O
go	O
to	O
as	O
great	O
an	O
extreme	O
with	O
Shadow	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Colossus	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
two	O
years	O
of	O
development	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
ran	O
into	O
limitations	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
hardware	O
and	O
faced	O
a	O
critical	O
choice	O
:	O
either	O
terminate	O
the	O
project	O
altogether	O
,	O
alter	O
their	O
vision	O
to	O
fit	O
the	O
constraints	O
of	O
the	O
hardware	O
,	O
or	O
continue	O
to	O
explore	O
more	O
options	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
decided	O
to	O
remain	O
true	O
to	O
Ueda	O
's	O
vision	O
,	O
and	O
began	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
Emotion	B-Architecture
Engine	I-Architecture
of	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
taking	O
advantage	O
of	O
the	O
improved	O
abilities	O
of	O
the	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Character	O
animation	O
was	O
accomplished	O
through	O
key	O
frame	O
animation	O
instead	O
of	O
the	O
more	O
common	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
technique	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ueda	O
purposely	O
left	O
the	O
ending	O
vague	O
,	O
not	O
stating	O
whether	O
Yorda	B-Application
was	O
alive	O
,	O
whether	O
she	O
would	O
travel	O
with	O
Ico	B-Application
,	O
or	O
if	O
it	O
was	O
simply	O
the	O
protagonist	O
's	O
dream	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ueda	O
believed	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
surrealistic	O
world	O
of	O
de	O
Chirico	O
matched	O
the	O
allegoric	O
world	O
of	O
Ico	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
reflection	O
,	O
Yasuhide	O
Kobayashi	O
,	O
vice-president	O
of	O
Sony	O
's	O
Japan	O
Studio	O
,	O
believed	O
the	O
North	O
American	O
box	O
art	O
and	O
lack	O
of	O
an	O
identifiable	O
English	O
title	O
led	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
poor	O
sales	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
and	O
stated	O
plans	O
to	O
correct	O
that	O
for	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Last	I-Application
Guardian	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
re-released	O
as	O
a	O
standard	O
edition	O
in	O
2006	O
across	O
all	O
PAL	O
regions	O
except	O
France	O
after	O
the	O
2005	O
release	O
of	O
Shadow	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Colossus	I-Application
,	O
Icos	O
spiritual	O
sequel	O
,	O
to	O
allow	O
players	O
to	O
"	O
fill	O
the	O
gap	O
in	O
their	O
collection	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
uses	O
minimal	O
dialog	O
in	O
a	O
fictional	O
language	O
to	O
provide	O
the	O
story	O
throughout	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Voice	O
actors	O
included	O
Kazuhiro	O
Shindō	O
as	O
Ico	B-Application
,	O
Rieko	O
Takahashi	O
as	O
Yorda	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Misa	O
Watanabe	O
as	O
the	O
Queen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
and	O
the	O
Queen	O
's	O
words	O
are	O
presented	O
in	O
either	O
English	O
or	O
Japanese	O
subtitles	O
depending	O
on	O
the	O
release	O
region	O
,	O
but	O
Yorda	B-Application
's	O
speech	O
is	O
presented	O
in	O
a	O
symbolic	O
language	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ueda	O
opted	O
not	O
to	O
provide	O
the	O
translation	O
for	O
Yorda	B-Application
's	O
words	O
as	O
it	O
would	O
have	O
overcome	O
the	O
language	O
barrier	O
between	O
Ico	B-Application
and	O
Yorda	B-Application
,	O
and	O
detracted	O
from	O
the	O
"	O
holding	O
hands	O
"	O
concept	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
last	O
song	O
of	O
the	O
CD	O
,	O
"	O
ICO	B-Application
-You	O
Were	O
There-	O
"	O
,	O
includes	O
vocals	O
sung	O
by	O
former	O
Libera	O
member	O
Steven	O
Geraghty	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Costumes	O
(	O
including	O
Ico	B-Application
and	O
Yorda	B-Application
)	O
,	O
stickers	O
,	O
and	O
sound	O
effects	O
from	O
Ico	B-Application
are	O
part	O
of	O
an	O
add-on	O
pack	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
LittleBigPlanet	B-Application
,	O
alongside	O
similar	O
materials	O
from	O
Shadow	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Colossus	I-Application
,	O
after	O
being	O
teased	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
developers	O
Media	O
Molecule	O
about	O
two	O
weeks	O
prior	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
makes	O
a	O
cameo	O
appearance	O
in	O
Astro	B-Device
's	I-Device
Playroom	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2010	O
,	O
Misher	O
Films	O
said	O
that	O
a	O
film	O
adaption	O
of	O
Ico	B-Application
may	O
come	O
about	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
their	O
then-planned	O
adaptation	O
of	O
Shadow	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Colossus	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
,	O
becoming	O
a	O
cult	O
hit	O
among	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
Famitsu	O
magazine	O
scored	O
the	O
PlayStation2	B-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
a	O
30	O
out	O
of	O
40	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
considered	O
by	O
some	O
to	O
be	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
greatest	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
;	O
Edge	O
ranked	O
Ico	B-Application
as	O
the	O
13th	O
top	O
game	O
in	O
a	O
2007	O
listing	O
,	O
while	O
IGN	O
ranked	O
the	O
game	O
at	O
number	O
18	O
in	O
2005	O
,	O
and	O
at	O
number	O
57	O
in	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
has	O
been	O
used	O
as	O
an	O
example	O
of	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
is	O
a	O
work	O
of	O
art	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ueda	O
commented	O
that	O
he	O
purposely	O
tried	O
to	O
distance	O
Ico	B-Application
from	O
conventional	O
video	O
games	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
negative	O
image	O
video	O
games	O
were	O
receiving	O
at	O
that	O
time	O
,	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
draw	O
more	O
people	O
to	O
the	O
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
reviewers	O
have	O
likened	O
Ico	B-Application
to	O
older	O
,	O
simpler	O
adventure	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Prince	B-Application
of	I-Application
Persia	I-Application
or	O
Tomb	B-Application
Raider	I-Application
,	O
that	O
seek	O
to	O
evoke	O
an	O
emotional	O
experience	O
from	O
the	O
player	O
;	O
IGNs	O
David	O
Smith	O
commented	O
that	O
while	O
simple	O
,	O
as	O
an	O
experience	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
"	O
near	O
indescribable.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Charles	O
Herold	O
of	O
The	O
New	O
York	O
Times	O
summed	O
up	O
his	O
review	O
stating	O
that	O
"	O
Ico	B-Application
is	O
not	O
a	O
perfect	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
is	O
a	O
game	O
of	O
perfect	O
moments.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Herold	O
later	O
commented	O
that	O
Ico	B-Application
breaks	O
the	O
mold	O
of	O
games	O
that	O
usually	O
involve	O
companions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
most	O
games	O
these	O
companions	O
are	O
invulnerable	O
and	O
players	O
will	O
generally	O
not	O
concern	O
with	O
the	O
non-playable	O
characters	O
 '	O
fate	O
,	O
but	O
Ico	B-Application
creates	O
the	O
sense	O
of	O
"	O
trust	O
and	O
childish	O
fragility	O
"	O
around	O
Yorda	B-Application
,	O
which	O
leads	O
to	O
the	O
character	O
being	O
"	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
entire	O
focus	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
is	O
also	O
considered	O
a	O
short	O
game	O
,	O
taking	O
between	O
seven	O
and	O
ten	O
hours	O
for	O
a	O
single	O
play	O
through	O
,	O
which	O
Game	O
Revolution	O
calls	O
"	O
painfully	O
short	O
"	O
with	O
"	O
no	O
replay	O
outside	O
of	O
self-imposed	O
challenges	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
G4TV	O
's	O
Matthew	O
Keil	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
felt	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
so	O
strong	O
,	O
many	O
will	O
finish	O
'	O
Ico	B-Application
 '	O
in	O
one	O
or	O
two	O
sittings	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
notes	O
that	O
"	O
Yorda	B-Application
would	O
probably	O
be	O
the	O
worst	O
companion	O
-she	O
'	O
s	O
scatterbrained	O
and	O
helpless	O
;	O
if	O
not	O
for	O
the	O
fact	O
that	O
the	O
player	O
develops	O
a	O
bond	O
with	O
her	O
,	O
making	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
ending	O
all	O
the	O
more	O
heartrending.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Francesca	O
Reyes	O
reviewed	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
Next	O
Generation	O
,	O
rating	O
it	O
four	O
stars	O
out	O
of	O
five	O
,	O
and	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
Intensely	O
involving	O
and	O
wonderfully	O
simple	O
,	O
Ico	B-Application
,	O
though	O
flawed	O
,	O
deserves	O
to	O
find	O
its	O
niche	O
as	O
a	O
quiet	O
classic.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Ueda	O
considered	O
his	O
design	O
by	O
subtraction	O
approach	O
may	O
have	O
hurt	O
the	O
marketing	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
as	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
,	O
promotion	O
of	O
video	O
games	O
were	O
primarily	O
done	O
through	O
screenshots	O
,	O
and	O
as	O
Ico	B-Application
lacked	O
any	O
heads-up	B-Application
display	I-Application
,	O
it	O
appeared	O
uninteresting	O
to	O
potential	O
buyers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
received	O
several	O
acclamations	O
from	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
press	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
Games	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
by	O
many	O
publications	O
,	O
despite	O
competing	O
with	O
releases	O
such	O
as	O
Halo	O
,	O
Metal	B-Application
Gear	I-Application
Solid	I-Application
2	I-Application
:	I-Application
Sons	I-Application
of	I-Application
Liberty	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
won	O
GameSpots	O
annual	O
"	O
Best	O
Graphics	O
,	O
Artistic	O
"	O
prize	O
among	O
console	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
influenced	O
numerous	O
other	O
video	O
games	O
,	O
which	O
borrowed	O
from	O
its	O
simple	O
and	O
visual	O
design	O
ideals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
game	O
designers	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Eiji	O
Aonuma	O
,	O
Hideo	O
Kojima	O
,	O
and	O
Jordan	O
Mechner	O
,	O
have	O
cited	O
Ico	B-Application
as	O
having	O
influenced	O
the	O
visual	O
appearance	O
of	O
their	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Twilight	I-Application
Princess	I-Application
,	O
Metal	B-Application
Gear	I-Application
Solid	I-Application
3	I-Application
:	I-Application
Snake	I-Application
Eater	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Prince	B-Application
of	I-Application
Persia	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Sands	I-Application
of	I-Application
Time	I-Application
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Marc	O
Laidlaw	O
,	O
scriptwriter	O
for	O
the	O
Half-Life	O
series	O
,	O
commented	O
that	O
,	O
among	O
several	O
other	O
more	O
memorable	O
moments	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
point	O
where	O
Yorda	B-Application
attempts	O
to	O
save	O
Ico	B-Application
from	O
falling	O
off	O
the	O
damaged	O
bridge	O
was	O
"	O
a	O
significant	O
event	O
not	O
only	O
for	O
that	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
for	O
the	O
art	O
of	O
game	O
design	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Naughty	O
Dog	O
team	O
used	O
Ico	B-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
inspiration	O
for	O
developing	O
Uncharted	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vander	O
Caballero	O
credits	O
Ico	B-Application
for	O
inspiring	O
the	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Papo	B-Application
&	I-Application
Yo	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Phil	O
Fish	O
used	O
the	O
design	O
by	O
subtraction	O
approach	O
in	O
developing	O
the	O
title	O
Fez	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
developers	O
of	O
both	O
Brothers	B-Application
:	I-Application
A	I-Application
Tale	I-Application
of	I-Application
Two	I-Application
Sons	I-Application
and	O
Rime	B-Application
have	O
Ico	B-Application
as	O
a	O
core	O
influence	O
on	O
their	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hidetaka	O
Miyazaki	O
,	O
creator	O
and	O
director	O
of	O
the	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
series	O
,	O
cited	O
Ico	B-Application
as	O
a	O
key	O
influence	O
to	O
him	O
becoming	O
involved	O
in	O
developing	O
video	O
games	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
Ico	B-Application
"	O
awoke	O
me	O
to	O
the	O
possibilities	O
of	O
the	O
medium	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Goichi	O
Suda	O
aka	O
Suda51	O
,	O
said	O
that	O
Ico	B-Application
save	O
game	O
method	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
has	O
Ico	B-Application
and	O
Yorda	B-Application
sit	O
on	O
a	O
bench	O
to	O
save	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
inspired	O
the	O
save	O
game	O
method	O
in	O
No	B-Application
More	I-Application
Heroes	I-Application
where	O
the	O
player-character	O
sits	O
on	O
a	O
toilet	O
to	O
save	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
video	O
games	O
to	O
use	O
a	O
bloom	O
lighting	O
effect	O
,	O
which	O
later	O
became	O
a	O
popular	O
effect	O
in	O
video	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Patrice	O
Désilets	O
,	O
creator	O
of	O
Ubisoft	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Prince	B-Application
of	I-Application
Persia	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Sands	I-Application
of	I-Application
Time	I-Application
and	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
,	O
cited	O
Ico	B-Application
as	O
an	O
influence	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
design	O
of	O
The	O
Sands	O
of	O
Time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jenova	O
Chen	O
,	O
creator	O
of	O
art	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Flower	B-Application
and	O
Journey	B-Application
,	O
cited	O
Ico	B-Application
as	O
one	O
of	O
his	O
biggest	O
influences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
was	O
also	O
cited	O
as	O
an	O
influence	O
by	O
Halo	B-Application
4	I-Application
creative	O
director	O
Josh	O
Holmes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Naughty	O
Dog	O
said	O
The	B-Application
Last	I-Application
of	I-Application
Us	I-Application
was	O
influenced	O
by	O
Ico	B-Application
,	O
particularly	O
in	O
terms	O
of	O
character	O
building	O
and	O
interaction	O
,	O
and	O
Neil	O
Druckmann	O
credited	O
the	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Ico	B-Application
as	O
a	O
key	O
inspiration	O
when	O
he	O
began	O
developing	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Last	I-Application
of	I-Application
Us	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Film	O
director	O
Guillermo	O
del	O
Toro	O
cited	O
both	O
Ico	B-Application
and	O
Shadow	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Colossus	I-Application
as	O
"	O
masterpieces	O
"	O
and	O
part	O
of	O
his	O
directorial	O
influence	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jonny	O
Greenwood	O
of	O
Radiohead	O
considers	O
,	O
of	O
his	O
top	O
ten	O
video	O
games	O
,	O
"	O
Ico	B-Application
might	O
be	O
the	O
best	O
one	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
,	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
in	O
October	O
2005	O
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
the	O
same	O
team	O
that	O
developed	O
Ico	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
similar	O
graphics	O
,	O
gameplay	O
,	O
and	O
storytelling	O
elements	O
as	O
Ico	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ueda	O
,	O
when	O
asked	O
about	O
the	O
connection	O
between	O
the	O
two	O
games	O
,	O
stated	O
that	O
Shadow	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Colossus	I-Application
is	O
a	O
prequel	B-Application
to	O
Ico	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Team	O
Ico	B-Application
's	O
third	O
game	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Last	I-Application
Guardian	I-Application
,	O
was	O
announced	O
as	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
title	O
at	O
the	O
Electronic	O
Entertainment	O
Expo	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
fell	O
into	O
development	O
hell	O
due	O
to	O
hardware	O
limitations	O
and	O
the	O
departure	O
of	O
Ueda	O
from	O
Sony	O
around	O
2012	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
other	O
Team	O
Ico	B-Application
members	O
,	O
though	O
Ueda	O
and	O
the	O
other	O
members	O
continued	O
to	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
via	O
consulting	O
contracts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
subsequently	O
switched	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
in	O
2012	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
reannounced	O
in	O
2015	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
December	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ueda	O
has	O
said	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
essence	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
rather	O
close	O
to	O
Ico	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ico	B-Application
,	O
along	O
with	O
Shadow	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Colossus	I-Application
,	O
received	O
a	O
high-definition	O
remaster	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation3	B-Operating_System
that	O
was	O
released	O
worldwide	O
in	O
September	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
improved	O
graphics	O
,	O
the	O
games	O
were	O
updated	O
to	O
include	O
support	O
for	O
stereoscopic	B-Algorithm
3D	I-Algorithm
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Trophies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Ico	B-Application
port	O
was	O
also	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
European	O
version	O
,	O
and	O
includes	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
Yorda	B-Application
's	O
translation	O
and	O
the	O
two-player	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
games	O
have	O
since	O
been	O
released	O
separately	O
as	O
downloadable	O
titles	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
store	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Patch	O
1.01	O
for	O
the	O
digital	O
high-definition	O
Ico	B-Application
version	O
added	O
the	O
Remote	B-Device
Play	I-Device
feature	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
.	O
</s>
