One of Us - del Toro Rates ICO and Shadow of the Colossus as "Masterpieces"

[fitbabits]

There's awesome (http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/j/z/1/obama_superman_awesome.jpg), then there's awesome (http://www.awesome-cleaner.com/all_awesome_multi_use_cropped.jpg), but beating both of those is news from Edge-Online (http://www.edge-online.com/news/pans-labyrinth-director-a-team-ico-fan) that Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, Hellboy 2, etc.) rates both ICO and Shadow of the Colossus as the only true masterpieces made:

Filmmakers sometimes claim to be gamers, but director Guillermo del Toro of Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy fame has been dropping references to back up his hardcore street cred.

The director, who sharpened his teeth on Pong and Atari, commented on Grand Theft Auto IV's "beautiful" engine and said he was impressed with Medal of Honor: Airborne, Call of Duty 4 and Army of Two.

But in an Edge magazine interview he added, "There are only two games I consider masterpieces: Ico and Shadow of the Colossus."

Both titles are for PlayStation 2 and come from Sony Computer Entertainment Japan's Team Ico. 2001's Ico and 2005's Shadow of the Colossus are revered amongst gamers for their immersive environments and effective storytelling techniques.
del Toro's praise of Team Ico's classics is music to my already humming ears. I'm eagerly anticipating the as-yet-unannounced PS3 Team Ico project.

[Sandman]

I never played Ico and couldn't really get into Shadow.....maybe it's because I played it on the PS3 without rumble though.

[Rogue_hunter]

del Toro's praise of Team Ico's classics is music to my already humming ears. I'm eagerly anticipating the as-yet-unannounced PS3 Team Ico project.

And a possible Team ICO movie, directed by del Toro? That would be awesome.

[Mozgus]

SOTC was truly the only game last generation to (however minor) change my perspective on life and and really make me glad I'm alive. Only game prior that did that was probably Panzer Dragoon Saga.

[bean19]

Someone send him copies of Psychonauts, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, No One Lives Forever, Bioshock, and Portal.

Ico and SOTC are both great games and I would not scoff at seeing either of them listed as masterpieces or in anyone's top five, but I don't know what del Toro's gaming cred is actually like. There are a ton of great games I haven't listed that could go in top 10 lists too (I hold a personal affection for Shadow Hearts 1 & 2 that I know a lot of people do not share, for instance).

Anyway, this does make me think that del Toro has at least some exposure to great games, but I don't think those are the only two masterpieces.

[Gorvi]

The man has some good taste, that's for sure. Those are two of the games that would be a the top of the list if you were trying to push the "games as art" argument.

[Orz]

SOTC was truly the only game last generation to (however minor) change my perspective on life and and really make me glad I'm alive. Only game prior that did that was probably Panzer Dragoon Saga.

I am so pleased someone else has cited Panzer Dragoon Saga as a masterpiece.

[Racknahm]

Someone send him copies of Psychonauts, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, No One Lives Forever, Bioshock, and Portal.

Ico and SOTC are both great games and I would not scoff at seeing either of them listed as masterpieces or in anyone's top five, but I don't know what del Toro's gaming cred is actually like. There are a ton of great games I haven't listed that could go in top 10 lists too (I hold a personal affection for Shadow Hearts 1 & 2 that I know a lot of people do not share, for instance).

Anyway, this does make me think that del Toro has at least some exposure to great games, but I don't think those are the only two masterpieces.

How about BioShock?

I absolutely loved BioShock. I loved the world, the design, the lighting, the beautiful art direction and cinematography. I’m a fan of Silent Hill, Resident Evil and Devil May Cry. I love them all. The first Silent Hill was so beautiful, almost like a Lynch, Polanski or Romero type of horror experience.

Read the interview.

[Xerxes]

del Toro's taste just stumbled for me a little bit. He liked Silent Hill?

[fitbabits]

del Toro's taste just stumbled for me a little bit. He liked Silent Hill?

Yeah, I noticed that.

[Gorvi]

del Toro's taste just stumbled for me a little bit. He liked Silent Hill?
Hey, now, the first Silent Hill was great for it's time. It used sound in a way that we really hadn't seen on consoles yet.

[fitbabits]

Hey, now, the first Silent Hill was great for it's time. It used sound in a way that we really hadn't seen on consoles yet.

Surely you mean it used sound in a way that hadn't been heard on consoles? :)

[Gorvi]

Surely you mean it used sound in a way that hadn't been heard on consoles? :)
That all depends on how much you've had to drink. ;)

[DaXIthR]

Well, it's a pretty muddy question open to a lot of interpretation regarding what exactly constitutes a masterpiece...

[fitbabits]

Well, it's a pretty muddy question open to a lot of interpretation regarding what exactly constitutes a masterpiece...

You're going to get a skelf in your arse if you're not careful.

[Lance Uppercut]

Can you imagine Del Toro making a film version of Colossus?

[Blade]

ICO and SOTC are the only two true masterpieces?

This guy hasn't played shit.

[fitbabits]

ICO and SOTC are the only two true masterpieces?

This guy hasn't played shit.

Exactly his point. He's played ICO and SotC - not shit by any means.

[BlueBomber]

I don't mean to derail the thread, but...people didn't like Silent Hill? I thought it was absolutely fantastic :confused:.

[inmostlight]

ICO and SOTC are the only two true masterpieces?

This guy hasn't played shit.

Yeah, he's been too a bit too busy making incredible movies, filling notebooks full of his intricate ideas and world designs, and keeping Ron Perlman gainfully employed.

[ElPresidente]

Think on Del Toro's works... it makes an awful lot of sense that he considers those two titles masterpieces and I think in terms of the way narrative is handled, etc in those games that there is a definite argument to be made that they are the two masterpieces of the game world. I personally think there are more but I'm looking through my eyes, not his and his stance is defensible.

[Darkbase]

del Toro's taste just stumbled for me a little bit. He liked Silent Hill?

Yahtzee and I would like to speak to you outside...

[Kagger]

Can you imagine Del Toro making a film version of Colossus?

While I think it would be gorgeous, I think that would kinda ruin the the impact of the game.

The ending loses some impact when it wasn't YOU killing the Colossus

Fantastic fun movie though, but just not as "deep" I think. The interaction video games provide is critical in some games. A Half-Life 2 movie would be a great blockbuster action film, but you would see Gordon, instead of BEING Gordon.

[southwick]

..would be nice if the 40gb PS3 had backwards compatibility.

[jeffool]

Awesome.
lXRCf9LbLM0

[Wyrm]

SOTC is one of my favorites of all time. Definitely need to go see Hellboy 2..

[Variable Gear]

Hellboy 2 is good, but not as good as SotC or Ico. Can't wait for the new Ueda-san game. :)

[Xerxes]

Yahtzee and I would like to speak to you outside...

I'd throw fighting game at him. He'd be totally disarmed. And if your love for Silent Hill is an indicator, turning on radio static should be enough to stop you. :rolleyes:

[johnymitsu]

I don't see how anyone who could be 'impressed' with either Medal Of Honor: Airborne or Army of Two and be considered "one of us".

[johnymitsu]

but you would see Gordon, instead of BEING Gordon.

I don't really see how that's a good thing, I mean if I wanted to see a nerd I could pretty much look to any thread on this very site and be satisfied.

Half-Life, alot like Zelda, just seems like a series that should remain a videogame only, or at least wouldn't work very well as a straight adaption. I mean can you imagine an onscreen Gordon Freeman with his 'bottomless pocket' for all those guns. A movie set in the Half-Life universe however, perhaps documenting the 7 hour war, would be more than welcome.

[Khash]

Team ICOs next game is the reason I bought a PS3.

[if76]

I'm a little bit upset that this "story" is getting so much news coverage. I don't think that games need to be legitimized by hollywood moviemakers. I don't think movie websites like variety would be blowing up if Sid Meier said he liked Pulp Fiction.

[Talon-]

I don't see how anyone who could be 'impressed' with either Medal Of Honor: Airborne or Army of Two and be considered "one of us".

What? A nerd?

I think he passed that test some time ago.

[Talon-]

I'm a little bit upset that this "story" is getting so much news coverage. I don't think that games need to be legitimized by hollywood moviemakers. I don't think movie websites like variety would be blowing up if Sid Meier said he liked Pulp Fiction.

It's the video game equivalent of People magazine.

"Wow, Ma, celebrities are just like us!"

ICO and SOTC are the only two true masterpieces?

This guy hasn't played shit.

I'm guessing he has more in his schedule than just playing games.

[bjornbarspingvinen]

army of two impressed him? I have heard a few friends bash that game a lot.

[Majster Wichajster]

First, great ad.

Second, you're jumping on his credibility because he hasn't spent every moment of his life playing videogames. So what? It's good that he's throwing good word-of-mouth out there, maybe other people will be tempted to try these titles and see that gaming isn't just Brain Training and Wii Sports.

[ElectricMonk]

I've been playing army of two a bit recently... That game in an alternate universe could have been the next halo.

On paper everything was great... art direction was also great... but the actual thing just didn't work for any discernible reason.

[Shodan2020]

There's awesome (http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/j/z/1/obama_superman_awesome.jpg), then there's awesome (http://www.awesome-cleaner.com/all_awesome_multi_use_cropped.jpg), but beating both of those is news from Edge-Online (http://www.edge-online.com/news/pans-labyrinth-director-a-team-ico-fan) that Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, Hellboy 2, etc.) rates both ICO and Shadow of the Colossus as the only true masterpieces made:


del Toro's praise of Team Ico's classics is music to my already humming ears. I'm eagerly anticipating the as-yet-unannounced PS3 Team Ico project.

I wonder if he's played Okami or Fatal Frame 2? :)

[Baron Samedi]

Well, it's a pretty muddy question open to a lot of interpretation regarding what exactly constitutes a masterpiece...

At least we can close the case on Pan's Labyrinth not being one.

[DaXIthR]

At least we can close the case on Pan's Labyrinth not being one.

Touche, little Baron.

I'm not trying to invalidate del Toro's opinion. I love both ICO and SOTC. But I'm guessing he chose his words pretty carefully. Sandman got his panties in a knot, but he didn't define masterpiece for me, so I'm left wondering if he really even can. Or whether snark is his only defense when someone spills milk on his jizz-fest.

For my sake, I'd like to see some game produce a level better than the Forest Temple in Ocarina of Time. 30 hour game with so much diversity in gameplay with so few items. The fishing mini-game still blows my mind. Or the games with programmed sequence-breaking like super Metroid and Metroid Prime. That's pretty frickin difficult to put in place.

ICO was short, had some weak puzzles and was linear. Nothing in its gameplay was innovative. SOTC did more to further the art, but it still didn't do that much to excel as a game. In both titles, it's not their 'gameness' that leaves an indelible mark and astounds the player. The characters are developed in a strong way with minimal interruptions from cut-scenes, the art design is fantastic, the animation is nuanced and meticulous and so on.

No one should miss an opportunity to play both games. They are important. But, insofar as they are games, they cannot compete with the magisterial beauty of fundamental design found in games like Symphony of the Night, MGS3 and Ikaruga.

[Khash]

So we're reduced to shitting on games like ICO and SotC? What happened, Evil Avatar? Have you really fallen so far?

But you're right. They would be so much better if they were first person shooters with aliens. Totally.

I wonder if he's played Okami or Fatal Frame 2? :)
Who are we kidding. No one played those games. :(

[NationalKato]

I have yet to play either ICO or SoTC. But they're both in my GameFly queue...so my soul is not entirely void of life.

[Froggy]

Team ICOs next game is the reason I bought a PS3.

I think that'll be my story, too.

[bean19]

So we're reduced to shitting on games like ICO and SotC? What happened, Evil Avatar? Have you really fallen so far?

I can't find the post you are referring to, who shit on these games?

[PathMaster]

I have yet to play either ICO or SoTC. But they're both in my GameFly queue...so my soul is not entirely void of life.

Be warned: SotC would lock up on me on the way to the 14th boss. I could do nothing to get pass it except the first time, where I just ran out of time and had to leave the house.

The game also has a variety of camera issues. I liked the game, but it was by no means exceptional.

..Runs off, remembering to add Ico to gamefly.

[fitbabits]

So we're reduced to shitting on games like ICO and SotC? What happened, Evil Avatar? Have you really fallen so far?

But you're right. They would be so much better if they were first person shooters with aliens. Totally.

Dude, what are you smoking? How you extrapolate Evil Avatar "shitting on games like ICO and SotC" from a news post which infers that del Toro is "one of us" because he deems those two games masterpieces is beyond me.