Tech: "Shadow of the Colossus" (PS2)

Sometimes, a video game is enjoyable despite its technical problems. "Shadow of the Colossus," from the creators of the superb PS2 adventure "Ico," very nearly falls victim to its various flaws, but the stunning gameplay conceit and wonderful presentation save this one from mediocrity. In SotC, you fight a series of huge boss battles in an effort to resurrect your fallen love. There are no enemies other than the colossi, there are no puzzles or dungeons, and there is no one else to help you except your trusty horse.

Frankly, the game has a lot of problems. The framerate, while playable, is never consistently fluid, which detracts pretty seriously from an action-adventure game. I wish the developers had reduced the polygon counts on the colossi and the landscapes - the game is noticeably choppy right from the get-go and the framerate can drop pretty severely in a fight. The controls are unnecessarily complex (for example, you must be standing completely still to mount your horse) and take some getting used to. The camera, while okay most of the time, is sometimes sketchy, especially when you're trying to use your bow and arrow on horseback.

On the bright side, the gameplay is unlike anything out there on the market. A mix of action and lateral thinking, each colossi requires a unique strategy to beat. In spite of the performance snafus, the level of detail and the art design of the game is absolutely top-notch. The sound, whether it's the rumble of a giant colossus or the great orchestral score that accompanies most of the battles, is atmospheric and superb. And while it isn't the lengthiest quest in the world (about 10 hours for completion on your first run-through), it's enjoyable enough that you would want to play it again just to show it off to your friends.

83 out of 100