Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The best thing about this collection is its lack of fuss. You put in one disc and get two substantial Team Ico games that had previously belonged to the PlayStation 2 era, now rebuilt for high-definition resolutions on PlayStation 3. That directness matters: this is not a compilation padded with a long row of minor curiosities. It is two full games with very different release years and a shared creative lineage, presented as the main event.

ICO is the version with the clearest extra wrinkle. The collection uses the enhanced European release, so Yorda’s translation is included, along with a cooperative two-player mode. That makes it the more flexible of the pair for a second playthrough or for sitting down with someone else, rather than treating the package as strictly solitary museum-piece material. It is a meaningful inclusion because it comes from an expanded version of the game, not a newly bolted-on collection gimmick.

Both games also support the DualShock 3 wireless controller and PlayStation trophies. Trophies are a modest bonus, but they give completion-minded players a reason to revisit games that might otherwise be approached once and left alone. The core draw remains simple: two carefully chosen games, not an overloaded anthology.

Graphics

The headline upgrade is high-definition resolution for both games. On PlayStation 3, that gives this pair a cleaner home than their original PlayStation 2 releases, while stereoscopic 3D support offers another way to revisit them if you have compatible equipment.

The European retail edition also lets you reverse the paper inlay to use the original PlayStation 2 artwork for both games. It is a small, pleasing collector touch for anyone who remembers those earlier boxes.

Story

This collection does not mash its two games into a new shared campaign or try to reframe them with a connecting story. ICO and Shadow of the Colossus remain separate works from 2001 and 2005, and that is the right call. Each gets room to land on its own rather than becoming a chapter in a compilation menu.

For ICO specifically, Yorda’s translation is an important part of the enhanced European version included here. If you are returning after an older release, that detail gives this edition a stronger claim to being the one you want. It is not merely a resolution bump; it preserves material associated with that expanded release.

There is also a small archival angle outside the games themselves. A one-time PlayStation Network voucher supplied two dynamic XMB themes based on scenes from the games and five behind-the-scenes videos about the making of both titles, including a look at the then-upcoming The Last Guardian. They are supplements, not substitutes for the games, but they add some welcome context around a pair of influential releases.

Overall Experience

The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection earns its reputation by resisting the urge to overpackage. You get both Team Ico PlayStation 2 games on one Blu-ray disc, remastered for PlayStation 3, with a few well-chosen additions rather than a noisy makeover. The first hour is appealing simply because the collection asks so little of you beyond picking which of the two games to begin with.

There are a few caveats for collectors. The bonus themes and behind-the-scenes videos were redeemed through a one-time PSN voucher rather than included on the disc, so their availability is tied to that code. The downloadable individual releases existed as well, but the disc still makes this the more satisfying physical bundle, especially since it carries both games together.

At 8.6, this is a strong recommendation for anyone with a PlayStation 3 who wants these two games in one polished package. Start with whichever title has been calling to you; the collection’s real payoff is having the other waiting when you are done. For additional release and historical context, see the collection’s history.

Retro Replay Score

8.6/10