Shadow of the Colossus remains highly regarded for the way its monumental encounters, quiet landscape, and spare storytelling work together. The PS4 release is a ground-up remake, not simply a port: it updates the presentation while retaining the original game’s design. For newcomers, the PS4 version is the modern PlayStation release; returning players should weigh its visual reconstruction against the fact that the underlying experience is familiar.
Why the original earned its reputation
The original Shadow of the Colossus first released on PS2 on October 18, 2005, according to GameSpot’s release and platform listing. Its premise is unusually focused: explore a vast, largely empty land and seek out sixteen colossi, each fought as a puzzle of movement, timing, and finding a way to climb its body.
![ICO and Shadow of the Colossus [Limited Edition] [Japan Import]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51LoyTA6T7L._SL160_.jpg)
That restraint is central to the game’s identity. The landscape creates a sense of scale and solitude; the colossi provide the principal challenges and dramatic turns. Rather than relying on a crowded world of quests and characters, the game gives its encounters room to carry the experience. That distinctive structure helps explain its durable critical standing, though it may feel deliberately sparse to players who prefer constant activity or conventional narrative detail.
What the PS2 score does—and does not—say
Metacritic’s PS2 listing shows a score of 91 based on 77 critic reviews in its 2026-accessed snapshot: Metacritic’s PS2 listing. This is an aggregator snapshot for the PS2 version, not a score for the PS4 remake or a timeless measure of every player’s experience. The number offers a useful indication of the original’s critical reception, but it cannot explain which aspects reviewers valued or whether its measured pace will suit an individual player.
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The PS4 version was released on February 6, 2018. PlayStation describes it as rebuilt from the ground up by Bluepoint Games and JAPAN Studio, with improved performance and visual fidelity; the publisher’s official PS4 product page presents it as a distinct modern release. PlayStation Blog likewise calls the project a remake rather than a port or remaster and discusses changes intended to meet modern expectations: PlayStation Blog’s account of the remake.
Those descriptions establish the nature and intent of the reconstruction, but they are the publisher’s account—not a guarantee that every player will prefer the updated look. The remake’s critical reception includes praise for the restoration as well as the view that it offers little new to people who already know the game. Metacritic’s PS4 critic-review record reflects that range rather than a unanimous verdict.
Which version should you play?
If this is your first time
Choose the PS4 remake if you want the modern PlayStation release supported by the official product page. It preserves the original’s distinctive encounter-driven design while presenting it through a ground-up reconstruction. Go in expecting a focused, quiet adventure built around exploration and colossus fights, not a densely populated action game.
If you played an earlier version
The decision is mainly about presentation, not a wholly new game. The PS4 remake’s visual reconstruction and publisher-described performance improvements may make revisiting the world worthwhile, especially if you want to experience the game in its updated form. If what you want is new content or a substantially different design, the available critical record offers no basis to expect that; some PS4 reviewers specifically found limited novelty for returning players.
Rank #3
- Action-Packed Battles - Players will switch between using melee and ranged attacks in battle against hordes of enemies and challenging bosses across a variety of open field maps.
- Beautifully Desolate Open-World - The game seamlessly joins together hauntingly beautiful vistas and locations with no area loading.
- Masterfully Crafted Story and Characters - NieR: Automata tells the story of androids 2B, 9S and A2 and their ferocious battle to reclaim a machine-driven dystopia overrun by powerful weapons known as machine lifeforms.
- Elements of an RPG - Players will obtain a variety of weapon types, level up in battle, learn new combat skills, and customise a loadout that caters to their playstyle.
- Utilise the Pod Support System to Assist In and Outside of Battle - Pods can attack the enemy in both manual and lock-on modes.
When comparing reviews
- Check whether the review covers the PS2 original, the PS3 release, or the PS4 remake. They are separate review subjects.
- Read the reasoning behind the verdict: praise for restoration and visual presentation answers a different question from criticism about novelty or atmosphere.
- Treat an aggregator score as a snapshot of critic reviews, not as a substitute for deciding whether the game’s deliberate pace and sparse structure appeal to you.
Is Shadow of the Colossus worth playing?
For players drawn to atmospheric exploration and singular, puzzle-like boss encounters, the game’s enduring reputation has a clear basis. The PS4 remake is the straightforward choice for a first-time player seeking the modern PlayStation version. For someone who has already played an earlier release, it is best understood as a renewed presentation of a familiar experience rather than a new chapter.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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