ICO will always hold a special place in my heart, and is one of the best games that came out for the PlayStation 2. It’s a beautiful game in every sense of the word, and I dare anyone who says that video games aren’t real art to play this game and its prequel Shadow of the Colossus . These games are really art games, in the same sense that some films are art films. ICO is simplistic, minimalist in nature, and manages to accomplish its goal to make the player feel a real connection to the characters, not in the role-play sense, but in the sense that Yorda is someone you actually care about, the castle really picks at your brain, and you feel the burden of Ico himself. Unfortunately, the NTSC version of the game leaves much to be desired, seeing as how it’s unfinished. You can beat the game, but the AI isn’t as good as other versions of the game, some of the puzzles are different, and some of the extras are missing. That doesn’t make the game bad, but it certainly isn’t that great. Luc...
The Genki Japan blog is a blog solely about Japan and all the things that make it great, or not so great. I strive to bring a variety of topics to the table and try not to focus too much on a single issue. I hope you'll find it fun and informative. BLOG HAS MOVED! Tanoshinihongo.com is the new web address. I will continue to simultaneously update both Genki and the new blog, Tanoshinihongo.com for the time being.