Jonny goes all misty eyed for that girl.

The problem with a game like Ico is that everything you say about it seems to be to its detriment.

It's quiet, you explain. It's understated. It's elegant. It's simple. It's emotional. It's artistic, soulful and spiritually elevating. But these things are not normally what we expect from our games. What we really want is gore! Sex! Blood! Rat-a-tat-BOOM! But we're wrong, because Ico is The King of PlayStation Gaming, and chances are it will never be toppled.

Originally released back in 2002, Ico ran straight into an uninterested response from the public (yes, YOU!), and the game went out of print almost immediately. But word of mouth began to spread and people began to realise that they'd missed out on something special. Before long, it had become almost legendary, with desperate gamers paying well over the retail price for second-hand copies.

Which brings us to 2006, and this long overdue budget re-release, timed to coincide with the release of its sort-of sequel Shadow of the Colossus.

The star of the game, Ico himself, is the antithesis of the smart-talking, steroid-guzzling John T. Squarejaw type that we're so used to. Apart from the fact that he was born with horns, he's nothing special at all. In fact, he's quite weedy, all flailing stick-limbs and clumsy teenage movements.

Due to some seismic activity, Ico manages to escape from a tomb in a deserted castle, after being left to rot by his own village - as punishment for being born with horns. At this point you take control of the adventure, and immediately stumble across a mesmerising girl, Yorda, who is besieged by demonic forces. Yorda does not speak your language, and due to her ephemeral appearance you can't even tell if she's real, but it's clear that she needs you.

Yorda is the emotional core of the storyline. Weakened by her plight, she looks like she'd lose a fight with a strong breeze, and this engenders powerful protective feelings as you take her soft hand in yours and lead, coax and drag her to freedom.

learning from the greats

In doing so, you'll need to solve ancient puzzles, negotiate complex architecture and scale immense heights with gameplay that's equal parts Zelda, Prince of Persia and Tomb Raider. But the presence of Yorda adds several extra dimensions. Firstly, she's not as spry as you are, so you need to help her. At first that amounts to jumping onto a ledge and reaching down to pull her up, or catching her as she attempts a dangerous leap across a chasm. But later you'll need to leave her behind as you venture out ahead and try and figure out a way through, all the time listening out for the cry that will tell you she's in trouble.

You're not alone in the castle, and horrible smoke-like beings are forever hounding you, trying to drag Yorda into their dimension. Thankfully a few blows with your walking staff are usually enough to cause them to dissipate, and as long as you can get to her before she's been dragged into Hell you can always grab her hand and pull her back out.

This is what makes Ico so unique and powerful. It's not about getting out, it's about getting her out. The idea of this fragile, helpless being, pulled down into the black slimy underworld that thirsts for her, is horrible, and you fight harder for her as a result than you would for yourself. The purposefully vague plot doesn't even feature; as far as you're concerned this is primal - protect the girl, no matter what.

Ico is an absolute joy to behold. It does take a little while to appreciate it, but the washed-out visuals and the detailed architecture that surrounds you soon begins to impress, and while technically it's perhaps a little dated now, artistically it represents a vision of beauty which other games can only dream of having. Ico and Yorda are lovingly created. Far from being superheros, they both appear human, with Ico constantly stumbling over his own feet and landing awkwardly and Yorda moving with a grace which is at odds with her harsh environment, while little touches like the way she scrambles into Ico's arms after almost falling off a ledge really bring their innocent but powerful love to the fore. Graphics may have progressed hugely since its release, but it's hard to think of any title that can match it for elegance and style.

There's no weapons list, nothing to collect, no graphic violence, little variation among enemies and no combos to learn. It's a simple, stripped-down gaming experience. But again, these things sound detrimental. In actual fact they're just indicative of how very different Ico is, how daring it was, and ultimately, why it flopped first time round.

Thankfully, Sony's faith in the development team was enough to commission the project we now know as Shadow of the Colossus, which, as early as February, may be the game of 2006. But as good as that game is, it's not quite up there with this magnificent forbear.

Second chances don't come nearly often enough in life. Don't squander this one.

GAME's Verdict

• The only game to really fulfil Sony's original promise of emotion-fuelled gaming.
• Some of the best exploration and acrobatic platforming gameplay you'll ever experience.
• A visual feast that's unique, haunting and powerful.

• Possibly a little on the short side.
• Occasionally fiddly camera.
• Its charms are easily missed by some.

Review by: Jonny Austin
Review Published: 09.02.06