Ico HD vs PS2 side-by-side video comparison

See what a difference ten years makes in our exclusive video

Words: GamesRadarChrisAntista on August 12, 2011

Having only briefly played the Ico vs Shadow of the Colossus HD Collection this year at E3, it wasn’t so easy to see just how drastic an upgrade it's recieving on PS3 later this year. Clearly, it’s not a game of the "current-gen," and since playing it in 2001 is all but a distant memory, it’s somewhat difficult to immediately perceive what’s been improved, and by how much. That’s where we step in! Here’s a painful reminder of life in a Composite cable world, as well as an uplifting look at what can happen when a company like Sony decides to treat something beautiful with the utmost care and respect.

Aug 12, 2011

Platforms:

PS3

Topics:

Sony

22 comments

View as:
Newest first
Oldest first

xlyesterdaylx - August 13, 2011 11:36 p.m.

I am so picking this up. Those games looked amazing on PS2 and they will look even better on PS3!
- Reply
- Report
Thequestion 121 - August 13, 2011 11:25 p.m.

So beautiful
- Reply
- Report
CrispyPuppet - August 13, 2011 7:43 p.m.

I can't wait for this:)
- Reply
- Report
philipshaw - August 13, 2011 11:17 a.m.

Can't believe you guys got this so early,you don't want to know what I would do to have this HD collection now
- Reply
- Report
Balaska - August 13, 2011 10:48 a.m.

Ico ws originally developed for the PS1 and upscaled for the PS2, which makes this an upscale of an upscale, don't expect a high poly count, do expect crisp clean visuals and one of the greatest game play experiences ever commited to a DVD. Buy it or hand in your gamer card :P
- Reply
- Report
jmcgrotty - August 13, 2011 9:06 a.m.

FinderKeeper said "I understand the concerns people have about the graphics, but tbh the *story*, not the graphics for the two games, is what makes them so special." If you feel this way, why are you buying a PS3? Buy/use a PS2 and use the original releases. Personally, I'm in the middle. The improvement is pretty good to me (Nintendo should have seen this before trying to "update" OoT and ending up with a farce of a game), but not enough for me to bother buying it.
- Reply
- Report
Nikku7 - August 13, 2011 5:48 a.m.

Borrowed them both and a PS2 and absolutely love them, so now that I actually own a PS3 I can't wait to actually own them. They're like works of art and they are some of the only games that seem to fit in the same category as a 3d Zelda game and still be completely original. Also I bought the PS3 when I saw the preview for The Last Guardian a few years back.
- Reply
- Report
Baron164 - August 13, 2011 12:34 a.m.

I'm more interested in Shadow of the Colossus, I'll play ICO for a bit but I doubt I'll play it for long.
- Reply
- Report
lilspooky - August 12, 2011 11:13 p.m.

Hard to see the difference with the video compression. I am buying this just for shadow, i could care less for ICQ. I hate when games make females looks weak and useless.
- Reply
- Report
ichigoame - August 12, 2011 10:59 p.m.

I can't see much difference not enough to justify re-buying it again for myself, I already have both the originals.
- Reply
- Report
FinderKeeper - August 12, 2011 10:33 p.m.

This collection (Ico/SotC) *is* the reason I'll be buying my first PS3 come holiday time. Well that and the fact the console will finally be in my price range... I understand the concerns people have about the graphics, but tbh the *story*, not the graphics for the two games, is what makes them so special. Please, gaming gods, let Okami be next! ;-)
- Reply
- Report
newgames128 - August 12, 2011 10:32 p.m.

Gamesradar really should have an HD video option in this day and age.
- Reply
- Report
Modroneman - August 12, 2011 10:08 p.m.

Super excited about Ico HD. Never played the original... Totally stoked about the HD version tho! Want to play this game so bad! I'm just not willing to pay the price for a SD version of the game.
- Reply
- Report
Draijan - August 12, 2011 9:41 p.m.

I understand wanting it somewhat more crisp but...the game honestly looks 10x better with the misty look to it..I hope they dont screw up SoTC by making it crystal clear :[
- Reply
- Report
sirdilznik - August 12, 2011 9:41 p.m.

It honestly doesn't look all that much better.
- Reply
- Report
thecresta - August 12, 2011 9:40 p.m.

I agree with marioman50 - it's too bright and vivid! The fog added so much atmosphere to the game.
- Reply
- Report
MotokoAramaki - August 12, 2011 9:27 p.m.

Eh, it's brighter, but still blocky as hell. IMO, they coulda cleaned it up a little better. Hope SOTC'll look better, cause it was already the far more impressive of the two.
- Reply
- Report
marioman50 - August 12, 2011 9:20 p.m.

Am I the only one who likes the original better? It had a sort of fog to it that made it look more mysterious. The new one looks too clear and kinda lifeless, and I'm not a fan of the new camera work either. Hopefully Shadow of the Colossus, since it was already in widescreen, will make a better conversion.
- Reply
- Report
kosamae - August 12, 2011 9:04 p.m.

Did anyone else catch the alt text - "More custom videos for that ass"? What's up with that?
- Reply
- Report
db1331 - August 12, 2011 8:41 p.m.

This is one of the reasons I bought a PS3 this year. I missed this and SotC the first time around. Won't happen again.
- Reply
- Report