Team Ico was often recognized and celebrated for its video games that transcend the typical expectations of the medium and have been often used to argue that games are an art form. The mystifying art styles, clever gameplay mechanics, and minimalist approach to storytelling have earned the studio a loyal following of fans over the years. Unfortunately, the use of the word "was" is quite literal, as the studio went defunct in 2011, with the rest of development on its final game The Last Guardian shifting over to a new studio.
With The Last Guardian already being able to take full advantage of the PS4's capabilities and the critically acclaimed Shadow of the Colossus receiving a remake in 2018, that leaves one game left in Team Ico's trifecta still waiting to be updated to modern day standards. Ico, the first title from the legendary developer, was released back in 2001 on the PlayStation 2 and immediately put the dev on the map as an up-and-coming talent. It's still an enjoyable game in its original form, but considering this era of classic titles being remade, as well as Shadow of the Colossus already receiving the same treatment, Ico deserves a brand new coat of pain sooner rather than later.
Rise of the Remakes
Anyone even remotely interested in video games is well aware of the rising trend of remakes these past few years. Everything from Final Fantasy 7 to Resident Evil 3 has been reimagined with modern graphics and tweaks to the older gameplay in order to bring things up to speed with modern day expectations. As hard as it can be for some to let go of the classics, it is undeniable that some of these games have become dated in one way or another with each passing year. From this perspective, it's an exciting prospect for both veterans of the originals, and those experiencing them for the first time to see these games in prime form.
The process of a remake is a way to preserve the love of the original version while also paying tribute to the vision the developers originally intended. Nowadays, technology for games is remarkable, with the creative possibilities only limited by how far an imagination can be stretched. Shadow of the Colossus was ahead of its time in terms of ideas and scale and, while impressive for its time, was starting to show its age due to being limited to the capabilities inside the PS2. The PS4 remake gives the game a beautiful makeover while still retaining what made it special, a procedure that Ico is deserving of as well considering its special place in PlayStation history.
Power of Nostalgia
It should also be noted that based on actual releases thus far, as well as recent rumors, Sony seems to be taking a liking to remaking games from its back catalogue. The PlayStation 5 is a landmark in a vast history of celebrated, industry defining releases, with many of this titles already a decade or two old in age. The killer app at the launch of the PS5 was Bluepoint's Demon's Souls remake, a stunning update on the PS3 original that is already well over 10 years old.
Sony must see the potential for such a strong install base of loyal PlayStation fans, who have stuck with the many console and in turn, the many franchises that have been spawned along the way. These gamers would be ecstatic to see old favorites brought back to the forefront in the form of a modern remake, taking advantage of the specs inside the PS5. If the rumored remake of The Last of Us is true, despite that game being only 8 years old, then surely Ico which is more than double its age is deserving of the same treatment.
Ico is available on the PlayStation 2 and in the The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection for PlayStation 3.