Ico craftily combines mind-teasing puzzles, enigmatic storytelling, and some surreal battles to produce a riveting adventure. Ico’s story is as exotic as its gameplay: You play as Ico, a 12 year-old boy who was born with horns and, following the village’s tradition, has been brought to a deserted castle to be sacrificed so the community can be cleansed. You must guide both Ico and a mysterious girl through a variety of perplexing situations as they attempt to escape the castle grounds. Each part of the dilapidated building offers of a wide range of cerebral puzzles that’ll test your wits. The most striking feature of Ico is the splendid visuals, which nicely complement the bewildering story. The audio score is also impressive, albeit sparse. Ico is unique and engaging in every respect—and for highbrow types who crave a challenge, this is as good as it gets.
