10 Video Games That Had A Bigger Impact Than You Realise
6. Ico Popularised AI Companions & Influenced "Art Game" Aesthetics
Ico may not be as recognised or revered as Team Ico's beloved follow-up Shadow of the Colossus, but its status as a cult indie fave belies the tectonic impact it's had on the industry over the last 20-plus years.
Ico was one of the first major titles to feature a significant AI companion who players needed to tend to throughout the entire game, as became a major fixture in the AAA space in the years that followed.
Its minimalist aesthetic was also highly influential for an entire generation of "art" games which favoured atmosphere and precise art direction over action-packed gameplay.
The developers of near-countless games have cited Ico as a major inspiration, with a small sample including: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Uncharted, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Fez, The Last of Us, Assassin's Creed, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, and Dark Souls.
Ico's nuanced interactions with an NPC ally and low-key design philosophy made waves throughout the industry regardless of genre or budget, and its influence still looms large over two decades later.