9 Reasons Why Shadow Of The Colossus Is A Video Game Masterpiece

6. An Effective 'Empty' World

Anyone who has played the game will tell you that the world is very empty. It is varied with different regions and climates, but in terms of things to do, it's limited. Aside from a few save-points, lizards and the titular colossi, there isn’t much to do. But that is the brilliance of the game.

In having such and empty, barren world, the game feels desolate and destroyed. As If the land you are exploring is ancient beyond measure and the decrepit excuse of a former world. The Colossi are embedded into the landscape and are the only remaining creatures and removing them pushes the world even deeper into emptiness. That isolation you feel as you ride across the land makes discovering one of the colossus even more brilliant. And killing them feels like you are robbing the world of something beautiful.

The isolation also serves to rouse your affections for your only companion. Your horse, Agro. Being alone with the dopey creature really makes you connect with him and riding after Colossi becomes a truly epic experience. That all pays of when riding with Agro towards the final colossus.

The empty world is the only way the game could function, as having it full of life would drastically remove the awe and brilliance of the colossus and change the game entirely.

Not to mention, Agro would be a lot less loveable. He gets in the way a lot, and if he wasn’t your only companion, he’d be more annoying than endearing.