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[Dr_Cogent]

I played ICO back when it first came out, and maybe it's just my fading memory, but I noticed this in the thread about games with the best stories:

Spoiler

ICO wasnt so good but when I found out that all those demons you have been killing are just like you, I was shaking

Did I miss something?? Dammit!!! Please explain, thanks. Maybe I just can't remember - old age is catching up with me

 

[BuddyC]

I always thought

Spoiler

they were the souls of the previously sacrificed enslaved by the Queen. Remember how the village would always sacrifice the boy with horns and how the shadows emerged from the capsules in the sacrifice room when you stumbled in towards the end?

 

[Matlock]

I always thought

Spoiler

that a chicken fajita spawned all of those guys[spoilers]

Spoiler

Nice job there, man.

What do I pay you for?

 

[The End]

that's pretty much my understanding of it as well.

 

[Justin Bailey]

Yeah I remember feeling pretty sad at that point in the game.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

I always thought

Spoiler

they were the souls of the previously sacrificed enslaved by the Queen. Remember how the village would always sacrifice the boy with horns and how the shadows emerged from the capsules in the sacrifice room when you stumbled in towards the end?

Damn, I wish I had a PS2 to play it again.

 

[Lord Error]

Well, yeah, you missed

Spoiler

to notice that all those shadowy demos that you encountered in the last location in the game (which is btw. where you started the game too) were the shadows of the children who were pouring out of the stone coffins - same ones like the one you broke out of at the begining of the game. Moreover, their shadows in that room are not even attacking you - they are just running around and playing like children. Yeah, somewhere mid that sequence (where I already killed about half of them), that was a very bitter revelation. and I felt like shit for killing them so happily with that super-sword.

 

[Solid]

Memories!

 

[sammy]

Did I miss something?? Dammit!!! Please explain, thanks. Maybe I just can't remember - old age is catching up with me

I think this is why a lot of us find the game to be so charming, and respect it for its unique twist on storytelling.

The game is so full of subtle elements that you may miss if you aren't paying attention ... quite a difference from todays cheesy games that spoon feed you every plot twist, and throw every character cliche' in your face.

This makes me wanna play through it again : )

 

[Dr_Cogent]

Well, yeah, you missed

Spoiler

to notice that all those shadowy demos that you encountered in the last location in the game (which is btw. where you started the game too) were the shadows of the children who were pouring out of the stone coffins - same ones like the one you broke out of at the begining of the game. Moreover, their shadows in that room are not even attacking you - they are just running around and playing like children. Yeah, somewhere mid that sequence (where I already killed about half of them), that was a very bitter revelation. and I felt like shit for killing them so happily with that super-sword.

I think it's coming back to me

Thanks guys.

 

[Doom_Bringer]

Well, yeah, you missed

Spoiler

to notice that all those shadowy demos that you encountered in the last location in the game (which is btw. where you started the game too) were the shadows of the children who were pouring out of the stone coffins - same ones like the one you broke out of at the begining of the game. Moreover, their shadows in that room are not even attacking you - they are just running around and playing like children. Yeah, somewhere mid that sequence (where I already killed about half of them), that was a very bitter revelation. and I felt like shit for killing them so happily with that super-sword.

wow I didn't know that! That's SHOCKING!

 

[btutterrow]

Another little story element that many have missed:

There is a statue near the beginning of the game (right before you cross that bridge from the sacrifice chamber area) that appears to be a man with a single horn on his head. Whether the horn fell off due to age, or it involves a prophecy (remember the ending) is left up to your imagination. The other side of the bridge has a statue that is almost completely destroyed (was it the Queen thus indicating that the other side was the King, who is now dead?).