According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Violence
Parents have nothing at all to fear. The only swordplay in the game is against nebulous shadow creatures that disappear in a puff of smoke, and there's no blood to be seen anywhere. The game stresses care and emotion, as well as a healthy dose of cerebral problem solving all wrapped up in the most beautiful and artistic graphics you can imagine. The puzzles will probably be beyond most of the younger gamers, but anyone in their early teenage years or beyond will have no significant problems. A safe and worthwhile purchase. Text accompanies spoken dialogue.
Gamers in general will want to check out ICO for something that contains gameplay design from the old-school, but updates and infuses it with modern-day vitality. It's short (6-8 hours) so gamers on a budget may want to make it a rental instead of a purchase, but it should definitely be experienced by those who are into slower, more cerebral, and artistic themes. If youre looking for fast combos or some kind of fragfest, stay away. However, if you want something off the beaten path, this is a real gem.
3D-exploration and puzzle gamers will be in heaven. The challenges in ICO are completely logical and solvable by the average person, and remain completely engrossing throughout the entire game. The level of design sophistication shines through, and the necessity of the player to think for two instead of one is a great mechanic. Anyone who even remotely likes these kinds of spatial puzzles owes it to him or herself to give it a try.
