When I think of 'classic PS2 games', I think about Shadow of the Colossus and ICO. They're seminal games and impressive ones at that, two games that really defined gaming in the early '00s. ICO released for the PS2 in 2001/2002, the same time that the Dreamcast was discontinued.
While being in the same Generation as the PS2, GameCube, and Xbox, the Dreamcast often gets billed as being less powerful, probably due to the fact that it ended up being less successful. But, as this latest project shows, the Dreamcast is more than capable of running the PS2's 'ICOnic' title.
The porting work is being completed by 'Esppiral V', bringing Team ICO's masterpiece to Sega's Swan Song console. Designed by Fumito Ueda and produced by Kenji Kaido, it tells the story of a young boy with horns who is taken to a castle to be sacrificed. He's a 'bad omen' that the people don't want around, but as fate would have it, he manages to escape and comes into contact with a girl who can wield magic in order to open parts of the castle. What follows is a fantasy tale where the pair must work together in order to make their way to freedom.
ICO isn't a long game, with completion time taking anything from 6-10 hours. It was first planned to release on the PS1 in '97 but was pushed back to 2001 and the PS2 because of the limitations of the PS1. Still, it's an important game in PS2 history, and now an important milestone in the Dreamcast modding community too. Is there anything the Dreamcast can't do?
The port is in its early stages, and there's still a way to go, but it's looking good so far. I'll be following Esppiral V's progress over the coming weeks and months and reporting back when they are finished!
