Yoko Taro Hails ICO as Revolutionary Video Game Masterpiece

Yoko Taro, the visionary behind acclaimed titles like NieR: Automata and Drakengard, has expressed profound admiration for the impact of ICO on the video game industry. Released in 2001 for the PlayStation 2, ICO quickly garnered a cult following due to its minimalist design and narrative conveyed through wordless storytelling.

Taro emphasized the revolutionary nature of ICO's core mechanic, where players guide the character Yorda by holding her hand. He remarked, "If ICO had tasked you with carrying a suitcase the size of a girl instead, it would have been an incredibly frustrating experience." This mechanic, Taro argued, challenged the conventional gameplay norms by requiring players to lead another character, thereby redefining interactivity in games.

During the era when game design success was often gauged by the ability to maintain engagement even when all elements were reduced to simple cubes, ICO took a different path. It prioritized emotional resonance and thematic depth over mechanical innovation alone. Taro believes that ICO demonstrated how art and narrative could be more than mere backdrops to gameplay; they could be integral to the experience itself.

Labeling ICO as "epoch-making," Taro credits it with significantly altering the course of game development. He lauded the game for showcasing how video games could convey deep meaning through subtle interactions and atmospheric design.

In addition to ICO, Taro highlighted two other games that significantly influenced both him and the broader industry: Undertale by Toby Fox and LIMBO by Playdead. He believes these titles expanded the possibilities of what could be expressed through interactive media, proving that video games are capable of providing profound emotional and intellectual experiences.

For enthusiasts of Yoko Taro's work, his appreciation for these games sheds light on the creative influences behind his own projects. It also highlights the continuous evolution of video games as a potent and versatile art form.