Yoko Taro Praises ICO as a Masterpiece That Revolutionized Video Games

Yoko Taro, the acclaimed mind behind NieR: Automata and Drakengard, has often reflected on the profound impact of ICO on video games as an artistic medium. Launched in 2001 for the PlayStation 2, ICO swiftly garnered a dedicated following due to its minimalist aesthetics and storytelling devoid of dialogue.

Taro has pointed out that the central mechanic of ICO—where players guide Yorda by holding her hand—revolutionized gameplay norms at the time. "Imagine if ICO had you carrying a suitcase the size of a girl; it would have been a nightmare," Taro noted. This mechanic of leading another character was revolutionary, challenging conventional ideas of player interaction in games.

During that era, game design was frequently deemed successful if the experience held up even when all visual elements were stripped down to basic cubes. ICO bucked this trend by focusing on emotional engagement and thematic richness over mere mechanical novelty. Taro believes the game demonstrated that art and narrative could be more than just background elements to gameplay; they could be essential to the overall experience.

Labeling ICO as "epoch-making," Taro acknowledges its role in steering the course of game development. He commends the game for showing that video games could express deep meanings through nuanced interactions and atmospheric design.

Beyond ICO, Taro also highlights two other seminal games that influenced him and the industry: Undertale by Toby Fox and LIMBO by Playdead. He argues that these games expanded the horizons of interactive media, proving that video games can offer profound emotional and intellectual experiences.

For enthusiasts of Yoko Taro's creations, his reverence for these games sheds light on the creative forces shaping his own work. It also highlights the continuous development of video games as a dynamic and expressive art form.