Update: Wanda and Colossus
New details on the game that comes after ICO.
By Anoop Gantayat
December 17, 2004 - Sony Computer Entertainment went quiet on the Wanda to Kyozou (unofficially translated to English as Wanda and Colossus) front following the game's Tokyo Game Show unveiling, but at last some insights have started to come our way thanks to the latest issue of Japan's popular Famitsu gaming magazine. The magazine has a two page spread on the game featuring stunning images and lots of new information. You'll have to pick up the issue for yourself for the images (check with your import book shop) but if its the info you seek, read on.
The magazine confirms that Wanda is the name of the main character, who has decided that he will save a lifeless girl who's been at his side on his journeys. Apparently, there's a distinction in the story between the main character wanting to save the girl, thinking that it would be nice if he could save the girl and stating to himself that he will save her. Remember the initial phrase from the game's teaser web page which read something to the tune of "Mouichido kimi ni au tameni, bokura ha tatakau" ("We fight in order to meet you once more")? The "Kimi" ("you") from that quote is the lifeless girl, and saving her is the reason Wanda has set off to fight the "Kyozou," or giants, of the title.
The main character is, incidentally, male. It may be hard to imagine Wanda as a guy's name, but the Japanese creators don't write Wanda as we do. They write it using Japanese characters, and written in Japanese characters, the word almost resembles "Wander" (it does in Roman characters as well, you'll note). This play on words could have been the basis for the main character's name. Perhaps we'd be better off calling the game "Wander and Colossus" or "Wanderer and Colossus."
Whatever the case, the spiritual successor to ICO is all about Wanda, Agro (that's the name of Wanda's horse) and the lifeless girl. The "Bokura" ("we") of the original catch phrase is in reference to Wanda and Agro. Agro is Wanda's only companion in the game world, and the two have apparently been in acquaintance with the young girl for some time now.
As the player, you have six primary actions at your disposal, all centered around Agro. You can fight, with the ability to freely control your viewpoint as you ride aboard Agro and take aim at a giant with your bow and arrow. A button press dismounts you from Agro whenever you like; likewise, you can mount Agro with the same button. You can rest, with Agro slowly grazing on the nearby grass. You can ride Agro and move throughout the land, adjusting his speed to your liking. In the event that you become separated from Agro during battle, you can call out to him. Finally, you can leap from an Agro in full stride, grabbing onto a giant as you pass by.
In addition to these first solid gameplay details, the magazine managed to get its hands on a map of one part of the ancient land in which Wanda and Agro adventure. Judging by the map and the accompanying screenshots, the game world seems to be huge. You'll be able to move through the world freely without load times (hooray for streaming!)
Finally (you knew this information overload would have to come to an end at some point), the magazine introduces an all new giant. This one resembles a bull, moving about on four legs and looking down upon Wanda and Agro with a fierce expression (actually, the creature's eyes resemble those of the previously revealed giants, with the surrounding facial features serving to make it look so much more menacing). One screen shows Wanda climbing up the side of the beast, apparently attempting to make it to the top of its head.
With this new creature, the total number of giants revealed so far has reached three. The first giant revealed to the world was a two-legged beast, with the second one resembling a flying dragon.
These new details make our frothing demand for this game increase considerably. We'll have more on Wanda and Colossus the next time SCE is in a sharing mood.
