Mystic_Ode
@icoshrine.neocities.org
Things You Haven't Heard About ICO: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdfasfjZftpM7obt79hZfSVNUiuMFc
Website: https://icoshrine.neocities.org/
Tip Jar: https://ko-fi.com/mystic_ode/posts
Website: https://icoshrine.neocities.org/
Tip Jar: https://ko-fi.com/mystic_ode/posts
This took me an hour or so. It illustrates one of my guesses as to how the Old Queen Fight worked. Ico has some unused animations suggesting he’d be turned to stone in phases (starting from the legs).
I wondered if he could strike The Queen’s attacks to reverse this.
I wondered if he could strike The Queen’s attacks to reverse this.
November 4, 2025 at 6:34 PM
This took me an hour or so. It illustrates one of my guesses as to how the Old Queen Fight worked. Ico has some unused animations suggesting he’d be turned to stone in phases (starting from the legs).
I wondered if he could strike The Queen’s attacks to reverse this.
I wondered if he could strike The Queen’s attacks to reverse this.
Using this, @jaikhay.bsky.social found another iteration of The Queen's design in that early demo (disc version dated June 6th, 2001).
The headdress here is far more elaborate than even the feathered one seen in Game Informer's screenshots. And this is our best look at her tattered cloak of shadow.
The headdress here is far more elaborate than even the feathered one seen in Game Informer's screenshots. And this is our best look at her tattered cloak of shadow.
October 19, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Using this, @jaikhay.bsky.social found another iteration of The Queen's design in that early demo (disc version dated June 6th, 2001).
The headdress here is far more elaborate than even the feathered one seen in Game Informer's screenshots. And this is our best look at her tattered cloak of shadow.
The headdress here is far more elaborate than even the feathered one seen in Game Informer's screenshots. And this is our best look at her tattered cloak of shadow.
I’ll never get over the ‘kicking Chao in the Chao Garden’ picture. It’s so awful, but because Sonic is being framed for it, it kind of wraps back around into being comedic.
October 15, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I’ll never get over the ‘kicking Chao in the Chao Garden’ picture. It’s so awful, but because Sonic is being framed for it, it kind of wraps back around into being comedic.
There was a room that connected with the 'Heroine's Chamber' ('Heroine' always referred to Yorda). And in it, there was a gap in the wall, just as Ueda describes in the interview.
It's labeled 'Heroine'. Presumably, Ico would approach it and hear or see a glimpse of Yorda, trapped on the other side.
It's labeled 'Heroine'. Presumably, Ico would approach it and hear or see a glimpse of Yorda, trapped on the other side.
October 14, 2025 at 6:20 PM
There was a room that connected with the 'Heroine's Chamber' ('Heroine' always referred to Yorda). And in it, there was a gap in the wall, just as Ueda describes in the interview.
It's labeled 'Heroine'. Presumably, Ico would approach it and hear or see a glimpse of Yorda, trapped on the other side.
It's labeled 'Heroine'. Presumably, Ico would approach it and hear or see a glimpse of Yorda, trapped on the other side.
It was Genshi no Kotoba (げんしのことば)! An PS2 Japanese exclusive that no one talks about, not even the person who left its single 0.5 rating on Backloggd.
I mostly made people guess because I wanted to see if anyone else knew of a title that was similarly obscure. I like hearing of these games.
I mostly made people guess because I wanted to see if anyone else knew of a title that was similarly obscure. I like hearing of these games.
September 27, 2025 at 12:59 AM
It was Genshi no Kotoba (げんしのことば)! An PS2 Japanese exclusive that no one talks about, not even the person who left its single 0.5 rating on Backloggd.
I mostly made people guess because I wanted to see if anyone else knew of a title that was similarly obscure. I like hearing of these games.
I mostly made people guess because I wanted to see if anyone else knew of a title that was similarly obscure. I like hearing of these games.
Happy 24th Anniversary for the US PS2 release of ICO!
To celebrate, I'll share this (I guess the term is 'Machinima'?) Music Video I edited together.
[I do not own the rights to ICO or Hadestown. I claim Fair Use, and encourage those who enjoyed this video to engage with both properties.]
#ICO
To celebrate, I'll share this (I guess the term is 'Machinima'?) Music Video I edited together.
[I do not own the rights to ICO or Hadestown. I claim Fair Use, and encourage those who enjoyed this video to engage with both properties.]
#ICO
September 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Happy 24th Anniversary for the US PS2 release of ICO!
To celebrate, I'll share this (I guess the term is 'Machinima'?) Music Video I edited together.
[I do not own the rights to ICO or Hadestown. I claim Fair Use, and encourage those who enjoyed this video to engage with both properties.]
#ICO
To celebrate, I'll share this (I guess the term is 'Machinima'?) Music Video I edited together.
[I do not own the rights to ICO or Hadestown. I claim Fair Use, and encourage those who enjoyed this video to engage with both properties.]
#ICO
Just to spread some awareness and combat some confusion, ICO's US release anniversary is the 25th of September. It shipped on that day according to Game Informer and IGN at the time. Along with several other games all in a batch.
Nothing I could find from this time pointed to another release date.
Nothing I could find from this time pointed to another release date.
September 23, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Just to spread some awareness and combat some confusion, ICO's US release anniversary is the 25th of September. It shipped on that day according to Game Informer and IGN at the time. Along with several other games all in a batch.
Nothing I could find from this time pointed to another release date.
Nothing I could find from this time pointed to another release date.
The source is apparently a press image, sent by Sony, that was seemingly taken around the time of the June 8th, 2001 build, maybe earlier.
archive.hitsave.org/ark:/78322/1...
I can tell because pictures of Main Gate from this same set have differences that were altered after that early demo.
archive.hitsave.org/ark:/78322/1...
I can tell because pictures of Main Gate from this same set have differences that were altered after that early demo.
September 22, 2025 at 9:19 PM
The source is apparently a press image, sent by Sony, that was seemingly taken around the time of the June 8th, 2001 build, maybe earlier.
archive.hitsave.org/ark:/78322/1...
I can tell because pictures of Main Gate from this same set have differences that were altered after that early demo.
archive.hitsave.org/ark:/78322/1...
I can tell because pictures of Main Gate from this same set have differences that were altered after that early demo.
Love this review interaction on that page.
September 21, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Love this review interaction on that page.
These are clearly describing the events laid out in the East Arena. It's the first location you receive an upgrade to your weaponry in the form of a sword, and as you grab it, a cage rises around you.
But they also seem to describe a sequence from the storyboards where The Queen appeared there.
But they also seem to describe a sequence from the storyboards where The Queen appeared there.
September 8, 2025 at 10:48 PM
These are clearly describing the events laid out in the East Arena. It's the first location you receive an upgrade to your weaponry in the form of a sword, and as you grab it, a cage rises around you.
But they also seem to describe a sequence from the storyboards where The Queen appeared there.
But they also seem to describe a sequence from the storyboards where The Queen appeared there.
-then I realized why "a pair of Shadows" might be listed last, why they would be omitted by SCEA, and why their description may have been embellished by SCEE.
I think the Sentinels were this scrapped version of the final Shadow encounter in the Altar Room, one where two giant Boss Shadows appeared.
I think the Sentinels were this scrapped version of the final Shadow encounter in the Altar Room, one where two giant Boss Shadows appeared.
September 8, 2025 at 10:48 PM
-then I realized why "a pair of Shadows" might be listed last, why they would be omitted by SCEA, and why their description may have been embellished by SCEE.
I think the Sentinels were this scrapped version of the final Shadow encounter in the Altar Room, one where two giant Boss Shadows appeared.
I think the Sentinels were this scrapped version of the final Shadow encounter in the Altar Room, one where two giant Boss Shadows appeared.
ICO Trivia #19:
On the cover of the Japanese Manual, the head of a ram is hidden among the foliage of the border, at center top and bottom.
With both instances cropped, you can only see the full image by editing them together. The PS3 manual further cropped the image, making it even harder to see.
On the cover of the Japanese Manual, the head of a ram is hidden among the foliage of the border, at center top and bottom.
With both instances cropped, you can only see the full image by editing them together. The PS3 manual further cropped the image, making it even harder to see.
September 8, 2025 at 12:37 AM
ICO Trivia #19:
On the cover of the Japanese Manual, the head of a ram is hidden among the foliage of the border, at center top and bottom.
With both instances cropped, you can only see the full image by editing them together. The PS3 manual further cropped the image, making it even harder to see.
On the cover of the Japanese Manual, the head of a ram is hidden among the foliage of the border, at center top and bottom.
With both instances cropped, you can only see the full image by editing them together. The PS3 manual further cropped the image, making it even harder to see.
Alright, I'm leaning towards a depiction of an animal after finding a higher resolution scan. But I'll hold off on the trivia post until I can make it look presentable.
(The original image is either clipped at the top or bottom every time it appears. I've been trying to combine them for clarity.)
(The original image is either clipped at the top or bottom every time it appears. I've been trying to combine them for clarity.)
September 5, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Alright, I'm leaning towards a depiction of an animal after finding a higher resolution scan. But I'll hold off on the trivia post until I can make it look presentable.
(The original image is either clipped at the top or bottom every time it appears. I've been trying to combine them for clarity.)
(The original image is either clipped at the top or bottom every time it appears. I've been trying to combine them for clarity.)
I'll make this into a proper post in the trivia thread later, but first I need to figure out exactly what I'm looking at.
Is this image depicting an animal head, or is this one of the helmets that belong to the Shinkan, with the visor raised to reveal the eyes?
Is this image depicting an animal head, or is this one of the helmets that belong to the Shinkan, with the visor raised to reveal the eyes?
September 4, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I'll make this into a proper post in the trivia thread later, but first I need to figure out exactly what I'm looking at.
Is this image depicting an animal head, or is this one of the helmets that belong to the Shinkan, with the visor raised to reveal the eyes?
Is this image depicting an animal head, or is this one of the helmets that belong to the Shinkan, with the visor raised to reveal the eyes?
The Green Man, sometimes also called The Foliate Head, remains a mysterious symbol. Many people in recent history have suggested it to be representative of rejuvenation and rebirth, however.
In all subsequent demos, the surface was replaced by a more generic texture.
In all subsequent demos, the surface was replaced by a more generic texture.
August 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The Green Man, sometimes also called The Foliate Head, remains a mysterious symbol. Many people in recent history have suggested it to be representative of rejuvenation and rebirth, however.
In all subsequent demos, the surface was replaced by a more generic texture.
In all subsequent demos, the surface was replaced by a more generic texture.
ICO Trivia #18:
In an early demo (found on the Jampack Summer 2001 demo disc) there's a unique wall texture in Dark Room. It features The Green Man, a long-lasting European architectural symbol.
This design is from Crowcombe's Church of the Holy Ghost.
[Content Warning: regurgitation / disgorging]
In an early demo (found on the Jampack Summer 2001 demo disc) there's a unique wall texture in Dark Room. It features The Green Man, a long-lasting European architectural symbol.
This design is from Crowcombe's Church of the Holy Ghost.
[Content Warning: regurgitation / disgorging]
August 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM
ICO Trivia #18:
In an early demo (found on the Jampack Summer 2001 demo disc) there's a unique wall texture in Dark Room. It features The Green Man, a long-lasting European architectural symbol.
This design is from Crowcombe's Church of the Holy Ghost.
[Content Warning: regurgitation / disgorging]
In an early demo (found on the Jampack Summer 2001 demo disc) there's a unique wall texture in Dark Room. It features The Green Man, a long-lasting European architectural symbol.
This design is from Crowcombe's Church of the Holy Ghost.
[Content Warning: regurgitation / disgorging]
![An iteration of the 'omg [blank] hi!!!' meme. It features two panels.
The first has a stick figure, surrounded by sharp black scribbles to depict a depressive aura, beside them is an open door.
The second panel sees the aura instantly disappear as the Rayfa plush enters the doorframe, the stick figure's arms are high in the air, and they blush as they exclaim "omg Rayfa hi!!!"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:3mrguaooj5oukbjakyj727zl/bafkreidutdu2mqxmoqlitzcuy2w76cyh7575lloibx7ax5qbl4pvtkazea@jpeg)
I'm thinking once again about the little accessories on the light-bulbs in the Altar Room and The Queen's Room.
They're so close to being exact color inversions of each other, and I really like that strangely specific detail.
They're so close to being exact color inversions of each other, and I really like that strangely specific detail.
August 24, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I'm thinking once again about the little accessories on the light-bulbs in the Altar Room and The Queen's Room.
They're so close to being exact color inversions of each other, and I really like that strangely specific detail.
They're so close to being exact color inversions of each other, and I really like that strangely specific detail.
The older box model was.
Also interesting that the handle is seen moving here. We can interact with this model of the box in the earliest available demo and the handle doesn't react to Ico pulling it.
Also interesting that the handle is seen moving here. We can interact with this model of the box in the earliest available demo and the handle doesn't react to Ico pulling it.
August 19, 2025 at 11:39 PM
The older box model was.
Also interesting that the handle is seen moving here. We can interact with this model of the box in the earliest available demo and the handle doesn't react to Ico pulling it.
Also interesting that the handle is seen moving here. We can interact with this model of the box in the earliest available demo and the handle doesn't react to Ico pulling it.
Also, it's funny that (I think) the highest resolution image that we have of the Stone Sofa, seemingly taken directly from the original LightWave 3D model, comes from the fun little origami print sheet found on the old official website.
Less compressed than Bluesky:
drive.google.com/file/d/1M409...
Less compressed than Bluesky:
drive.google.com/file/d/1M409...
August 19, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Also, it's funny that (I think) the highest resolution image that we have of the Stone Sofa, seemingly taken directly from the original LightWave 3D model, comes from the fun little origami print sheet found on the old official website.
Less compressed than Bluesky:
drive.google.com/file/d/1M409...
Less compressed than Bluesky:
drive.google.com/file/d/1M409...
The sword, with the scabbard attached, ends up out-of-bounds during the scene where Ico falls out of his capsule. Seeing it perfectly still and untouched, I used the opportunity to take a picture that better shows how the handle is formed in-game.
August 17, 2025 at 9:37 PM
The sword, with the scabbard attached, ends up out-of-bounds during the scene where Ico falls out of his capsule. Seeing it perfectly still and untouched, I used the opportunity to take a picture that better shows how the handle is formed in-game.
It was conceived as a symbol for Ico's cloak and a pattern marking specific portions of the Castle. But then it was adapted into Wander's cloak and further altered to function as oval-shaped sigil for the colossi weak points (the giveaway is the horned figure at the base).
August 14, 2025 at 1:57 AM
It was conceived as a symbol for Ico's cloak and a pattern marking specific portions of the Castle. But then it was adapted into Wander's cloak and further altered to function as oval-shaped sigil for the colossi weak points (the giveaway is the horned figure at the base).