LADYDRAGON.COM - ICO(TM) Takes Gaming Community by Storm, Declared One to Watch This Holiday Season for PlayStation(R)2

Tuesday September 25, 2001

ICO(TM) Takes Gaming Community by Storm, Declared One to Watch This Holiday Season for PlayStation(R)2

Heroic Adventure Showcases Stunning Graphics, Special Effects and Intriguing Character Interaction

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today the release of ICO(TM), a unique, heroic 3D adventure role-playing game (RPG) available exclusively for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. Hailed by gaming enthusiasts as one of the hottest software titles to look out for this holiday season, ICO will astound gamers of all ages with its beautiful graphics, immersive storyline and a complementary blend of adventure, role-playing, fighting, puzzle and strategy elements.

"ICO utilizes the technology and power of PlayStation 2 to deliver a riveting storyline featuring breathtakingly brilliant landscapes, intriguing characters and spectacular lighting effects," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "Gamers will truly enjoy this unique interactive experience filled with complex puzzles and adventure, featuring graphics so realistic, gamers will find it difficult to differentiate reality from fantasy."

In development for more than 2 years, the heroic adventure of ICO will captivate players as they wander into a mysterious forgotten world, where every generation a young boy is born with horns. Ico, this generation's boy born with horns, is consequently kidnapped from his village and taken to an isolated castle where he is placed in a tomb to be sacrificed.

Surrounded by solitude, Ico rocks the walls of his tomb, causing it to tumble and break open, freeing him on the floor below. In the fall, Ico is knocked unconscious and dreams of a young princess trapped inside the castle, calling out to him to rescue her. Ico awakens, and is astonished to find out his dream has become a reality. Realizing his fate, Ico sets off to save the princess and himself from the wicked queen and evil spirits that reside within the castle.

ICO prepares gamers for a perilous escapade through a vast environment of challenging puzzles, from complex brain teasers to simple mazes. As he leads the princess through the secluded castle, murky dungeons, shadowy corridors and magnificent river scenes, Ico, not easily deterred or intimidated by the evil elements lurking throughout the adventure, must battle spine-chilling monsters and confront the sinister queen.

ICO takes full advantage of the technological capabilities of the PlayStation 2 to deliver stunning graphics, interactive backgrounds, intriguing character interaction and cinematic cut-scenes, guaranteed to excite and capture the attention of gamers for hours on end this fall and throughout the holiday season.

Key features in ICO:

-- Inviting and vibrant worlds each have their own true-to-life architectural style.

-- Players embark on a heroic journey that will challenge both hard core and casual gamers.

-- Solve a wide variety of puzzles from simple mazes to complex brain twisters.

-- ICO incorporates elements from puzzle, adventure, strategy, fighting and RPG genres.

-- Deep, mysterious storyline will captivate gamers for hours.

-- Beautiful, realistic graphics take full advantage of the capabilities of the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system.

-- Run, jump, climb, swing and fight in brilliant interactive backgrounds that come to life with spectacular lighting effects and immersive gameplay.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates ICO "T" for Teen.