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Usually, yes—but it is a worthwhile replay, not an essential repurchase. The PS4 edition rebuilds the world for modern hardware and adds Photo Mode and convenience improvements, while keeping the story and core adventure intact. If you already have a playable PS2 or PS3 copy and prefer its older atmosphere, you can comfortably stick with it.
Is the PS4 edition a remake or a remaster?
It is a ground-up remake, not simply the PS3 HD remaster moved to another console. Bluepoint Games president Marco Thrush described the PS4 project as a remake because the move from PS2 to PS4 called for more than re-releasing the PS3 version. Sony’s account of the remake also makes clear that the goal was to rebuild the presentation while protecting the original game’s design.
![ICO and Shadow of the Colossus [Limited Edition] [Japan Import]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51LoyTA6T7L._SL160_.jpg)
That distinction matters, but it does not mean the PS4 release is a new campaign. The remake retains the original’s story, structure, and essential encounters. Bluepoint kept elements such as Wander’s deliberately heavy movement rather than redesigning the game to feel like a different adventure.
What changes if you already know the PS2 or PS3 game?
A substantially rebuilt visual presentation
The most striking change is the look of the Forbidden Lands: scenery, characters, colossi, lighting, and fur detail have been rebuilt. The result can make the world feel more vivid and legible than it did on the older hardware.
That richer detail is not an upgrade everyone will prefer. One review argued that the less-detailed original had a dreamlike quality that the remake’s more realistic presentation can diminish. That is an aesthetic judgment, not a universal verdict; it is a good reason to consider what you value about the older version before buying.
Photo Mode and quality-of-life updates
The PS4 edition adds a full Photo Mode and refreshes some practical parts of play. Game Informer noted a contemporary default button layout, quick-select items on the D-pad, clearer stamina-bar progression, a smaller interface footprint, gameplay statistics, and a mirrored mode unlocked after finishing the game. These are useful extras for a replay, but they do not change the underlying adventure. Game Informer’s review describes few substantial additions overall.
How the PS4 and PS4 Pro versions perform
On a standard PS4, Game Informer reported play at 30 frames per second. On PS4 Pro, Sony describes two choices: Cinematic mode emphasizes image quality and targets dynamic 4K at 30 fps on compatible 4K HDR displays, while Performance mode targets 60 fps. These are different priorities rather than one universally best setting: choose the image-quality target if you prefer detail, or the higher frame-rate target if smoother motion matters more.
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The official US PlayStation Store listing identifies this as a PS4 release dated February 6, 2018, and says it is playable on PS5 subject to system software; some PS4 features may be absent on PS5.
Rank #3
- Action-Packed Battles - Players will switch between using melee and ranged attacks in battle against hordes of enemies and challenging bosses across a variety of open field maps.
- Beautifully Desolate Open-World - The game seamlessly joins together hauntingly beautiful vistas and locations with no area loading.
- Masterfully Crafted Story and Characters - NieR: Automata tells the story of androids 2B, 9S and A2 and their ferocious battle to reclaim a machine-driven dystopia overrun by powerful weapons known as machine lifeforms.
- Elements of an RPG - Players will obtain a variety of weapon types, level up in battle, learn new combat skills, and customise a loadout that caters to their playstyle.
- Utilise the Pod Support System to Assist In and Outside of Battle - Pods can attack the enemy in both manual and lock-on modes.
Which version makes sense for you?
| Your priority | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A rebuilt visual presentation, Photo Mode, and refreshed controls | PS4 remake | These are the remake’s clearest benefits over the older releases. |
| The same story and core colossus encounters, with no need for presentation changes | Your existing PS2 or PS3 copy | The essential adventure remains intact in the remake, which adds no new campaign. |
| The older game’s less-detailed, dreamlike atmosphere | Your existing copy, if that is the version you prefer | The remake’s more detailed visual style may not suit every player. |
| Choice between image quality and a higher frame-rate target | PS4 Pro version | Sony’s Cinematic mode targets dynamic 4K at 30 fps; Performance mode targets 60 fps. |
| Playing on standard PS4 hardware | PS4 remake, if its other changes appeal to you | Game Informer reported 30 fps on standard PS4; it does not have the Pro mode choice. |
Practical access also matters: if your old console and copy are still ready to play, there is less reason to buy the remake unless its presentation or features appeal to you. If you would rather play on PS4 or compatible PS5 hardware, the remake offers that route.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Final recommendation
For an existing owner, the PS4 remake is best treated as a polished way to revisit Shadow of the Colossus, not a replacement required to experience the story. Buy or borrow it if you want to see the rebuilt world, use Photo Mode, or play with the updated controls. Keep your PS2 or PS3 version if you are satisfied with its look and feel; the core adventure you already know has not been replaced by a substantially different one.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
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