Editing Ico (section)

== Gameplay ==
[[File:Ico gameplay.jpg|thumb|left|Ico (right) calls out to Yorda (left) while she waits on the ruined castle. The game's graphics feature [[soft light]] techniques.<ref name="1up bittersweet">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3144548|title=Bittersweet Symphony|last=Mielke|first=James|date=October 15, 2005|website=[[1UP.com|1UP]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629175726/http://www.1up.com/features/retroactive-ico|archive-date=June 29, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=October 7, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/09/two-classic-games-get-facelifts-and-a-playstation-3-release/|title=Two Classic Games Get Facelifts and a PlayStation 3 Release|first=Dave|last=Banks|date=September 8, 2011|access-date=August 27, 2012|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|archive-date=November 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108052421/http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/09/two-classic-games-get-facelifts-and-a-playstation-3-release/|url-status=live}}</ref>]]

''Ico'' is primarily a [[3D computer graphics|three-dimensional]] [[platform game]]. The player controls Ico from a [[Third-person view|third-person perspective]] as he explores the castle and attempts to escape it with Yorda.<ref name="g4tv review">{{cite web |last=Keil |first=Matthew |date=September 30, 2002 |title='Ico' (PS2) Review |url=http://www.g4tv.com/techtvvault/features/33435/Ico_PS2_Review.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509133021/http://www.g4tv.com/techtvvault/features/33435/Ico_PS2_Review.html |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |access-date=October 5, 2008 |publisher=[[G4TV]]}}</ref> The camera is fixed in each room or area but swivels to follow Ico or Yorda as they move; the player can also [[Panning (camera)|pan]] the view a small degree in other directions to observe more of the surroundings.<ref name="method development"/> The game includes many elements of platform games; for example, the player must have Ico jump, climb, push and pull objects, and perform other tasks such as solving puzzles in order to progress within the castle.<ref name="gamespot review"/>

These actions are complicated by the fact that only Ico can carry out these actions; Yorda can jump only short distances and cannot climb over tall barriers. The player must use Ico so that he helps Yorda cross obstacles, such as by lifting her to a higher ledge, or by arranging the environment to allow Yorda to cross a larger gap herself. The player can tell Yorda to follow Ico, or to wait at a particular spot. The player can have Ico take Yorda's hand and pull her along at a faster pace across the environment.<ref name="eurogamer review"/> Players are unable to progress in the game until they move Yorda to certain doors that only she can open.<ref name="g4tv review"/>

Escaping the castle is made difficult by shadow creatures sent by the Queen. These creatures attempt to drag Yorda into black vortexes if Ico leaves her for any length of time, or if she is in certain areas of the castle. Ico can dispel these shadows using a stick or sword and pull Yorda free if she is drawn into a vortex.<ref name="g4tv review"/> While the shadow creatures cannot harm Ico, the game is over if Yorda becomes fully engulfed in a vortex; the player restarts from a [[Save-state|save point]]. The player will also restart from a save point if Ico falls from a large height. Save points in the game are represented by stone benches that Ico and Yorda rest on as the player saves the game.<ref name="eurogamer review"/> In European and Japanese releases, upon completion of the game, the player has the opportunity to restart the game in a local co-operative two-player mode, where the second player plays as Yorda, still under the same limitations as the computer-controlled version of the character.<ref>{{Cite conference | url = http://waxebb.com/writings/ico.html | title = Interactivity in Ico: Initial Involvement, Immersion, Investment. | first = Drew | last = Davidson | year = 2003 | access-date = September 14, 2010 | conference = ACM International Conference Proceeding Series; Vol. 38 – Proceedings of the second international conference on Entertainment computing | publisher = [[Carnegie Mellon University]] | archive-date = March 8, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160308082713/http://waxebb.com/writings/ico.html | url-status = live }}</ref>