Beginning today, you are finally be able to get your hands on the shiny new HD and 3D versions of two the most beloved video games of all time. If you’ve already played these games on PS2, now you can experience them all over again like you’ve never seen or heard them before. And if you haven’t had a chance to play these classics just yet, now’s the perfect time to experience the beautiful stories and art design of Ueda-san and his extremely talented team.

The game has been brought to new life with these enhancements and exclusive content:

• Full 1080p HD resolution
• Stereoscopic 3D support
• 7.1 surround sound
• Full Trophy support, with unique trophies for each game
• 12-minute behind-the-scenes video about the making of ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian
• 20+ minute round table discussion between Ueda-san (Lead Designer, Director), Kaido-san (Line Producer) and Hosono-san (Designer).
• ICO concept video
• Shadow of the Colossus concept video
• NICO concept video
• Dynamic XMB themes (one for ICO, one for Shadow of the Colossus)

The disc comes with all of this for just $39.99. As if you needed any more reasons to pick up this collection, it currently has an average review score of 91, out of 35 reviews. Game Informer gave it a 9.75, saying “Playing through them again in this unbeatable package only serves as a reminder that no other developer can imitate Team Ico’s singular style.”

In celebration of the launch of ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection, Ueda-san has kindly sent us his comments:

We’ve finally made it to the release date of ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection. I would really like to especially thank the gamers, fans, and the media within North America, as the title has received such an incredible amount of support and praise from this region. I sincerely hope you will all enjoy the re-mastered collection.

I would also like to express my gratitude to the staff at Bluepoint Games and SCEA in the development and production of these titles. We were extremely lucky to be working with such talented staff. Their efforts helped the Collection exceed our highest quality expectations, as well as get though its development cycle without any major issues. I sincerely appreciate the great work done by everyone involved.

Get ready to take the re-mastered game home and be immersed in these highly artistic and picturesque game worlds today!

With the release of The ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection just a week away, I’m still in awe over how awesome the remastered games look and sound. If you’re on the fence about the collection, know that, so far, it has an average score of 91 out of 27 reviews. Game Informer gave it a 9.75, Destructoid a 9.5, Games Radar a 9.0, GamePro a 4.5 out of 5, and IGN an 8.5.

The games are fantastic in their own right, whether you’ll be playing them for the first time or have already played the originals. But I think you’re also really going to dig the fantastic bonus content we’ve packed onto the disc.

Not only do you get to enjoy seeing early concept and prototype footage of ICO and Shadow of the Colossus, we’ve also included the original concept video for NICO. If you’ve never heard of NICO, it was the second game from Fumito Ueda and team, and was going to be an online game where groups of hunters tracked, scaled and slayed giant beasts together. That game was never made, but key ideas from it formed the basis for what would become Shadow of the Colossus.

In addition, there are two brand new original videos included on the disc. One is a 20+ minute round-table discussion between key members of the development team, Fumito Ueda (Lead Designer, Director), Kenji Kaido (Line producer) and Junichi Hosono (designer). They openly discuss what it was like to make these games, difficulties and challenges they faced, and even the original US packaging for ICO.

And last but not least is a 12-minute behind-the-scenes video filmed on location at the Sony Computer Entertainment JAPAN Studio offices in
Shinagawa. This video features interviews with key production staff members about the making of ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian, their thoughts on this new HD collection, as well as concept art and prototype footage from all the games. You’ll also watch some never-before-seen footage from The Last Guardian.

Above, you can watch a short sneak peek at some of the cool bonus video content you can look forward to next week when you pick up the game for yourself on September 27th. I hope you enjoy the bonus content on the disc as much as we did putting it all together for you. Don’t forget to check out the preview of the collection in this month’s episode of Qore as well.

Which game are you more excited to play in HD for the first time — ICO or Shadow of the Colossus?

It’s been a while since we’ve updated you on the remastered ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection, but we did want to remind you about its upcoming launch on September 27th! As a special treat, we’re proud to unveil the final box art and inside packaging for the collection, depicting stylized artwork from both titles. In addition to full 1080p HD, stereoscopic 3D support, and 7.1 surround sound, this re-release contains a ton of exclusive bonus footage and behind-the-scenes content that will await you on September 27th. Full details are available here.

Additionally, we wanted to confirm that The Last Guardian is not on the schedule for this year’s Tokyo Game Show. However we can assure you that Ueda-san and the rest of the development team are hard at work to bring his lofty vision to life and deliver the very best gaming experience possible.

Right from your disc, you’ll be able to enjoy these five exclusive bonus videos and go behind-the-scenes to learn more about these two classics and the visionaries that created them:

• Early concept and prototype video montage of ICO
• Early concept and prototype video montage of Shadow of the Colossus
• Initial concept video for NICO, a game that was never made but turned into Shadow of the Colossus, including an on-camera introduction from creator Fumito Ueda
• Candid 20+ minute round-table discussion between Fumito Ueda (creator), Kenji Kaido (producer) and Junichi Hosono (designer)

• And last but not least, a 12-minute behind-the-scenes video filmed on location at the SCEI offices in Japan. This video features interviews with key production staff members about the making of ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian, as well as concept art and prototype footage of all the games, and exclusive never-before-seen footage of The Last Guardian

In addition to full 1080p HD and stereoscopic 3D support, and 7.1 surround sound, this re-release also supports a full set of trophies for each game. Here is the full trophy list for both games to give you a taste of the challenges that await you when you set out on your adventure with ICO and Wander this September 27.

ICO

• Enlightenment (Platinum)
• Rescue (Bronze)
• Failure (Bronze)
• Armed and Ready (Silver)
• East Gate (Silver)
• West Gate (Silver)
• Farewell (Silver)
• Royal Arms (Gold)
• Emancipation (Gold)
• Split the Watermelon (Gold)
• Spiked Club (Gold)
• Shining Sword (Gold)
• Bench Warmer (Gold)
• Express Journey (Gold)
• Castle Guide (Gold)
• Unscathed Escape (Gold)

Shadow of the Colossus

• Wander and the Colossus (Platinum)
• Valley Wanderer (Bronze)
• The Sloth (Bronze)
• Disturbed Sleep (Bronze)
• Path of Gravestones (Bronze)
• Aerial Dance (Bronze)
• Entombed Giant (Bronze)
• Waves of Thunder (Bronze)
• Wall Scaler (Bronze)
• Slumbering Caveman (Bronze)
• Unknown Tracks (Bronze)
• Guardian Unleashed (Bronze)
• Silent Thunder (Bronze)
• Signs in the Sky (Bronze)
• Shielded Guardian (Bronze)
• Valley of the Fallen (Bronze)
• Final Colossus (Bronze)
• The Forbidden (Silver)
• Wander and the Forbidden (Silver)
• Climber (Gold)
• Hang Glider (Bronze)
• Resistance (Silver)
• Collector (Silver)
• Meticulous Collector (Gold)
• Slippery Ride (Bronze)
• Agro Circus (Silver)
• Cornucopia (Gold)
• Tower of Prayer (Silver)
• Endangered Lizards (Gold)
• Stalwart Wander (Gold)
• Mighty Wander (Gold)

I have a special treat in store for ICO and SotC fans headed to PAX in a few weeks. Check back here on the blog for details as we get closer. Until then, here’s one more screenshot showing off the amazing detail in the modeling and textures that you’ll get to enjoy, now that the games are in HD.

We’re just a few short months away from the release of the ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection for PlayStation 3. As mentioned in the original announcement, this new collection features two of the most highly acclaimed video games of all time, now with full 1080p HD and stereoscopic 3D support, 7.1 surround sound, and full PSN Trophy support, all for just $39.99.

As if that wasn’t enough reason to pick up this collection in September, I’m happy to announce that the disc will also come with some amazing bonus content. Packed in every new copy of the game will be a voucher for two XMB Dynamic Themes, one for ICO and one for Shadow of the Colossus. In addition, on the disc itself will be a ton of exclusive video content from ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian that fans won’t want to miss. We’re busy finalizing the videos as we speak, and will have more details to share next month.

Don’t forget to pre-order your copy before it hits stores on September 27!

Here are a few words from The Last Guardian Director/Game Designer, Fumito Ueda:

I announced at last year’s Tokyo Game Show that the release timing of The Last Guardian which is currently being developed would be holiday 2011.

However, to provide more challenging and better quality of content to users and to fulfill First Party Studio’s obligations, I decided to postpone its release timing.

All the members of my production team are working together at a fast pace to develop and release the game in First Party Studio quality.

I sincerely apologize to all the customers who have been waiting for “The Last Guardian” for so long, but I beg for your patience. I will also announce the new release timing at a later time.

Looming majestically over the wind-swept plains, the Colossus lowers its ponderous head to peer at the tiny, curious creature scuttling before it. Of course, that tiny creature is you. And before long, you’ll be dangling from the great brute, magic sword clutched tightly in one small hand, as you prepare to bring the Goliath to its knees with a series of pinprick stabs. Once the battle is over and you’ve slain the giant, you may be left to grapple with a haunting question: “Why?”

This is Shadow of the Colossus, one of the most highly regarded games ever released and a beacon to many game developers for its epic grandness, its subtle artistry, and its messy emotional context. Along with Ico, Shadow of the Colossus is returning this spring in dazzling HD with robust (though optional) stereoscopic 3D support. I donned a pair of active-shutter 3D glasses to get a fresh look at Fumito Ueda’s masterpiece running on the PS3.

Playing Shadow of the Colossus in 3D, I was immediately struck by the agoraphobic vastness of the landscape. The stark beauty of the world is far clearer thanks to new high-resolution environment textures looted from the hard drives at developer Team Ico. And in case you were wondering, Bluepoint Games is handling the conversion duties for the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection — if you played the God of War Collection, then you’re familiar with their handiwork.

And then there are the colossi. I defeated the first two (there are 16 in all), and scrambling across their shaggy backs in stereoscopic 3D added immensely to the drama. But it it also aided the gameplay: Seen in 3D, the platforms and protrusions that jut from their immense bodies seem to occupy the foreground, making it easier to judge distances and find a safe place to rest when your grip is weakening. And dangling hundreds of feet in the air now gives you a striking sense of vertigo — the ground seems to sprawl endlessly around you, threatening to swallow you up.

Of course, you don’t need a 3D TV to enjoy the other benefits of the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection. In addition to the new high-res environment textures, the crisp HD resolution brings out cinematic details I missed on the PS2 version, such as tiny birds flying around the head of the first colossus. The framerate now sits at a fluid, solid 30 frames per second, eliminating one of the few complaints of the original game. When I spun the camera angle around, I also noted smooth, natural-looking motion blur. And Trophy support is most definitely in.

Other than the massive graphical overhaul and stereoscopic 3D support, this is the same Shadow of the Colossus that you know and love. The minimalist story, gameplay, unique controls, and user interface are identical. You know what they say: Don’t mess with a good thing.

The Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection is scheduled to arrive on the PS3 in spring of 2011. Are you interested in trying the game in stereoscopic 3D? Let us know in the comments.

While in Tokyo, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ueda-san about The Last Guardian and his upcoming PS3 compilation Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection. I knew that getting a lot of firm details about a game as enigmatic and ambitious as The Last Guardian would be no easy task, so I decided to focus my questions on learning more about how the game plays, its core mechanics, and nuances I spotted in the trailer. Ueda-san’s replies provide a rare glimpse into one of 2011′s most intriguing games.

Sid Shuman: How would you describe The Last Guardian to somebody who had never seen it before?

Fumito Ueda, Director, The Last Guardian: It’s not a pet game, but there is a live animal in the game. I would describe it as an adventure game that you play with this animal.

SS: Will you control the boy, Trico, or both?

FU: You can only control the boy.

SS: What can you tell us about the boy? Does he have a name? Is he on a quest of some sort?

FU: The boy does not have a name…yet. The goal of the boy is to escape from the location you see in the trailer.

SS: Judging by the video, Trico appears to be be a powerful force in combat situations. Is there a combat element to The Last Guardian? How does it work?

FU: As you saw in the video, Trico is able to defeat an enemy with one swipe. So in that sense, he functions as a guardian of sorts. But the boy is unable to defeat the enemies on his own — that’s the gameplay element involved.

SS: What can you tell us about the enemies we’ve seen in The Last Guardian? In the trailer, they appear to almost fall apart like statues…

FU: I can’t give you any details about the enemies. But I will say that they are not acting fully out of their own intentions.

SS: Is Trico the only creature of that size in The Last Guardian’s world?

FU: Again, I can’t give you any specific details. But there may be something like that out there…

SS: Shadow of the Colossus was known for its unusual control scheme. Will The Last Guardian follow suit with its controls, or will the controls feel familiar to players?

FU: The actual method of controls and button layouts have not been decided yet, because it doesn’t take much time to change the control scheme. But because we’re using the theme of an animal for The Last Guardian, I also want people who are not serious game players to try out this game. So I want the controls to be simpler than before.

SS: Many game journalists — and even the entry on Wikipedia — have described Shadow of the Colossus as one of the best examples for video games being an art form. How does that make you feel? Do you agree?

FU: I’m happy about it, I’m flattered. But I wonder what part are they are referring to when they make that comment, that it’s art. What part are they looking at? Because I think it’s possible to make it even more artistic. But because it’s a video game, those possibilities have been subdued somewhat — it’s a game. So I’d be interested to know what part, exactly, they mean when they refer to it as art.

There are games out there that are much more artistic than Shadow of the Colossus. And personally I also believe that it would be possible to make it even more “arty,” so to speak.

SS: What other games do you think represent a good argument for games as art?

FU: I guess it depends on how you define art, of course. But in a Japanese conception of the term “art,” it’s thought that it might be something that’s difficult to understand, or complex. Or something unique or uncommon.

So given that definition of art, maybe it’s a little detrimental to actually name any titles.

SS: You were asking why so many people name Shadow of the Colossus as an example of art. I think many people would answer that it’s because players begin to sympathize with the Colossi…

FU: So it makes you think — I understand.

Also, we’ve uploaded new screens of The Last Guardian; click on them to see more.

Though Ueda-san wasn’t up for spilling *too many* details on the upcoming The Last Guardian, he did give some interesting insight into the way he and his team make games. He also hints that maybe we don’t know how this game is going to play out, after all.

Oh, and there was one pressing question that I didn’t ask – because Joystiq and Kotaku already beat me to it (“Will there ever be a PS3 remake of Ico/Shadow of the Colossus a la the God of War collection?”). Check out their stories for his answer.