Game music of the day: ICO

Game: ICO

Song: You Were There

Composer: Michiru Oshima, Koicih Yamazaki, Steven Geraghty


Above: You Were There from ICO

Truly one of the PS2's most brilliant titles, ICO has gone on to become one of the most adored adventure games of all time. The heady puzzles, dreamlike visuals and tangible bond between cursed Ico and the ghostly Yorda would be standout features in any other game - to have them all in one, plus a stirring, subdued soundtrack, is a once-in-a-generation event.

The above music plays during the ending, which you can watchhere. Ico, who had literally led Yorda around by the hand for most of the game, now lays battered and weakened. In a touching reversal, Yorda must now carry him out ofthe crumbling castle, repaying him for the constant peril he endured while protecting her fromthe tyrannical Queen. Already a memorable sequence, made even better by this song.

Up next is "Heal," which plays while you save your game. It's an extremely quick and almost inaudible tune, but no less emotional. Something about it cuts right through all the jaded moments of your teen or adult years and really makes you feel the connection between Ico and Yorda. I... I think I have something in all of my eyes...

And then here's a badassss remix of Heal from SuperGreenX, also found onOverClocked ReMix. I love this just as much as the original song, so enjoy it with maximum feeling.


Saren's Theme by Jack Wall and Sam Hulick


Factory Area by Charles Deened


Overworld theme by Kondo, Minegushi, Tominaga and Ota

CATEGORIES
Brett Elston

A fomer Executive Editor at GamesRadar, Brett also contributed content to many other Future gaming publications including Nintendo Power, PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazine. Brett has worked at Capcom in several senior roles, is an experienced podcaster, and now works as a Senior Manager of Content Communications at PlayStation SIE. 

Latest in Adventure
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Pokemon Legends: Z-A will allegedly introduce 27 new Mega Evolutions, leakers claim, and we can only hope Flygon gets its chance this time
Minecraft Vibrant Visuals
16 years after Minecraft first released it's getting a modern visual upgrade with a retro lighting trick that Mojang hasn't seen "in any other game"
Minecraft movie image of Jack Black as steve
Don't expect Minecraft to go free-to-play anytime soon, as Mojang says "It doesn't really work with the way we built it"
Putting cigarettes in fish mouths in Thank Goodness You're Here
Thank Goodness You're Here's developer says it was trying to design a game normally before realizing "we're s**t at video game design"
Shiny cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket
How to get Shiny Pokemon in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's director appears to be a Xenoblade Chronicles fan, and I'm now feeling very validated about a tiny detail I spotted in the upcoming RPG's gameplay trailer
Latest in Features
Naoe kills a target with a black and white filter over the camera highlighting the red of blood spray in Assassin's Creed Shadows, with an On The Radar orange frame
Assassin's Creed Shadows "has a little bit of Tarantino flavor", but its real secret ingredient is intrigue: "It's almost like you're watching an episode of Shogun"
Helldivers 2 Borderline Justice Warbond helldiver using hoverpack to shoot down with hunting rifle
Talking points from the Game Developers Conference 2025 and how they could impact the future of gaming
Flexispot E7 Plus with plant, monitor, soundbar, and controller on top next to white wall lighting.
Gaming desks vs regular desks: which surface should you buy?
Google Pixel 9a smartphones on a beige background
One Google Pixel 9a feature could make it a better gaming phone than most budget mainstream models
Yasuke and Naoe ready to fight on the Assassin's Creed Shadows On The Radar thumbnail
On The Radar: Assassin's Creed Shadows coverage hub
Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Reacher season 3
Reacher season 3 ending explained: Who dies, does Reacher get his revenge, and how does it set up season 4?