History YMMV / TeamICOSeries

* GenreTurningPoint: The ''VideoGame/TeamICOSeries'' were hugely influential on UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames, with their impact stretching to the present day:

* FriendlyFandoms: With the ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' series, due to it being massively influenced by these games. The cryptic stories, SceneryPorn, tragic but thrilling boss battles, and overall atmosphere of melancholy and desolation that is to be found in these games was hugely inspirational for ''Souls'' director Creator/HidetakaMiyazaki, to the point where he cited ''Ico'' as the game that made him want to become a game designer. It only looks to continue with ''Souls'' SpiritualSuccessor ''VideoGame/EldenRing'' carrying fairly obvious influence from ''Shadow of the Colossus'' in its open world design.

** ''VideoGame/{{Ico}}'' is credited with ushering in the arthouse game, and for its mammoth influence on visual and environmental storytelling over cutscenes and dialogues. The mix of puzzles, platforming, and combat in both games was a huge influence on the revived ''Sands of Time'' trilogy of ''Prince of Persia'' and the ''Uncharted'' games, as well as codifying the importance of a supporting NPC companion, inspiring the likes of Alyx Vance (''VideoGame/HalfLife2''), Elizabeth (''VideoGame/BioshockInfinite''), and Ellie (''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs''). Its cinematic presentation, heavy emphasis on art direction and visuals for atmosphere and setting has likewise been cited as a major influence on Creator/FromSoftware's ''Dark Souls'' and ''Bloodborne''. It was also a major inspiration for Creator/TaroYoko's game design philosophy as well, which is evident especially with ''VideoGame/{{Nier}}'' and ''VideoGame/NierAutomata''.

* ContestedSequel: ''VideoGame/TheLastGuardian'' is this. There were reviewers on release who ''vehemently'' hated the game, but just as many who praised it. Fans continue to debate on whether or not the game is up to par with its predecessors.

** WordOfGod for ''ICO'': "In Japan there's this saying, 'when it ends well everything's well'. My theory was to already in the beginning of the game make the player understand how important the ending would be. Then the player would strive to reach it, it would keep up motivation the game through. Because I believe that the only purpose that games have is to enrich the hard life we live. And that's why ''ICO'' got a happy ending." This basically means that the games will always be solidly on the [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Idealistic]] side of the scale.

* ContestedSequel: ''VideoGame/TheLastGuardian'' is this. There were reviewers on release who ''vehemently'' hated the game, but just as many who praised it. Fans continue to debate on whether or not the game is up to par with its predecessors, but it definitely hasn't been as influential on gaming at large as those two.

* ContestedSequel: ''VideoGame/TheLastGuardian'' is this. It's not exactly hated, per se, but there are fans who debate on whether or not the game is even up to par with the previous games.

** ''VideoGame/{{Ico}}'' is credited with ushering in the arthouse game, and for its mammoth influence on visual and environmental storytelling over cutscenes and dialogues. The mix of puzzles, platforming, and combat in both games was a huge influence on the revived ''Sands of Time'' trilogy of ''Prince of Persia'' and the ''Uncharted'' games, as well as codifying the importance of a supporting NPC companion, inspiring the likes of Alyx Vance (''VideoGame/HalfLife2''), Elizabeth (''VideoGame/BioshockInfinite''), and Ellie (''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs''). Its cinematic presentation, heavy emphasis on art direction and visuals for atmosphere and setting has likewise been cited as a major influence on Creator/FromSoftware's ''Dark Souls'' and ''Bloodborne''.

* ValuesDissonance: Fumito Ueda changed the protagonist's gender from female to male in ''The Last Guardian'', citing climbing mechanics requiring physical strength as one of the reasons despite female athletes regularly displaying physical prowess. His other reason was to avoid upskirt shots, seemingly never being exposed to a girl wearing pants in his life, or even leggings.

* NeverLiveItDown: Judging by comments about ''The Last Guardian'', the team has gotten the reputation of having {{Downer Ending}}s... despite the fact that out of the two games they've made, one has a clearly ''[[HappyEnding Happy]]'' [[HappyEnding Ending]], and the other is {{Bittersweet|Ending}}. It got to a point before ''TLG'' was released where there were legitimate betting pools set up based on whether Trico or the boy [[DeathByNewberryMedal would die at the end.]] This explained by both games' overall tearjerking catharsis process.

* ContestedSequel: ''VideoGame/TheLastGuardian'' is this. It's not exactly hated, per se, but there are f fans who debate on whether or not the game is even up to par with the previous games.

** If you don't [[SandInMyEyes feel something]] at least once after finishing off a Colossus, you are a horrible person and probably kick puppies. If you play all the way through Shadow it's a BittersweetEnding ''at best''.

* TearJerker: The overall mood in both of the so-far-released games is nothing you could call "Light Hearted"
** The back-story in ''ICO'' is pretty depressing even if the ending is fairly happy, and it certainly puts you through the wringer from beginning to end.

** Judging from the trailers for ''The Last Guardian'' the packaging might as well come with a gun and a bullet with instructions that say "For your heart."

* NeverLiveItDown: Judging by comments about ''The Last Guardian'', the team has gotten the reputation of having {{Downer Ending}}s... despite the fact that out of the two games they've made, one has a clearly ''[[HappyEnding Happy]]'' [[HappyEnding Ending]], and the other is {{Bittersweet|Ending}}. This explained by both games' overall tearjerking catharsis process.

* SoCoolItsAwesome: ''VideoGame/{{ICO}}'' and ''VideoGame/ShadowOfTheColossus'' ''both'' place near the top of most ''X Best Games of All Time'' lists.

* DeathOfTheAuthor: Ueda's view of his work is that the player will make their own inferences about character relationships and motivations, far removed from whatever he put into the development of the games. Thus, his commentary about the nuances of his characters and the world they inhabit is rarely conclusive.

* DeathOfTheAuthor: Ueda's view of his work is that the player will make their own inferences about character relationships and motivations, far removed from whatever he put into the development of the games. Thus, his commentary about the nuances of his characters and the world they inhabit are rarely conclusive.

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* SoCoolItsAwesome: ''{{ICO}}'' and ''ShadowOfTheColossus'' ''both'' place near the top of most ''X Best Games of All Time'' lists.

* NeverLiveItDown: Judging by comments about ''The Last Guardian'', the team has gotten the reputation of having {{Downer Ending}}s...despite the fact that out of the two games they've made, one has a clearly ''[[HappyEnding Happy]]'' [[HappyEnding Ending]], and the other is {{Bittersweet|Ending}}. This explained by both games' overall tearjerking catharsis process.

* ValuesDissonance: Fumito Ueda changed the protagonist's gender from female to male in ''The Last Guardian'', citing climbing mechanics requiring physical strength as one of the reasons despite female athletes regularly displaying physical prowess. His other reason was to avoid upskirt shots, seemingly never being exposed to a girl wearing pants in his life.

* ValuesDissonance: Fumito Ueda changed the protagonist's gender from female to male in ''The Last Guardian'', citing climbing mechanics requiring physical strength as one of the reasons. His other reason was to avoid upskirt shots, seemingly never being exposed to a girl wearing pants in his life.

** WordOfGod for ''ICO'': "In Japan there's this saying, 'when it ends well everything's well'. My theory was to already in the beginning of the game make the player understand how important the ending would be. Then the player would strive to reach it, it would keep up motivation the game through. Because I believe that the only purpose that games have is to enrich the hard life we live. And that's why ICO got a happy ending." This basically means that the games will always be solidly on the [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Idealistic]] side of the scale.

** The back-story in ICO is pretty depressing even if the ending is fairly happy, and it certainly puts you through the wringer from beginning to end.

** WordOfGod for ''ICO'': "In Japan there's this saying, 'when it ends well everything's well'. My theory was to already in the beginning of the game make the player understand how important the ending would be. Then the player would strive to reach it, it would keep up motivation the game through. Because I believe that the only purpose that games have is to enrich the hard life we live. And that's why ICO got a happy ending." {{YMMV}}, but this basically means that the games will always be solidly on the [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Idealistic]] side of the scale.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome - {{ICO}} and ShadowOfTheColossus ''both'' often appear near the top of just about any "''x'' Best Videogames of All Time" lists.