ICO (PlayStation 2, 2001)

This game has been a fan and reviewer favorite.
Why? Because it's unlike anything else on the market.
Even it's new relative, Shadow of the Colossus, is not the same.

The story revolves around a young boy trapped in a huge sprawling castle,
the girl he meets there, and how they try to escape.
The two can barely communicate, with no shared language (and the player
can't understand either of their languages). But the bond that so obviously
forms between the two, and the risks that they will take to help each other,
that is what this game is all about.

While the castle and its fascinating and seemingly infinite traps and puzzles keep the game going, it's the trust between the characters that impressed me.
The first time the girl leaped off a precipice, knowing the boy (player)
would catch her before she plunged to her death 800 feet below,
I was moved to tears. And I laughed until I fell off ther couch when I accidentally threw myself into a chimney.

The enemies are scary and challenging, the huge environments a series of puzzles and skill tests. I don't do platformers and I was fine with this game.
The fighting was very hard for a puzzle-lover like myself, and the puzzles
were interesting and kept me focussed.

Story - the best, graphics- good and realistic, characters- A+++!,
enemies- very good, music- good, gameplay- very smooth, fighting skill level- medium, puzzle skill level- medium.
Might not be suitable for very young players, as it can be scary,
but excellent for everyone, say, over 10-12 years of age.