I barely notice save points these days. They’ve been cleaned away. There’s a polite interruption at the beginning of the game to say the little logo you’re seeing means the game is saving, then off you go, never to really give it a second thought again. If you fail at some part of the game, you reload nearby. How handy, how streamlined.
But not all games do it this way. Some make a feature of saving, knowing just how precious progress is. So here’s to memorable save points – here are five of the best.
When I think of Ico I think of the wind and the cold light – of being up high and exposed on some rocky outcrop on a chilly day in early Spring. I love days like this – the brightness and clarity, the watery volumes of light, but they aren’t cozy. Outside there’s no refuge. Gloves and a scarf mate!