ICO's game controls and systems are very easy to learn and master. You should be well versed in most of them after an hour or two of play. Either the left analog mini-joystick or the D-pad buttons may be used to control Ico's movement. You'll switch back and forth between the two often during the game as sometimes one works better than the other and sometimes it's the other way around. While many Role Playing/Action Adventure Games allow your character(s) to carry a great many items encountered during the quest(s), there are very few items in this game. Those to be found are weapons, which are also used as tools, and are required to successfully complete the game.

Saving your game is done only at the save couches, strategically located throughout the environment. It can only be done when both Ico and Yorda are seated on one.

You have to solve lots of puzzles to progress through the game. Doing so involves a great deal of careful observation, thought, and interaction. Often the camera will zoom in on key areas as you approach them, which is a good clue, that you need to do something there. Sometimes the most unlikely objects or areas can provide the solution. After you've rescued Princess Yorda from her cage, many of the puzzles involve how to get her from one area to another, since she has less physical ability than Ico. You generally need to keep her close by and can call her to come to Ico by pressing the 'R1' button. If Ico stands next to her, and you press the 'R1' button, she'll join hands with Ico and the two can move about together.

Ico will be frequently climbing up or descending walls, ropes, and ladders. Use the up and down directional buttons to accomplish this. You may need first to have him jump to a rope, chain, or a ledge. You use the 'Triangle' button for this. While on a ledge, you can use the 'Triangle' button to pull Ico up or the 'X' button to drop. While on a rope or ladder, you can use the 'Triangle' button to push Ico out and then down or the 'X' button to drop. The 'Circle' button permits him to swing on a rope or chain.

You may find that your battles are simplistic, yet fascinating. Entry into some areas triggers some of the battles. In other cases when Yorda is left alone in an area (i.e. Ico leaves Yorda's area and in doing so causes a new area to be loaded) for too long. When the demons appear, they'll go after Yorda. Ico can knock demons over, which causes them to drop Yorda. He can also pull her from the portal after she's been pulled in by pressing 'R1' and moving the left mini-joystick or the 'Up' directional button.

You're free to experiment as much as you like, as you can't trap your characters anywhere trying to solve a puzzle. Yorda will not attempt a leap that she's unable to complete and Ico will never fail to catch her when she does. There are only two ways to "die" in ICO:

1. Leave Yorda in a black pool too long without pulling her out.
2. Ico (or unlikely that) Yorda falls too far.