The Queen

The Queen (クイーン Kuīn) is the ruler of the castle in Ico, and the game's antagonist. Because of her old age and failing body, she intends to cheat death by using her daughter Yorda as a spiritual vessel. Her plan goes awry when Ico (the game's protagonist, and last component of the sacrifice required for the ritual) escapes, frees Yorda, and sets off to find a way out of the castle.

In the upcoming animated film based on Ico, she will be voiced by Emma Thompson.

Ico
The Queen herself appears only a few times throughout the game, relying instead on her minions, the ghosts of Ico's predecessors, horned boys sacrificed in the past. Ico cannot kill them, but manages to thwart them everytime, sending them back to their caskets. The Queen herself makes three appearances throughout the game: the first time she introduces herself with a revelation that Yorda is her daughter and a warning, shutting the gates leading to the mainland. By the second time, Ico has managed to unlock the gates, but halfway across the bridge the Queen intervenes, turning Yorda into stone and causing Ico to fall to his apparent death.

After Ico has finally slain the Queen's minions by use of a new, more powerful sword, he confronts her in her throne room and does battle with her. This is the Queen's lengthiest appearance and her second spoken appearance, for once engaging in dialogue with Ico (finally exposing and detailing much of the story's plot). The two fight each other and Ico manages to slay her by wearing off her force field and impaling her with his sword. Near death, the Queen warns Ico that Yorda will never escape the castle before she finally dies in a powerful blast which flings Ico to the far side of the room and sets off the destruction of the castle.

Appearance
The Queen is said to be old and aging, nearing death. She is physically imposing, towering well over Ico and Yorda. Her body is shaped by shadows and dark fumes, which also form her garments. She is all black but for her face and chest area, which are snow white. She is able to speak both her daughter's language and Ico's.

Powers and abilities
The Queen has a number of powers, beginning with her ability to use other bodies (as she intends to use Yorda's) as "spirit vessels". In cutscenes, she is shown to be able to materialize out of thin air. She has the ability to command the creatures chasing after Ico and Yorda, which also materialize out of portals from time to time. Should Yorda be dragged into one of these portals, an expanding wave of dark matter would instantly turn Ico into stone. This is the same power with which the Queen turns her daughter into a statue later on, and her one attack against Ico during the final battle. It is here that she also dons a force field, which Ico must disable before finally being able to kill her.

It is likely that the Queen's powers are in some way connected to the castle, as her demise brings about the destruction of the island.

Gallery
Coming soon!

Trivia

 * The Queen's Sword (that which Ico uses to slay her) is an unlockable weapon in Shadow of the Colossus, prequel to Ico.