One of the best surprises at this year's E3 was Sony's upcoming adventure title, ICO. Though the title didn't get the attention that it deserved, many gamers were confident enough to chisel it into their want lists. Well, cross it off the list, because RPGamer has received word from Sony that ICO should be on shelves across North America right now.

The game tells the tale of a horned boy named Ico. Only one horned child is born per generation, and, as this generation's chosen one, Ico is taken to a castle to be sacrificed. During his attempted escape, Ico encounters the princess of the castle, and the two set out hand-in-hand to flee from the evil spirits that surround them. The game design promises a unique challenge, as Ico must literally lead the princess by the hand throughout the story.

According to Ami Blaire, director of product marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America, the game is a "unique interactive experience filled with complex puzzles and adventure, featuring graphics so realistic, gamers will find it difficult to differentiate reality from fantasy."

Those out there that are still hesitant to take the plunge into ICO can keep an eye out for our review of the game, which should be available before the end of the week.