Question: Now when the *ICO+Shadow of Colossus Collection* is out for the PS3, I was wondering that are these games some how related to each other? Is it better to play *ICO* first or vice versa?

**EDIT:**
After getting an answer I searched again and found out that Wikipedia has also a small section how these games are connected to each other.

[Wikipedia - Shadow of the Colossus & connections to Ico](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_of_the_Colossus#Connections_to_Ico)

Answer: 
Yes, they are. *Shadow of the Colossus* is a prequel to *ICO*, set in the same world. In addition, *Shadow of the Colossus* explains some of the story from *ICO*. So I would recommend playing *Shadow of the Colossus* before starting *ICO*.
The games are connected and also in the book if you consider that relevant to this explains there are many people that have had horns and by icos time they are being sacrificed so in order for there to be so many I think that ico is a few hundred years after shadow of the colossus