Is Shadow of the Colossus Good?

It may be an unconventional pick, but Shadow of the Colossus, or SOTC for short, is my favorite game of all time. It wasn’t the game I’ve had the most fun playing the first time or even replaying, no. But I played it at just the right time and it was able to leave an irremovable impact on me. I’ll fully admit that because of this, it may not hit for people who play it today the way it did for me back on the PS2. But it is still an incredible game, so let’s explore why.

10. Graphics

Wander practicing some very dangerous archery

As this game has had three separate releases over the years, it has varied a lot visually. But as the PS4 version is the most accessible, that is what I will be referring to for the most part throughout this article. 

And on PS4/PS5, it is stunningly recreated. This was a full remake that many considered to look as good as modern games at the time, and this still holds true. There is still evidence that it is an old game of course, but it is minimal.

9. Versions

The original, the remaster, and the remake, this game gets around

Some acknowledgment should be given to the other versions though. The PS2 version was the original game, and it still holds up if only for the nostalgia. PS3 is a simple remaster with some new content and the version I’d recommend the least. It has some new features over the PS2 one, but the PS4 one does as well, plus it's an actual remake. It's still the same game though, so aside from PS4 being easier to control, its pretty much the same.

8. Characters

Wander isn’t winning any beauty contests anytime soon

As a nearly silent game, and not counting the Colossi that I’ll get to shortly, there aren’t a lot of characters to be found here. Most notable of course is Wander or the Wanderer, (depending on who you ask), the young man you play as. For a protagonist, not much is known about him. He comes to this world with Mono, a deceased young woman who supposedly can be revived here. It is worth noting that we never do find out what she is to him. She could be his sister, his mother, his lover, or a mere friend. We don’t know.

Aside from them, Wander’s horse Agro is…. One of the video game horses of all time. I have complicated feelings about her, she has a good bond with Wander and therefore the player but annoying to control.

Beyond that, there is Dormin, a mysterious voice that speaks to you within the Shrine of Worship who… I’ll get back to him. Along with the people in the ending. 

7. World

Go Agro, we must climb that rock!

The world of SOTC, known as The Forbidden Lands, is one of the earliest examples I can think of that feels like a modern open world. To an extent at least. It is a very wide open area, with lots to explore. There is just one catch.

These lands are very, very empty. The Colossi are here of course, but aside from that, the only life you’ll really see are birds and lizards. In a game full of unspoken mysteries, this dead land is one of the biggest. It is possible to sort of piece together what might have happened here, but without official confirmation, it is hard to say for sure. The ruins do suggest something though, that’s for sure.

6. Colossi

The first four colossi, including that horse who deserves the most painful death

It's about time to address these guys. The titular Colossi of Shadow of the Colossus, they are sixteen in number. And are the only things you fight in this game. Yep, in a way this game is a boss rush.

And with only sixteen, you would expect each to be unique in the way you must approach it. And that is absolutely the case. While some are a bit similar in appearance, the way you must fight them is extremely different. The most notable example to illustrate this is the two lion-like Colossi. Despite looking very similar, one is fought by using fire to lure it off a cliff, while the other must be tricked into collapsing crumbling ruins on top of it. Definitely different encounters despite the similarities. 

And of the four shown above, we have the first Colossus in the game on the left. This was the moment that is most ingrained in my memory of this game: when I first saw it and the music shifted from peaceful overworld themes to a louder battle theme. Anyone who’s experienced the game new knows what I mean, although this may be a bit lost on people playing it for the first time now.

But as for actually fighting the Colossi, it's a similar pattern. Get on a part of them with fur/hair or something else climbable, ascend to the right spot indicated by glowing (your sword helps find these), and stab. Usually, you will have to stab several spots to gain access to its true weak spot(s) and start dealing real damage, but that’s the general idea. Of course, this is much easier on some compared to others.

5. Difficulty

Small man versus giant with a stone sword, guess who wins

It shouldn’t be surprising to hear this isn’t a very easy game. Your health and stamina, required for climbing, are rather small by default. It is certainly possible to beat the game without upgrading these, but it significantly increases the challenge to do so. As for upgrading these, the lizards from before along with a certain fruit come into play, found while exploring the open world. It's a simple matter of eating the fruit and lizard tails after shooting them down with an arrow.

And then there is hard mode. This takes the concept of small man fighting massive titans literally, making them do appropriate damage. Meaning if they step on you in any way, it's instant death, no matter how much health you have. And of course, other damage is increased as well, so falls are rarely survivable now. This higher difficulty is challenging and definitely requires full knowledge of how the game works.

4. Replayability 

Yes you can climb that beard

Considering this is a smallish game with a massive world full of secrets, there is surprisingly a lot to experience here. And that’s not even getting into the statues in the Shrine, which can be used to attempt challenge runs after beating the game. Definitely a lot to do here if you’re up for it.

3. Exploration

Welp, this place is dead

Now about the non-Colossi moments of the game. These definitely have a different feel, with none of the fast-paced action the game is largely known for. Instead, it's a man and his horse traversing a dead landscape, looking for any sign of life.

It is here I would like to draw attention to the community for SOTC. This game had a complicated development and a lot of content was cut, including six whole Colossi. They were removed from the game…. but not entirely.

Dedicated secret hunters have carefully searched the map, finding battle arenas where these cut Colossi would have been fought. Some were easy, others took years or even decades. For how empty this world appears when first exploring it, it is astonishingly full of secrets. Much like a certain recent Zelda game.

2. Music

Small man versus giant with stone sword round two, and the music slaps

While some may not agree with how subjective music can be, I find SOTC’s soundtrack to be nearly flawless for its world. The quieter tracks perfectly highlight its dead world, while the lively ones get you right into the flow of things for the high-action combat. There are some spoilers to be had in the music, so keep that in mind if you’re reading the song titles.

Shadow of the Colossus Remake FULL Soundtrack

1. Story (major spoilers)

Guide me, faint beam of light!

And now it gets depressing. Throughout the game, as each Colossus is slain, mysterious black tendrils spill out of it and into Wander, causing him to collapse and reappear back at the Shrine. This repeats with each one, as Wander grows noticeably paler and more sickly in appearance. 

Until the final Colossus is slain, this continues with no answers. But then, as you return, suddenly things are happening. More people appear, having followed you to The Forbidden Lands. And Dormin, that mysterious entity…. Breaks free. Through you. Turns out those black tendrils were parts of him, sealed away to prevent his escape. You killed largely peaceful guardians to free a monster. Sure they attacked you, but it was self-defense to fill their role as guardians. Wander is the aggressor here.

And so the game ends with Mono revived as promised, but Wander and Dormin are gone. It's a bittersweet ending that still leaves many questions, and is a major part of why this game is so remembered. Shadow of the Colossus is often cited as one of the greatest and most influential games of all time. The likes of God of War II and III, Elden Ring, and Breath of the Wild have outright been said to have taken inspiration from this game, among many others. That’s quite a legacy.

And for me, it stands tall all these years later. I’ve played games I’ve overall had more fun with in the moment, but none where I clearly remember moments from my first playthrough after all this time. And for me, that is the mark of a truly great game.

Score: 10/10

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