Shadow of the Colossus
The Shadow of the Colossus cover emphasizes the massive size of the colossus compared to the protagonist.
Developer(s)	Team Ico
Publisher(s)	Sony Computer Entertainment
Designer(s)	Kenji Kaido (line producer/project manager) Fumito Ueda (director/lead game designer) Shunpei Suzuki (art design) Hitoshi Niwa (art design) Kō Ōtani (composer)
Picture format	480p (EDTV) 480i (SDTV)
Release date(s)	NA October 18, 2005 JPN October 27, 2005 KOR December 15, 2005 AUS February 16, 2006 EUR February 17, 2006
Genre(s)	Action / Adventure, Puzzle
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: Teen (T) CERO: 12+ PEGI: 12+ OFLC: M USK: 12+ KMRB 12+
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2
Media	1 DVD
Input	DualShock 2

Shadow of the Colossus (ワンダと巨像, Wanda to Kyozō^?, lit. "Wander and the Colossus") is a Japanese-developed action-adventure video game developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCEI) for the PlayStation 2. The game was released in North America and Japan in October 2005 and PAL territories in February 2006.^[1] The game was created by SCEI's International Production Studio 1, the same development team responsible for the cult hit^[2] Ico.^[3] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (640x905, 81 KB) Summary The NTSC box art for Shadow of the Colossus. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... Team Ico is a Japanese game development team, lead by game designer Fumito Ueda. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Sony Computer Entertainment, Incorporated ) (SCEI) is a Japanese video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, mostly in video game consoles and is a full subsidiary of Sony Corporation that was established on November 16, 1993 in Tokyo, Japan. ... A game designer is a person who designs games. ... Kenji Kaido is the Producer of the Sony Computer Entertainment Japans Product Development Department #1. ... A Line Producer is a key member of the production team for a motion picture. ... A project manager is the person who has the overall responsibility for the successful planning and execution of any project. ... Fumito Ueda is a Japanese video game designer. ... A game director is a person who is in-charge of significant creative aspects of a video game. ... A game designer is a person who designs games. ... Kō ÅŒtani ,sometimes written Kow Otani or Ko Ootani) is a Japanese composer. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... 480p is the shorthand name for a video mode. ... 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... is the 291st day of the year (292nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the country in East Asia. ... is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the history of Korea, see Korea. ... is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Australasia Australasia is a term variably used to describe a region of Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Video games are categorized into genres based on their gameplay. ... Action-adventure games (British English: arcade adventure) are video games that combine elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. ... Minesweeper, a popular computer puzzle game found on many machines. ... In computer games and video games, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. ... The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles for computer and video games and other entertainment software in the United States and Canada (officially adopted by individual provinces 2004-2005). ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... PEGIs logo Pan European Game Information, or more commonly PEGI, nicknamed Peggy, is a European video game content rating system. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The USKs official logo. ... The Korea Media Rating Board (KMRB) is the Korean equivalent of the ESRB. The board rates movies, videos, videogames, arcade games, computer games, online games, stage performances, and phonogrames. ... “PS2” redirects here. ... Size comparison: A 12 cm Sony DVD+RW and a 19 cm Dixon Ticonderoga pencil. ... The DualShock (officially DUALSHOCK and occasionally referred to as Dual Shock) is the standard game controller available for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 video game consoles. ... Action-adventure games (British English: arcade adventure) are video games that combine elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. ... “Computer and video games” redirects here. ... Sony Computer Entertainment, Incorporated ) (SCEI) is a Japanese video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, mostly in video game consoles and is a full subsidiary of Sony Corporation that was established on November 16, 1993 in Tokyo, Japan. ... “PS2” redirects here. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... 2005 2005 in games 2004 in video gaming 2006 in video gaming Notable events of 2005 in video gaming. ... The PAL region is a video game publication territory which covers Australasia and the majority of Eurasia. ... Notable events of 2006 in video gaming. ... Ico (IPA pronunciation: ) is a 2001 action-adventure video game developed by Sony Computer Entertainment and released for the PlayStation 2 video game console. ...

The game focuses on a young man named Wander (as noted in the voice credits in the game's booklet) who must travel across a vast expanse on horseback and defeat sixteen giants, beings collectively known as colossi, to restore the life of a girl. The game is unusual within the action-adventure genre in that there are no towns or dungeons to explore, no characters with which to interact, and no enemies to defeat, other than the colossi.^[4][5] Shadow of the Colossus has been described as a puzzle game, as each colossus' weakness must be identified and exploited before it can be defeated.^[6][7] Jack the Giant-Killer by Arthur Rackham. ... In games, a dungeon represents a dangerous area with many hidden secrets to explore. ... Minesweeper, a popular computer puzzle game found on many machines. ...

Gameplay

Basics

Progression through Shadow of the Colossus occurs in cycles. Beginning at a central point in an expansive landscape, the player seeks out and defeats a colossus, and is then returned to the central point to repeat the process.^[6] To find each colossus, Wander must raise his sword while in a sunlit area to reflect beams of light, which will converge when the sword is pointed in the right direction of the next encounter.^[8] The journey to a colossus is seldom a straightforward matter—stretches of varied terrain often require that a detour be taken along the way. Most colossi are located in remote areas, such as atop cliffs or within ancient structures, and tend to be located progressively farther away from the central area. Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century Look up Sword in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Once a colossus is found, the player must discover its weaknesses to defeat it. Each colossus dwells in a unique lair, and many colossi cannot be defeated without making use of the surrounding environment.^[9] Every colossus has at least one weak point, indicated by a glowing sigil.^[10] If the area is lit by sunlight, the player may use the sword's reflected light to temporarily illuminate these sigils.^[8][11] Each colossus has areas covered with fur or protruding ledges, which the player may use to grip and scale the colossus while it thrashes about in an attempt to dislodge the player.^[6] While scaling a colossus, the player must act quickly, as Wander has a limited grip gauge that decreases while he hangs onto the creature. An excerpt from Sefer Raziel HaMalakh, featuring various magical sigils (or סגולות, seguloth, in Hebrew). ... For other uses, see Fur (disambiguation). ...

Wander stabbing the sigil on Valus, the first colossus

Wander and the colossi have life bars to indicate their remaining health. The colossi's health will decrease significantly when their weak points are attacked, while Wander can be harmed by a colossus' attacks or falls from great heights. Throughout the game, Wander is equipped with only a sword and a bow.^[10] Image File history File links SotCglyphstab. ... Image File history File links SotCglyphstab. ... Screenshot of Metal Gear Solid. ... This image depicts a typical bow, as made by the Huns, lying against a tree. ...

Agro and the environment

Wander's horse, Agro, plays a large role in the game. In addition to serving as a means of transportation, Agro is vital in defeating some of the Colossi.^[12] There are, however, many places that Agro cannot reach. Colossi often inhabit areas beyond deep water or obstacles that must be scaled. Agro cannot travel beyond these, and when separated from Wander by such obstacles cannot participate in the following battle.^[8]

The environment must be used to the player's advantage more often as the game progresses. The first two battles take place on simple, large, flat areas of land, with the only goal being to discover how to scale the colossi and attack their weak points.^[8][9] However, the majority of the following fourteen battles require that some aspect of the battlefield be used.^[7][13]

Plot and setting

During Shadow of the Colossus, the player receives little information concerning the backstories of the characters and their relationships with one another.^[6] The game clearly takes place in a fantasy setting,^[14][15] with most of the game's events occurring within a vast and unpopulated peninsula separated from the outside world by a mountain range to its North and sea to the South and East. The presence of ruins and other ancient structures indicate that the area was once a settlement.^{[13][16][17][18]} For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ... A peninsula in Croatia A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered on three or more sides by water. ...

The region is only accessible via a small cleft in the mountains to the north, leading to a massive stone bridge. This bridge spans half the distance of the landscape and terminates at a large temple called the "Shrine of Worship" located at its center. It is, however, forbidden to enter the land,^[19] which is characterized by diverse geographical features, such as lakes and deserts, in addition to man-made structures.^[6][13] For other uses, see Lake (disambiguation). ... For the act of abandoning or withdrawing support from an entity, see desertion. ...

Characters

Wander standing before Mono

The protagonist of the game is Wander (voiced by Kenji Nojima), a young man whose goal is to resurrect a girl named "Mono" (voiced by Hitomi Nabatame). Little is known about Mono other than that she was somehow sacrificed because she was believed to have a cursed destiny.^[20] Assisting Wander in his quest to revive her is his loyal horse, Agro, who serves as his only ally in defeating the colossi.^[21] The story revolves around these three characters, but features a small supporting cast including Dormin (voiced by Kazuhiro Nakata and Kyoko Hikami) and Lord Emon (voiced by Naoki Bando). Image File history File links Mono_and_Wander. ... Image File history File links Mono_and_Wander. ... A protagonist is the main figure of a piece of literature or drama and has the main part or role. ... Kenji Nojima (野島 健児 Nojima Kenji, born March 16, 1976) is a seiyū who was born in Tokyo. ... Look up Resurrection in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Hitomi Nabatame , born August 4, 1976 in Sado, Niigata Prefecture and grew up in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese seiyū. She is affiliated with Ken Production. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Kazuhiro Nakata , formerly credited 中田 和宏, born March 19, 1958 in Nagasaki) is a seiyū who works for Ken Production. ... Kyoko Hikami (氷上 恭子 Hikami Kyōko, born January 11, 1969) is a seiyū who was born in Kobe. ... Naoki Bando (often credited as Naoki Bandou, born December 12, 1957) is a seiyū who has worked on a few videogame titles and anime series. ...

Referring to itself in the plural and speaking with two voices at once (one male and one female), Dormin is a mysterious, disembodied entity consisting of several beings that reside in the Shrine of Worship.^[21] Its physical form was severed into sixteen components many years before the beginning of the game, and became sealed within the colossi for unexplained reasons.^[22] In legends of the game's world, it is said that Dormin has the power to revive the dead,^[19][21] and it is for this reason that Wander enters the forbidden land, seeking its assistance in reviving Mono. Dormin offers to revive her in exchange for Wander destroying the sixteen colossi.^[23] Look up plural in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Legend (disambiguation). ...

Lord Emon is a shaman who narrates a vision in the game's introduction, vaguely explaining the origin of the land Wander has come to, and emphasising that entry to this place is forbidden.^[19] He is portrayed as having extensive knowledge regarding the containment of Dormin, and the ability to use powerful magic. He has a small group of soldiers at his command, and is pursuing Wander to prevent the use of "the forbidden spell", the ritual involving the destruction of the sixteen colossi.^[24] A shaman doctor of Kyzyl. ... Not to be confused with Magic (illusion). ...

The colossi are armored, most often enormous creatures with forms ranging from various humanoids to predatory animals. Their bodies are a fusion of rock, earth, fur, and architectural elements (some parts weathered or fractured). When trespassing upon their territory, the player is ignored by some colossi, while others will attack on sight.^[6][25] Inhabiting specific locations in the forbidden land, they do not venture outside their own territory. Once slain they will remain where fallen as a mound of earth and rock vaguely resembling the original colossus.^[26][27]

Wander and Agro pursuing the thirteenth colossus, Phalanx, a flying serpent

Image File history File links SotCno13. ... Image File history File links SotCno13. ...

Story

The story of Shadow of the Colossus begins as Wander enters the forbidden land, travelling across the long bridge at its entrance on his horse, Agro. Led to the massive Shrine of Worship at the center of the region, Wander carries with him a body wrapped in a cloak, which he lays upon an altar in the shrine. Removing the cloak, the body of a maiden named "Mono" is revealed. A moment later, several shadow-like creatures with humanoid forms appear and prepare to attack Wander, but he easily dismisses them with a wave of an ancient sword in his possession. After vanquishing the shadow creatures, the voice of the disembodied entity known as "Dormin" echoes from above, expressing surprise that Wander possesses the weapon. Wander requests that Dormin return Mono's soul to her body, which they state may be possible, but only if the sixteen idols lining the temple's hall are destroyed. They explain that this task can only be accomplished by using the ancient sword to kill sixteen colossi located throughout the land. Each contains a portion of Dormin's own essence, though this is not revealed until late in the game.^[22][23] This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Despite a warning from Dormin that he may have to pay a great price to revive Mono,^[28] Wander sets out to search the land for the colossi and destroy them. With the death of each colossus, his physical appearance deteriorates, his skin becoming paler and his hair darker. Meanwhile, Mono's complexion improves and her voice can be faintly heard after each colossus has been killed. After the death of the twelfth, it is revealed to the player that Wander is being pursued by a group of warriors led by the shaman called "Lord Emon". Urged to hurry with his task by Dormin, Wander soon defeats the sixteenth and final colossus. On the way to this confrontation, however, he crosses a long bridge above a canyon which begins to collapse as he is halfway across. As Agro jumps over the last gap in the bridge, the portion he lands on begins to separate from its foundation, causing Agro to nearly lose his footing. Sensing the impending fall, Agro lurches forward to throw Wander to safety on the other side, sacrificing himself as the bridge finally gives way and he falls into the river hundreds of feet below. Lord Emon's company arrives in the Shrine of Worship just as the last temple idol crumbles, and Wander appears soon after, his eyes and skin now both entirely pale, and two small horns protruding from his head. Declaring that Wander has been possessed, Lord Emon orders his warriors to kill him.^[29] While he struggles to reach Mono, one warrior shoots Wander in the leg with a crossbow, while another stabs him through his heart with a sword. Black blood sprays from the wound as Wander's body becomes covered in darkness and falls to the floor—a death identical to those suffered by the colossi. 15th century French soldier wearing a helmet and a hauberk, carrying a crossbow/arbalest and a pavise. ...

Afterward, Dormin's spirit possesses Wander's body, transforming it into a shadowy giant. They explain that their own body was separated to seal away their power.^[22] While his men flee, Lord Emon casts the ancient sword used to kill the colossi into a small pool at the back of the temple's hall, creating a whirlwind of light that consumes both Dormin and Wander. Emon and his men flee the forbidden land as the bridge connecting to the temple collapses behind them. As they safely arrive at the entrance to the forbidden land, Emon expresses hope that if Wander survived, he will someday be able to atone for his actions.^[30]

In the temple, Mono awakens, restored by Dormin in accordance with their agreement with Wander, and Agro limps into the temple with a broken (or possibly heavily sprained) hind leg. Mono follows him to the pool into which Wander and Dormin were pulled by Emon's spell, finding a male infant with tiny horns on his head. She takes the child with her, following the horse to higher levels of the Shrine of Worship, and arrives at a secret garden within the shrine as the game ends. “Baby” redirects here. ... Highland cow, a very old long-horned breed from Scotland. ...

Connections to Ico

Shadow of the Colossus is considered both a spiritual successor^[31] and prequel to Ico.^[4] For several months during and after the game's release, the game's director and lead designer, Fumito Ueda, maintained that the game's status as a prequel was simply his personal take on the game and not necessarily its canon nature, as he largely intended for players to decide the specifics of the story for themselves. However, during an interview in March 2006, Ueda revealed that a specific connection between the two games exists: the world featured in the two is the same, with Shadow of the Colossus taking place at an unspecified time before Ico. He revealed that Wander sires the line of horned boys of which Ico's protagonist is a descendant.^[5] Moreover, the shadowy figures which appear in the Shrine of Worship are connected to the shadows which the player must fight in Ico.^[21] Both games use unique fictional languages as well.^[32][33] A spiritual successor, sometimes called a spiritual sequel, is a successor to a video game, movie, novel, comic, stage play, or television mini-series. ... Ico (IPA pronunciation: ) is a 2001 action-adventure video game developed by Sony Computer Entertainment and released for the PlayStation 2 video game console. ... Fumito Ueda is a Japanese video game designer. ... Canon, in the context of a fictional universe, comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. ... An artistic language (artlang) is a constructed language designed for aesthetic pleasure. ...

Development

A screenshot from Nico, depicting battle with an early colossus design

With a team of thirty-five people, Shadow of the Colossus began development in 2002 under the project name "Nico" and was intended to be a direct sequel to Ico.^[3][34] The name "Nico" itself is a portmanteau of the Japanese word ni (二; "two") and "Ico".^[3] An early technology demo for the project shown at the DICE Summit in 2003 depicted a group of masked, horned boys riding horses while attacking and defeating a colossus.^[3][34] However, Fumito Ueda expressed that, at the time, it was simpler to reuse the character design of Ico's protagonist, and that he never explicitly desired a sequel to Ico.^[35] Japanese pre-orders of Shadow of the Colossus later included a bonus DVD with the concept video, a trailer describing Nico's plot, and an introduction the development team states they wanted to use in Shadow of the Colossus. Image File history File links SotCNicoshot. ... Image File history File links SotCNicoshot. ... 2002 2002 in games 2001 in video gaming 2003 in video gaming Notable events of 2002 in video gaming. ... This article is about blends. ... A technology demo is a prototype, rough example or an otherwise incomplete version of a product, put together with the primary purpose of showcasing the idea, performance, method or the features of the product. ... 2003 2003 in games 2002 in video gaming 2004 in video gaming Notable events of 2003 in video gaming. ... What is a Pre-Order? A Pre-Order is an item paid for before it is released. ... Size comparison: A 12 cm Sony DVD+RW and a 19 cm Dixon Ticonderoga pencil. ...

Ueda and producer Kenji Kaido held their team to a high standard throughout production. An admitted perfectionist, Ueda felt that only one or two out of 500 artists who applied to work on Shadow of the Colossus met his criteria, and often demanded thorough changes in design until it matched his vision.^[34] For his part, Kaido challenged the programmers to meet the concept of realistic physics in relation to the movement of the colossi and the subsequent effect this movement would have for Wander, both in terms of how he might be displaced and how he may be able to use this movement to his advantage. For instance, if a colossus were to shake, Kaido wanted Wander's position to shift realistically in response. Additionally, if a colossus' limb was currently horizontal, Kaido wanted the player to be able to run across the limb as though it were any other flat surface. He referred to these two concepts as "player dynamics and reactions" and "organic collision deformation".^[34] The realistic physics engine produced as a result required that faster colossi had to be smaller as well.^[35]

Kenji Kaido(left), producer of the game, and Fumito Ueda, lead designer of the game at Art Futura 2005

Ueda wished the game to have a unique presentation^[4] and change how both players and developers perceived the idea of what bosses should be in video games. To achieve this, he ensured that the game's only enemies would be the sixteen colossi, that they could only be approached one at a time, and that they would have various behavior patterns.^[35][36] Though limiting the presence of enemies to only bosses was partly intended to differentiate the game from others, Ueda also expressed that it was to ensure that the programmers' focus was entirely on the colossi so that their quality would be as high as possible.^[5] In accordance with this focus upon the colossi—and his preference for simple controls—he intended that one button on the game controller be used solely for targeting the colossi during battles.^[36] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 173 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 173 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Kenji Kaido is the Producer of the Sony Computer Entertainment Japans Product Development Department #1. ... Fumito Ueda is a Japanese video game designer. ... Flag Ship from the video game Gorf A boss is a particularly challenging computer-controlled enemy in video games. ... A game controller is an input device used to control a video game. ...

A theme of companionship between the player and an AI-controlled partner was a concern for Ueda.^[36] In Ico, this theme was presented through the protagonist and the character Yorda, whom the player was required to work with and protect while navigating the game's environments.^[37] As such, another key element in Shadow of the Colossus is the relationship between Wander and his horse, Agro.^[12] Intended to be a realistic representation of a horse, Agro does not always respond to commands. In Ueda's words, "a real horse … doesn't always obey. It's not like a car or a motorcycle, it won't always turn when you say 'turn!'". However, he has admitted that the team had to seek a balance in how often Agro didn't respond to commands so as to not sacrifice playability in the pursuit of realism.^[36] Game artificial intelligence refers to techniques used in computer and video games to produce the illusion of intelligence in the behavior of non-player characters (NPCs). ...

All elements of the game—including audio, gameplay and visuals—were used to achieve an atmosphere of a "lonely hero", which Ueda considered important in the development of the game. Lighting, in particular, was used to establish a dark, fearsome setting for the forbidden land, while the protagonist's sword would provide a means of navigation that was "direct and only expressible visually".^[37]

Like Ico, Shadow uses a distinct style of lighting. The game's engine uses elements such as desaturated colors, motion blur and partial high dynamic range rendering, with a heavy emphasis on bloom lighting.^[7][38][12] A game engine is the core software component of a computer or video game or other interactive application with real-time graphics. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Chromaticity. ... This amusement ride moved during the exposure. ... High dynamic range rendering (HDRR or HDR Rendering), also known as high dynamic range lighting, is the rendering of 3D computer graphics scenes by using lighting calculations done in a larger dynamic range. ... Doom 3 Mini Mod Showing the Bloom Effect (Screenshot by Motoxpro @ doom3world ) Bloom is a shader effect used by computer game designers to create a blurred effect on the bright edges in a rendered scene, imitating a cameras overexposure. ...

Audio

Main article: Shadow of the Colossus: Roar of the Earth

Roar of the Earth soundtrack cover

While the game has an extensive orchestral soundtrack, the music is only heard during cut scenes and colossi encounters, while time spent at the Shrine of Worship and traversing the landscape is silent save for the sounds made by the protagonist, his horse and their surroundings.^[39] The open nature of the game world and lack of life, coupled with this limited use of music, aids in establishing an atmosphere of solitude,^[37][40] similar to that of Ico.^[13] Image File history File links Roar_of_the_Earth_-_Cover. ... Image File history File links Roar_of_the_Earth_-_Cover. ... A cut scene or cutscene (sometimes also referred to as a cinematic) is a sequence in a video game over which the player has no control. ...

Roar of the Earth is the soundtrack to Shadow of the Colossus. It was released in Japan on December 7, 2005. There are currently no announced plans to release the album in other territories. The game's score was composed by Kō Ōtani (credited in-game as "Kow Otani"), whose previous video game work included the soundtracks to the PlayStation 2 flight simulator Sky Odyssey and the PlayStation shooter Philosoma. He has also worked on several of the 1990s-era Gamera films, as well as a variety of anime. Roar of the Earth won the award for "Soundtrack of the Year" in the US-based video game magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly.^[41] In film formats, the soundtrack is the physical area of the film which records the synchronized sound. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 2005 in heavy metal music 2005 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2005 Record labels established in 2005 Albums released in 2005 January 1 - In most of Europe, copyright expired on a number of classic pop and rock-and-roll songs recorded in 1954 and earlier, including... Kō ÅŒtani ,sometimes written Kow Otani or Ko Ootani) is a Japanese composer. ... Sky Odyssey is an action/adventure flight simulator for the SonyPlayStation 2. ... The Sony PlayStation ) is a video game console of the 32/64-bit era, first produced by Sony Computer Entertainment in the mid-1990s. ... Philosoma is a video game for the Sony PlayStation, released in 1996 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment America. ... Gamera ) is a giant, flying turtle-like creature from a popular series of daikaiju eiga monster movies produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company in Japan. ... “Animé” redirects here. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... A video game magazine is a magazine that talks about video games on PC, other computers or video game consoles. ... Electronic Gaming Monthly (often abbreviated to EGM) is an American video game magazine. ...

PAL version

The PAL version of the game was released in February 2006. Much like the PAL release for Ico, the game came in cardboard packaging displaying various pieces of artwork from the game, and contained four art cards.^[42][43][44] The PAL region is a video game publication territory which covers Australasia and the majority of Eurasia. ...

The game also came with a "making of" documentary, a trailer for Ico and a gallery of concept art, accessible from the game's main menu.^[42] Sony Computer Entertainment also re-released Ico in PAL territories at the time of Shadow's release, both to promote the game through Ico's reputation, and to allow players who did not buy Ico during its original limited release to complete their collections.^[42][43][45] Concept art is a form of illustration where the main goal is to convey a visual representation of a design, idea, and/or mood for use in movies, video games, or comic books before it is put into the final product. ...

Some confusion has arisen in PAL regions concerning the official name of the protagonist, due primarily to the manual's usage of "Wanda", while the North American manual and the game itself uses the name "Wander". This confusion results from a failure to account for the Japanese language lacking an "er" phonetic. A common compromise is to use an "ah" syllable instead, in an effort to simulate a non-rhotic "er" phonetic when transliterating foreign words into Japanese. Phonetics (from the Greek word φωνή, phone meaning sound, voice) is the study of the sounds of human speech. ... English pronunciation is divided into two main accent groups, the rhotic and non-rhotic, depending on when the phoneme (the letter r) is pronounced. ...

Reception

Shadow of the Colossus's commercial reception was positive, with sales of 140,000 copies in its first week at retail in Japan, reaching number one in the charts. Almost 80% of the initial Japanese shipment was sold within two days.^[46] These figures compare favorably with Ico, which was well received by critics but failed to sell a significant number of copies.^[47] The game was placed on Sony's list of Greatest Hits titles on August 8, 2006.^[48][49] These are PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable games that have been made Greatest Hits games in the US by Sony. ...

Unlike Ico, Shadow received far more exposure, due in part to Sony putting its weight behind a massive advertising campaign.^[50] It was advertised in game magazines, on television and on the internet, including a viral marketing campaign that was launched by a website called "Giantology" in October 2005. The site posted links to several websites claiming that the remains of five giants resembling certain colossi had been discovered in various parts of the world. Some speculate that Ico's sales figures could have been improved if similar advertising efforts were made before its release.^[51] Viral marketing and viral advertising refer to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness, through self-replicating viral processes, analogous to the spread of pathological and computer viruses. ...

Critical response

Shadow was well-received by the media, with an average critic score of 91% at Game Rankings,^[52] making it the 14th-highest rated game of 2005. These include the Japanese magazine Famitsu, who rated the game 37/40,^[53] the UK-based Edge, who awarded an 8/10,^[54] and Electronic Gaming Monthly, who granted 8.8/10.^[41] GameSpot's review gave it an 8.7, commenting that "the game's aesthetic presentation is unparalleled, by any standard",^[6] while multimedia website IGN hailed the game as "an amazing experience" and "an absolute must-have title", rating it 9.7/10.^[55] GameSpy described it as "possibly the most innovative and visually arresting game of the year for [the] PS2".^[14] A retrospective Edge article described the game as "a fiction of unquestionable thematic richness, of riveting emotional power, whose fundamental artistic qualities are completely fused with its interactivity."^[56] Cover art for Issue 1 of Famitsū magazine, June 1986, then known as Famicom Tsūshin Famitsū abbreviated ファミ Fami) is a Japanese video game magazine published by Enterbrain, Inc. ... Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. ... X-Play logo X-Play (previously Gamespot TV and Extended Play) is a video game review television show hosted by Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb. ... GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. ... For other uses, see IGN (disambiguation). ... An Extraordinary General Meeting, commonly abbreviated as EGM, is a meeting of members of an organisation, shareholders of a company, or employees of an offical body, which occurs at an irregular time. ... Game Rankings is a website which keeps track of video game reviews from other sites, and combines them to present an average rating for each game. ... Game Rankings is a website which keeps track of video game reviews from other sites, and combines them to present an average rating for each game. ... Cover art for Issue 1 of Famitsū magazine, June 1986, then known as Famicom Tsūshin Famitsū abbreviated ファミ Fami) is a Japanese video game magazine published by Enterbrain, Inc. ... Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. ... GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. ... For other uses, see IGN (disambiguation). ... GameSpy, also known as GameSpy Industries, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game Web sites and provides online video game-related services and software. ...

Many reviewers consider the game's soundtrack to be one of its greatest aspects. In addition to Electronic Gaming Monthly's award of "Soundtrack of the Year",^[41][57] GameSpot commented that the musical score conveyed, and often intensified, the mood of any given situation,^[6] while it was described as "one of the finest game soundtracks ever" by a reviewer from European gaming site Eurogamer.^[7] For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Eurogamer homepage Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news and reviews. ...

However, the game has been negatively criticised for its erratic frame rate, which is usually smooth while traversing the landscape, but often slows down in fast-paced situations, such as colossus battles.^[6] Concern was also expressed about the game's camera, which was described by GameSpy as being "as much of an opponent as the Colossi", "manag[ing] to re-center itself at the worst and most inopportune times".^[14] Reviewers are often mixed about Agro's AI and controls, while gaming website Thunderbolt insists the realism of his movement and behaviour "create[s] a videogame experience unlike any other"^[58]. Edge comments that the controls are "clumsy, crude, and unpredictable".^[54] Other critics like Game Revolution^[14] and Gamespot felt the game was too short-lived (average playthrough time estimated 6 to 8 hours), with little replay value. Frame rate, or frame frequency, is the measurement of the frequency (rate) at which an imaging device produces unique consecutive images called frames. ... Game Revolution or GR is a gaming website created in 1996. ...

Awards

Shadow of the Colossus has received several awards, including recognition for "Best Character Design", "Best Game Design", "Best Visual Arts" and "Game of the Year", as well as one of three "Innovation Awards" at the 2006 Game Developers Choice Awards.^[59][60] At the 2006 DICE Summit, the game won the award for "Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction" and was nominated for "Console Game of the Year" by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences,^[61] while it received one of two "Special Rookie Awards" at the Famitsu Awards 2005.^[62][63][64] It was nominated for "Best Original Music", "Best Artistic Graphics" and "Best PS2 Game", yet also "Most Aggravating Frame Rate" in GameSpot's awards for 2005,^{[65][66][67][68]} while it won "Best Adventure Game" and "Best Artistic Design" in IGN's Best of 2005 awards,^[69][70][71] who cited Agro as the best sidekick in the history of video games^[72]. Two years after its release, it still received high praise from critics; IGN listed Shadow as the fourth greatest PlayStation 2 game of all time.^[73]Games Radar awarded it Best Game Of The Year 2006 (being released in the UK in early 2006, later than the US).^[74] The game's ending was selected as the fourth greatest moment in gaming by the editors of GamePro in July 2006.^[75] For other uses of DICE, see Dice (disambiguation). ... The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) is a non-profit organization that promotes entertainment software, such as video and computer games, with its Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony held annually since 1998. ... GamePro is an American video game magazine published monthly. ...

Other media

Shadow of the Colossus was featured in the 2007 film Reign Over Me, which tells the story of a man whose life is shattered after the terrorist attacks of September 11. Editor Jeremy Roush explained the reference by saying, "You could see where someone who was dealing with 9/11 would be engrossed by a giant that keeps collapsing over and over again."^[76] This article is about the 2007 film. ... A sequential look at United Flight 175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven or nine one one) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly... Jeremy Roush is the name of: Jeremy Roush, a film editor whose credits include Reign Over Me Category: ...

References

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19. ^ ^{a b c} Emon (narrating): That place… began from the resonance of intersecting points… They are memories replaced by ens and naught and etched into stone. Blood, young sprouts, sky—and the one with the ability to control beings created from light… In that world, it is said that if one should wish it one can bring back the souls of the dead… …But to trespass upon that land is strictly forbidden… Sony Computer Entertainment. Shadow of the Colossus. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2. (in English). 2005-10-18.
20. ^ Wander: She was sacrificed for she has a cursed fate. Please, I need you to bring back her soul… Sony Computer Entertainment. Shadow of the Colossus. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2. (in English). 2005-10-18.
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22. ^ ^{a b c} Dormin: Thou severed Our body into sixteen segments for an eternity in order to seal away Our power… Sony Computer Entertainment. Shadow of the Colossus. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2. (in English). 2005-10-18.
23. ^ ^{a b} Wander: Please, I need you to bring back her soul… / Dormin: That maiden's soul? Souls that are once lost cannot be reclaimed… Is that not the law of mortals? With that sword, however… it may not be impossible. / Wander: Really?! / Dormin: That is of course, if thou manage to accomplish what We askest. / Wander: What do I have to do? / Dormin: Behold the idols that stand along the wall… Thou art to destroy all of them. But those idols cannot be destroyed by the mere hands of a mortal… / Wander: Then what am I to do? / Dormin: In this land there exist colossi that are the incarnations of those idols. If thou defeat those colossi—the idols shall fall. Sony Computer Entertainment. Shadow of the Colossus. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2. (in English). 2005-10-18.
24. ^ Emon: Have you any idea what you've done?! Not only did you steal the sword and trespass upon this cursed land, you used the forbidden spell as well… Sony Computer Entertainment. Shadow of the Colossus. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2. (in English). 2005-10-18.
25. ^ Schilling, Chris (2006). Shadow of the Colossus. Press Start Online. Retrieved on August 8, 2006.
26. ^ Gillett, Nick (2006). Preview Guitar Hero. Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved on August 8, 2006.
27. ^ IGN site staff (2005). Shadow of the Colossus Cheats, Code and Cheat Codes. IGN. Retrieved on August 8, 2006.
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29. ^ Emon: Eradicate the source of the evil. Look… He's possessed by the dead. Hurry up and do it! It is better to put him out of his misery than to exist, cursed as he is. Sony Computer Entertainment. Shadow of the Colossus. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2. (in English). 2005-10-18.
30. ^ Emon: Poor ungodly soul… Now, no man shall ever trespass upon this place again. Should you be alive… If it's even possible to continue to exist in these sealed lands…one day, perhaps you will make atonement for what you've done. Sony Computer Entertainment. Shadow of the Colossus. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2. (in English). 2005-10-18.
31. ^ GameSpot site staff:The Long-Awaited Spiritual Successor to ICO Arrives Mid-February in Europe. GameSpot (2005). Retrieved on July 1, 2006.
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33. ^ Bettenhausen, Shane (2005). Afterthoughts: Shadow of the Colossus. 1UP.com. Retrieved on August 2, 2006.
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External links

Official sites

• Official International site
• Official North American site
• Official Japanese site

Media and interviews

• The making of "Shadow of the colossus" (english translation)
• Shadow of the Colossus ~Roar of the Earth~ Original Soundtrack at MusicBrainz
• Making Colossal Games with the Creators of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus