Gameplay

In Shadow of the Colossus, the basic premise is this: Track down the 16 colossi located throughout the world and kill them. However the game is unique in that the vast world is vacant and void of any living things, except for the colossi you'll be hunting, meaning that these will be the only battles you will encounter. Throughout Shadow of the Colossus, players will not find new weapons, armor, or items, unlike other game. What makes Shadow of the Colossus unique is not finding ways to use new items, rather, it is finding new ways to use items you already have.

Weapons

In keeping with the relatively simple and minimalist feel of everything else, you'll have only two weapons throughout the course of the game; a sword and a bow.

•  You'll be using Wander's sword a lot throughout the course of the game, to track down the colossi, and of course to kill them. This game features much stabbing action.
• The bow is much less a weapon as it is a tool. You'll find that arrows are largely ineffective against the colossi, but will attract their attention to you.

Agro proves to be a loyal friend over the course of the game

The Horse

Luckily for Wander, he's joined by Agro, his horse and sole companion on this adventure. By riding the horse, not only does it help you get around quickly, but gives you increased mobility when needed - such as during fights with the colossi. Many colossi require Agro's assistance to take down, whether it be to mount the colossus, or simply keep a step ahead. When riding Agro, you are able to use your bow and aim independently of the horse's direction, even firing arrows directly behind you if needed. You can also perform certain tricks and stunts, such as standing on top of the horse, hanging down to the side, or even jumping off at full speed - propelling you to those places just out of reach.

One aspect that makes Agro unique is how alive he seems to the player. He will only go at the pace Wander makes him, he gets spooked by colossi and loud noises, and he often navigates away from ledges on his own.

For a character who never speaks a word, many gamers felt very emotionally attached to Agro.

Tracking

Before you fight the colossi, you'll first need to track them down. Thankfully this is made simple by Wander's magical sword. When standing in sunlight, pressing and holding the circle button will result in him raising his sword towards the sky. A beam of light emanating from the tip will then point directly to the colossi you're hunting. It is then up to you to navigate through the landscape towards your destination.

The Colossi

Taking down all 16 colossi won't be easy

Once successfully finding these colossi, your next goal - take them down! As fearsome as these look, they do have weak points - which can be easily found by raising your sword. However, the challenge lies in actually reaching these areas.  There are 16 battles in total, all epic in scale, but each of the colossi has a unique weaknesses which will need to be exploited in order to reach and attack it's weak point. The player must figure out how to get on the colossus, and often must get its attention by whistling or shooting at it with your bow. Eventually you will be able to climb atop each beast, clinging to their fur as they try to throw you off, and once reaching each weak point , Wander will prepare his sword and gain strength by pressing or holding the square button. Upon a second a button press (or release if you held it), the sword will be plunged into the colossi for massive damage, resulting in a fountain of black blood. By attacking the often-multiple weak points, it will eventually succumb to your efforts. Each battle could be considered a puzzle, and players will need to use their wits, the surrounding environment, and in some cases - their horse, in order to achieve victory.

The Grip System

By holding the R1 button, Wander will grab onto what ever he can - ledges, fur of the colossi, even fish and birds - and be able to move around whilst doing so in most cases. However, he won't be able to hold on indefinitely. As Wander climbs about, or struggles to hold on to a trashing Colossi, he will steady lose his grip. This is represented as a pink circle in the bottom right-corner of the screen, and as grip deteriorates and the circle will slowly drain. When entirely depleted, Wander will then let go fall - sometimes to his doom. Thankfully, grip naturally regenerates when you're not holding on to anything, and so as the player you will need to pick choice moments during fights in which to regain your grip before continuing on.

Health

Like so many other games, Wander has a gauge representating his health In Shadow of the Colossus, this gauge takes the form of a circle, which shrinks as Wander takes damage. Falling or being stepped on are easy ways to hurt yourself. Wander will slowly regain health as time passes, but he can also crouch, which will speed up the regeneration. By gathering fruit, the player can increase Wander's health.

List of Colossi

First a description of sorts is given, then the proper name of the creature, and finally the Latin name.

(Click for a link to their individual GB pages.)

1. The Minotaur ("Valus", "Minotaurus Colossus)
2. Taurus Major ("Quadratus", "Taurus Magnus"
3. Earth Knight ("Gaius", "Terrestris Veritas")
4. Equus Prime ("Phaedra", "Equus Bellator Apex")
5. Delta Phoenix ("Avion", "Avis Praeda")
6. The Goliath ("Barba", Belua Maximus")
7. Sea Dragon ("Hydrus", Draco Marinus")
8. Wall Shadow ("Kuromori", "Parietinae Umbra")
9. Storm Echo ("Basaran", "Nimbus Recanto")
10. Sand Tiger ("Dirge", "Harena Tigris")
11. Flame Guardian ("Celosia", "Ignis Excubitor")
12. Great Basilisk ("Pelagia", "Permagnus Pistrix")
13. Trail Drifter ("Phalanx", "Aeris Velivolus")
14. Destruction Luster ("Cenobia", "Clades Candor")
15. The Sentinel ("Argus", "Praesidium Vigilo")
16. Grand Gigas ("Malus", Grandis Supernus")