Game Spotlight: Shadow of the Colossus

This entry is for Game Spotlight, a sort of sister series to Character Spotlight, but tailored for my fellow gamers. While a number of characters that I might discuss in Character Spotlight are from video games, Game Spotlight is for those games that are just so good that the whole thing deserves mention, not just one character.

To start off this series, I'll be talking about Shadow of the Colossus, a game that was no doubt made for the sake of art. I say this because it's extremely linear gameplay wise, and its characters have little to no backstory. But this game has some very stunning visuals that are a marvel to see on the PS2, and though short, it tells a very interesting story that I view as a parable about fate, authority, and what becomes of those who try to defy them.

Before we delve further into the story, let's look at the five main characters for a brief moment.

Wander: The player character, Wander is the main subject of the parable and its protagonist. And he seems to be decidedly foolish. But I suppose most desperate people would be.

Mono: Mono is Wander's love interest, and we know nothing of her personality because she spends most of the game as a corpse.

Lord Emon: The one who was responsible for the instigation of the story, Lord Emon is just as shrouded in mystery as the others.

Agro: Agro is Wander's horse, and serves as his only companion throughout the course of the game. She is a very loyal mare and will always answer Wander's call.

Dormin: And finally, we have Dormin, the unseen presence that is the other reason for Wander's actions in the game.

The story kicks off with Wander entering a temple in a long forgotten and forbidden land. Upon entering a large chamber with sixteen idols along the walls, he places Mono's dead body on an altar, and is approached by several black shades. He however drives them off with the light of his sword. At this, a voice speaks from nowhere and inquires about the sword. Wander correctly deduces Dormin's identity and asks him for a way to revive Mono from death, saying that she was sacrificed for having a cursed fate. Dormin says that he can indeed revive Mono, but he has a price. Wander must go out into the Forbidden Land and slay the sixteen colossi that roam it. Despite knowing next to nothing about Dormin, and being warned that the price he pays will be steep, Wander sets out and slays the Colossi. Despite pain, hardship, and losing Agro right before reaching the final Colossus.

Now, let's see what our reward is for killing the Colossi. Your reward is as follows: Dormin, who is revealed to be a demon, has been slowly possessing Wander as he killed the Colossi. This leads Lord Emon and his men to attack Wander with arrows and swords, nearly killing him. After Wander falls, Dormin reveals his true form and attacks the priests while Emon prepares to seal him away. Yes. Your reward is that you get no reward. You slew the Colossi, sixteen majestic, beautiful creatures that were guilty of no wrongdoing, and trusted a demon, Wander. Now, you pay with your life. Through all this, Wander continues to reach out to Mono, who is still dead. As Wander and Dormin vanish into the sealing vortex, the priests escape as the bridge into the region falls, cutting it off from the outside world.

As the credits roll, we get the biggest punch of all when it turns out that Dormin actually did keep his end of the bargain. And Agro is alive by what seems to be a miracle. But alas. Wander will never know either of these things, because all that remains of him is a horned infant. As I said before, this game is a parable of sorts about what happens when you defy fate and authority. Part of being a man is accepting that some things are beyond your control. Wander doesn't accept this and is turned into the opposite of a man: an infant. In addition to the visuals, the soundtrack is amazing as well. But perhaps the best piece is the one that plays when you kill a Colossus. It's a sad song that invokes in many a feeling that they've committed an unforgivable sin. Some gamers have actually quit their playthroughs partway out of guilt for killing the Colossi. And quite frankly... who can blame them?