You’re standing in the middle of a windswept shrine, staring at a giant stone idol that just exploded into dust. Your hands are probably shaking. If they aren't, you aren't playing it right. Shadow of the Colossus isn't a game about winning; it’s a game about the crushing weight of a "victory" that feels like a mistake. Every shadow of the colossus walkthrough you find online focuses on the "how"—where to stab, which ledge to grab—but they rarely talk about the "why" or the sheer mechanical friction that makes this game a masterpiece.
It’s been decades since Fumito Ueda and Team ICO released this on the PS2, and yet, we're still talking about it. Whether you're playing the Bluepoint Games remake on PS4 or the original jagged, 20-fps version, the core problem remains the same. You are a small boy named Wander. You have a horse named Agro. You have a sword that reflects sunlight. And you have sixteen impossible tasks.
Honestly, the game doesn't want to help you. It’s lonely. The Forbidden Lands are empty by design. There are no towns, no NPCs giving you side quests to collect ten lizard tails—well, actually, you should collect the silver lizard tails for stamina, but the game won't tell you that. It just lets you exist in the silence until you find a Colossus. Then the music kicks in, and suddenly, you're clinging to a moving mountain.
The First Hurdle: Understanding the Light
Most players get stuck before they even see a Colossus. They wander around the central shrine (the Shrine of Worship) like lost tourists. Your sword is your GPS. Hold R1 (or Circle, depending on your setup) in the sunlight. The beams will converge. Follow that light. If you're in a shadow, the light scatters. It’s a simple mechanic that forces you to pay attention to the environment.
The first boss, Valus, is basically a tutorial. He’s huge, hairy, and carries a club that could flatten a house. Most people try to run at his front. Don’t. Look at the back of his left leg. There’s a patch of fur and a glowing wound. Stab it once. He’ll buckle. That’s your window. Climb up his back, navigate the platforms, and reach the head.
Wait.
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Did you notice the grip meter? That pink circle is the most important thing in any shadow of the colossus walkthrough. When it runs out, you fall. When you fall from Valus, you might live. When you fall from Gaius (the third Colossus), you’re basically a pancake. Manage your grip. Let go when the Colossus is steady to recharge. It’s a rhythm game, just with more screaming and fur.
Why Some Colossi Feel Broken
Let's talk about the third Colossus, Gaius. He’s the Knight. He has a massive stone blade and a "wrist guard" that prevents you from climbing his arm. This is where people quit. They spend forty minutes trying to jump onto a moving platform that isn't there.
The trick? Use the environment. There’s a circular stone plate in the middle of the arena. Stand on it. Bait him into smashing it with his sword. Clink. His armor shatters. Now you can climb the sword, jump to his arm, and begin the long, nauseating trek to his head. This is the "Ueda Philosophy" in a nutshell: the boss is the level. You aren't fighting an enemy; you are navigating a vertical terrain that happens to be alive and very angry.
Then there’s Phaedra, the horse-like Colossus (number four). This one is a nightmare for people who want a direct fight. You have to use the underground tunnels. Go in one hole, wait for her to peer inside, then sneak out another and jump on her tail. It feels like a heist. It's brilliant. But if you try to just "gamer" your way through with brute force, you’ll be there for three hours.
The Stamina Secret Everyone Misses
You need more stamina. Seriously. While following a shadow of the colossus walkthrough will get you to the bosses, it won't help you survive the later ones like Malus.
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- Find the shrines. They have save points and usually a tree nearby.
- Look for fruit. Shoot it down with your bow. It increases your health bar.
- Find the white-tailed lizards. Kill them. Eat the tails. Your stamina circle grows.
If you don't do this, by the time you reach the final few fights, Wander will have the grip strength of a toddler. You’ll find yourself falling off the bird-like Avion or the desert-snake Phalanx purely because your circle turned red. It’s frustrating. It’s preventable.
The Water and the Sand: Dealing with Physics
The physics in this game are... unique. Wander feels heavy. He stumbles. He trips over his own feet. This isn't a bug; it's a feature. When you're fighting Hydrus (the electric eel) or Kuromori (the wall-climbing lizard), the controls will feel sluggish.
For Hydrus, you have to swim. Underwater, you’re slow. Wait for the fins to pass over you and grab on. Do not let go when he dives. You’ll drown or get shocked. For Kuromori, you’re in a coliseum. You have to whistle to get his attention, then shoot his legs when he's on the wall. He falls. You jump down. It’s a long drop, so be careful.
The game wants you to feel small. It wants you to feel like a mosquito trying to take down an elephant. If you feel like the controls are fighting you, you're actually experiencing the intended gameplay loop. Wander is a desperate human, not a superhero.
The Emotional Toll of the Walkthrough
By the time you reach the twelfth or thirteenth Colossus, the music starts to change. It's not triumphant anymore. It’s mournful. You are killing the only living things in this land to save a girl you barely know, under the orders of a voice (Dormin) that sounds like a chorus of demons.
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The tenth Colossus, Dirge, is a sand-snake that chases you while you're on Agro. You have to look backward while riding and shoot his eyes. It’s terrifying. But when he dies, he doesn't explode in a shower of loot. He collapses. Those black tendrils fly out and pierce Wander.
Every shadow of the colossus walkthrough should come with a warning: you are the villain. The more you "progress," the more Wander's skin turns gray and his eyes darken. You are literally rotting as you win. It's a masterclass in narrative through mechanics.
Dealing with Malus: The Final Test
The 16th Colossus is Malus. He’s a stationary tower that shoots fireballs. This isn't a fight; it's a trench warfare simulation. You have to use the tunnels and the stone barricades to move forward. If you step into the open for more than two seconds, you're dead.
Once you get under his "skirt" (it’s weird, I know), the real climb begins. It’s the longest climb in the game. Your stamina needs to be at least at 75% of the maximum to make it comfortable. You’ll have to stab him in the back to make him move his hand, then jump onto the hand. It’s a sequence of "stabs and grabs" that requires perfect timing.
When you finally reach the top, the wind is howling so loud you can barely hear the music. One final blow. That’s it.
Actionable Next Steps for New Wanderers
If you're just starting your journey or stuck on a specific boss, don't just look for a map. Do these three things immediately to make your life easier:
- Master the "Jump-Stab": Instead of just holding the strike button, jump and then strike in mid-air. It builds power faster and deals massive damage if you time the landing right.
- Agro is Smarter Than You Think: Don't constantly steer the horse. If you're on a narrow path, let go of the stick. Agro will automatically follow the path and avoid falling off cliffs. You only need to steer in wide-open areas.
- The Map is Your Friend: Press the touchpad (or Start). It shows the general location of the Colossi you've already defeated. If you’re lost, look for the grayed-out icons and head in the opposite direction.
Shadow of the Colossus is a lonely, beautiful, and heartbreaking experience. Don't rush it. Don't just follow a checklist. Sit with the silence. Listen to the wind. And when you finally drive that sword into the last heart, remember that every victory has a price. You'll see it in Wander’s face soon enough.