Kow Otani probably didn't realize he was changing game music forever back in 2005. Honestly, when you first boot up the game, there is just... silence. Wind. The sound of Agro’s hooves hitting the dirt. It’s lonely. Then you find the first beast, and the Shadow of the Colossus original soundtrack kicks in like a physical weight against your chest. It isn't just "boss music." It’s a narrative arc compressed into orchestral swells and frantic violins.
Most games use music to make you feel like a hero. This one? It makes you feel like a murderer, a savior, and a victim all at once.
The Man Behind the Roar: Kow Otani
You might know Otani from Gundam Wing or Gamera. He isn't your typical "video game composer" who relies on catchy loops or 8-bit nostalgia. For this project, he leaned into a massive, brass-heavy sound that feels ancient. It's dusty. It sounds like stone rubbing against stone.
Recording with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra gave the score a breadth that MIDI could never touch. There’s a specific grit to the strings in "The Opened Way" that feels like a struggle. It’s messy. Real instruments have breath and friction, and that’s exactly what a game about climbing giant, fur-covered monoliths needed.
Why the Music Changes While You’re Climbing
The genius of the Shadow of the Colossus original soundtrack lies in its dynamic implementation. It’s not a static MP3 playing on a loop while you hack at a giant’s ankles.
Take "Revived Power," for example.
When you’re just standing on the ground looking up at a Colossus, the music is intimidating. It’s daunting. But the moment Wander’s hands grip that fur and he starts hauling himself up, the melody shifts. It becomes triumphant. You feel like you can actually do this. You’re winning!
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Then you stab the vitals.
Suddenly, the music doesn't celebrate. It mourns. The track "A Despair-filled Farewell" is one of the most heartbreaking pieces of music ever put in a game. You just took down a literal god, and the music tells you that you’ve done something terrible. Most games give you a "Victory!" fanfare. Otani gives you a funeral dirge.
Subverting the Hero’s Journey
There is no "Level 1-1" music here. There isn't even music for the vast majority of the exploration. Fumito Ueda, the game's director, was incredibly picky about silence. He knew that if the world was constantly filled with whimsical flute melodies, the Colossi wouldn't feel significant.
By keeping the Shadow of the Colossus original soundtrack reserved strictly for the encounters and the cutscenes, the music itself becomes a character. It’s the voice of the world.
Think about "The Silence" or "Green Hills." These aren't tracks you'd hum in the shower. They are atmospheric experiments. They build a sense of dread that pays off when the percussion finally hits during a battle.
The Instruments of the Forbidden Lands
Otani didn't just use a standard orchestra. He integrated:
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- Bouzoukis for a Mediterranean, folk-like texture.
- Pipe organs that evoke a sense of religious awe (and sin).
- Deep, booming taiko-style percussion that mirrors the footsteps of the giants.
The use of the pipe organ is particularly genius. It connects Wander's quest to the temple—the central hub of the game. Every time those chords hit, you’re reminded that you’ve made a deal with an entity you don’t understand. It’s heavy stuff for a PS2 game.
The Roar of the Earth: Track-by-Track Impact
"Swift Horse" is arguably the best "travel" theme ever written, even if it only plays in specific scripted moments. It captures the bond between Wander and Agro perfectly. It’s fast. It’s rhythmic. It feels like momentum.
On the flip side, "Demise of the Ritual" is pure terror. By the time you reach the 16th Colossus, the music has lost its "adventure" feel. It’s just grim. The soundtrack evolves alongside Wander’s physical appearance. As he gets paler and more corrupted, the music gets darker and more dissonant.
Few soundtracks have the guts to make the player feel bad about succeeding.
Digital vs. Vinyl: How to Listen Now
If you’re looking to actually own the Shadow of the Colossus original soundtrack, you have a few options, but they aren't all created equal. The original 2005 release, titled Roar of the Earth, is the gold standard.
When the remake came out for PS4 in 2018, the music was re-recorded. Some purists hate it. They say it’s "too clean." There’s an argument there—the original PS2 version had a certain lo-fi crunch that made the world feel older, more decayed. The 2018 version is beautiful, certainly, but it lacks the jagged edges of Otani’s original vision.
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Vinyl collectors usually hunt for the Iam8bit release. It’s a 2LP set that looks stunning, though it’s often out of stock and goes for a fortune on the secondary market. If you can find it, buy it. The analog warmth of vinyl actually suits this score better than a digital FLAC file ever could.
The Lasting Legacy of Otani’s Masterpiece
You can hear echoes of this soundtrack everywhere now. Breath of the Wild uses silence in a similar way. Elden Ring uses boss music to tell stories about the boss's tragic past. But Shadow of the Colossus did it first, and in many ways, it still does it best.
It’s a masterclass in restraint.
It’s about the space between the notes.
When you hear those opening strings of "Prologue: To the Ancient Land," you aren't just playing a game. You're entering a myth.
Next Steps for the Ultimate Listening Experience
To truly appreciate the depth of this score, don't just listen to it on your phone speakers.
- Find the Roar of the Earth Japanese Import: This is the definitive tracklist. It includes pieces that were shortened or edited in the Western release's digital versions.
- Listen in the Dark: This sounds cheesy, but the Shadow of the Colossus original soundtrack was designed for immersion. Put on a pair of high-quality open-back headphones, close your eyes, and listen to "The Farthest Land."
- Compare the Versions: Put the 2005 "The Opened Way" side-by-side with the 2018 remake version. Notice the brass. In the original, the trumpets feel like they are screaming. In the remake, they are polished. Deciding which one you prefer will tell you a lot about your own taste in art—do you like the raw emotion of the original, or the cinematic perfection of the update?
- Watch the Live Performances: Search for Kow Otani’s live orchestral performances of these tracks. Seeing the percussionists work during the more intense battle themes reveals just how complex the rhythmic layering actually is.
There is no "Conclusion" to a piece of art like this because it stays with you. You’ll be huming the melody of "The Key to the Castle" years from now, and you’ll feel that same phantom weight of a Colossus looming over you. It’s just that powerful.