INTRODUCTION / STAGE 01
"In memory of d'Ascadia ... "
On August 25, 2007, Ascadia launched the quest for the “Last Great Secret” of Shadow of the Colossus, hypothesising that the engravings found in certain locations within the game represented specific places when viewed from above. The positions of these locations would then reveal the intersection point, a sort of hidden place where a secret might be concealed.
After approximately 1800 pages (three years of research) on the SONY forum and despite all the players’ efforts, no major discovery was made, and the quest remained unfinished.
I am writing this article today to announce that Ascadia was right!
I have found the clues leading to these four locations, and I have discovered much more…
This quest is a collective effort. Thank you to all the players (Nomad, Pikol, Black Bird, Tchollo Ventura, and so many others) for sharing their discoveries over the years, to TheGreatReview for their video “The Quest for the Last Secret”, to Icarus for the complete translation of this article, and to the developers of the essential PCSX2 emulator and the incredibly useful SotC-viewer.
Now, it’s my turn to share my discoveries with you!
- The story -
In ancient times, a powerful and prosperous people lived in these lands! They mastered a technology based on light, capable of creating colossi and giving them life. These people built temples for them, venerating them in exchange for their protection.
But a dark spirit named Dormin appeared, whose origins remain unknown. Far too powerful to be fought, it forced the ancients to use a spell that shattered its malevolent soul into multiple fragments. Sixteen of these fragments were sealed within sixteen idols, ensuring they would never be reunited.
The colossi, embodiments of these idols on earth, became corrupted and turned against humans, spreading chaos and destruction. The land was ravaged. The few survivors managed to flee these cursed lands, never to return…
Wander, a young warrior descended from this lineage, learned of these past events from his master, Emon. Among his teachings, he discovered the existence of an altar capable of restoring life to the lost.
Having failed to save Mono, who had been sacrificed by Emon to prevent a curse from being fulfilled, Wander decides to betray his clan. He seizes the ancient sword, takes her body, and sets out with Agro to the Forbidden Lands.
Wander then encounters the spirit of Dormin, a sort of malevolent collective consciousness, who explains that the only way to activate the altar is to destroy the 16 idols by slaying the 16 colossi.
Determined, Wander accepts this request, no matter the risks.
- Index -
- Stage 1 -
- The compass and its four variations
- The four recent engravings
- The four ancient engravings
- The northeast façade and the four stages
- Stage 2 -
- The Barba-Kuromori axis
- The shaman’s riddle
“[…] the resonance of intersecting points …”
“[…] memories replaced by ens and naught …”
“[…] Blood, young sprouts, sky -”
“[…] and the one with the ability to control beings created from light …”
- Stage 3 -
- The sequence of the 10 encrypted engravings
- Controlling the save shrine
- Etape 4 -
- The secret garden
- The alternative ending
- STAGE 1 -
- The Compass and the 4 Variants -
The quest for the last great secret begins at the start of the game, behind Wander, in a place we will call "the compass."
RaisinGirl had understood the function of this place and identified a variant in the resonance of its carvings, up high on the left (in blue) as well as a perfectly identical carving line (in red), which actually represents the fourth part of the compass. The players from that era were deceived by this direction on the promotional website.
So, I took a closer look at this compass and discovered three other, more discreet variants, located in the lower part (in blue). These are rotation variants
If we look at the whole thing, the first three rotation variants are identical in their representation: an origin, a direction, and a sense. The fourth variant, however, is always straight and not placed on its direction (in red). This means it’s a position variant that needs to be repositioned at the right spot!
The direction (in red) of the south doesn’t point sufficiently at the labyrinth, that of the west doesn’t lead anywhere, and that of the east takes us to Avion Lake, a set of small submerged buildings. The only remaining direction is therefore that of the north, which leads us to replace the variant of Célobia's ruins (C2) on Célosia's cave (F1).
What’s interesting here is that Célobia and Célosia resemble each other enormously.
It was a method to help remember the original placement of the variant.
According to Dormin, these two colossi escaped "the vigilance of their master." These are the only two ancient colossi introduced in this way. Célosia guarded the eternal flame, and Célobia guarded the city. Both are guardians.
Their similar appearance and their shared role reinforce the idea of needing to reposition the variant at this spot.
Friends, we have the 4 directions that will lead us to the 4 locations!
- The 4 Recent Carvings -
All the places listed below are recouped and validated by the compass.
Let’s start with the easiest one, Barba's temple (D6). Carved into the rock, such an immense structure that one can easily pass by! The double circles represent the two outer pylons at the temple’s entrance.
The next place is indicated full south. It is Malus's labyrinth (F8), represented from afar as inaccessible (the gate being locked). This carving represents the mountain chain, with a passage at the center leading to the double cornice and on the side, an isolated point representing a tunnel.
Next, in the direction of Kuromori's underground (G6) in a place named "the passage."
It is a sacred place, represented on the tunics of Emon, Mono, and Wander.
And finally, the most impressive one: Célosia's cave! Unbelievably, we end up returning there.
It is the place where players spent the most time trying to open that famous locked gate or to take the eternal flame to try and activate the pillars. Represented here by its two vaulted walls, its typical facade, and its 4 suspended blocks under the entrance.
And there we have it! The 4 first places represented by the carvings.
What leads us (if this intersection actually represents anything) at a terrace that runs along the mountain chain (F6).
Now that we know better how to read the carvings, what would you say we repeat all of of this, but this time without the help of the compass?
- The 4 Ancient Carvings -
Once the seal is broken by the sword, Wander ventures into a very ancient place where other carvings are represented. We are taken back to the origins of the forbidden lands. We have no clues from the compass that would allow us to recoup these pieces of information, so you’ll just have to trust me.
Let’s start with Barba's temple (D6), where we can read the traces on the ground, the central passage that leads to the tunnel under the facade, as well as the four pillars at height.
Next, Malus's labyrinth (F8), representing the façade with the two pillars which Wander climbs to access the summit. We note that the endpoint from which we can observe it is marked with a mandala.
Returning once again to Celosia’s cave (F1), where the four stone blocks fueled by oil keep the Eternal Flames burning, and the six small pillars to the east overlook the ancient lake
And finally, surprise, the fourth ancient carving that differs in its position from the fourth recent carving, Argus's Parthenon (G1), where we can read the 7 pillars, the arch that overshadows it, the two towers, and this small pointed gate represented by two triangles.
And there we have it! The 4 places represented by the ancient carvings.
The intersection of these 4 places leads us close to a gray rock block under the northern span.
The intersections seem to lead to places of no great importance, we simply find that they are perfectly placed on one side and the other of the shrine of worship.
Meanwhile, thanks to these first discoveries, we can now begin linking the carvings that represent these places and the colossi that remain there! And this is sacredly important!
- The North-East Facade -
When you finish the game, the final cutscene shows some carvings placed on the North-East facade of the worship sanctuary.
It’s a hint from the creator Fumito Ueda, urging you to go see what’s there.
To reach this place, you’ll have to take a hidden path along the facade that leads to the secret garden. To do this, you’ll need sufficient endurance, either by killing some colossi or by consuming the tails of young lezards, which will give you enough strength to reach this garden without killing a single colossi!
To better analyse this North-East facade, we’ll decompose it into four stages from the right to the left.
1. The entrance of the sanctuary leading to the compass
2. The 2 mini-carvings representing Barba (D6) / Kuromori (G6)
3. The sequence of 10 encrypted carvings
4. The secret garden gate
All the stages to discover the last great secret are there, under our eyes. We’ve already solved the first stage of the compass (1) and located the temples. As I write these lines, I am on a very interesting path. But as time is running out, given the difficulty of the puzzle, and because I mostly want to share this adventure, I’ll give you all the clues that will allow you, perhaps, to solve this second stage.
