Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)

[Ascadia-PSU]

You think the symbol's a vital and the temple's a colossus, right? If not, then my bad. ^_^; Otherwise, yeah; I've tossed that idea around as well. Thing is, the temple is very similar to a colossus, imo. You have to destroy parts of it indirectly (Like indirectly slaying a colossus by extracting the Dormin Essence), it's, well, bigger than you... (Dur), and you can climb the thing. Now... I've wondered for a while why Wander can stab the ground without holding onto it or being 'on' something. Well... the symbol isn't 'on' anything, per-say. And, well... you know. It's obviously 'there'; there's no denying that.

... So yeah. I'm thinking giving it a good stab will do... something. I'm not sure what, exactly. Nor am I sure how to get to it; it's just barely out of Wander's jumping range. From atop Agro, it'd be possible. However, that would require opening the door at the top of the 'tower' portion of the Shrine of Worship.

So what am I thinking will ultimately happen?

In this order:

1.) We have to open the door at the top of the tower.

2.) Get agro up to the garden and use him to jump to the symbol.

3.) Give it a good stab.

4.) Two things could happen here:

     4a.) The symbol is a switch that activates the blue medallion symbols.

     4a2.) Stabbing the symbols pops open the door in Celosia's temple. From there...?

Or,

     4b.) The symbol immediately opens the door to Celosia's temple. From there...?

Or,

     4c.) The symbol begins the long process of raising Hydra's temple from the lakebed, as well as activates the other medallion symbols, which are in a array suggesting multiple sources of... something focusing on a single point. See where I'm going with this? Lookin' at you, Block number One.

And 5.) ... Man, there are so many what-if's from here forward.

A.) Celosia's door leads out of the forbidden lands.

B.) The door leads to the ICO Castle. I think there's a way to get to it simply because I've seen a similar texturing technique used on the Shrine of Worship when it's way off in the distance. It's all blurry and 2-Dimensional until you get closer to it.

C.) Hydrus' temple is raised, and then....?

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So I'm STRONGLY leaning toward Hydrus' sunken temple coming to the surface. That or, I don't know, Celosia's door leads to the East Coast of the Forbidden Lands.

Point is, no matter how you look at it, it all comes back to the symbol. We know it's there, we know it's solid and emitting a light that flickers in real time, and the Queen's sword, which opens / activates things, starts going crazy when it's near it.

... I think we're really close to figuring this out, my friends. Just a bit more....

~Ascadia

[GUND4M~]

It's only a matter of time before we discover this... But yah, Ueda's probobly reading this thread right now and laughing his arse off...

[midsize-D~]

Do you think there is a way to climb all the way to the top of the Shrine of Worship, from the secret garden. I think there is a way to get over the big wal but I cant figure it out, i think there is a way of climbing up there. there could be another clue at the top of the shrine, at the spot where dormin's light talks to wander whenever he destroys a clossus.

[midsize-D~]

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Ascadia wrote:

I'm not positive about the sword; that's just what several people have told me. Someone might be able to find the thread... Any takers?

Anyway. The symbol. The garden is a big square with four big walls - N, S, E, and W. We'll say SOUTH is the ENTRANCE. The symbol is sitting ON TOP of the WEST wall, about HALFWAY down.

Hope that helps! ^_^

Happy Hunting!

~Ascadia

EDIT: Oh, and the whole darkness bit is supposedly ONLY in the garden. So yesh. Good stuff.

Message Edited by Ascadia on 01-23-2008 06:55 PM

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Also, is it just me or when (going by your directions) When you go from the entrance, to the wall on the east side of the Secert Garden, and stand on that empty type platform and look at the wall VERY closely, there is a image.

Does anyone else see it???

To me it looks kinda like a scorpion.

[Ln1~]

Can someone please take a picture of the symbol and an image, because I don't know what I'm looking for.

[Ascadia-PSU]

Not sure. I know the huge wall you're talking about, and I think (cough) that it opens somehow. If you've read any of my posts, you know exactly what that 'somehow' is. But anyway. I've never seen the scorpion. I'll get back up there when I have the chance; in the meantime, do you think you could take a picture? Maybe with a camera-phone or something?

~Ascadia

[midsize-D~]

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Ascadia wrote:

Not sure. I know the huge wall you're talking about, and I think (cough) that it opens somehow. If you've read any of my posts, you know exactly what that 'somehow' is. But anyway. I've never seen the scorpion. I'll get back up there when I have the chance; in the meantime, do you think you could take a picture? Maybe with a camera-phone or something?

~Ascadia

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it will look ugly but I will try, Yes ive read almost all the threads trying to catch up and i know what your talking about. If agro could just gain access to the Secret Garden then i think we will be done.

[superyorda~]

Can't believe i've been roped into this but it is intriguing.

The only possible new evidence I may have is mainly built on what other people have posted. I'm standing on the shoulders of others....it's a nice view.

This site (posted by Sumoomoo, 4th post) See on 2nd page if my link doesn't work.
http://users.fulladsl.be/~spb7751/Giantology/giantology3.html

I've looked at again and all the Robert Hunt / Cornish stuff is interesting although it says it was posted in May 14 / 18 2005.

http://www.gandolf.com/cornwall/giants/giants_st_michael.shtml

The first story could mean the building of the temple. There's also a part about the 'confusion regarding the name' was because one was called Cormoran and one was called Cormelian. A kind of logical mix of those names is Cormin. If you pronounce it with a cold it becomes Dormin : )
The second window mentions a Giant's well. There's a well on the new Ico PS3 photo.
The third story could mean there's something under the castle (nore on this later)
Fourth is about a castle disappearing under the water.
Fifth? OK, not sure but sounds like a clue.
The sixth starts off by mentioning 'This all happened before Jack The Giant Killer came to town'. If you read Jack the Giant killer as Wanderer and Cornwall as The Forbidden lands, there are far too many references to mention. There's also part of one story that even fits with the Ico castle possible secret. The word tithes was mentioned in one story, even looking up that word on the internet brought coincidences....

"Sometimes, tithes. the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy, or the same amount regarded as an obligation or tax for the support of the church, priesthood, or the like". Sounds like part of the Ico story. Coincidenes everywhere via that first site.

A lot of the above stories seem to fit it with Colossus' mythology, they've always said they mixed up lots of mythologies. Maybe the Jack the Giant killer (I know it's an old story) mythology has been mixed with Cornish folklore (I've never heard of all these Cornish monsters before and i'm English, anyone vouch their authenticity?). I personally have started to think these are all hints at the premise of the new game. There, i've said it.

If you search 'popular romances of western England' on a search engine, basically every link will lead you to a page full of possible references (unless it's finally happened and this game's driven me certifiably mad).

As for the 'something under the tower' theory, admittedly, it's vague at best, but here goes.

S3TH posted three photos on page 5 (have a look, I couldn't copy and paste tem for some reason). Oh yeah, also 4th post.

This first one...
Shows to large circles liked via a path. It's reckoned the door at elevens temple would lead back to the tower. two circles (doors?) linked?

The second photo.
Not sure, could it be the pool of light or a secret garden overview? (i've not been there for ages).

This third one is most interesting...
It shows a tower (if you have the bottom right corner as the bottom of the picture) it also shows a tower that goes deep underground!

Whoever said Team Ico must be having a good laugh is probably spot-on. I'm sure they'll all be proud of the fact that so many people clearly adore their games though.

We may as well face the facts, this is going to go on for months, possibly years isn't it?

Message Edited by superyorda on 01-26-2008 03:13 PM

[Ascadia-PSU]

(Woo! Isa Polygon now!) On topic - Yes; the search has been going on for a couple of years and it's very likely that it's going to continue until Team ICO reveals the secret. ... That, or we'll figure it out before then; we seem to be making progress in this respect. As for the origin of the Last Big Secret: Ueda mentioned in an interview (I don't recall when) that there was one last big secret in the game that no one had discovered. The Secret Garden, as far as I can tell, was common knowledge at this point. Another thing is that Devs, whenever questioned, work their way around the question whilst dropping subtle clues. ie: (to the question "Are there any secrets left in the game") "Not that I can talk about. " That blasted winky smiley. Grr.

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But anyway, there's tons of material to support the existence of a LBS, not even mentioning the existence of so, so, SO many coincidences / links in the game that seem to lead somewhere. On to your post.

I. Tri-Block Theories

   A. Celosia's door > Tower

   B. Secret Garden Overview

   C. Underground Tower. What are you referring to in this? The Shrine of Worship?

I was under the impression (for a while) that the new blocks were just cut-and-mirrored (Diagonally) versions of the original blocks. However, this doesn't hold true; the 'A' block has individual markings on either side, the foremost being a Pyramid-shaped structure with a sun / moon / big honkin' circle floating above it. I'm not looking at the photo right now, but I think there are two dots in that portion of the block as well. The only thing that this seems remotely similar to, imo, is the door / archway in Barba's prison. The circle, of course, being the opening in the ceiling. (ICO 3 screenshot, anyone?) I'm still not sure on this one.

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The B Block - This could be any number of things, but it looks to me like a top-down view of Malus' Imperial Mountain ( + credit for catching the Mario 64 reference). It even has the little piece jutting out at the corner for big boy's platform. Not really sure about this one, either.

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The C Block - Perfectly symmetrical. Oddly enough, I didn't see any little diamonds / squares in the original Design. So, obviously, this rules out the theory that they've been cut up and reassembled. Like the other two, I can't say for sure what this is a picture of, but my first impression was of a face. More specifically, Basaran (no.9)'s face. I know that his lightning-bolt attack comes from three points somewhere near his chin. We also have three lil' diamonds. What do you guys think?

- And... yeah. That's all I can think of on the blocks.

Next up, the Sunken Castle.

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II. The Sunken Castle

    A. Dormin explicitly states that Hydrus is swimming over a hidden ruin. The fact that the word 'hidden' is used strikes me as very odd. If the spires jutting up from the water are any idication of size, the 'ruin' would have to be absolutely enormous. It seems so odd to me because Dormy always gives subtle clues as to how to slay the colossus in question. Ruins have absolutely nothing to do with kill Hydrus. Suspicious much?

   B. I don't remember where it was, but somewhere in the Forbidden lands, you can just make out a pillar off in the middle of the ocean by its lonesome. I don't remember who told us this, or where it was, but this seems to fit the bill of 'sunken castle' quite nicely.

   C. Avion's Ruins - Also quite immense. The architectural style seems very similar to that of an abbey or citadel. I've considered this as a candidate for a sunken castle, but it seems unlikely.

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So, in summary.

I. Block Theories

   A. Block One - Asymmetrical. There appears to be a pyramid in the top right foreground, with a large semicircle in the background. A dot on either side of the pyramid. Also, the outline of a smaller pyramid can be found inside the first.

       1.) The general idea here could be a doorway with a circle over it. This seems to be turning up quite a lot. I'm beginning to doubt is validity as a coincidence.

       2.) This could be a subtle reference to balance: the coexistence of good and evil, if you will. The circle is 'balanced' on top of the pyramid, which is flanked by a light dot and a dark dot. The two spheres overlapping on the bottom-right of the block could indicate the need for both forces to coexist. This is highly unlikely, but I think it's worth mentioning.

   B. Block Two - Symmetrical. This four-limbed design is vaguely reminiscent of Malus' mountain, with a protrusion at either end for the entrance platform and Malus' platform, respectively. There seems to be a gaping hole in the center.

       1.) I really don't see how this couldn't be Malus' mountain. I'm not sure what the circle in the center is supposed to be, but the rest fits perfectly. Maybe the circle is a reference to the underground labyrinthine system?

   C. Block Three - Seems to have a very elaborate arrow pointing to the bottom-right corner. In said corner lies a v-shaped bridge or, possibly, row of columns. Above the columns (for reference's sake) are three small diamonds which serve as the base for a long, shaft-like object. The latter comes to a point at the top-right corner of the block.

       1.) This could be one of two things, imo - Either Basaran's face (Three diamonds, while Basaran's lightning attack comes from three points arranged in the same pattern), or, as proposed by Superyorda, a tower / spire. If it were the latter, I don't see the point of the three diamonds. That being said, it might fit as one of the 'hidden ruin''s spires.

II. The Sunken Castle

   A. Hydrus' area - Dormin explicitly states that Hydrus is swimming over a ruin hidden in the lake. Hidden generally means 'not meant to be found'. The spires that dot the surface of the lake go deep underwater, and, considering the sheer size of the area, a castle is entirely possible. I would even go so far as to say... plausible.

       1.) Again, Dormin mentioned the ruins. Why mention them if they're not going to aid in the slaying of the colossus? I really think there's a reason for this.

   B. The Seaward Pillar - I really don't remember mentioned this, or when, but I do seem to recall seeing a screenshot of a pillar with a lopsided top jutting out of the ocean some ways out from shore. Any evidence or screens of this would be highly appreciated.

   C. Avion's area - I doubt that this the castle, seeing as how the layout of the ruins indicate an intricate interior that seems to have been at least semi-symmetrical.

       1.) Before being attacked, Avion is perched upon an enormous pillar in the center (roughly) of the area. This indicates (to me) a central support beam. If this were a sunken castle, then (considering that the ruins don't even stretch to the cliffs) Avion's abbey would be an entrance hall at best.

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.... Phew. That was a lot to type. Hope you guys enjoy. ^^

[midsize-D~]

Congrats on the polygon rank.

This post left me very very confused, but i will reread it and apply it when i understand it.

Also i will post the pics tommorow because i dont have the camera my mom does.

Great Post, Great theroies, Great Job