Team Ico's PlayStation 4 remake, Shadow of the Colossus is garnering even more attention as new gamers are allowed to experience the spectacle. However, with this resurgence in popularity comes a fleeting question; will a sequel to this masterpiece ever become realized?
A sequel to such a critically successful game may seem like an obvious step forward. However, fans also need to realize the scope and vision of a transformative project like Shadow Of The Colossus. Team Ico's game is so special because of its individuality, not despite it. No other game has replicated what Team Ico has Shadow of the Colossus in of pure immersion and tone. Despite this, speculation on what such a sequel might contain is incredibly intriguing, especially given the mysterious nature that the game owns so well.
If a sequel to Shadow Of The Colossus were to happen, it would be essential that Team Ico carry over the same tone to its successor. The actual doom and gloom that is felt throughout Wander's adventures is a stark contrast to the triumph one feels when they are about to slay a colossus. A sequel would need to demonstrate mastery over both tones, much like its predecessor. To achieve this tonal continuity, the usage of sound and music would have to remain as perfect as they do in the original. Shadow Of The Colossus' tone is articulated beautifully through its impressive soundtrack that is constantly changing to fit the player's emotions.
New Locations and New Colossi
One interesting thought to ponder in a potential sequel to Shadow of the Colossus is where exactly the story would take place. Of course, the narrative could take place in the same location as the first game. However, the secluded nature of Wander's story makes it feel like its own arc. While it doesn't have a happy ending for Wander, bringing the player back to the same location could remove some emotional weight from the first game. Rather, going for another self-contained narrative may be a more promising idea. As for the location itself, the sky is the limit. It could be a fantasy setting much like its predecessor, a futuristic setting, or maybe something resembling modern times. Although Team Ico would probably embrace a fantasy setting once again, the thought of a futuristic Shadow Of The Colossus sounds incredibly interesting.
All of this discussion finally leads to the colossi themselves. Simply put, its hard to say exactly what Team Ico would do with these new beasts. However, Shadow Of The Colossus' beta had many more unused colossi that never made it into the finished project. Some of these designs are that of a phoenix, a monkey, and even a strange "winged devil" type monster. If they were to continue with the fantasy setting, these designs may be given new life in a sequel. Although, more than likely, Team Ico will focus their attention on creating new and original colossi to fight.
Overall, Shadow Of The Colossus is more than deserving of a sequel. The notion of a new location and new colossi is enough to make any Team Ico fan foam at the mouth. While a new installment doesn't seem likely right now, the concepts within the first game are incredibly sound. Expanding them even further would surely excite gamers everywhere.
