One of this month's PS Plus game is the wondrous Shadow of the Colossus, which throws players into the world of defeating monstrous giants. The game returns to PlayStation after its initial release in 2005, bringing updated graphics, hidden eggs, and more exploration than ever before.
Shadow of the Colossus is a boy and his horse story for the ages. When a girl dies as a victim of a brutal ritual, the boy is tasked with bringing her to life. Luckily for players, there is a deity that is willing to help under the condition that the boy kills all of the colossi roaming the land. It is up to players to take on the mantle of the boy, track down the colossi, and bring them down in order to bring the girl back to life.
This game gives players a wide world to explore. Although there is a set task of defeating colossi, players also have the chance to explore the world around them. However, this can also lead to accidentally finding a colossus that may be beyond a player's current skill level. Because the map is expansive, it is easy for players to get lost.
Tracking and taking down even one colossus can prove to be a difficult task. Various colossi have different power and abilities, forcing the players to adjust their strategy and approach to every colossus. Although it can seem a bit repetitive, the rewarding experience of defeating a beast that is ten times a player's size and weight makes this all worthwhile.
Directions in Shadow of the Colossus
Cenobia, the fourteenth colossus, is located in the farthest north-west corner of the map. When leaving the Shrine of Worship, cross the western-facing natural bridge as if headed towards colossi nine and ten. From there, head north-west across the fields. It's as if you were headed towards colossus three, but players should hang only slightly left of that . There, players should find another through the mountains towards the northwest.
Keep following the path until it opens on the far side. Once the opens up, hug the wall on the left-hand side until the boy finds a T path. At the T-junction, take the right-hand turn. Players will once again hug the left wall, following the curving left until there is a path with small pillars on each side that leads up a rocky mountain face. Keep going until the boy reaches a tunnel that has a small pool of water inside. Once past that, an archway to the exterior opens up to a location that resembles an ancient, dilapidated city.
Continue through until there is a place where players can jump down into a trench. The trench is easily identifiable by a fallen column on the left inside. Hop onto the column to climb out. Keep moving ahead and Cenobia is sure to reveal themself.
Cenobia of Shadow of the Colossus
Cenobia is one of the most difficult colossi to defeat. The character's heavy armor cannot be penetrated with weapons, and Cenobia attacks fast and heavy, dealing massive damage with one hit. When the battle begins, locate and jump onto the nearest fallen pillar. Cenobia will try to attack but the pillar will keep players safe for a moment.
Run along the pillar and climb onto the ruinous structure. Although Cenobia will continue to headbutt the structures while players are on top of them, the structure should hold for now. Instead of worrying about the pillars, players need to head to a large nearby pillar. Run and jump across the ruins until it is possible to jump to the large pillar. If approaching the large pillar correctly, players should be able to jump about a third of the way up, then keep moving until the peak is reached.
The goal from here is to get Cenobia to take the pillar down. Once at the peak, Cenobia should stop ramming itself against the pillars once Cenobia hears the tower creak after one attack. Players will need to provoke Cenobia into attacking the tower again by hitting it with an arrow. This should start Cenobia's attacks again, forcing the colossus to unintentionally bring the tower crumbling down. Once the tower starts to crumble, a cut scene should trigger in which players can continue to control the boy. Hold on as the tower falls and try to jump to the next ledge ahead. If players miss jumping on this ledge, it's still fairly easy to climb back up to from the fallen pillar.
Catching on this ledge will lead players to another pillar. Continue climbing and jumping from pillar to pillar until the square tower around the other side, which conveniently has a pillar next to it. Grapple around the side of the tower and land on the final pillar. When the last pillar falls, the wall by the entrance to the forgotten city will fall down with it. Climb towards the entrance platform where players began. This should be achievable with the help of some ledges on the far wall.
Once on the platform, Cenobia will begin charging at players again. Hop off to a nearby platform, which will entice Cenobia into attacking it. With this cause the ing pillars to crumble and the platform itself to fall, leaving Cenobia without any any more armor.
From here, it's a classic colossi battle. Players will need to locate the weak point on Cenobia. It may be beneficial for players to find a high spot somewhere, and it does not need to be too high, maybe about three feet max off the ground. Players will then be able to easily spot Cenobia's weak point and jump onto Cenobia's back. As always, find the spot, stab before it shakes you off, then repeat. Immediately after charing, Cenobia is usually a little stunned. This is the perfect time for players to jump onto Cenobia's back and hit it where it hurts.
Shadow of the Colossus is a fantastic game, and it's absolutely wonderful that PS Plus players get a chance at it for free this month. Although it can be tricky, defeating the colossus is absolutely worth it.
Shadow of the Colossus is available now on Playstation.
