Climbing the Temple
Normally, you can only reach the secret garden area (where Mono walks after you beat the game) after beating all 4 game modes. If you can get your stamina increased enough, you can actually climb the back of the Shrine of Worship to reach the secret garden.
On the northeast corner of the temple, you will notice some moss/ivy growing. If you try to climb this with typical vertical jumps, you'll notice that your stamina decreases very rapidly. The trick to reaching the garden is the diagonal jump. While holding onto the wall, simply point your analog stick either up and right, or up and left, then press triangle and release when the stamina meter is at its peak. With the diagonal jump, you lose far less stamina than with the normal vertical jump. Using this technique, you can make your stamina last long enough to get you to the secret garden.
The Path to the Garden
Unlockables
Hard Mode and Normal Time Attack Mode are unlocked by finishing the regular game once (For strategies on Hard Mode, consult the main guide). Hard Time Attack Mode is unlocked by finishing the Normal Time Attack.
The Time Attack Modes unlock special items for the main game. For every two colossi you defeat within the allotted time limit, an item will become available to you. To initiate Time Attack (once it's unlocked), simple press circle to kneel in front of a statue in the Shrine of Worship and the battle with that colossus will begin. The items you unlock are listed below in order of their availability.
Normal Time Attack Items
- Whistling Arrow - Arrows that get the boss's attention
- Cloak of Force - Increases defense
- Mask of Strength - Increases power
- Lizard Stone - Detects lizards on map
- Fruit Tree Map - Shows location of fruit trees on map
- Mask of Power - Further increases power
- Deception Cloak - Further increases defense
- Flash Arrows - Strongest of all arrows
Hard Time Attack Items
- Harpoon of Thunder - Long-range projectile which can injures colossi
- Sword of the Sun - Reflects light of sword even in dark areas
- Fruit Tree Map - Shows fruit trees' locations on map
- Shaman's Cloak - Take less damage
- Lizard Detection Stone - Shows lizards's locations on map
- Shaman's Mask - Sustains even less damage when used with Shaman's Cloak
- Cloth of Desperation - Used as a parachute; slows down fall if you fall from a colossus
- Queen's Sword - The sword from Ico, which can kill a colossi in one hit
Lizards and Fruit Trees
Other Points of Interest
A few things you may not know about Shadow of the Colossus:
- You can fight defeated colossi over in what is called "Reminiscence Mode". To activate this, return to the site of any defeated colossus and kneel in front of its body (by pressing circle). The battle will begin once again, only this time in a cool sepia tone.
- If you have an Ico save file on the same Memory Card as Shadow of the Colossus, Agro will the Ico symbol on his forehead during the game.