History NightmareFuel / ShadowOfTheColossus

** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_csUioMUME music]] that plays during the game over screen, aptly titled "Wander's Death", is simply chilling.

* Basaran. Like Dirge it's aggressive the moment the battle starts. Unlike Dirge, though, it specializes in bombarding you with four-fireball volleys every few seconds as long as you're in front of it and in range, and those suckers hit hard and even a miss will send Wander sprawling with light damage if the impact was close enough. And when you get out of range? [[LightningBruiser You'll turn around to see this titanic turtle charging out of the mists at a speed none of the other quadrupedal Colossi reach to resume its attacks.]] If you happen to be right under or very close to its front then it rears up to slam both feet down like Quadratus but at a ''much'' faster speed, likely catching you in the damaging area of effect. And don't think it calms down when you finally get atop it, because it almost goes berserk in its attempts to shake you off.

** When it gets close enough, it'll open its huge, creepy blank eyes and if you don't shoot them in time, it'll leap into the air and unhinge its jaw while diving at you, often knocking you down and damaging you in the process. Combine that with the panicky music and you've got one seriously terrifying boss. And it ''never'' stops chasing you...

** His game over screen is easily the most terrifying in the game. He gives a PsychoticSmirk while staring directly into your soul.

* All of the above applies to and doubles in effect on the [=PS4=] version with the HD graphics.But what really takes the cake is cursed Wander after defeating the final boss but before [[DemonicPossession he's possessed by Dormin.]] Even while still humanoid, his eyes have become those of a Colossus!
* Hyadrus. It is the only underwater boss you face and your only indicator of its location is the glowing electrical rods. The original is way worse because the lake is so dark that you can barely see clearly.

** His game over screen is easily the most terrifying on the game. It looks he's giving you a PsychoticSmirk while staring directly into your soul.

* Avion and Phalanx, for those with a phobia of heights.
* Hydrus, for those with a phobia of deep water.
** To add to this, Hydrus is one of the colossi whose vulnerability is set under a time limit. If it isn't defeated within the player's first attempt at its weak spots, the music will change back to normal and it will plunge itself deep underwater, dragging Wander along with it into the dark abyss until his stamina gauge runs out...

** To add to this, Hydrus is one of the colossi whose vulnerability is set under a time limit. If it isn't defeated within the player's first attempt at it's weak spots, the music will change back to normal and it will plunge itself deep underwater, dragging Wander along with it into the dark abyss until his stamina gauge runs out...

* Dirge. When it gets close enough, it'll open its huge, creepy blank eyes and if you don't shoot them in time, it'll leap into the air and unhinge its jaw while diving at you, often knocking you down and damaging you in the process. Combine that with the panicky music and you've got one seriously terrifying boss. And it ''never'' stops chasing you...

* Whenever you die during a Colossus fight, you get a game over screen with an artistic rendition of the [[NightmareFace Colossus' face staring directly at you.]][[note]]For the record, the one in the page image is Dirge's. Yeah, have fun seeing ''that'' [[ThatOneBoss over and over again]].[[/note]]
** The remake replaces the artistic renditions with an actual 3D shot of the Colossus peering out from the darkness.

* All of the above applies to and doubles in effect on the [=PS4=] version with the HD graphics.But what really takes the cake is cursed Wander after defeating the final boss but before [[DemonicPossssion he's possessed by Dormin.]] Even while still humanoid, his eyes have become those of a Colossus!

* Pelagia is perhaps the most disturbing colossus in design. Some sort of weird gorilla-hippopotamus cross, it appears to have giant, fully-formed ''teeth'' growing out of the top of its head ([[spoiler:which you hit to make it change direction]]) and no visible eyes--just glowing tusks where they should be. It gives the impression that Pelagia's head is [[BodyHorror missing from the bottom jaw up]]. It's also [[ItCanThink one of the more intelligent colossi,]] attempting to bait you into leaving your hiding place through a series of tricks.

* All of the above applies to and doubles in effect on the [=PS4=] version with the HD graphics.[[spoiler: But what really takes the cake is cursed Wander after defeating the final boss but before [[DemonicPossssion he's possessed by Dormin.]] Even while still humanoid, his eyes have become those of a Colossus!]]

* Pelagia is perhaps the most disturbing colossus in design. Some sort of weird gorilla-hippopotamus cross, it appears to have giant, fully-formed ''teeth'' growing out of the top of its head ([[spoiler:which you hit to make it change direction]]) and no visible eyes--just glowing tusks where they should be. It gives the impression that Pelagia's head is [[BodyHorror missing from the bottom jaw up]]. It's also one of the more intelligent colossi, attempting to bait you into leaving your hiding place through a series of tricks.

* Basaran. Like Dirge it's aggressive the moment the battle starts. Unlike Dirge, though, it specializes in bombarding you with four-fireball volleys every few seconds as long as you're in front of it and in range, and those suckers hit hard and even a miss will send Wander sprawling with light damage if the impact was close enough. And when you get out of range? You'll turn around to see this titanic turtle charging out of the mists at a speed none of the other quadrupedal Colossi reach to resume its attacks. If you happen to be right under or very close to its front then it rears up to slam both feet down like Quadratus but at a ''much'' faster speed, likely catching you in the damaging area of effect. And don't think it calms down when you finally get atop it, because it almost goes berserk in its attempts to shake you off.

* Whenever you die during a Colossus fight, you get a game over screen with an artistic rendition of the Colossus' face staring directly at you.[[note]]For the record, the one in the page image is Dirge's. Yeah, have fun seeing ''that'' [[ThatOneBoss over and over again]].[[/note]]

* All of the above applies to and doubles in effect on the [=PS4=] version with the HD graphics.[[spoiler: But what really takes the cake is cursed Wander after defeating the final boss but before he's possessed by Dormin. Even while still humanoid, his eyes have become those of a Colossus!]]

* All of the above applies to and doubles in effect on the [=PS4=] version with the HD graphics.[[spoiler: but what really takes the cake is cursed Wander after defeating the final boss but before he's possessed by Dormin. Even while still humanoid, his eyes have become those of a Colossus!]]

* All of the above applies to and doubles in effect on the [=PS4=] version with the HD graphics.[[spoiler: but what really takes the cake is cursed Wander after defeating the final boss but before he's possessed by Dormin. Even while still humanoid, his eyes have become that of a Colossus!]]

* Phaedra can also be quite a sight for first-time players. The tallest of the quadrupedal colossi, its ribs are clearly exposed to the air, its legs and movement resembles that of a crab, and its eyes are notably large. When you stab it, unlike most other colossi, it screams rather loudly.

* All of the above applies to and doubles in effect on the [=PS4=] version with the HD graphics, but what really takes the cake is cursed Wander after defeating the final boss but before he's possessed by Dormin. Even while still humanoid, his eyes have become that of a Colossus!

* Whenever you die during a Colossus fight, you get a game over screen with an artistic rendition of the Colossus' face staring directly at you.[[note]]For the record, the one in the page image is Dirge's. Yeah, have fun seeing ''that'' [[ThatOneBoss over and over again.[[/note]]

* Whenever you die during a Colossus fight, you get a game over screen with an artistic rendition of the Colossus' face staring directly at you.

* Whenever you die during a Colossus fight, you get a game over screen with sudden loud music playing and a picture of the Colossus' face staring directly at you...

* Hydrus, for those with a phobia for deep water.

* Pelagia is perhaps the most disturbing colossus in design. Some sort of weird gorilla-hippopotamus cross, it appears to have giant, fully-formed ''teeth'' growing out of the top of its head ([[spoiler: (which you hit to make it change direction]]) and no visible eyes--just glowing tusks where they should be. It gives the impression that Pelagia's head is [[BodyHorror missing from the bottom jaw up]]. It's also one of the more intelligent colossi, attempting to bait you into leaving your hiding place through a series of tricks.

* Whenever you die during a Colossus fight, you get a game over screen with sudden loud music playing and a picture of the Colossus' face staring directly at you...

* Dirge. When it gets close enough, it'll open its huge, creepy blank eyes and if you don't shoot them in time, it'll leap into the air and unhinge its jaw while diving at you, often knocking you down and damaging you in the process. Combine that with the panicky music and you've got one seriously terrifying boss. And it ''never'' stops chasing you...