Devil was a small colossus ranging from 4 to 5 meters of height. Its head was likely based on tribal masks, and seemed to be a combination of the heads from its early sketches; the overall shape of it being from the taller sketch, and its face being from the smaller one. Its wings were like those of a bat, and were attached to its upper back, just below the neck.
Strategy
In one artbook sketch from Devil, Fumito Ueda says, "It was the smallest colossus. You'd defeat it by menacing it with your bow, then drawing closer while hiding in the grass and attacking from behind."[1] Ueda also says two other things in the descriptions of the colossus' images: "I imagined the battle with Devil to be fierce." and "You'd hide in the grass and jump on its back."[2]
Of the information available in the artbook and PS3 sheet data, it's possible that the colossus would fly all over the arena until you shot at it with your bow, forcing it to come down where Wander could have a slight chance of fighting it. After that, you would have to hide from it in the grass, and possibly behind the various pillars and ruins scattered around, likely until you reached the only separate interactable object in the arena known as the "devils_plain_tatemono" (lit. devils_plain_building). As proven in the sheets, Devil would interact with this object in a similar way to the broken pillars of the 14th colossus (More about it is expanded in the trivia section). It would possibly be vulnerable after attacking it for some moments, giving you enough time to jump to its back.
Location
Devil was fought at quadrantD2, named 'Devil's Plain', located next to Stone Arch Gorge. A large amount of evidence was found, including texture matches (with some being exclusive for these two areas), identical chip data and much more.[3]
Development History
This colossus was created near the start of the game's development in 2003, but was also one of the last ones to be added, as it used to be tested in Stage 21 out of 26.
Sketch of the earlier design of Devil. Taken from the official artbook.
Devil was seemingly a unique boss not created with any archetype. It was described in the Artbook by Fumito ueda as "the smallest colossus", being 3 meters tall in the sketches. Also according to the sketches, the boss had a bow and arrow early on in development.
Later on, it was decided to increase the size of the boss to around 4 ~ 5 meters, and also to get rid of its bow and arrow. Its body would also gain more density, having a wider abdomen. Its face became more similar to its other sketch.
After the start of 2004, when the proper world map was created by using a height map, Devil's Plain was decided to be added to quadrant D2, where it stayed until it was cut. The screenshots of Devil are likely from after July, due to the sky effects.
The volume control showing 21 colossi.
Devil most likely survived production until near the end of 2004, together with Sirius, Phoenix, Roc, and Yamori A, as all of them had AdpcmVolControl sheets, as indicated by the PS3 Data Sheets. The texture segment of Devil's Plain was very similar to the E3 Demo version of quadrant D2, which indicates it was likely in a similar quality. Another evidence that Devil survived such a long time is that it had a unique idol statue in the Shrine of Worship, also indicated by the data sheets.
After the world map was reduced at the end of 2004, Devil was cut from the game, and D2 became empty with no purpose except for connecting surrounding quadrants. The pillars seen in Devil's screenshots were not completely discarded, as they are currently aligned on the pathway leading to the 14th colossus' cave entrance in C2.[4] Although the smaller pillars have been modified in the final version of the game, the E3 Demo version has the exact same models. The reason for Devil's exclusion was never disclosed.
Trivia
devil_test model in the Athretic Test Stage.
A model named "devil_test" was found in the files from the PS3 version. It is a rectangular box twice as tall as Wander and half of Devil's height. It has no textures and its collision model has grippable edges, making it possible to climb on top of it. There's a good chance this object is related to another one named "devils_plain_tatemono", which texture segment has the same texture listed as the "bricks" seen in one of Devil's screenshots.
The data sheets lists "devil_test" as one of the many objects present in a test area found inside the PS4 Remake and PS3 remaster's files known as "ATHRETIC". A damage test related to it named "DEVIL_DIVE_DAMAGE" suggests that the object was affected by Devil's dive (or glide) attack in some way, similar to the ruins in the 14th colossus' arena when they are hit by the boss.
Popular rumors have arosen claiming that the soundtrack "Anger" was supposed to play during the battle with this colossus. These rumors are not likely to be true however, as the music can be heard in the opening cutscene when Wander places Mono on the altar in old gameplay footage.[5]
Anger was also discovered to play in the opening cutscene from the E3 Demo version.[6]
In one of the screenshots of Devil, a pointy mountain can be seen in the background. A possibility that came up is that it was the Shrine of Worship seen in the distance, but the way the arena was placed in the mountain means that's unlikely to be the case. The most likely scenario is that the pointy mountain is the one from Spider's Hillock.
It was originally speculated that Devil was fought at H2, near the Beta Dam, but it has since been debunked.
Gallery
Image of Devil standing still. Note that Wander is standing a lot farther in the background, and not near Devil.
Devil and Wander.
Another image of Wander and Devil.
Smaller design sketch of Devil.
Taller design sketch of Devil.
Devil's textures, most of them are not in any versions available.
Walkthrough