Phoenix

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Phoenix

Phoenix (or Adar Flam, the name given to it by fans) is one of several unused colossi that did not make it into the final version of Shadow of the Colossus.

Strategy

The guidebook gives information on how Phoenix had to be defeated: "Its body was wreathed in flame. You defeated it by plunging it into a lake". This indicates that Wander was not able to climb its body straight away. In all released screenshots of Phoenix, Wander is seen riding Agro, so it can be assumed she was vital to this battle.

New information from an anonymous developer reveals that Phoenix was able to use its wings to spread fire at the player's feet and its eyes "lit like fire when he attacked". The developer also stated Phoenix crashed into his lake when the player shot its flaming eye, at which point the player could presumably climb upon Phoenix to defeat it.

Rumors

According to an old Team Ico Gamers Blog post, Phoenix was removed for being overpowered and also because it required a huge arena due to its attacks. [1] (This would later be confirmed by an interview with Fumito Ueda conducted by French gaming magazine Chronic'art.)

Location

Phoenix was to be battled in an earlier version of the quadrant I4, called the 'crater'. This was confirmed by a Team Ico developer, through datamining and multiple matches of evidence, including texture links and new found texture evidence.

The Crater sheets list a water texture called "ud_wave". The presence of water further proves Phoenix lived at I4/Crater, since Phoenix had to be plunged into a lake.

While we can see I4 in the OPM Demo map, it's not actually Phoenix's arena, but either an earlier version of the arena before the crater idea, or a later version from after Phoenix's removal.

An early screenshot of Avion shows the formation of spiral clouds around I4, cementing that there was a colossus there at one point.

Trivia

• Ueda stated that he discarded Phoenix's concept because Wander would lose way too much health everytime he fell from the colossus.
• Ueda stated that "The player had to avoid bursts of wind produced by the giant wings of this flying colossus". The bursts of wind can be seen being used by Avion when Wander is on top of the many ruins in its arena, it also suggests that Phoenix was once able to fly.
• Ueda stated they needed to create a "really large environment" for Phoenix.
• Phoenix was roughly the same height as Gaius.
• There exists two designs of Phoenix from different stages of development; an earlier design from the time Wander wore a blue vest and a more recent one from the time Wander had red hair. The earlier design had a longer neck and a lot of fur, whereas the recent design's neck is shorter and has less fur.
• A Team Ico developer stated that Phoenix and Devil were cut simultaneously, partly due to time constraints.

File:Screenshot (4043).png

Screenshot of the extracted D3 Quadrant from the PSU PV, with the I4 Phoenix trees.

Gallery

A screenshot of Phoenix.

Another screenshot of Phoenix.

An earlier image of Wander and Agro near Phoenix. Note its longer, ostrich-like neck.

Another image of Phoenix in which it appears to be glowing.

Chronic'art French interview with Fumito Ueda (translated). Source of prior image.