Shadow of the Colossus, like any game, had several different development periods. This is a list of all of the known ones, with details for each one. The dates were taken from the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection Booklet.
Planning Phase
Nico tech demo - Shadow of the Colossus
In late-January 2002, the first storyboard draft for a presentation demo was completed.
In mid-May 2002, a real-time demo depicting a group of horned boys taking down a colossus was completed. It is available in the Nico bonus DVD, showing the battle against the colossus that would turn into the 2nd colossus.
Prototype Phase
In June 2002, Team Ico began trial production of "NICO (Tentative name)" and developed a test version with a small group of people. Ueda worked with coders on the deformation collision for six straight months.
In May 2003, Team Ico began production of "NICO" and presented a prototype at an internal meeting. Development approval was given after the first presentation.
1st Phase
On September 1st 2003, development for the project began in full. This is the time in development when the player was still a horned boy in a mask. The colossi were few and still rather simple and were tested in separate stages with no seamless map; that is, the open world divided by quadrants from the final game.
Clips of it are available in the Nico bonus DVD.
2nd Phase
Later on in 2003, many colossi were in the works and their environments were taking shape. The player character first lost the mask, and then some short time later also lost the horns, while still keeping the blue shirt and pants.
Some pictures of the artbook show this phase.
3rd Phase
By the start of 2004, the game was in its third phase. The player character had developed further, having a 'tunic' instead of the shirt and pants of earlier phases. One of the key aspects of identifying this phase is by looking at the HUD.
Pictures and clips of it are available in the artbook, in the Nico bonus DVD and in trailers.
4th Phase
Sometime after the start of 2004. The HUD was changed again, this time lasting a long time, only being replaced in the final phases. The first seamless map was also created around this period, which was mostly flat with many arenas missing. Any footage that was taken on a vast dry area was in this first seamless map. G0, B2 and the old I7 found in the preview version and earlier are all remnants of this time.
Pictures and clips of it are available in the artbook, in the Nico bonus DVD and in trailers.
5th Phase
Mid-2004, the game's title was finally chosen as "Wanda and the Colossus". The seamless map was further developed and the arenas were all placed. The sky still lacked the yellow tint of the next phase and its seamless loading still didn't look up to par. The player character's design was very close to completion, having brown clothing instead of the blue one.
Pictures of it are available in the artbook and in the Nico bonus DVD.
6th Phase
Footage of Roc from rare promo disc
Mid to late 2004, the yellow tinted sky was added and many promotional pictures and footage were taken in order to show the press, making it the most famous beta phase. The game was shown to the public in order to garner reactions and adjust the game in response.
7th Phase
Late 2004 to the start of 2005, due to the reception, lack of time, lack of budget and some developers leaving, several colossi and locations were decided to be removed before being finished, eventually leading to the final version we have today. The player character was unchanged from the previous phase.
8th Phase
Throughout 2005, several builds were distributed to the press, game conventions and the like. The game was already in its final touches, with the player character finally being the finished Wander. It is what is known by the community as the "Arms build", as the HUD has the text "Arms" on it.
The Pre-E3, E3, OPM and PSU Preview versions can be considered part of this period.
Final Phase
October 18th 2005, the final American (NTSC-U) version is released, receiving critical acclaim from reviewers. In October 27th 2005 the Japanese (NTSC-J) version released, and then in February 2006 the International (PAL) was released to the rest of the world.
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Characters | Wander · Mono · Agro · Dormin · Lord Emon · Guards · Shadow Creatures |
Colossi | I · II · III · IV · V · VI · VII · VIII · IX · X · XI · XII · XIII · XIV · XV · XVI |
Locations | The Forbidden Lands · Shrine of Worship · Colossus Arenas |
Main Items | Power-ups (Lizards · Fruit) · Weapons (Ancient Sword · Sword of the Sun · Queen’s Sword · Sword of Dormin · Bow & Arrow · Ancient Bow · Harpoon of Thunder · Life Sword) · Collectibles (Relics) |
Gameplay | Hard Mode · Save shrines · Time Attack · Reminiscence Mode · Watermellon · Barrel |
Media | Roar of the Earth (OST) · Official Art and Guide Book · Nico Bonus DVD · Film |
Releases | OPM Demo · PS2 original · PS3 remaster · PS4 remake · Credits |
Early Builds | Preview version · PSU Preview version · E3 Demo |
Unused Content | Unused Colossi · Colossus Test Stages · Unused Locations · Beta Mountains · Shadow of the Colossus Development Phases |