The Broken Seal

Talk Page

The Broken Seal
Profile
Quadrant	F8
Connecting Quadrants	F7 G7 G8
Preview Name	Closed Gates
Seamless Designer	Kazuhiro Numata (nk)

The Broken Seal is a location and one of 24 save shrines in Shadow of the Colossus.

Description

It is a special location and the final save shrine. The small area can only be accessed after defeating 15 colossi, and it is necessary to go through this area to reach the Sanctuary, where the 16th lives. The Broken Seal is one of the only locations in the game that has a save shrine in close proximity to the colossus. Upon entering the Broken Seal, the player will see the save shrine to the right and a set of stairs to the left.

The area gets its name from the means by which Wander is finally able to access it. Wander must open a gigantic door that previously blocked off the area by shining the Ancient Sword's light onto a great seal. Doing so will trigger a short cutscene of the door opening. As the 16th is obviously the only colossus in that direction from the door (and considering the colossi must be encountered in order), the area is inaccessible until all other colossi have been killed.

There is another reason the area is closed off. Beyond the final save shrine lies a dangerous bridge that will collapse when the slightest bit pressure is exerted onto it. Wander cannot cross it in time on his own; he must ride Agro across, and even she unfortunately cannot cross it in time and must throw Wander the remaining distance.

Location

Located in the southern end of the Forbidden Lands in quadrant F8. Its shrine is located in an enclosed area after the closed gates.

Significant nearby areas

• Continuing south up the giant structure, the 16th colossus can be discovered.
• To the west of the gates, quadrant E7 can be found, and beyond it, the Southwestern Cape shrine can be found.
• To the north of the gates, the Southern Plains shrine can be found.
• To the east of the gates, the Green Cape shrine can be found.

Trivia

• The Broken Seal is the only location in Shadow of the Colossus in which the player will experience weather change and change in wind direction. The final battle with the 16th colossus takes place in a thunderstorm and is the only instance other than the opening cutscene and the end credits in which rain and thunder are seen.
• The gates cannot be opened in any earlier version of the game, despite defeating 15 colossi.

Gallery

Wander and Agro in front of the sealed door.

Wander rides beside the left-most pillars in the PS4 remake.

Concept art of the sealed door.

The Forbidden Lands World Era 3 World Era 2 Retail Map Beta Map (fan recreation)