Time Attack

After beating Shadow of the Colossus for the first time, a harder difficulty is unlocked, along with a set of timed challenges, referred to as Time Attack, for both difficulties. To access Time Attack, the player need only load the game, approach the idol of the corresponding colossus in the Shrine of Worship, and "pray" before it as if saving at a save shrine.

The goal of these challenges is to defeat a colossus within a given time limit. These limits differ between both colossi and difficulties.

Colossus	Challenge Time
	Normal	Hard	Normal (PS4)	Hard (PS4)
1. Valus	2:30	2:50	2:30	2:45
2. Quadratus	4:00	4:30	3:30	4:30
3. Gaius	6:00	5:00	6:00	6:30
4. Phaedra	5:30	5:00	5:00	6:15
5. Avion	5:30	5:30	5:00	4:15
6. Barba	3:30	6:30	3:30	6:00
7. Hydrus	12:00	8:00	9:00	7:30
8. Kuromori	8:00	7:30	6:00	7:00
9. Basaran	7:30	5:30	5:30	5:45
10. Dirge	6:00	5:00	5:30	4:30
11. Celosia	5:30	5:30	4:30	4:15
12. Pelagia	9:30	10:00	8:30	9:30
13. Phalanx	12:00	13:00	12:00	10:15
14. Cenobia	9:00	9:00	9:00	8:15
15. Argus	10:00	11:30	7:30	10:00
16. Malus	9:30	13:00	9:30	10:45

Successfully clearing any two of these challenges will make a special item appear in the shallow pool in the back room of the temple; thus, there are eight items to be gained in each difficulty. It is important to note that the unlocked items are different between difficulties and cannot be carried over in any way.

Time Attack challenges cleared	Reward
	Normal difficulty	Hard difficulty
2	Whistling Arrow	Harpoon of Thunder
4	Cloak of Force	Sword of the Sun
6	Mask of Strength	Fruit Tree Map
8	Lizard Detection Stone	Shaman's Cloak
10	Fruit Tree Map	Lizard Detection Stone
12	Mask of Power	Shaman's Mask
14	Cloak of Deception	Cloth of Desperation
All 16	Flash Arrow, Brown Agro	Queen's Sword, White Agro

In the Playstation 4 remake, items can now be transferred through difficulties via New Game+. Because of this, the rewards table for Time Attack has been slightly tweaked.

Time Attack challenges cleared	Reward (PS4)
	Normal difficulty	Hard difficulty
2	Whistling Arrow	Harpoon of Thunder
4	Cloak of Force	Sword of the Sun
6	Mask of Strength	Shaman's Cloak
8	Lizard Detection Stone	Shaman's Mask
10	White Steed	Fruit Tree Map
12	Mask of Power	Cloth of Desperation
14	Cloak of Deception	Cursed Wander Skin
All 16	Flash Arrow, Brown Steed	Queen's Sword, Crested Agro

Items obtained in both difficulties

The Fruit Tree map and the Lizard Detection stone can be found in both difficulties. The only place in the game they are ever actually seen is here, when Wander first obtains them.

Fruit Tree Map

Received after defeating ten colossi in Normal Time Attack and six colossi in Hard Time Attack.

The Fruit Tree Map will make an icon of a fruit on the map at the location of every fruit tree in the game. Close proximity to the tree is unnecessary to make the icons appear.

In the PS4 remaster, it can only be obtained from Hard Mode. The map's place in Normal Mode is taken over by Agro's White Skin.

Uses/How to: Find fruit with ease. Just check the map to see where they are.

Lizard Detection Stone

Received after defeating eight colossi in Normal Time Attack and ten colossi in Hard Time Attack.

The Lizard Detection Stone will make an icon of a lizard appear on the map in the general area of where a white-tailed lizard is. The icon only appears when the player is relatively close to the lizard.

In the PS4 remaster, the Lizard Detection Stone can only be obtained from Normal Mode. The stone's place in Hard Mode has been replaced by the Cursed Wander Skin.

Uses/How to: Find white-tailed lizards with ease. While traveling, check the map on occasion.

Normal Time Attack Items

Items obtained in Normal-difficulty Time Attack include different types of arrows and damage-increasing equipment.

Whistling Arrows

Received after defeating two colossi in Time Attack. Whistling Arrows attract the attention of colossi.

Uses/How to: If one would want to get at a colossus' back, the player can shoot a Whistling Arrow behind it, and it should turn around, thus giving easy access. Select it by cycling through the weapons until found.

Cloak of Force

Received after defeating four colossi in Time Attack.

The Cloak of Force increases the amount of damage done with the Ancient Sword.

Uses/How to: Kill colossi faster. Just equip it to reap the benefits.

Mask of Strength

Received after defeating six colossi in Time Attack.

The Mask of Strength increases the amount of damage done with the Ancient Sword. Use in conjunction with the Cloak of Force to further increase damage.

Uses/How to: Kill colossi faster. Just equip it to reap the benefits.

Mask of Power

Received after defeating twelve colossi in Time Attack. The Mask of Power is a more powerful version of the Mask of Strength. It increases the amount of damage done with the sword. Use in conjunction with the Cloak of Force to further increase damage. This item can not be used in conjunction with the Mask of Strength.

Uses/How to: Kill colossi faster. Just equip it to reap the benefits.

Cloak of Deception

Received after defeating fourteen colossi in Time Attack.

Wearing the Cloak of Deception renders the player invisible. A colossus will not see or attack the player while wearing it. This item cannot be used in conjunction with the Cloak of Force.

Uses/How to: Travel about a colossus's arena with impunity. This is especially useful in the fight against the final colossus, allowing the player to completely explore the arena. Just equip it to reap the benefits.

Flash Arrows

Received after defeating sixteen colossi in Time Attack.

Flash Arrows are arrows that explode on impact. They do much more damage than regular arrows and can trigger minor sigils just like swords.

Uses/How to: Quickly and severely weaken a colossus before getting onto it. Flash Arrows make lizard hunting (or the killing of any animal for that matter) much easier. They can be used to reach previously unreachable areas by blasting Wander up slopes that he would normally just slide off of. They can also be used to trigger the "torch falling" scene in the fight with Celosia. Select it by cycling through the weapons until it is found.

Once Normal Time Attack is beaten, the player may choose a brown version of Agro (hold down at the title screen while selecting Load Game).

Hard Time Attack Items

Items obtained in Hard Mode Time Attack include different swords and equipment to increase your defense.

Harpoon of Thunder

Received after defeating two colossi in Time Attack. The Harpoon of Thunder is used similarly to regular arrows. The harpoons do more damage though and have the ability to interrupt a colossus' attack. They can also trigger a minor sigil just like a sword can.

Uses/How to: Quickly and severely weaken a colossus before getting onto it. Trigger a magic sigil without being on the colossus. Select it by cycling through the weapons until it is found.

Sword of the Sun

Received after defeating four colossi in Time Attack.

The Sword of the Sun will shine brightly even when held up in non-sunlit areas.

Uses/How to: Select it by cycling through the weapons until it is found.

Shaman's Cloak

Received after defeating eight colossi in Time Attack.

The Shaman's Cloak decreases the damage Wander receives from the attacks of the colossi.

Uses/How to: Survive longer against the colossi. Just equip it to reap the benefits.

Shaman's Mask

Received after defeating twelve colossi in Time Attack.

The Shaman's Mask decreases the damage Wander receives from the attacks of the colossi. Use in conjunction with the Shaman's Cloak for a cumulative effect.

Uses/How to: Survive longer against the colossi. Just equip it to reap the benefits.

Cloth of Desperation

Received after defeating fourteen colossi in Time Attack.

The Cloth of Desperation is basically a parachute, and it eliminates damage when Wander falls. Wander also falls slowly and with a slight forward glide. However, he will still die when he falls from certain spots, like the cliffs overlooking the ocean. This item can be used in conjunction with the Shaman's Cloak.

Uses/How to: Prevent damage when falling off of a colossus or cliff. Hold or  while in mid-air to use it.

Queen's Sword

Received after defeating sixteen colossi in Time Attack.

The Queen's Sword is a very powerful weapon. One fully-charged stab is often enough to take out a major sigil. The benefits are a bit diminished as the damage done with the Ancient Sword is proportional to the stamina Wander has. True to its name, this is the same sword that Ico used to defeat the Queen.

Uses/How to: Quickly kill colossi. Select it by cycling through the weapons until it is found.

Once Hard Time Attack has been beaten, the player can choose a white version of Agro (hold down at the title screen while selecting Load Game).

New Rewards in the PS4 Remaster

Cursed Wander Skin

Received after defeating fourteen colossi in Hard Time Attack.

The cursed Wander skin will change Wander's model to the one he uses after he slays Malus.

Uses/How to: The change is purely cosmetic. To use the skin, simply enter the items menu and select the skin.

High scores - video leaderboard

A collection of videos displaying the three (if available) best times for individual colossi in both Time Attack modes.

Normal	Hard
Valus (Target time: 2:30) 0:22.05 - Shirapon 0:22.99 - Unidone 0:24.94 - noocurrname	Valus (Target time: 2:50) 1:02.98 - noocurrname 1:04.07 - Shirapon 1:05.89 - T0nu
Quadratus (Target time: 4:00) 0:46.80 - Unidone 0:48.48 - noocurrname 0:59.87 - Shirapon	Quadratus (Target time: 4:30) 1:32.75 - noocurrname 1:34.04 - Shirapon 1:35.72 - MgoStun
Gaius (Target time: 6:00) 1:06.02 - Unidone 1:07.51 - noocurrname 1:09.32 - Shirapon	Gaius (Target time: 5:00) 1:45.71 - MgoStun 1:57.60 - noocurrname 1:58.18 - Shirapon
Phaedra (Target time: 5:30) 0:42.62 - Unidone 0:44.84 - noocurrname 0:48.69 - Shirapon	Phaedra (Target time: 5:00) 1:33.73 - noocurrname 1:43.77 - Shirapon 2:07.24 - TheHunterOf16
Avion (Target time: 5:30) 1:24.41 - Unidone 1:32.75 - noocurrname 1:34.13 - Shirapon	Avion (Target time: 5:30) 1:46.90 - noocurrname 1:59.46 - Shirapon 2:29.93 - BarryQuickPaws
Barba (Target time: 3:30) 0:33.32 - Unidone 0:34.51 - noocurrname 0:43.22 - Shirapon	Barba (Target time: 6:30) 1:14.36 - noocurrname 2:07.71 - TheHunterOf16 2:09.86 - Shirapon
Hydrus (Target time: 12:00) 0:41.57 - Unidone 0:41.77 - Shirapon 0:55.91 - noocurrname	Hydrus (Target time: 8:00) 1:06.56 - noocurrname 1:10.91 - Shirapon 1:12.09 - T0nu
Kuromori (Target time: 8:00) 0:29.60 - Unidone 0:29.64 - noocurrname 0:35.70 - Shirapon	Kuromori (Target time: 7:30) 00:59.51 - noocurrname 1:06.15 - Shirapon
Basaran (Target time: 7:30) 0:35.26 - Unidone 0:37.74 - noocurrname 0:41.93 - Shirapon	Basaran (Target time: 5:30) 0:57.77 - noocurrname 1:11.79 - Shirapon
Dirge (Target time: 6:00) 0:35.30 - Shirapon 0:37.67 - JarrodMitchell 0:37.83 - christenlanger	Dirge (Target time: 5:00) 0:52.74 - MgoStun 0:55.77 - Shirapon 1:06.32 - noocurrname
Celosia (Target time: 5:30) 0:22.42 - Unidone 0:24.00 - noocurrname 0:24.01 - Shirapon	Celosia (Target time: 5:30) 0:28.38 - noocurrname 0:29.03 - Shirapon 0:38.92 - T0nu
Pelagia (Target time: 9:30) 0:46.01 - Unidone 0:48.25 - noocurrname 0:55.46 - Shirapon	Pelagia (Target time: 10:00) 1:39.85 - noocurrname 2:31.96 - Shirapon
Phalanx (Target time: 12:00) 1:06.96 - Unidone 1:08.81 - amolemajima 1:10.40 - Shirapon	Phalanx (Target time: 13:00) 1:18.40 - noocurrname 1:20.70 - Shirapon
Cenobia (Target time: 9:00) 1:25.20 - Unidone 1:26.75 - noocurrname 1:29.37 - MgoStun	Cenobia (Target time: 9:00) 1:35.71 - noocurrname 1:45.74 - MgoStun 1:47.53 - Shirapon
Argus (Target time: 10:00) 0:40.70 - Unidone 0:46.43 - noocurrname 0:52.85 - Shirapon	Argus (Target time: 11:30) 1:30.16 - noocurrname 1:31.85 - Shirapon 3:31.91 - FFVIIBertoldiBrasil
Malus (Target time: 9:30) 1:39.87 - Unidone 1:41.59 - JarrodMitchell 1:43.56 - Shirapon	Malus (Target time: 13:00) 1:58.96 - Shirapon 2:11.35 - noocurrname 2:12.63 - christenlanger