Hidden Location Names

Many of the resources of Shadow of the Colossus are categorized according to the area in which they are used. Peering into a list of the game’s files reveals hidden developer names for each area. These are often references to real-world locations that the in-game locations resemble, or are possibly based on.

Examples of File Names:

nmo/kirins_hill_kirins_hill_m03_m03_lyr1.nmo

nmo/poseidons_lake_poseidons_lake_m03_m03_lyr1.nmo

nmo/parthenon_parthenon_m03_m03_lyr1.nmo

Location: Nickname: Colossus 1’s Area Temple

Location: Nickname: Colossus 2’s Area Proto

Location: Nickname: Colossus 3’s Area Arena

Location: Nickname: Colossus 4’s Area Kirin’s Hill

Kirin is the Japanese word for giraffe, and the developer nickname Colossus 4.

Location: Nickname: Colossus 5’s Area Canyon

Location: Nickname: Colossus 6’s Area Canossa

Canossa is the name of a ruined castle in Italy.

Location: Nickname: Colossus 7’s Area Lakeside

Location: Nickname: Colossus 8’s Area Underground

Location: Nickname: Colossus 9’s Area Geyser

Location: Nickname: Colossus 10’s Area Gravewind

Location: Nickname: Colossus 11’s Area Leo’s Cave

Leo is the developer nickname for Colossus 11.

Location: Nickname: Colossus 12’s Area Poseidon’s Lake

Location: Nickname: Colossus 13’s Area Desert

Location: Nickname: Colossus 14’s Area Ruins

Location: Nickname: Colossus 15’s Area Parthenon

The Parthenon is a well-known ruined temple in Greece.

Location: Nickname: Colossus 16’s Area Sanctuary

Save Shrines

By saving at the many shrines scattered around the world map, the name of the location you saved at will appear beside your game’s file name. The translations of these locations differ greatly between the preview version and final version of the game. The literal translation of the original Japanese name can be found under the “Translation” column.

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: C-1 北西端の盆地 Umbral Glade Northwestern Valley Northwestern Basin

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: D-2 穴岩の峡谷 Stone Arch Gorge Stone Arch Gorge Hole Rock Ravine

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: E-1 霧の沼 Dried Marsh Misty Marsh Foggy Marsh

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: F-2 北の橋脚 Northern Span Northern Pier North Bridge Pier

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: G-1 北の寺院 Desert Fortress Northern Temple Northern Temple

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: G-2 水がめの滝 Misty Falls Turtle Falls Water Jug Falls

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: E-3 峡谷の入口 Ravine Entrance Ravine Entrance Ravine Entrance

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: G-3 北東の平野 Half-moon Canyon Northeastern Plain Northeastern Plain

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: C-3 + 4 西の平原 Western Plain Western Plain Western Plain

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: E-3 丸岩の丘 Round Stone Hill Round Stone Hill Round Stone Hill

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: B + C-4 西の巣穴 Lair to the West Nest on the Plateau Western Burrow

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: E-4 石橋の崖 Stone Bridge Cliff Stone Bridge Cliff Stone Bridge Cliff

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: G-4 崖沿いの小路 Cliff Path Cliff Path Path Along the Cliff

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: B-4 高台の巣穴 Lair on the Mesa Nest to the West Elevated Burrow

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: B-5 西の岬 Western Cape Western Cape Western Cape

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: C-5 反り橋の平原 Arch Bridge Plain Arch Bridge Plain Curved Bridge Plains

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: D-5 古跡臨む丘 Blasted Lands Hill Facing a Ruin Hill Overlooking Ruins

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: E-5 枯葉の森 Autumn Forest Autumn Forest Dead Leaf Forest

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: G-6 渓谷の平地 Valley Plain Valley Plain Ravine Plain

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: H-6 南東の断崖 Eastern Bluff Southeastern Cliff Southeastern Cliff

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: D-7 南西端の岬 Southwestern Cape Southwestern Cape Southwestern Cape

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: F-7 果ての平原 Southern Plain Plain at the Ends Endless Plains

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: G-7 + 8 緑の岬 Green Cape Green Cape Green Cape

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: F-8 閉ざされし門 The Broken Seal Closed Gates Closed Gate

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: F-4 古の祠 Shrine of Worship Shrine of Worship Ancient Shrine

Map ID: Japanese: Final Game: Preview: Translation: N/A デバッグセーブ Debug saved N/A Debug Save

According to Nomad, “I don’t think that Debug Save is [the name of] a save shrine – I think that’s where the game list how many games you have played… but I can’t be sure.” The picture above is of a save shrine that appears only in the OPM Demo version of the game, but is never seen in the final. You can see it in this video.