True Meanings Behind These Confusing Video Game Endings

Shadow of the Colossus

Wander is in a bind in the beginning of Shadow of the Colossus. His love Mono has fallen and he’s trying to save her. Unfortunately, he encounters Dormin in the forbidden land who tells him that a revival is possible if Wander can slay the 16 Colossi.

In trying to save Mono, Wander is essentially releasing the darkness of Dormin entombed in all the Colossi. This makes him a perfect host for the revived Dormin by the end. Basically, Wander is doing the bad guys’ dirty work all while being pursued by the priest Emom and his soldiers. By the end, when Wander has been fully corrupted by the darkness, Dormin possesses his body and is resurrected

It takes the priest Emom to cast a spell and spread Dormin’s darkness throughout the forbidden land in order to defeat Wander. As a result, Wander becomes a baby with horns (as do future children, which is where ICO starts off). The light garnered was enough to resurrect Mono, thus leading her to become Wander’s mother. Ah, cruel fate.

The crazy part? This is all actually a prequel to ICO. Wander is reborn as a baby with horns which explains the horned people in ICO essentially.