Hard Mode is an unlockable difficulty in Shadow of the Colossus, accessed from the Main Menu once the game has been successfully completed on Normal. The differences between Hard and Normal difficulty are:

• No control tutorials are given, although Dormin does give Wander hints during battles, including Time Attack.
• Five colossi (Valus, Quadratus, Gaius, Barba, and Argus) have one additional weakpoint. Phaedra has two more.
• Wander will take more damage from colossi attacks, and very heavy attacks (such as being stomped on, for instance) will now kill him instantly, regardless of his maximum or current health.
• A new set of items can be obtained through Hard Time Attack, such as the Shaman's Mask and the Queen's Sword from Ico. Go here for the full list.
• Save files have an orange lowercase "h" next to the game clear number (i.e. if one is playing a second playthrough on Hard mode, "2h" will be seen next to the save file).

v • d • e Characters Wander (Kenji Nojima) • Agro • Mono (Hitomi Nabatame) • Dormin (Kazuhiro Nakata, Kyōko Hikami) • Emon (Naoki Bandō) The Colossi ( I • II • III • IV • V • VI • VII • VIII • IX • X • XI • XII • XIII • XIV • XV • XVI ) • Magic Sigil • Time Attack • Unused Colossi • Hard Mode The Forbidden Lands Shrine of Worship • Shadow creatures • Save shrines • Fruit trees • White-tailed lizards and other animals Production & Staff Fumito Ueda • Kenji Kaido • Kō Ōtani (Roar of the Earth) • Sony Computer Entertainment • [Full Credits...] Giantology campaign (Fake discoveries of Phalanx, Valus, Hydrus, Quadratus, Gaius) • Eric Belson (podcasts 1, 2, 3, 4) • IPICP memo Other media Demo • "Nico" bonus DVD • Official artbook/guidebook • Collectible figurines • Upcoming film adaptation by Sony Pictures