The Last Guardian: EVERYTHING You Need To Know

Michael Grothaus 06/12/2016 - 4:33pm

The Last Guardian took 10 years to make... but it's almost here

2016 has been a great year for video games. You had more indie games like Giant Squid’s Abzû or Plastic’s Bound, which both featured jaw-dropping art direction. Then you had blockbusters like Dishonored 2, Dark Souls 3, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, and Doom. And lots not forget about multiplayer hits including Overwatch and Overcooked as well as RPGs like Stardew Valley and Dragon Quest Builders. And then there was the amazing narrative, Firewatch.

But just getting in at the last moment to be included as a “2016 game” is The Last Guardian. And though it's only coming out in the last month of 2016, this game has actually been in development for almost 10 years. The story of its much-delayed development is almost as epic as the game’s story. And now that The Last Guardian is FINALLY here, early reviews suggest the wait was worth it. But just what is The Last Guardian about and why did it take so long to arrive? Here’s everything you need to know.

The Last Guardian: What Is It?

Here’s what the official description of the game says:

“In a strange and mystical land, a young boy discovers a mysterious creature with which he forms a deep unbreakable bond. The unlikely pair must rely on each other to journey through towering treacherous ruins filled with unknown dangers. Experience the journey of a lifetime in this touching, emotional story of companionship and trust.”

The translation of that is it’s an epic action/adventure/fantasy title–which is finally out now for the  Playstation 4. The game is made by genDESIGN and SIE Japan Studio and published by Sony. It was designed and directed by the legendary Fumito Ueda, who gave us the critically acclaimed games Ico (2001) and Shadow of the Colossus (2005). Shadow of the Colossus is widely regarded as one of the best video games of all time, so it’s little wonder why there has been so much hype and anticipation around The Last Guardian since development was leaked in early 2007.

The Last Guardian: A Turbulent Development History

The Last Guardian has taken on an almost mythic status in the gaming industry because, though development began in 2007, it suffered years of delays. Though development began in 2007, the game wasn’t officially announced until 2009 when Ueda was still at Sony. The game was originally planned for a PlayStation 3 release. However, in 2011 delays caused Sony to bump its release back to the Playstation 4, at which time Ueda and his team decided to depart the company. Ueda and his team then formed genDESIGN, which acted as consultants on the game, while development slowed at Sony. However, in 2015 Sony announced The Last Guardian would finally arrive on the PS4 in 2016–and here we are.

The Last Guardian: Plot

The game is told as a flashback narrative from the point of view of an old man recounting his experiences as a child after meeting a griffin-like animal called Trico. The story begins when the boy was abducted and taken to a castle where he was imprisoned. In the castle, he finds another prisoner–the creature Trico. The boy frees Trico from his chains and the two form a bond and work together to escape the castle. Though the lot is to escape the castle and surrounding lands, much of the game’s story revolves around the bond and friendship of the boy and Trico.

The Last Guardian: Gameplay

The Last Guardian combines action-adventure and puzzle elements and is told in third-person perspective. The player controls the boy who can do what most characters can do in action adventures: run, jump, climb, and more. However, the boy must also get Trico to perform actions. But instead of just issuing commands to Trico, the gameplay takes into consideration that Trico is simply a large animal–and you must get it to do the things you want pretty much how you would get a dog to sit or roll over: by coercing it, offering it food, playing fetch, and giving it repeated commands.

Trico also doesn’t act like most sidekicks in a game, which are usually automated and do whatever the player wants. Instead, the play might need to try several times to get Trico’s attention and get the animal to do what they want. Getting Trico to perform actions also depends on the mood Trico is in, which complicates gameplay. The player also needs to keep Trico fed and healthy–sometimes that even means removing spears from Trico’s body or helping heal the animal in other ways.

The Last Guardian: Reviews

It appears the decade-long wait has been worth it as the reviews for The Last Guardian have been largely very positive:

“Here is an exquisite gem, the brightest in Ueda’s enviable clutch.” – The Guardian.

“In The Last Guardian, Fumito Ueda is showing us how to bang out another kind of tune that makes something else move, something perhaps higher. It feels momentous, a design breakthrough I wasn’t expecting, and an experience that seems more likely to stand the test of time than others we like to point to. It calls out some of what’s crass about this industry while showing us another way forward, the shape of things to come.” – Time

“When the journey comes to an end, you’ll find yourself in shock, emotionally-drained, and appreciative The Last Guardian stayed in development this long and still made it to release. The entire game’s pace is perfect. The difficulty and challenge is high, and completely reliant on how observant and explorative the player is. Every section of the game is stunningly gorgeous – a real work of art. The gameplay is pure perfection (aside for some clunky controls).” – Playstation LifeStyle

“The Last Guardian is Team ICO’s magnum opus. Everything they learned from the prior games in this semi-series has been put to use here and allowed them to craft their greatest adventure yet. Trico’s tale is one of sadness and joy, and something that everyone who enjoyed the team’s prior work should partake in as soon as possible. Newcomers will want to come in with an open mind for exploration and puzzle-solving, but if they do, they will be rewarded with the finest gaming experience yet on the PlayStation 4. Its sense of scale is unmatched and it features the best graphics yet on the console. Minor flaws do exist, but they don’t detract from the overall experience enough to make it anything less than a masterpiece.” – Hardcore Gamer

by michaelg via Featured Articles