After six years of development limbo, The Last Guardian was finally confirmed to be alive and well during E3 2015. Back then, it was set to release sometime this year. At the end of this year’s E3, the release date was set: October 25th, 2016. With that news, I sighed with joy. Finally, Team Ico’s latest creation for the PlayStation 4 has a date. My calendar is set, and I am ready.
Of course, it’s silly to wait so longingly for a game that until a year ago was considered forgotten. But Team Ico, makers of the heart-wrenching classics Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, have earned a modicum of trust in my eyes. If they are behind this project, then I want to sample it.
Everything about The Last Guardian‘s demos I have seen tells me this game exudes the same level of raw emotion that Team Ico games are known for. The emotion is not felt for the unnamed protagonist, but for Trico, the adorable horse-bird-dog creature that he interacts with. Little is known about the protagonist and his connection to Trico, but their relationship is undoubtedly at the center of this tale. The Last Guardian’s demos have touched on their relationship several times, and they seem integral to the story.
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What the story is remains a mystery as well. Team Ico has based their last games on the importance of story to the game, and spoiling any substantial tidbits may ruin the impact of the story for the player. So I understand their reluctance to divulge too many details. Still, the urge to ask, “WTF IS GOING ON” still rings in my head. The uncertainty of what the story entails gnaws at me.
One thing that does not gnaw at me is the game’s presentation. Everything about this game looks beautiful. Yes, the graphics are breathtaking, and yes, the movements are all pristine. But the very basic interactions within the world and between Trico and his protagonist friend are awe-inducing. Every action and reaction evokes a level of emotion that only clever storytelling and brilliant direction can bring forth. Everything has weight and substance. When Trico recoils and shrieks in terror at an object that you must get rid of, it’s not just a clue to a simple puzzle; it’s an entreaty to rid your friend of something that horrifies him. And you want to do it because you care. THAT is the level of emotion that a game like this can extract from a player.
One other thing Team Ico is known for is that their games are not 100-hour slogfests. If you are looking for a lengthy adventure, The Last Guardian may not satisfy. But if you are looking for a game that tugs at your heartstrings in ways you won’t admit to your friends, this game’s pedigree almost assures you of that. For those that played Shadow of the Colossus, can I get an “amen?
