Before its eventual release in 2016, The Last Guardian was a game that many feared would never come. Created by Team Ico and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4, the game was first announced in 2009, four years after Team Ico’s last game release; Shadow of the Colossus.

However, for almost seven years after that initial announcement nothing was said about the Last Guardian, neither Sony nor Team Ico addressed the game or the lack thereof until June 2015 when a long-anticipated date announcement was made  for the game. After waiting for nearly a decade, the Last Guardian arrived exclusively for the PS4, ready to blow gamers away in a way peculiar to Team Ico’s works.

Storyline

Set in a whimsical world that leaves interpretation to the interpretation of the player, the Last Guardian is a third-person game that effortlessly manages to combine puzzle elements, action, and adventure, to give a very rare but impressive mix. The game chronicles the journey of an unnamed boy who finds himself becoming friends with a hybrid half-bird-half-mammal beast named Trico.

Together, they embark on journeys, discover new places, solve puzzles, and explore new things. One of the first things you will notice when playing this game is how unbelievably animated the characters are, especially Trico. You can immediately see that a lot of work and precision has been put into it as the hybrid beast has more life and personality than any other game companions you might find out there. As they solve puzzles and uncover hidden places, you, as a gamer, can quickly tell that Team Ico’s goal is to build not only empathy but also that unique zing of adventure.

How to play

When you start the Last Guardian, you awaken in a mysterious world as a young boy. Beside your awakening character is an enormous shackled beast named Trico. This winged and feathered being might look much like a griffin without the beak and a face that oddly resembles a cat or dog’s face or both. It also has an impressive power to shoot lightning out of its tail —  a skill you will eventually learn to harness and use to your advantage.

Not long into your introduction, you soon find that this shackled beast is not a friend at all. It’s been wounded apparently, as it is bloody and has several spears sticking out of its body. Here is where things start to pick up. It is now your responsibility to find a way to help this beast. This first task challenges you to ease Trico’s pain and find some food for it.

This is a recurring theme in the game as you progress — helping your beastly companion navigate the world around and finding barrels of unknown contents that give him strength. Throughout the game, you get to see the hybrid creature grow from some scared and agitated savage beast to an incredibly loyal companion for your unnamed character — again, an impressive character arc for an unexpected character.

Strengths of the game

Right from the onset, the Last Guardian shows you that it is big on trust and companionship. This impressive strong point is maintained throughout the get as the boy, your character, has no means to defend himself from the creepy suits of armor chasing after him and Trico. You find that you must put all your trust and the life of your character in the beastly paws of your bird-dog-cat partner. 

Although you cannot really control Trico, you can direct him while riding on his back. By clutching the feathers on his scruff, your character will be able to guide him, letting him know when to tilt, leap, or turn.Another of the game’s strengths is the beautifully crafted ruined-paradise aesthetic against the perfectly constructed orchestral sound. The Last Guardian is a simple game, and just like its predecessors, Team Ico has eliminated all unnecessary elements making sure that it is as seamless and uncluttered as it can be. 

Flaws of the game

While it is common knowledge that Fumito Ueda, the designer of this game and those before it, treats details like golden currency, there is still plenty that you might find amiss in the Last Guardian. First, I was instantly thrown off by the tedious task of getting Trico to do something…anything really. You could have a task or puzzle to help the creature, and when the solution requires you to tell it to do something, it just wouldn’t do it. I guess maybe this is just the creators’ way of including the feline characteristics of the beast.

You tell Trico to do something. He doesn’t. You try again. It doesn’t work. You try a few more times, and it still doesn’t work. Trico would just stubbornly refuse to go to the spot I needed him to get to. Typical cat behavior and possibly a means to preserve the feeling that he’s an independent and intelligent creature. Besides having to put my controller down multiple times, waiting on Trico did not get any worse. The creature was otherwise a great companion.I also noticed that The Last Guardian is indeed suffering from some technical and control input issues. Still, it remains a beautiful and intriguing adventure filled with countless touching moments. 

Verdict

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The Last Guardian is not just a game. It’s an absolute work of art. Despite encountering slow gameplay, It is a captivating story-based puzzle game with moments you will not easily forget.

The game is notoriously challenging and protracted development was spent on perfecting its animations, and it sure was time and effort well spent. The attention to detail is there in every part of the game. From Trico’s gruff snorts to his inquisitive head tilt and the boy’s age-appropriate gait and behaviors, there is plenty to take in while playing this game. Just like its predecessors, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian has once again proved that Ueda and the rest of Team Ico are onto a never-miss success streak.