Since 2007 The Last Guardian has faced multiple delays but now that it's available one question is on everyone's mind, was it worth the wait? The Last Guardian successfully tells a deeply emotional tale about sacrifice and trust, using life and death situations to connect a lost boy and a giant beast named Trico. This beautiful adventure is hampered by frustrating gameplay mechanics preventing it from reaching the same acclaim as past Team Ico titles. 

Most of The Last Guardian centers on escort missions. Unlike most games you play the role as the valuable target, a small boy, with Trico, the bird dog cat creature, acting as the protector. The boy lacks the fitness seen in other games even when compared to past Team Ico games, stumbling constantly and barely able to pull himself up but somehow able to survive falls from 50 feet onto concrete floors. Trico is able to leap across large gaps and leap onto ledges too high for the boy to climb. Puzzles and obstacles required cooperation between the two in order to successfully traverse the environment. This cooperation between an AI companion is where the issues of The Last Guardian begin to show.

The boy is limited to pointing and calling for Trico. Trico is an intelligent companion, perhaps one of the most complicated AI creation I’ve seen in a video game. Its ability to perform complicated movements and tasks with just a few inputs should be credited. However, at times I would assume I solved a puzzle involving Trico’s involvement only for the creature to refuse my directions. Having spent 10 minutes assuming I was wrong only to find out I was right filled me with rage. I admired how sophisticated the AI for Trico is but being dependent on an AI companion made progression that more taxing.

Puzzles aren’t too difficult and usually focus on you calling on Trico’s assistance to climb a ledge, interact with an object or manipulate the environment. Sometimes the beast will grow hungry and refuse to move, it’s up to you to travel alone in search of glowing barrels full of food. The beast is also afraid of stained glass eyes and will refuse to go past one of these. It’s here that the boy is valuable to husk-like armored enemies who’s goal is to locate the capture the boy and take him through a special doorway. 

If you happen to die you’ll have to tap the face and shoulder buttons to remove all the symbols that appear on the screen to reappear at the last checkpoint. Checkpoints are far between and at times far between. Death is rare but when it happens the game carries a heavy penalty, sometimes sending me back to the beginning of the puzzle.

These creatures inhabit the environment and attack on sight. Using spears and swords they attack Trico and attack to capture the boy. If captured a series of symbols appear onscreen and it’s up to the player to quickly tap the face and shoulder buttons to clear the screen of symbols to escape the enemy’s grasp. Trico can easily crush these armored creatures, but once done he’ll need the boy’s gentle petting to calm the creature down. 

The Last Guardian looks amazing. Those who played Ico and Shadow of the Colossus will instantly recognize the art style of the game and appreciate the updated visuals. Lush plant life shimmer in the wind, pollen and tiny butterflies fly through the air, and tiny lizards crawl on the floor. Those playing on the PlayStation 4 will experience a lot of slowdowns during the outdoor segments of the game. The game never crashed but the frame rate will drop significantly. Playing on a PS4 Pro isn’t necessary but it’s recommended.

Like other Team Ico games, The Last Guardian has its fair share of control issues. For example, triangle is mapped to jump and the boy stumbles uncontrollably from basic movement. The camera can get caught behind large objects, especially when climbing on Trico, but mostly it’ll reset to a preferable position. During hectic battles, you the camera can get locked behind the architecture especially when riding Trico. 

The story of The Last Guardian is the main reason to play. It’s an intense journey between two unlikely companions that depend on one another and eventually care for each other. The soundtrack does an adequate job of creating the mood for each passionate scene but compared to Shadow of the Colossus’ incredible score it doesn’t come close.

Cutscenes, which are few and far between, are brilliantly choreographed. These rare situations captured the utter beauty of The Last Guardian and while it may be vexing to play at times seeing these scenes made progressing through this title as the more worth it.

The Last Guardian is an elegant story full of amazing atmospheric cutscenes and beautiful vistas. However, your interest in the game is fully dependent on your willingness to depend on an AI companion. Trico does a marvellous job for a majority of the time but you can still find yourself struggling with the beast. Unless you find yourself deeply invested in the story The Last Guardian won’t hold your attention for very long.

Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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