The Last Guardian
Overview -
'The Last Guardian' is the third title to be directed and designed by Fumito Ueda, who previously worked on 'Ico' and 'Shadow of the Colossus.' It's been a long time coming, as its troubled development has delayed it several times since it was initially announced in 2009. It looks to blend the friendship elements from 'Ico,' as players are paired with a giant mythological creature named Trico with the grand scale and climbing action from 'Shadow of the Colossus.'
Video Review
'The Last Guardian,' for the most part, isn't a technical achievement visually. Aside from the tremendous animation work, the game won't impress with a staggering amount of detail like 'Uncharted 4.' Where it does shine is in its art design, which is consistently impressive, and had me constantly using the DualShock 4's Share button in order to document the sights I had seen. Some signs of age do show up, such as visual pop-in and some ugly textures, but for the most part it's a sight to behold.
Audio Review
'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' orchestrator and composer Takeshi Furukawa scores 'The Last Guardian' and the soundtrack provides the perfect accompaniment to what ends up being an emotional trek through some incredible sights. Fights, which are almost entirely fought by Trico as the player only has to lead enemies to the beast, are made more intense by energetic songs, while slower music accompanies the more meaningful story beats. It seems like Furukawa always knows the perfect melody to enhance the experience, and does it throughout. On top of the fantastic soundtrack is some top-notch sound design that brings Trico, and the game's other creatures, to life.
Final Thoughts
'The Last Guardian' is filled with bouts of frustration, but it's also proof that gaming is the most powerful medium for creators. I got to experience a genuine bond with Trico over the course of the game, and that can't be replicated elsewhere as it's dependent on actual interaction. Ueda's third title as a director is filled with flaws and some straight-up bad design in spots, but it manages to overcome its shortcomings to be something truly special.
