The Last Guardian
For: PS4
From: Sony
Rating:★★★
The problem with The Last Guardian, which was delayed so long it reached gaming urban myth status, is there is no simple answer(s) to that question.
There are wonderful elements: the adventure/puzzle game is full of childlike innocence, sweeping art direction, gentle story development, and a unique tale of the bond between boy and beast.
But there are also significant frustrations, including some wonky camera angles, awkward gameplay and an occasional sense of, um, what is the point of all this?
The Last Guardian is the long-awaited (10 years!) follow-up to critically acclaimed PlayStation 2 title Shadow of the Colossus, which - along with sister title Ico - effectively pioneered the use of wide-open storytelling allied with slow-paced gameplay and minimalist art.
You play a young boy who wakes, as if from a coma, in some sort of ruins to find himself covered in strange tattoos ... what the heck is this very large, very strange creature next to me?
Meet Trico, a griffin-ish mix of dog, dragon, cat and unknown. It is initially fearful - spot those nasty spears sticking out of his (her?) side - and the game begins with a series of tasks to build a relationship between you and beast.
And so it begins. The core gameplay is very simple. All you can really do is run, clamber and interact with assorted items, but this game is not about you; it's about how you can ``use'' your new friend Trico to help you navigate a series of puzzles and unusual settings.
You discover Trico can blast some sort of purple fire from his tail, opening various locked doors. You can climb up his feathery-furry back, allowing you to scale higher levels. And by locating hidden barrels containing some type of irresistible doggy treat, you can lure Trico into certain areas for him to open or access.
Trico doesn't always do as you ask immediately - he is a pet, but hardly a common domestic one - and his moods ebb and flow, dictating how much of a response you get. Sometimes, he will sit and ignore you for several minutes, which is either a frustrating gameplay element or an intriguing addition to the story.
The Last Guardian is sweet, and unique, and has a style rarely found in video gaming. Developing a relationship with your giant pet requires patience, and the rewards can be genuinely fun.
On the flip side, the game is showing its age - it was meant to be on the PS3. Camera views are frequently off-putting, the gameplay sometimes drags, and there are moments when it gets a tad boring.
One of a kind, well worth a look - but it's certainly not perfect.
Give away
Thanks to our friends at Sony, we have a Last Guardian prize pack to give away to a one lucky reader. The package includes a copy of the game on PlayStation 4, a T-Shirt, beanie, a pin and a collector’s coin. To enter the draw, simply send your name, address and daytime phone number to signal@odt.co.nz. Please put ‘‘The Last Guardian’’ in the subject line. Entries close at noon December 16.
