The Last Guardian Reviews
The Last Guardian forges a connection between the player and Trico unlike anything else in gaming. You need to experience it, despite its problems in other areas
Playing The Last Guardian reminds me a lot of playing Half-Life games: The actual moment-to-moment of working my way through the game involves an enormous amount of frustration and annoyance... but when I look back at it, all I see are the happy memories of the experience. That's due in large part to the incredible design of Trico, and also to the spectacular emotive ending. Make no mistake, though, you will want to tear your hair out throughout your journey with Trico... but patient players will find the payoff justifies the suffering.
All round, The Last Guardian feels meticulously pieced together and is easily one of the PlayStation 4's stronger exclusive titles. It's risky and unconventional, flouting modern design practices in a way that few other AAA game would dare to in 2016. Although far from perfect and a little worn from age, it's a one of a kind experience and hopefully won't be the last we see from Fumito Ueda and this enchanting world.
After over seven years it feels surrealistic to finally play The Last Guardian. Has it been worth the wait? No idea – some players will complain about the unpolished controls, the graphics and the bad camera angels. On the other hand the story is beautiful and the world is as stunning as it was in Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. For us, this is one of the best adventures in the recent years.
Review in Swedish | Read full review
Be prepared for some huge irritations but buy The Last Guardian despite these. It's the kind of game you won't forget.
In the end, I can say that I truly cherished every moment spent playing The Last Guardian but that it came with a heaping dose of forgiveness on things I might not forgive any other game for.
Because of its gigantic chief character The Last Guardian is an atmospheric experience, despite all its shortcomings.
Review in German | Read full review
Despite its lingering flaws and often frustrating pacing, The Last Guardian rises above expectation to deliver an engrossing adventure. Team Ico have brought together everything they've learnt over their past two games to present a heartfelt tale wrapped in an often-bewildering platformer – even if it took nearly a decade to make it here.
The Last Guardian's seven-year development cycle is evident in antiquated design, but ultimately, it isn't enough to spoil this charming fantasy tale.
Despite its problems, The Last Guardian is an incredible piece of imaginative world-building. As a game, it mostly succeeds. As something we've been anticipating for nine years… well, that might be too tall an obstacle for even a giant flying dog to get over.
The Last Guardian closed Ueda's trilogy with an important signal: the poem before the content, but the poetry tends toward the vacuum, leaving a beautiful picture to see, but not beautiful to live.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Last Guardian is a love letter to anyone who loved Team Ico's previous games. It's a shame that this game won't receive the mainstream attention it deserves. Kudos to Sony for sticking with Fumito Ueda for so long and getting the game out on the shelves. Truly, The Last Guardian marks the end of an era.
In retrospect I believe a friend put it best – 'it's a flawed masterpiece' he said and I truly believe that.
I have never, in my three decades plus of gaming been as motivated to save another video game character as I was during the last act of The Last Guardian.
The Last Guardian is an unique experience which everyone should have it. Two companions in a mysterious world, create an experience which you cannot easily forget. If you are patient with some of the puzzles and can manage Trico, you can enjoy The Last Guardian. The game has some frame rate and technical issues but they hardly have an influence on overall experience of the game. The Last Guardian should be played because it isn't like any other game.
Review in Persian | Read full review
The Last Guardian was 10 years in the making, and it feels like it, for all the good and bad that implies. It's a masterpiece in terms of creating a living, breathing AI partner who is a wild and dangerous beast. The atmosphere, the environments and the puzzles are a delight. It's impossible to get around the fact that the game is built with frustration as a feature, and your enjoyment of it will depend on whether you're enough of a cat person to mind spending 10 minutes solving a three-second puzzle. It's a remarkable game that is all the more remarkable for almost living up to 10 years of hype. If you have the patience, The Last Guardian is a must-play for PS4 owners.
'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.
Despite some of its problems, The Last Guardian has some of the most emotionally gripping and powerful gaming moments in a video game I have ever had the privilege to have experienced and have played. Some reviewers have described it as a flop 10 years in the making, I view it as a flawed masterpiece. So if you have between 8-10 hours to spend I can highly recommend The Last Guardian as it is a video game experience you won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
The Last Guardian is a game that's going to give back to you what you put into it. At its 10-15 hours play time, I don't think it is a game that can be tackled lightly or by the only mildly interested. It requires an investment in the core relationship between the boy and Trico as well as some patience, both with the beast and the game's technical issues. This is an incredible experience and one that isn't for everyone, but those that embrace it may find something deeply rewarding, emotional, and memorable.
The Last Guardian might have its issues, but it manages to overshadow a lot of them with sheer excellence. The controls, frame rate, and AI can be messes at times, but the storytelling and personality are ingenious.