Why PS3 Needs The Last Guardian
Will it really be three in a row for Team ICO?Published 04/01/2010 at 19:40 by nofi
Sony Still Calling The Last Guardian “Trico” [12]
The Last Guardian Release “Not That Far” Off. [16]
New The Last Guardian Footage Surfaces [18]
When you call your development team after your first game it’s fairly clear that you hold it in great regard, and it’s true that both Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus (to give the second game its Western title) are great games – no doubt there. But the third game from Team Ico, The Last Guardian, could be the PS3’s most important title yet for one reason – Sony’s latest console doesn’t yet have a ‘cult’ hit.
I don’t mean a game that owners of other consoles are envious of (like, say, Killzone 2), or even a title that’s been reviewed with lower than usual marks but gamers found rather enjoyable anyway (like, say, EyePet) – I mean a ‘cult’ game that never really breaks into the mainstream (despite the best efforts of marketing and PR), doesn’t really set the sales figures alight but remains in the hearts and minds long after its release.
Both Ico and Shadow’ are this type of game. Print runs were relatively low, copies go for decent money on eBay and the games both scored in the 90%s on Metacritic so their critical standing isn’t in question, but the PS3 doesn’t yet have anything like this – anything that’s scored highly in reviews has generally sold strongly and there’s certainly nothing that counts as a ‘collectible’ unless it’s a ‘collectible’ version of a game.
Naturally, Team Ico (and Sony) don’t want The Last Guardian to be a cult hit, they want it to sell like Buckfast at Hogmanay, but I’m a stickler for tradition and really want this new adventure to be utterly brilliant but I don’t want anyone else to play it – selfish, perhaps, but for me a cult game is one that people only pretend they’ve played but secretly have no idea what it’s about or even what type of game is it.
Like Ico and Shadow’, then. The next time you’re online and kicking someone’s backside around Helghan ask them about Ico. They’ll say it’s an amazing game but ask them who Yorda is and they’ll put on a silly accent and jumble up their words – this is how I want The Last Guardian to be – I want Team Ico to make the game for me, ship it to me and then destroy the masters. I want it to be my cult hit.
Images source.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
Tuffcub | 04/01/2010 20:00
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Wel I wont be buying it I hated Ico and SOTC, utterly mindless paper thing shite dressed up in pretty fluffyness. One lesson person for you to worry about.
Kamokazi-UK | 05/01/2010 08:20
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But do they work on a UK Launch PS3?
Aitrus | 04/01/2010 20:05
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Valkyria Chronicles. Great reviews, slightly below decent sales, people who played it love it and try to get others to buy the game. It’s pretty close to being a cult hit in my book – but The Last Guardian will still be more important.
Now everybody go buy Valkyria Chronicles. It’s a great game!
davidjmclare | 04/01/2010 20:09
always on easy
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i played the demo and loved it. wanted it for ages, but it seems quite rare second hand and pretty expensive brand new. if it can be found cheap ill deffo get it
Wookie502 | 04/01/2010 20:23
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got mine off ebay, A-MAZE-ING you have to buy this!!! It is the best if not second best game on the ps3, Uncharted’s a little better- maybe.
BLAGGER | 04/01/2010 20:46
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I bought mine from Toys R Us (I have three kids!) sale last week for £14.99!! So that’s the place to look
hairfreax | 04/01/2010 20:54
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Im playing it this very day after finally getting round to it. Wish i hadnt taken so long now though
nofi | 04/01/2010 20:15
Wants a custom tag.
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Valkyria Chronicles, yes, you have a point.
bunimomike | 04/01/2010 20:16
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nofi… does MS have an equivalent? (Original Xbox and/or 360).
seedaripper1973 | 04/01/2010 20:31
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yeah i’d consider crackdown to be microsofts ‘cult’ title…although ive never played it.
tantalus_blank | 04/01/2010 22:22
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exactly what I was thinking throughout the article
oMega-W | 04/01/2010 20:13
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I’d say Heavy Rain has a better chance at hitting cult status. Considering how it’s a proper “adult” game this means (most of) the kids aren’t going to play it, whereas I think there’s going to be a lot of bandwagon jumping for The Last Guardian. Assuming both games are as good as we hope they will be, of course.
bunimomike | 04/01/2010 20:14
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It’s one of the VERY few games (both Ico and SOTC) where I still catch myself going back to find reviews of and then settling down for a read. I remember one review (of SOTC) that hit the nail on the head in such a divine manner that I physically tingled with the chord the author had struck. The Last Guardian is shaping up to become a classic but it’s own particular genre (or lack thereof) will guarantee that it won’t be enjoyed by the masses.
It’s kinda like Flower. You either get it, and love it, or you don’t. Already we can see great emotional investment in the trailer so far and it’s lovely to ride that wave of enthusiasm with like-minded individuals.
Top article and please keep it coming. Not sure I could ever tire of reading about The Last Guardian.
Tuffcub | 04/01/2010 20:19
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Disagree. Flower changes as you play, each level you do something new. SOTC was fab.. hey! I killed a big thing and now.. oh.. kill another.. and another.. and another.. oh ffs this is dull.
C_S15 | 04/01/2010 20:31
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Well no because each giant required you to do something different to kill it. Each had a puzzle element and that was part of it’s draw. It was like an epic puzzling boss fight each time.
Flower is “Hold button and twist pad a bit”.
seedaripper1973 | 04/01/2010 20:36
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tuffcub…how? how could you? do you have no heart man? Ico is one of my all time favourite games and SoTC comin in a very close second…both bona fide classics in my book, and i cant wait for the last guardian…
BLAGGER | 04/01/2010 20:49
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Urm did you reach the end? It’s one of the most emotional moments in gaming
TheSabreman | 04/01/2010 21:58
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Totally agree with Tuffcub, SOTC was pretty but the game was stunningly boring.
SOTC had an innovative graphics/story but the gameplay was lazily implemented.
I expect The Last Guardian to get high marks and applauded for its arty/original style but not sell a fraction of GTA, COD, MGS etc
cc_star | 05/01/2010 10:35
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Although I still own ICO and SotC, I actually liked neither they really bored me, can’t wait for tLG though – in my year of renting everything its going to be one of my few purchases.
To all Flower nay-sayers – You’re wrong. GotY in every world – except one in which Uncharted2 exists.
Sympozium Gro Mak | 04/01/2010 20:35
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I”d hate to see a game like The last guardian fall in the hands of fps/ea sports/movie nuthuggers. Must get this game on release
Porcupine_I | 04/01/2010 20:39
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Demon’s Souls comes to mind
C_S15 | 04/01/2010 20:54
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I was thinking that too.
Withnail | 04/01/2010 21:29
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Exactly, Demon’s Souls is about as cult as they come, though Valkyria Chronicles and Folklore are also good shouts. The article is a bit daft tbh.
retro_ | 05/01/2010 11:49
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Especially the Ltd Edition Delux version, It’s a beautiful thing to behold.
jaksmakndaxter | 04/01/2010 20:46
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Ico was one of the most incredible games ever made!! I never got so emotionally attached to a game as I did with Ico,or with Shadow of the Colossus,for that matter. Both games are the most important of PS2 releases,and The Last Guardian is almost certain to become just as significant to the PS3,and to fans all over the world. I could literally go on forever about how good those games really were.So much, in fact, that I would regularly erase my files when I beat the games so that I could play them both from the start.
iNsAnE_gAmInG | 04/01/2010 20:48
* Banned *
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This and Heavy Rain are highly significant titles for PS3.
They both look epic (perhaps TLG has a bit more potential) and they both really need to be epic.
Kovacs | 04/01/2010 20:59
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Gotta agree with VC. Very cult. There’s also something of a cult following for Folklore – a somewhat overlooked and really good RPG. Flower is more indie in my book. It all depends on how you define cult. Must a cult game be a game that is a) good b) hard to get now and c) got an ardent following?
If so, and considering Atlus’ practice of releasing games in spits and spats, Demon’s Souls will probably (eventually) qualify if the above three conditions are what we’re taking as attributes of cult status.
seedaripper1973 | 04/01/2010 22:35
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how come you dont get staff status??? (or i assume it hasnt been updated yet/or perhaps your classed as guest writer) dunno… just been nosey.
nofi | 05/01/2010 08:39
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fixed.
Michael | 05/01/2010 11:37
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It’s a good job we’ve got you around, innit?
tantalus_blank | 04/01/2010 22:35
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I missed out on Ico and SOC during the PS2 generation, though I’m not entirely sure how. After getting a new slim PS2 for christmas I’d love to get hold of a copy of each.
Also is it just me or does Heavy Rain not really seem to be promising anything special? All I’ve seen so far is some guy spouting Peter Molyneux-esque fairy tales about how it will revolutionise everything and a few clips showing the gameplay to be mainly made up of quick time events.
skibadee | 04/01/2010 22:43
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yeah I missed them too I hope that they get the god of war collection treatment.
TSBonyman | 05/01/2010 01:07
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The Last Guardian …. i’m gonna be in a cult mom!
upselo | 05/01/2010 01:11
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Demon’s Souls, Heavy Rain, Valkyria Chronicles, (even Killzone 2 and the 2 Uncharted are not meeting expectations I think) there’s no shortage of great games (past and future) not selling enough on the PS3 :/
Aitrus | 05/01/2010 09:18
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Heavy Rain isn’t out yet, so a bit early to predict it’s sales – though I fear you’re going to be right, and it won’t sell that well.
Killzone 2 and both Uncharteds have sold more than 2 mill. copies and that should be enough for the developers to make a profit.
upselo | 05/01/2010 11:11
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I think Uncharted 2 is going to sell pretty well over time, but I think I heard Killzone 2 had not really met expectations, due to its really long development time (4 years). Though not bad scores at all in their own rights (and hopefully enough to make a profit), those 2 millions sales aren’t the likes of Halo, Gears of Wars or Modern Warfare unfortunately.
I hope they keep doing it anyway because I know I liked Killzone 2.
hazelam | 05/01/2010 11:48
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too many games don’t get the sales they deserve becuase they don’t release enough copies and people who want to get them can never find them and those who do just sell them for exorbitant prices on ebay.games like ico, shadow of the colossus, okami and panzer dragoon saga.
the worst thing with panzer dragoon saga is they actually gave away the whole first disc with the official saturn magazine so you know just how good the game is, but then they don’t release anywhere near enough copies so that most of the people who wanted it could never get it.
while it’s nice to feel like you get something that nobody else does i’d rather everybody can experience it too.
hazelam | 05/01/2010 11:51
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if there is one upside to this digital distribution thing it’s that you don’t have to worry about limited quantities if a title you’re looking for, unless of course you have an xbox where i may never be able to get speedball 2 now.
Gaultar | 05/01/2010 16:14
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I know you want your cult hit…..but can I have it too?
Rad4Life | 05/01/2010 21:37
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The PS3 does not need any piece of exclusive content to be a “cult classic”. They need to be able to wave EVERY POSSIBLE THING in the faces of 360 owners to get them off their Halo games and Miis…I mean avatars. Sony better be thinking of how to aggressively market this game and try to make sure that 3rd times the charm for Team Ico. I can’t wait to play this game but not enough people know enough about this game. Sony ended 2009 with aggressive marketing and it paid off very well. The must continue this trend and incorporate all exclusive titles into its ads.