After publicly declaring our undying love for Fumito Ueda and Team ICO on this list, we pretty much showed our hand at what one of our final top three games would be. The only question remaining was would The Last Guardian have captured our hearts enough to take first place.
The answer, obviously from looking at that big “2” branded on the banner above, is no, but it really could not have been any closer. Both The Last Guardian and tomorrow’s list-topper came in at exactly the same aggregate score. Considering the amount of people that voted and the eclectic taste in games across the team, this is either a handy coincidence or a suitable sign of just how tight things were at the top. Hence, in order to crown a winner we had to look to how many maximum scores each title garnered. For the record: The Last Guardian got three while tomorrow’s “winner” received five. Yes, that close.
We toyed with the idea of having joint number ones before we quickly dispelled the notion. The truth is: we wanted one solitary title to summit the pedestal, recognised as our most anticipated game of next year. By definition, The Last Guardian is not that title but, by the gods, do we want it badly.
We could wax lyrical about why The Last Guardian is a fitting runner-up on our list of potential 2011 greats but we’d be merely repeating what we said when we ranked the ICO/Shadow of the Colossus Collection so highly. It wouldn’t be exactly the same, of course, after all, this time we’d be adding such gushing statements as “however, this will be the first Team ICO game designed with the power of the PS3 in mind” and “if Ueda-san continues on his plotted trajectory, besting his previous works with newer, iconic landmarks in gaming, we’re in for something exceptionally special when The Last Guardian finally does land.” We could have said something like that. In fact, we just did.
From its infamous leaked reveal (which I, personally, still have strong feelings about) to its further unveiling at last year’s E3, we’ve known from the very get go two prime aspects of The Last Guardian. Firstly, this is very much a Team ICO game. Sharing elements from ICO and Shadow of the Colossus including the look, feel, and presentation of the previous games, the creature, Trico (Toriko in Japanese), and the unnamed boy’s relationship harks back to the dynamics of Ico and Yorda and Wander and Agro in Shadow of the Colossus. Ueda-san has gone on record and qualified this, saying that, thematically, The Last Guardian is set in the same universe as his previous titles, though any further connection to either ICO and SOTC is currently unknown. Secondly, this game will undoubtedly make you cry.
We’re not going to spend much time describing The Last Guardian in terms of style or gameplay. After all, it’s common knowledge that the core of the title is how the boy interacts with his animal buddy, tossing barrels in places to encourage the beast to move in a certain area and generally cooperating with one another to overcome certain obstacles. Visually it’s breathtaking; Team ICO’s signature use of bloom and washed out tones depicting a fantastical word full of character and wonder. The animation, as always with all of the studio’s titles, is sublime, with some of the best character movement we’ve ever seen in a game found in the trailers alone.
Which leads us to emotional investment. It’s difficult to quantify how much of The Last Guardian’s appeal is rooted in the game’s ability to invoke a sense of care and attachment we may have with an imaginary character. We do it all the time, be it when reading a book and a favourite character is in trouble or even dies. It’s the reason why we get all choked up during certain movies. It’s an art-form, the ability of talented, creative people to illicit an emotional response from an audience. So far, apart from what can be found in Team ICO’s other titles, gaming really hasn’t embraced or willingly put a great deal of attention in the premise or worthiness of trying to forge or instill a specific bond between players and game characters. I never cried when Lara caterwauled to her death for the millionth time. I was rarely despondent upon hearing the inevitable news that the Princess was in another castle. In fairness, generating an emotional connection between player and character wasn’t a fundamental tenet of gaming during its adolescent years. As the medium matures and flourishes, however, gaming’s remit has naturally expanded to include more poignant and noble aspects.
Thus The Last Guardian isn’t just an incredibly appealing game from a technical and artistic perspectives, it’s also a clear, resounding gesture of gaming’s intention of growing up and of its aspiration to progress; cementing itself as a recognised and meaningful medium. You don’t have to like The Last Guardian based on its gameplay or aesthetics, but you should at least appreciate what impact it will have – and is having – on the industry.
For us, we simply want it so we can get to play with Trico. And if that rat-thing dies in the end, oh man, they’re won’t be a dry eye in the house.
Mindless Japanese language trivia time (because I know you love it). The Japanese prefix denoting “child” or “baby” is “ko”. So, dog is inu in Japanese. Hence, puppy is koinu. Cat? Neko. Kitten? You guessed it, koneko. As the ko prefix (before) can also be used as a suffix (after), and there’s been some debate just what the hell Toriko is taxonomically wise, considering “tori” is the Japanese word for “bird”, Toriko is, literally, “baby bird.” Also, The Last Guardian’s Japanese title, 人喰いの大鷲トリコ or Hitokui no Ōwashi Toriko, literally translates as “Toriko: The Man-eating Eagle. So, he’s more eagle than rat, cat or whatever. Now you know.
Charmed_Fanatic
with this and ico/sotc HD remakes, UC3 KZ3 etc PS3 loving :)
UKZ-N3M1515
cant say i missed the shadow of collosus, but i just didnt enjoy it, so will pick up ico collection, and this as my big hitters in 2011
ARUMIR
I can’t wait for this!! even though I haven’t played Ico or Sotc but its great that everyone will be given another chance!
So will Sir Christopher Lee provide the narration for the final number?
kivi95
Please write down the number 1# on the morning tomorrow instead of the evening PLEASE.
Dan Lee
I’ve made the same request :oD
ARUMIR
Midnight?
icuyesido
*Puts hand up* Called it…. Now all I need is ME3 to be first and my prediction would have been correct. :P
icuyesido
*Puts hand up* Called it…. Now all I need is ME3 to be first and my prediction would have been correct. :P
icuyesido
How did that happen? :O
jonny_bolton
You’re a spammer looking to up your TSA points, I knew it!
moshi
Why does everyone have to spend there time speculating what’s next up the list, why can’t we revel in the joy of the game featured now.
project84music
Good words sir =]
I haven’t played any of the team ICO games so far, I think they were released in my gaming lull period, but from what everyone’s said about them they sound pretty amazing and I’m definitely going to pick up at least the remakes if not TLG (depending on what I think about ICO and SOTC).
project84music
Good words sir =]
I haven’t played any of the team ICO games so far, I think they were released in my gaming lull period, but from what everyone’s said about them they sound pretty amazing and I’m definitely going to pick up at least the remakes if not TLG (depending on what I think about ICO and SOTC).
project84music
Wait a second… I didn’t post that twice =P
Somethings amiss here, strange that its suddenly happened twice…
bunimomike
Same here, fella. Half the bloody posts are people guessing the titles higher up in the list. *yawns* Sorry, just a bit “wading through the guesswork” especially as there’s a forum thread about this. Perhaps we should’ve asked Lee to post the link at the end of the each article. Oh well. Too late now.
I’m not sure what No.1 is going to be and don’t care. This is hopefully going to be incredible. Ueda is pushing the emotional limits of gaming like Uncharted 2 pushed everything else. I loved Ico like I loved SOTC and I loved Flower. All an emotional connection which transcends the usual gaming and stays with you far longer than any juggernaut franchise like COD or Elder Scrolls, etc. Great games in their own right but they still feel stunted in many ways.
Lovely article, Lee. You have the feel for this absolutely nailed. The trailer for TLG looks great. So much intrigue. I’m hoping to see what the markings on the little lad’s arms are all about. Very curious tattoos.
Wiki quote:
“Ueda stated initially they had considered using a small girl instead of a boy to interact with the creature, but realized they would have issues with an accurate representation of the girl’s stamina while climbing on the creature, and further issues with questionable camera angles during climbing scenes with the girl, wearing a short skirt.”
I’m guessing the Japanese edition will let that run. :-)
Armonster9000
So Mass Effect 3 is #1?
I’m playing ME 1 on my 360 right now, it’s fun…at times.
online4ntagonist
Now I’m truly puzzled who’s at number one….can’t wait!
This game IS one of my most anticipated ones though..
Aquastyle
My personal number one, this. Will be absolutely amazing! Cannot. Wait. About number one on this list, I’m clueless about what it is. Would’ve though this to be up there, quite the surprise that it’s not, to be honest.
My bold guess of number one; Catherine!