The Last Guardian (2016)

Trico is battered and bruised and bloody by the end of this story and he remains a faithful friend until the end. His sacrifice and the emotional weight it carries are incredible. Near the end there is a climactic battle and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a character I care about so much be so utterly brutalized. It’s haunting. He risks everything to protect you, everything. And it feels so good when you get to return the favour in one of the most bittersweet endings to any game I can remember.

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.

A story about a boy, his dog hybrid and the camera that could never follow him!

With all sincerity, I hope that Fumito Ueda and genDESIGN are given another opportunity to make a game within the boundaries of Sony Worldwide Studios, and that is doesn't enter development hell for the better part of a decade. The team has clearly shown that they are still talented and have what it takes to produce emotionally enthralling games and experiences worth playing through. The Last Guardian is not perfect. It doesn't have to be perfect to leave a lasting impression on the player like it does. But it is close.

A potentially beautiful game, crippled by an awful camera, archaic controls, and bizarre, frustrating gameplay.