The Last Guardian is a Misunderstood Masterpiece

If you enjoyed the video, please consider sharing it with other people that you think would be interested. It would help out a lot What are some of your favorite games that aren’t always “fun”?

Man, I love every moment of this game. Even the slow ones. I never had the problems with Trico that everyone else complains about--he was difficult at times, but usually due to my own errors.

The Last Guardian's mistakes are commonplace, but the things it does well are unparalleled.

I have some significant complaints about TLG, but it's one of my favorite games regardless, for two reasons: 1. It leans into the strengths of the medium to do something unique and moving. 2. It doesn't compromise on its vision, even when it will obviously push many players away. You explained this well. The Last of Us was the perfect counterexample - it wants to be deeper than most games but doesn't fully commit on either of these points.

This is my favorite game by this studio because of how uniquely it conveys the journey of the player. The typical approach to showing player growth is rather obvious. In games like RPGs, your growth is shown literally through your increased levels and how much easier older fights are the stronger you get. In games like platformers, your growth is shown through you tackling tough platforming challenges in the endgame when at the beginning you struggled with the simple things. But in The Last Guardian, it is the frustration you can feel earlier on in the game before you've formed a bond with Trico that conveys the most unique and yet most satisfying sense of growth I've experienced in a video game. Without that initial frustration, you wouldn't be able to appreciate the later moments of the game where Trico immediately listens to what you say. Or better yet, when Trico knows on his own what to do in a puzzle because you've been through similar things before. Whereas in the beginning I'd have to repeatedly keep telling Trico to jump to the next area and sometimes call him back to me because he got distracted and went somewhere else, by the end I can almost sit back while Trico clears a platforming area on his own. And I think that's great.

I always seem to forget about this game. I remember when it released being a huge deal, and after some reviews and big playthroughs it seemed to fade into obscurity after that, despite it taking so long to come out. The frustrating nature of the gameplay seemed to turn off an extreme amount of potential fans, but I agree with what you’re saying about repetitive moments in a game/media. Something I’ve been trying to put into words for a long time and you conveyed that very well. Extremely refreshing to see a positive take on this game

One thing I always hated is how the people bashed the realism with Trico in this game cause while it might be tedious sometimes (though it‘s not nearly as bad as people claimed) it actually serves an artistic purpose. But when a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 comes along which is super realistic just for the purpose of being super realistic with no artistic purpose and even more tedium caused by the forced realism everyone is like „omg this is so realistic😍😍😍“

Game is fantastic, I just wish it didn't have one of the worst cameras in gaming

5:20 - 8:00 Yooo thank you so much for saying this! I've felt this way for a long time and have never been able to put it into words. Some of my favorite games have "boring" or "repetitive" sections that I think enhance the experience. It's frustrating seeing people list these kinds of things as 'objective' flaws when they can be so important to its artistic vision. They may be enough to have some people not enjoy the experience, but its also an important part of what made the overall experience so impactful for so many others.

My favourite game of all time. It's just an experience you will never forget. And surprisingly it's very fun on subsequent playthroughs unlike Ueda's past 2 games.

I love all the games by this team. They’re peak video games as art. The creativity and passion, yes, but using the unique ability that only games have to put you in the story, to feel, just through sheer gameplay alone, what they wanted you to experience. And this one in particular will rip your heart from your chest. It’s an experience that’s so rare and special. You’ll remember it forever.

Personally, I think that certain well-executed frustrating moments should be considered a complement to fun rather than something unfun that strengthens some other message. For the Last Guardian, those times when Trico does not listen make it that much sweeter when he finally does. True fun does not come from a constant dose of happy chemicals, it comes from pleasure in the face of pain. Ying and yang, and all that. Although perhaps I'm defining "fun" in strokes too broad, and I just don't want to admit that journalist who said video games shouldn't be fun was even partially right.

Great video. Only thing I would personally change is I wouldn't use the word "nature" as a stand-in for Trico so often, because that term feels too broad to me as the game does focus on a very specific part of the nature, i.e. the other species of conscious beings that we share it with. It's about learning to respect and care for animals rather than seek to control and exploit them (as the Master of the Valley does). And as you explained it does that extremely well not just through the overall narrative (which is absolutely stirring and heartwrenching) but through its gameplay design as well. Though of course in Ueda's games in general the gameplay is always inextricably connected to and in service of the story and themes. I honestly feel The Last Guardian was ahead of its time, and that in years to come its genius will be more appreciated, and more people will realize how miraculous it was that we got an experience like it in a medium like videogames.

I found myself agreeing with you out loud throughout your entire essay. I’ve tried to explain all these things to friends just for them to shoot them down as ‘bad design’ and it had been immensely frustrating. Lovely to finally hear someone agree with me.

It’s my favourite Ueda game. I feel some games aren’t suited for big publications or YouTubers trying to meet a deadline. Saying that, I completed this in two really long gameplay sessions. I love it wholeheartedly

Gorgeous game and a heartwrenching story. For me, the frustrations communicating with Trico only felt normal having had dogs for my entire life, and made Trico seem like a real animal. What I thought were the truly frustrating parts were the continuous button prompts that you mentioned and also the fact that the kid just automatically sticks to Trico instead of holding down a button to hold onto things like in Shadow of the Colossus. It's a decision I just don't understand, since the alternative worked so well in SotC. Holding down a button makes moments when you're holding on for dear life way more intense and interactive (even if there isn't a stamina bar, which would be unnecessary for this game) and also makes getting on and especially off of Trico's back waaay less frustrating. It's also worsened by the camera getting stuck on things and not knowing which way you need to go to get down to the ground. Nonetheless, still an amazing game despite it's shortcomings, one of my favorites for sure. I've always loved stories about the relationship between humanity and nature, especially when told through a friendship like the one Trico and the boy have. Thank you for putting into words my love of this game, and its unappreciated genius. Great video.

I count myself as lucky for being early for such a masterfully produced and written video. Amazing work!

This is great, really surprised you don't have a bigger following, you deserve it.

Has to be one of the greatest games ever made, even though I'm still on my first playthrough. But still, I’ve noticed many of your observations too and welcome those design choices. It’s a very refreshing and beautiful game!

I just got around to playing this hame two days ago. Beautiful experience. I was definitely frustrated at some points trying to guide Trico but I also could appreciate how realistic that was and eventually see how not having total control over trico is essential to the story and relationship between the boy and Trico. By the time the credits rolled I was wondering why I was even frustrated back then, I only remembered the great moments and felt bittersweet at the end of the journey. Awesome analysis, great video