The Last Guardian Review
Added 2016-12-06 10:15:39 +0000 UTCIt's been a long wait, but The Last Guardian (and my review) is finally here. If you're already planning to play it, I'd suggest watching the review after you're done. Also, don't look at the trophy list. It has some spoilers for sure. In any case, I think it's safe enough to say, that despite control and performance issues in line with past Team Ico games, The Last Guardian is a monumental achievement that will stand the test of time. Enjoy!
Written by Daniel Bloodworth
Available on PlayStation 4
Our ratings: 5 Stars - Masterful, 4 Stars - Excellent, 3 Stars - Decent, 2 Stars - Inferior, 1 Star - Terrible
Comments
Such a special game. Expected a 4.5 star rating from Bloodworth! The 5 star rating was most unexpected! But we'll deserved. I will patiently wait another 10 years for the next Team Ico game.
Leroy Anderson
2016-12-20 00:54:47 +0000 UTCJust finished the game (its 5 am, couldn't stop playing). 100% agree with the review, this ranks easily in my Top 10 games of all time, Absolutely magnificent, an incredible piece of videogames art. That bond with Trico is something no game has ever made me feel, wonderful.
2016-12-10 04:08:30 +0000 UTCI was hesitant about getting this game but alas, the blood moon has risen.
Chris Georgaras
2016-12-09 13:10:11 +0000 UTCI still cannot believe the score considering all the reported hiccups in this game, but in Blood we trust!
2016-12-08 04:03:55 +0000 UTCOmg!
Eric V
2016-12-07 00:02:25 +0000 UTCThis is a great review. I get the sense that Bloodworth and I have very different tastes and sensibilities when it comes to stuff like this, but I still see where he's coming from here.
Anontastic
2016-12-06 22:15:17 +0000 UTCGreat review! Have been playing for about 6 hours now and can say that this is shaping up to be one of my favourite games of 2016 :)
2016-12-06 21:35:52 +0000 UTCAlmost all of our review copies have been provided by the publishers. Sony just has a new set of rules for disclosures that we're begrudgingly abiding by. -Bloodworth
Easy Allies
2016-12-06 19:11:25 +0000 UTCIt's certainly an adjustment to the new scale, and my final sentiment is as much a description of what 5 stars means as it's an assessment of the game. -Bloodworth
Easy Allies
2016-12-06 19:06:45 +0000 UTCWow, great review!
Henk Groenendijk
2016-12-06 18:14:07 +0000 UTCI really liked the beginning of touches of identifying where the review copy came from and the announcement of potential spoilers. This leads me to ask: Is this the first game to have a review copy provided? If not, this was a great idea. Great review Mr. Bloodworth!
Brandon K Gann
2016-12-06 17:48:58 +0000 UTCGood review!
Novus Operandi
2016-12-06 16:31:47 +0000 UTCProud of the Playststion disclaimer. Surprised at the score. Wonderful review.
Impact93 (Jon)
2016-12-06 16:16:49 +0000 UTCMy copy is set to arrive tomorrow. Went for the steelbook edition (it just looked too awesome!). Going to play through this together with my brother (we BOTH love team Ico and want to experience this TOGETHER). We'll meet at my place the day before Christmas and "celebrate" a Last Guardian gaming marathon right before we eventually drive to our parents to spent the holidays together with the rest of the family. Will be a hard time to wait until then, though - but given that rare rating from my favourite reviewer, I am absolutely sure that it will be worth it!
Camian
2016-12-06 16:03:39 +0000 UTCThank you EZA, Specially Bloodworth on this great writing.
2016-12-06 15:15:07 +0000 UTC"...not a perfect game, but it is a mesmerizing adventure we'll never forget" So, essentially a Fumito Ueda game to a T.
2016-12-06 15:14:10 +0000 UTCCrap. I think I'm going to have to buy a PS4.
2016-12-06 14:54:07 +0000 UTCI watched 3 or 4 different reviews on this game and none have explained the game better than this review. Bloodworth, I commend you on your great writing. Now if you'll excuse me I need to pick up my pre-ordered copy.
Joey and Cait
2016-12-06 14:49:34 +0000 UTCWow, the one review I was looking forward to did not disappoint! Great review with a surprise ending. Honestly, it's content like this that truly makes me grateful that I'm a Patron. Thanks EZA!
2016-12-06 14:06:27 +0000 UTCWhether one agrees fully with the review or not, it's always a treat to see when a game so deeply touches a reviewer to offer such incredible praise. I'm curious, Blood. If you were at GT, would you have broken your rule of not scoring a 10, or is this an adjustment of expression within the EZA scale?
2016-12-06 14:02:00 +0000 UTCI played on a standard PS4. I did mention the framerate issues. I'd certainly like a better framerate, but it wasn't a major hindrance in my enjoyment of the game.
Easy Allies
2016-12-06 13:58:22 +0000 UTCI don't think it's mentioned in the review but have you played on PS4 Pro or classic? A lot of issues were raised regarding the performances but it didn't seem to bother you so I can't help but ask.
Olivier
2016-12-06 13:47:03 +0000 UTCYou're very kind for treating us with so much love!!! Also thank you for respecting your audience and treating us like we should be treated!!! Thank you for this review guys. You are the best on the business!!!
2016-12-06 13:34:29 +0000 UTCSo we've been getting review copies from Sony from day one. The only reason that disclosure is there is because they have new guidelines forcing us to include them. I'm all for transparency, but these are overkill. -Bloodworth
Easy Allies
2016-12-06 13:20:33 +0000 UTCTimely review! Too bad Blood wants me to wait to watch it :(
confusedhulk
2016-12-06 13:08:50 +0000 UTCWeirdly proud of you guys with the "review copy provided by," bit. Amazes me that that wasn't an automatic thing given your pedigree. Despite being a different outlet its all the same fantastic people. Solid review. Kind of a fascinating game. Scores are all over the upper half of the spectrum, but everyone kind of has the same criticisms. Ico is one of the first games I played and went "whoa, THAT's art!" so I'll probably dig it. Can't wait to see it for myself.
Chachzilla
2016-12-06 13:01:29 +0000 UTCWow. Wasn't expecting Masterful. Now I really want to play this game.
Dileepan M
2016-12-06 11:42:39 +0000 UTC5 stars doesn't mean perfect, it means masterful. Something can be masterful without being perfect
Olf Himself
2016-12-06 11:29:27 +0000 UTC5 stars doesn't mean perfect, it means masterful. Something can be masterful without being perfect.
Olf Himself
2016-12-06 11:28:43 +0000 UTCIt doesn't need to be a perfect game - it "just" needs to be Masterful and I think Blood made a very good case for that in his review.
Andreas Köther
2016-12-06 11:19:22 +0000 UTC"The last guardian is not a perfect game..." Then gives it a perfect score!
Barnstar
2016-12-06 11:11:17 +0000 UTCModern ratings confuse me so often. So it's not a perfect game but it get's a perfect score? This is why i would rather have something like very bad/bad/mediocre/good/verygood. Half a star doesn't mean anything to me in this age where games scoring differs so much and for a lot of people a 7/10 or 3.5 stars would mean it's not good.
2016-12-06 11:08:09 +0000 UTCIt's certainly easy to doubt yourself at times, especially early on, but there's a lot to the game to appreciate that was kept under wraps throughout all of that time. -Bloodworth
Easy Allies
2016-12-06 10:55:03 +0000 UTCFantastic review Blood. You didn't address the looong development time and the impact this might have on expectations and different players' experience (like Ben talked about with FFXV). Did the long wait affect your meeting with the game in any way?
Domino Hurley
2016-12-06 10:50:32 +0000 UTCGood guy blood warning us not to watch his own review because of spoilers.
Johan
2016-12-06 10:45:19 +0000 UTC
