As we near the end of this console generation, one of the PS3’s most promising exclusives is still yet to be released. Debuted in 2009, The Last Guardian‘s existence has become doubtful as the years pass. As much as it appears to be vaporware, Sony continues to treat it as if nothing’s wrong.
While speaking with Sony’s Shuhei Yoshida, GameInformer saw it as an opportunity to ask about The Last Guardian. Yoshida replied:
The team is still there in SCE Japan Studio, [Fumito] Ueda-san is still there, but we are still waiting for the time to reintroduce it.
Nothing new from The Last Guardian has been shown in years, so when its new form is shown chances are it’ll be unrecognizable.
The Last Guardian continues the design structure of Team Ico’s other games with a unique art direction and minimalist storytelling. The narrative will follow the journey of a boy who meets an exotic feathered creature who he soon befriends. Played from the perspective of the boy, players will navigate a world filled with adventure, puzzles, and danger.
Why it’s taking so long to develop is anyone’s guess. The team’s original title, Ico, required only three years to finish as did Shadow of the Colossus. PS3 graphics require more time and effort, but not to the effect of causing twice as long of a development cycle.
Given Team Ico’s games thrive on their presentation, it’s concerning to think of how The Last Guardian will fit into the context of modern games now that a new generation is approaching and games like The Last of Us and Grand Theft Auto V have pushed current-generation hardware to its limit. If it really does release on PS3, then it’ll need to be just as ground-breaking as its predecessors to make an impact. Team Ico’s record tells us that we should expect nothing less than a beautiful game no matter the hardware it runs on.
