I actually pre-ordered this game back in the day and the store eventually cancelled it on me, lol

I don't understand people saying this game is ugly. It's absolutely stunning to me. Everything looks beautiful.

As an artist that loves different games like this, i bought the collectors edition. Not everything has to be killing and shooting, kids. If you don't want to play it then fine don't, but don't say it's shit because you have no idea what you're talking about. It's a different game for specific gamers. It's a breath of fresh air to play something like this.

am i really the only one who thinks this game looks beautiful?

I don't see how anyone could say that Shadow of the Colossus did not age well. It still looks [and plays] amazing.

Dunno bout everyone but it's just nice to see a game come out that doesn't have guns

am I the only one who actually really likes how this game is?

ICO was easily my favourite game. The Last Guardian is a breath of fresh air compared to all the shitty games coming out all these years.

something about this game just makes me...happy

Nah it ain’t forgettable it’s 2019 and I still play it when I’m stressed

Don't really care about frame rate or camera issues, I absolutely love Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. I think they are more than games, they're experiences, unique pieces of art that deserve to be contemplated with care; and I hope to feel the same way about The Last Guardian. I've preordered the collector's edition and I'm still waiting to get it(I live in Brazil).

I don't want to play this game because I have the feeling that the fucking dog is going to die or leave the kid or something and I just don't need that kind of negativity in my life.

The graphics are so nice honestly

Where's the Exo jumps?

The Last Guardian is my most favorite game ever made! I have played it like 50 Times already...

People look like they forgot how to enjoy a game. Sure this game isn't going to be game of the year and compete against the huge games such as The Witcher 3, GTA. But, it has its own atmosphere, going through it with this amazing creature. It's just a simple journey game. Purpose of this game isn't to make you thrill out of action scenes and huge-boss-battles. If you think it's overpriced wait till it drops to $30. Loving it right now , interacting with trico is just too cute and lovely.

it lives up to the hype, it's not very action oriented, but it has amazing visuals, the bonding moments where you and trico have to work together while apart are just glorious, the suspense in many situations is incredible, and that epilogue... i cried a little.

anybody who complains about the controls or camera you're missing the entire point of this game.. it's about companionship and loyalty and friendship and tbh it's fucking beautiful. you go through so many hardships with this creature from the very beginning of the game you awaken next to him as he has arrows sticking out of his back, you help him, he helps you. this creature goes through so much shit for you, to protect you and you can REALLY feel the emotion especially the ending. no game will bring emotion out of you like this one.

All they had to do was make shadow of the colossus 2.

I dont care I'm still going to buy the game

In terms of this game being flawed - it's still doing something difficult to program: the A.I. of Trico. It's tough shit and a new level of gaming and what made it so hard on them to finish this. hats off to the team.

So fast?! Are you sure you have played it enough.

In my opinion I think the game scenery and setting is very cool along with the general story. My only issues are the camera and the lack of guidance involved. Many times I found myself just sitting there not knowing what to do and getting frustrated as I couldn’t figure out even what my task within the game was supposed to be. Maybe that’s just me disliking puzzle games but I don’t know, I feel like a big more guided gameplay could be helpful, or maybe just even a general goal given to you while playing the game as they kinda just put you in this place and say, go figure it out.

Just finished it today. This game is such an amazing experience... The story and soundtracks are lovely. By the end of the game, the bond between you(player) and Trico is real. No game can ever make me feel emotionally attached to an animal, but this game has done it with ease. It has many flaws such as frame rate and other performance issues, but the pros are so outstanding that it outweigh all the cons. For me, It worth the 10 years waiting.

i don't know but my trico doesn't work at all hes either stubborn or blind i might wait for an update!

just wait for Nintendo to copyright this game because of treeco

The graphics are an art style, it's not going for realistic. The game play is not hack and slash is trying to get you to become connected with it's characters by admiring their magnificence. I am so excited for this game, I loved that last two they did and I loved this one, only half way through and I can't seem to pull away. If you don't like the style that's fine but hating on a game because it's not your thing is childish as fuck. Would spend 60 again before ever spending a cent on Dead Rising 4.

im simple man, when I see PS4 Exclusive I buy without thinking

This game looks beautiful; I'm pretty excited for it.

I think anyone with a pet will enjoy this game. Any time I interact with trico, it feels like it has the same personality as my cat.

If this game delivers an emotional journey like ICO, I'm on it.

This game is an experience like no other. There's absolutely nothing like it. Loved every second.

I'd get it... on steam. Which isn't available...

I love this game, I really really do.... but here's my thing... There are certain parts that are overly complicated for absolutely no reason. When you die, you have to press buttons to respawn. I am currently stuck in a tree & have been trying to figure out how to get out because apparently swinging &/or wiggling isn't enough. This game is stunning, it truly is... but it could have been a tiny bit more simpler in some parts.

I'm kinda put off by the fact that the kid looks cartoonish and brightly coloured while Trico here has a much realistic colour palette design, is this the devs style? it's a bit nerve itching

Really really appreciate this video! I always look forward to your vids when i'm on the fence about picking up a new game.

The "Before You Buy" series is my go to for reviews. I never pull the trigger on a purchase until I've watched you guys. Great stuff as always. I loved Shadow of the Colossus so I've been looking forward to this game, a little gutted TLG doesn't seem to have some of the same excitement and peril of SotC but I think I'll give it a go.

i usually wait for Before you Buy video before buying a game, but TLG hype beat me. I can say that I'm not disappointed. I'm liking the game a lot.

I just got this game (finally). Big fan of the previous two and I’m not disappointed at all. Trico really feels like a giant dog and I actually feel like I have a relationship with him. I’m about a quarter done and I really don’t want it to end. It’s not perfect yet I know those imperfections will long be forgotten and the moments this game gave me will be remembered long after I finish it. Thank you team Ico for all your hard work.

I think this game would do so much better multi platform. It's a very niche game and giving to broader audience would've made this game not as forgettable.

Hated ICO, loved Shadow of the Colossus. So don't know if I'll like this game or not.

I'm not going to buy it either way because I have 0 interest in it, but I'll watch this video anyways.

Great vid a Jake, and crew! Love your vids, they're so good :D!

I just want to say that your reviews are very honest and straight-forward. I like how you approach the topic and try to relate to as many of us as possibe, given the very different playstyles and preferences we have. To me, I prefer your reviews over Gamespot and IGN.

Does the audio go weird at 0:24 for anyone else, or is it just me?

Picking it up Friday, looking forward to it.

I just finished Shadow of the Colossus and this does look very similar. It's currently in my backlog of games and I think I'll move onto something different for a while and when I miss games like this, I'll come back. Thanks for the info Jake!

I've been waiting for this game for so long. I Tried to set my expectations low considering how many problems the project had to overcome to even come into existence. And I'm honestly very pleased with what i've seen. Like you said, the interaction between Trico and the boy mixed with the beautiful landscape make the game worth it for me.

It took so long coz the companion you have, Triko, is a totally independent AI which has to react to what you want, none of it is like a cinematic Triko does it all by itself

Jake thanks for always being honest and straight forward. You give the gaming industry a good name

I just finished The Last Guardian after finishing Uncharted 4 for the first time a week earlier. I would much rather play a flawed yet impressive and unique game rather than some generic, yet more stable game. Uncharted 4 bored me quite often while I was enthralled with the Last Guardian the whole way through. I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I would consider this game to be one of the best in years as it remembers how to properly utilize the medium of games as it would be a worse product in any other medium unlike Uncharted 4 which would have been much more entertaining as a film. No one remembers a generic, yet perfect game. I will never forget overcoming the flaws to witness the amazing spectacles of The Last Guardian. Please let me know if you agree with me on this.

I've just finished the last Guardian and loved it! The down side, is the feeling that a bit more play testing could have removed many of the frustrations that break up an otherwise engaging experience. There's some parts that are not intuitive at all. Ledges you can't climb on, routes that are hard to see - puzzles that use rare or completely new mechanics. Combined with a difficult ( albeit adorable ) Trico meant I was stuck in areas and puzzles which when completed left me feeling annoyed rather than elevated. Some examples were... Spending 15min trying to get Trico near a clearly defined and well lit ledge, to find I couldn't climb it, and the correct path was a small pathway that looked like background. A tunnel underwater that was impossible to find. A wave mechanic only used once in the game. A see-saw mechanic only used once in the game. Getting turned around by similar looking gates, so thinking the correct path was back tracking. Leaping into space a few times due to the camera/controls. Pretty much anything Using Trico's tail. Finding routes only by just sitting on Trico and letting him wonder around for 5 minutes. This Game is glorious, and that's why its few flaws are oh so painful.

Love before you buy video keep up the good work

This game is easily in my top 3 gaming experiences of all time. It is far from perfect. Controls are like 5/10. Graphics are like 7/10. No real guidance on puzzles however it sure makes you feel smart when you figure things out. what a ride of a game. I can see why people don't / won't like the game, but it is a super memorable experience for me. I can't wait for his next game.

love the videos, keep em coming

Can't wait to get home and play it tonight! This game started me on a serious shopping spree that eventually led to me upgrading from my old PS2 to a PS4 Pro, PSVR, a 4K HDR OLED TV, and a Denon+KEF home theater system... I didn't quite see that coming, but I guess I just really enjoyed Shadow of the Colossus. :-)

I just played this and only finished it 10 minutes ago and I can say that it's an experience that I wont ever forget, the way the game makes you connect and feel for Trico is something you dont get from regular games, yes the controls and camera can be a pain at times but I found myself not worrying about it because I just wanted to see this journey through to its end, and the way the credits showed you moments from the journey really hit home the bond you form with Trico during the game, I adored this game and am so glad I decided to dust it off and finally finish it ❤

I'll buy this. in going back to more chill games. this and steep are gonna be my games with ffxv. I actually wanted to get the last guardian but a few other games came out and I forgot about it until this year.

i really love how the boy and this trico animated, how the walking does, wiggle, hurry when the statue-creature in sight. I am pretty sure this character development is way much great than expectation (compare to its predecessor). but still, what jake mention about con is true (camera, not perfect, etc). maybe if the dev want to honing up with more delay, i guess that will better, but more delay is some LOL to many people i think.

fantastic and thorough review. thank you so much!!

I'm among the people that hasn't played Shadow of the Colossus. I'm very unfamiliar with this kind of game, but I'm still going for this game for Christmas. I was drawn in when I saw it at the E3 presentation. I've always been a sucker for playing as an animal or journeying with one, and seeing Trico for the first time really drew me in. I'm really fascinated by it and I want to learn more about what it is or where it came from. This is among the few games where I'm intentionally avoiding spoilers because this is something I really want to experience. Sure, the game is definitely not perfect, but it's not a bad game. Sure, there's going to be slow down here and there and the camera isn't perfect, but every game has a few kinks here and there. This is the kind of game that I really think I'll enjoy despite its flaws.

Totally worth buying

(I haven't played it yet) I feel like this game may be so much appreciated and enjoyed by people with mascot pets, people that love them, cause' of what I've seen is that Trico behaves just like one, and for me that's what attracts me of this game too.

I have never been so scared to play a game, and yet I feel my heart pounding against my chest when I see this video, the artistic style of the game and the way Trico moves. I'm so scared of being disapointed and I so badly want to play it, I don't know how to feel right now....

Now please we need a new shadow of the colossus. If we get it I can die happy

Just finished it yesterday, no spoilers. The game really got to me emotionally, It's definitely not for every type of gamer, that's for sure :) but for me: breathtaking

Does it evolve into a Grovile

The Animations on Trico are amazing. I never saw an Animal animated that well in an Game befor.

Given that this is a Team ICO game this video should be titled "Before you Cry".

2:22 actually yes they have aged very well. The aesthetics are still beautiful today. The mechanics are a little clunky but always intuitive. Those games are masterpieces in interactive storytelling. Their designs are simplistic but near flawless.

I've been waiting for this title for many many years and have been a gamer since the Atari 2600. I have played Ico and Shadow of the Colossus and consider myself pretty decent fans of theirs and I am a much bigger fan now because of this title as well. I first heard of this title back in 2007 and was disappointed when in 2011 we thought it all went down the drain and we were never going to see it. I didn't even know the game was still in the works until 2015 and was excited for an entire year when I heard it was coming out. I got it on my birthday December 8th and haven't stopped playing it yet. I cried throughout the entire story and even much more at the end. And even as I replay the game for a third time, trying to get the trophies, I still find myself tearing up at specific parts. The graphics to me were incredible, everything lived up to my expectations and I think the game was absolutely worth the hype. I found no difficulty controlling Trico after a while..... in fact I thought controlling kid was a little more difficult than controlling your cat/ bird dog friend. I think the game is going to be a fairly high rated success and will be remembered for years to come and it is one of my new favorite titles and will be for quite a while!!.

I'm only 3 or 4 hours in and I agree with you on everything so far. Visually it's beautiful in that Ico/ Colosus style and the controls are clunky at times along with the camera, I ran into the blackness you talked about. Great review.

Forgettable? Are you kidding me?!?! HAVE YOU SEEN THE ENDING!?

This isn't a game for anyone. People whose first gaming console was a PS3 or an Xbox360 (and have the audacity to call themselves gamers) are not gonna be appeased by this title. This is for the people that know the ICO and SotC titles. You don't buy these games for the graphics, you don't buy these games to be in the "lit" club of kids that own every triple A title and brag about it. You buy these games for the feels. I got attached to Yorda in ICO (although I'm pretty sure I dislocated her arm a few times), I grew attached to Argo in SotC and the trials the main guy had to go through in order to resurrect his girl/sister/w/e, I also felt bad for killing the colossi. I struggled for a good 30 minutes to not get sucked in at the end during the final moments of SotC all the while fighting back tears. I don't give two shits for the graphics or if it should had been a PS3 title, I'm playing this game so I can have my feelings crushed again in the most beautiful way possible. Anyone who knows shit about the previous titles or haven't experienced them themsevles (cause watching walkthroughs doesn't actually cut it for these games), should probably just stick to their multiplayer OP gfx games or jump on the hype wagon of the latest JRPG game and leave this title and their opinion of it, well alone.

i remember this being teased all the way back in 2006 or 2007 when i was like 8. i was just sitting on my cousins bed and i got really exited to see a little kid and big friendly fluffy monster walk out of a temple. now im almost 19 and i still couldn't wait to play this game. satisfied!

one big question that i really want to know, is the game just a puzzle game? does the game have awesome boss battles like its prequel shadow of the colossus because that is the big and main thing that i am looking for! that's why i used to love shadow of the colossus, it was because of the awesome boss battles and their tactics.

I completely agree and feel the same, I was slightly unimpressed &surprised that they left the annoying camera the same as the previous games

Really liking this game so far it's so different with a great story, It's a great game for anyone who can handle a slower and relaxing experience.

Don't watch your channel, but as someone familiar with the 'series' you gave me enough to let me know I'll enjoy it. So well done there.

I stayed clear of all information about this game to have zero spoilers and now I've just completed it here I am. It's beautiful and stunning and just amazing. at times the camera angle does get annoying but not nearly enough to ruin anything. There's a book being released in February on amazon about the creators journey making this game so hopefully it'll detail the questions we are left with, such as how the stone warriors were made and why, where the grand master goo came from and where the guardians existence started.

Hi! I got a channel and I'm doing a walkthrough of this game. The point is I have an ElGato HD60 and a Blue Yeti Mic, the problem is that I can't connect a headphone to my ps4 controller cause then the game audio won't be hear in ElGato... any help?

I absolutely loved this game, it's so beautiful and so emotional.

ur channel is the best i tried making channel simlar to this but nah its too difficult i really appreciate ur work.

Been waiting for this to come out since the very first announcement and I had this baby installed and ready to play right at 9pm PST on release day. Honestly I agree with almost everything you had to say about it in the video, aside from the graphics. I absolutely loved the art design and detail of the graphics, made me really nostalgic for Shadow of the Colossus. I enjoyed the hell out of it, I agree it's not Shadow of the Colossus in its memorability, and gameplay, but this was what I expected it to be like for the most part, and I'm happy. The kids insane rag-doll physics though could have been cleaner though. lol

Trecco or however you spell it isn't meant to listen to you earlier on. He is meant to build a relationship with you and work better with you as you progress through the game.

Was the atmosphere and story immersive?

I love this game, it can get a little tiring because of the repetition but that was exactly the same for ico and shadow. I haven't had a problem with frame rate yet but it definitely plays and feels like a ps2/ps3 game, which I really quite like, it almost erases that 11 year gap. Trico and the beautiful surroundings of this game make it equally as good as the other two games in what is now my favourite trilogy :)

I truly loved the game and I never played ico or shadow..I really got immersed into the story. It was a great fairytale about the struggles of humans and nature. The game is absolutely beautiful, that makes you forget about the wonky controls at times. I'm a fan now and will forever remember Trico!

I first thought it said the final station

What are the Killstreaks?

ICO and SotC are two of my all time favorite games which is why I pre-ordered the collector's edition and I think it was worth it and lived up to the pedigree of Ueda's previous games but didn't top them. It was a beautiful emotional experience that sometimes leaned towards frustration when Toriko (Trico) wouldn't do what you want even though it was intentional by design... kinda like how Agro (SotC) wouldn't always go where you wanted but 10x worse. haha If you didn't like the previous games I wouldn't recommend this and if you liked them but are unsure I would say wait for a price drop or buy used from a store with a money back return policy on used games.

Finished this yesterday, absolutely loved it. One my all time favourite games ever now.

Let me guess, your creature friend dies at the end.

I still feel sad for killing all those Colossi in Shadow of the Colossus...

This game is like a big badass tamagotchi! I love it but fully agree with the wild camera and controls, also saw someone mention the lack or tricky guidance here which is worth mentioning. As someone who enjoyed Shadow of the Colossus this is worth a try if you enjoyed that game for sure - in a more visual aspect though. This is not as action packed but does give you the same vibe.

Nice review! I love when people don't put a number on their reviews.

If you're on the fence about getting this one, treat yourself and get it. Haven't been captivated in a game's world, design, and story like this since I first played Half Life 2. Don't get me wrong though, its controls can be a bit clunky here and there, and the camera could definitely use some improvement, as well as the framerate in a few scenes, but everything else is damn near perfect. If you enjoy puzzle games, platforming games, unique and innovative mechanics, and beautiful stories, definitely pick this one up. Easily the best game of the year in my eyes.

I had high expectations, and the game exceeded them. Aside from the technical issues you discussed that I agree exist, this game is perfect to me. I love it.

Played a bit of Shadow of the Colossus when I was a kid, didn't really finish it cause I didn't understand how to climb and stuff. But I do think that there is high potential for a giant companion game like this one, but with actual combat and a open world where you can travel anywhere with your giant companion. I would buy that kind of game if it was made

I've been waiting for this game forever, even though I haven't played either ICO or SotC. I will play through both of them in the coming weeks, and get a PS4 Pro in spring to play this, FFXV, Nino Kuni II and other exclusives.