Fumito Ueda's trilogy of Playstation games- Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and The Last Guardian- are idiosyncratic, minimalist art pieces. The final game in the trilogy, before the unfortunate dissolution of Japan Studio, was The Last Guardian, showcasing the uneasy partnership between an unnamed boy and a large, fearsome beast named Trico. The Last Guardian pushes back on the idea that games need to be responsive and frictionless, instead forcing you to rely on your shaky communication with an animal to progress through the game. Your mileage may vary with how willing you are to put up with this, but for me, this was a beautiful experience that I love with my entire heart.

Joining me to discuss The Last Guardian is Chris, one of the hosts of the Franchise Festival podcast. It is a podcast that is well-thought out and worth your time, and you can find it on your favorite podcast app or listen for free on their Patreon page!

TIMESTAMPS

Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 2:07

Story Setup 15:39

Cooperation with Trico 31:43

Visuals/Animation 48:56

Music 1:01:27

Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Housekeeping 1:06:51

SPOILER WALL 1:18:52

Music used in the episode is credited to Takeshi Furukawa:

Homeward, Overture - Lore, Forest, Courtyard, Falling Bridge, The Tower, Victorious, Finale II, End Titles

Find Dave's appearance on the Retro Spectives podcast on their website!

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Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages

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