|
voiceovers of the main character narrating the action are included , to create the feeling that the plot of the game happened long ago .
Doubts about the quality of the completed product have been raised multiple times during the long development time .
Since Duke Nukem Forever found its way to shelves after 13 years and felt like a relic from another time , game critics have become wary of long development cycles .
No firm reason has ever been given for why The Last Guardian has taken so long . Ueda himself left Sony in 2011 , as did the game ’ s producer Yoshifusa Hayama . Ueda reportedly wanted more freedom in his relationship with Sony , and he remains under
|
contract with them to finish the game .
Ueda has never given a clear explanation of what the exact problems have been , but in 2014 Sony ’ s Shuhei Yoshida explained that the main reason was the porting of code from PS3 to PS4 , which required a lot of work , and that the higher specifications of the PS4 were needed to realise the vision of the game fully . He also added that at no time did they consider cancelling the project , because “ they believed in the vision .” Certainly it is understandable that when you have to transfer programming to a new system , much will have to be rewritten , and that with the extra processing power available to you , gamers will expect you to take advantage of it .
|
This is particularly true if you are Team ICO . Designers and critics as diverse as Hideo Kojima or Roger Ebert have rejected the idea that games can be viewed as an art form because they can ’ t be put on display in a museum , or are not comparable to the great works of literature , poetry , or music , or are ultimately just too popular , because of the fact they have to appeal to everyone . Ico and Shadow of the Colossus , though , have gained consideration as artistic endeavours . Certainly , Team ICO succeeded in creating games that don ’ t appeal to everyone . Both games deliver a cerebral experience which is light on exposition and heavy on beauty , desolation , and a sense of absence . |
As of writing , The Last Guardian has been delayed by three to four months to iron out the last few bugs .
A number of sources have criticised Sony for delaying the game once more , but after so long a time , one can understand why Sony might want to hold it back until they were 100 % confident they can deliver a game that will live up to Team ICO ’ s reputation .
With Ueda ’ s contract ending upon its completion , and himself having stated that he wants to create a first person shooter as his next project , it is likely at this stage that Team ICO ’ s legacy will be three charming , unique and rare gaming experiences .
|
9 |