Ico / Shadow of the Colossus / The Last Guardian Retrospective
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- Опубліковано 31 тра 2024
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Examining the merits of video games as an art form through the works of Fumito Ueda and his staff at Team Ico and GenDesign.
Thumbnail by @hotcyder
Samus Aran Dread Rig by @Curiomatic curiomatic.gumroad.com/l/Drea...
Special thanks to my brother for the breakdown of how animation works in these games, as well as the FK and IK visual demonstration @daylight707
Chapters
0:00 Intro
2:39 Ico
28:09 Shadow of the Colossus
59:48 The Last Guardian
1:27:27 Conclusion
Sources
Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection - Bonus Content
www.theguardian.com/technolog...
Fumito Ueda Biography www.giantbomb.com/fumito-ueda...
www.gamekult.com/actualite/ei...
www.pastemagazine.com/games/s...
Ico GDC 2004 Slides www.intelligent-artifice.com/...
www.timeextension.com/feature...
Fumito Ueda Interview • Fumito Ueda Interview
Shmupulations Fumito Ueda Interview shmuplations.com/ueda/
Fumito Ueda on The Last Guardian kotaku.com/the-last-guardians...
Fumito Ueda Leaves Sony www.theverge.com/2011/12/13/2...
Kenji Kaido Leaves Sony www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/...
Ueda on Shadow of the Colossus - “They’re not bosses. They’re more like… inverted Zelda dungeons.” web.archive.org/web/201702211...
Ico inspires Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time siliconangle.com/2015/12/23/p...
Johnny Greenwood of Radiohead’s favourite games web.archive.org/web/201012011...
Guillermo Del Toro on games web.archive.org/web/201008120...
Goichi Suda on No More Heroes’ Toilet www.videogameschronicle.com/n...
Hidetaka Miyazaki Interview www.theguardian.com/technolog...
Fumito Ueda Video Interview • Fumito Ueda Interview
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57:03 was a rendering error that I somehow never caught. I have no idea why it happened, but it was kinda cool lol
I'm surprised you didn't mention that the barrels you feed Trico with are seemingly created from the kidnapped children.
This is quite an important detail that makes you realize what you've been doing in the entire game. Feeding your beloved pet with kids from your village.
my game theorist brain honestly thought you were trying to do something there
Huh? He did mention and show it in this video. There is a cutscene that literally shows a barrel shooting out of a bird head statue, right after other Trico beasts have sacrificed kidnapped children to master of the valley. @@ultraspinalki11
What will I lose?
@@WVisionLJI was searching the internet, not finding what that frame was referring to, only to finally notice this comment. Kinda disappointed, lol.
I will never forget Shadow of the Colossus, i played when i was young and my grandma watched me play all of it, in fact she stopped what she was doing to watch it and if i wasnt playing it she would ask "when are you going to play the game with the guy that fight the giants?". I'll never forget the bond this game allowed me to have with her.
She is still alive at 82 but has dementia. I take care of her everyday. ❤
I have a similar experience with my dad. He thought very little of videogames, and wasn't one to pay any attention to the games I played. Shadow of the Colossus was an exception though. He often watched me, and had to admit even he thought the game was great. Being a horse person himself, he was deeply touched by the loss of Agro and by the ending cinematic was just as invested in the story as me.
Rest in peace dad.
Amazing
Does she remember something, when you replay that game in front of her?
o7
Thanks for making me cry
Does she still find enjoyment in watching you fight the colossi, even with the dementia?
Give Trico a lot of positive reinforcement through petting, and he's a lot more receptive to your commands.
Yes! In my experience I only have one memory of a frustrating point of him not listening - because I was constantly petting him I didn't have this issue at all and it was only after I played it that I found out that other people struggled with it.
I didn't know that. I just kinda naturally did it but the truth is there are other tricks to get him to listen to. I'm pretty sure if he's distracted by something, he's not gonna listen, and also if he can't see where you're pointing he might not listen.
But also, giving him a command twice helps a lot of the time. Also, you will soon recognize when he is confused and when he understood your request, so once he gets it, don't keep giving him commands or he will get confused
Also like Liam showed, sometimes he does struggle with certain spots so if you lead him away from the spot, then bring him back, he'll almost definitely listen to you that time.
For me the only truly unreliable bit of the game is when he has to lift the gate in order to let you push that big wheel thing under it to prop it open for him. I've played the game 12 times and that's the only spot I regularly have issues with. The rest of the time I rarely have issues because I know how Trico behaves.
Some people may bitch about this but they're wrong. Trico wouldn't be anywhere near as lovable if he didn't feel real
This! And button smashing will make Trico a better companion as well
Funny enough petting trico every chance I get has lead to a different kind of frustration where I'm the one wanting to explore an area and trico is the one trying to progress through the game sometimes without me
Agree your right,
To me, team ico is like the studio ghibli of videogames
I liked Inside too
The same amount of whimsy and nuance can be found in both 👍
ICO's Japanese box art is still one of my favorite in gaming. We don't talk about the US one though.
I remember seeing the same as the JAP version in Europe when i was hanging out at the video game store as a teenager
Yeah I'm so glad we got the original art in the UK. I felt so sorry for Americans when I first saw the NA box art. The original might be my favourite of all time too.
Dante Culpeper?
Ico looks constipated in the US version
There's underlying suffering in that CG face...
I'll see your ICO jap box art and raise you one American BOTW box art. XD
The really beautiful thing about the Team Ico games is that they were clearly inspired by certain Zelda elements, and modern Zelda games in turn have been influenced by them. The cyclical nature of artistic influence is so apparent.
I absolutely cried like a baby when I got to the finale of The Last Guardian. I just felt so absolutely helpless watching my friend (hell, i'd call trico family at that point) getting hurt just made me feel horribly desperate to help. And then when he helped return me to the village and we had to part ways for the last time, it's making me teary eyed just writing this down. Maybe I played it at a pretty formative time in my life, but this game has genuinely stuck with me ever since I first played it. Thanks for reminding me of why I really, really love that game. And also, why I'm so grateful to everyone who helped bring TLG to life.
Life's been pretty hard these past few years, so I also just wanted to thank you so much for this video, Liam. I don't know for sure if things are going to get better, but being able to take some time (even staying up late on a work night!) to watch this was really a joy. It reminded me why I really love video games. I hate to say it, but I sometimes feel ashamed to admit that out loud, like it's something I should feel guilty of. Maybe because, deep down, it's become something that so ingrained in my mind (videogames are a waste of time, or they're something you should grow out of, some b.s. like that) due to a number of factors I can't really explain.
That stuff sucks though, and you're absolutely right: games ARE art. They're these beautiful, messy, human things that have the fingerprints of HUNDREDS of people who genuinely love what they're doing... everywhere! It's just wonderful. Even though I feel lonely now, they helped me feel a connection to something (if that makes sense).
So yeah, long winded comment wrapping up, thanks for this Liam. This is probably my favorite video of yours, and I can't thank you enough for making it. Gonna be thinking about team ICO for a long time, and I can't wait for what's next. 🙂
1000% with you. Trico is family to me as well, so much so that my collectors edition statue of trico sits between the urns of my last 2 pets that died on a shelf. RIP Ruby and RIP Big Boss, and thank God Trico is still alive with his own family!
A small detail in the Last Guardian is that when you first meet Trico, his horns are broken, but over the course of the game, his horns slowly grow back to the point that they never looked broken in the first place. I like to think it's a callback to how Wander would look worse and worse over the course of his game, but in this case, it's Trico healing and growing a closer bond with the boy. Fun, subtle ways like that to show you're progressing through the adventure makes me so happy and is such a cool detail
Shadow of the Colossus is the first game that connected the dots of "here is a big world with a big story, we are only going to give you maybe 10 percent of that story". Now its my favorite type of vibe for any kind of gaming experience and it taught me that atmosphere is probably the thing I find the most important for any game. Sometimes a lack of details will engage you far deeper and more profoundly than something that beats you over the head with information
You must love Fromsoft games i presume
I love the world building, lore, art direction, and music in these games. I wish we could get more from team Ico
Here's hoping Gen Design's new title comes out soon!
As an animator, I can really appreciate Team Ico's dedication to keyframe animation and inverse kinematics.
The Last Guardian was highly underrated. Many people dismissed it because it took forever to release and the graphics looked relatively dated. And that Trico often did not follow your orders. But I thought that was part of its charm, and behaved much like a puppy that is still learning. Some of the best moments in the game is when he unexpectedly comes through for you.
It's a PS4 game that looks like a PS3 game and plays like a PS2 game. However it's quite possibly my #1 game of all time.
I remember I bought a PS3 just for The Last Guardian...which was then delayed and ended up coming out on PS4 instead. Bought the system mainly for that game again and it was totally worth the wait. Definitely one of the best games I've ever played. And frankly, I think Trico did amazing at following orders. I only remember having to reload the game one time where his AI seemed to break and he just kind of sat there and wouldn't move. My favorite part when commanding Trico though was those moments I was trying to get him to do something and I could see it happening. Like I was sitting there going "He gets it! He understands what I want him to do!" It was utterly fascinating watching that kind of behavior.
@@pcdeltalink036 it's the reason I bought a PS4. Worth every penny.
The last guardian got me so good, i even caved in to buy a psvr just to see Trico in her magnificent massive stature to scale.
Very good game but the frame rate was awful as hell. Thats the biggest problem
I agree with everything you said. I love both Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus over The Last Guardian, but I can't deny that I still believe it to be a masterpiece with the other two. Especially everything involving Trico.
Trico gets confused if you spam commands. Wait for him to look at the boy, give your command once. That's how people speedrun the game.
Great video! Must have taken a long time to reseach and create all the details of Team Ico's games! Appreciate your efforts!
NOOOOMMMMAAAAAADDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
holy shit its the man himself
My hero❤
The last guardian destroyed me emotionally. What a freaking masterpiece. Its criminally underrated.
I understand people's frustrations with the game, but if you realize trico is its own creature with its own mind, it just makes your bond that much stronger.
Exactly
exactly, trico is an animal
the last guardian has probably the most heartbreaking ending of any video game i've ever played. one of my favorite games EVER, despite its technical flaws.
I have never played a final boss like the one Shadow of the Colossus has. Throughout the game, I've noticed that the music tends to run in a cycle. Some colossi have a pre-fight piece, often reflecting the environment you've galloped into. Once the colossus is revealed, the piece that plays reflects your first impressions (my personal favorite being #8's, which starts out ominous before turning into a piece perfectly designed to put you in a state of panic when #8 notices you. When you start winning the fight, the music turns triumphant. And then you kill it, and the music turns mournful. This musical cycle repeats for 15 of the fights. And then you reach the last one. And the music comes in. No first impressions, no feeling of triumph. Just mourning. It's the only time that I've felt that the final boss was something to be sad for, rather than a final test of your abilities.
I think what makes the storytelling in these games so effective, is how simple it all is. ueda somehow tackles extremely complex topics with just conveyance alone, in a way that's immediately understandable. he's a master of tone.
great video man! Well worded as usual
after you're done watching here, why not follow shesez and watch his video on shadow of the colossus? some interesting hidden content in such a massive amazing game
I LOVE YOU SHESEZ
ICO literally changed my gaming life. Top 10 best games
Among the top 10 greatest single moments in gaming:
Five-to-six hours playing ICO, there is always either music or sound effects. The act leading the final fight echoes with haunting music. Then you enter the final chamber...dead...fucking...silence. You take a step and those footfalls are the only thing you hear. When the Queen speaks, it scares the living shit out of you.
Crying like a friggin baby hearing you talk about these games. These are beautiful pieces of art, and thank you for your words about them. You’re my favorite video essay creator on youtube and I always get excited to see what you do. I hope that wonderful things come your way, Liam. Thank you for being you.
I first played ICO 20 odd years ago on the PS2 and knew that it was something special, a modern fairy tail so to speak.
The emotional back and forth of the gameplay and interactive storytelling was beautiful and one that's stayed with me ever since.
Shadow Of The Colossus was a tour de force of striking creative visual design linked to the gameplay and story that unfolds through the interactions of it's sublime design mechanics.
Another masterpiece that stayed with me since i first played it on the PS2.
I've just completed my first playthrough of The Last Guardian on the PS5, and i heartily agree that Trico doesn't always do what i want when i want, but that only added to the individuality and nature of Trico as an independent character, though one that if given enough petting and love will gradually become more keen on doing what i wanted when i wanted.
This bond of trust and co-dependency through interaction and visual story telling is nothing less than beautiful.
This trilogy of masterful games is quite easily my favourite games in any series linked by similar themes, game mechanics and visual story telling.
These games are the pinnacle of what can be achieved through interactive gameplay, body language and a bond of friendship and love, even if the tales they tell are ominous and sometimes haunting, though the bonds between the characters shine through with the struggles and obstacles they overcome on their journeys together.
Glorious.
Stellar video, thank you.
i did not play The last guardian, but you made me ordered it, found myself on the verge of tear along your storytelling and editing skills, Thank you 2 weeks until i can try this masterpiece
Same here. I was always on the fence of getting it but now will.
You got the disc? If you have ps5 that was a smart move. If you play the disc on ps5, and don't let it install the update you can play the game at a locked 60 fps, and it's incredible. You will need to install the patch for 3 spots the game will freeze, but you can delete and reinstall the game to get the 60 fps back. I made a video on my other channel explaining it all but it's very simple actually and the game isn't big so the reinstall only takes 10minutes
i'm on ps4, i'm not wealthy enough to have a ps5 yet =)@@HugoStiglitz88
Did you play it? What did you think?
The amount of games inspired by Ico alone is massive. Dark Souls, The Last of Us, A Tale of Two Brothers -- Fumito Ueda is an underrated genius.
I will never get tired of people talking about Team Ico and Ueda. Thank you for your contribution
This was great. I cried like a baby playing these games and I cried like a baby watching this video. My partner and I are both huge fans of Ueda and have agreed that if we ever get another pet, we'll be naming them Trico ❤
I got to play Ico for the first time this year through ps+ stream.I played games in the opposite order (that they released).Each game gave me a deeper understanding for the previous.TLG to me was a very weird experience.I couldnt say that i had much fun or enjoyed my time with it. But by the ending sequence i could stop my self from going on an emotional journey and really feeling for the boy and trico.Now having played Ico ,i have come to appreciate the entire series.I come to tears thinking about it, and when describing it i feel a great sense of talking about a part of my self.This series has become amonst my favorites in any medium.You did an amazing video on them and i want to thank you
The open world of SotC is my fav part. Exploring while finding fruits and geckos is super comforting
I don't care what anyone says, The Last Guardian is the best of there three games and is a true masterpiece among the other two masterpieces. I still have my original copies of Ico, and SotC along with the collections and Remake, so I can say that without a doubt Ueda is probably the one guy that really knows how to create amazing experiences that almost no one else can.
Trico's mechanics actually aren't that hard to understand, it's just that people are so quick to treat the game like a game, they don't realize SPAMMING commands is the reason why he doesn't do exactly what you want him to do. So what ends up happening is that he gets confused and the player thinks there's something wrong with the game. Treat him like a living creature rather than a tool to solve a puzzle and the experience goes by much more smoothly.
Ok I just watched the ico part of this and I have tears in my eyes... That game truly is a masterpiece
I also wanna add that after you fall and lose yorda you don't get a single checkpoint which feels so desperate especially when you are about to do a desperate jump
The Last Guardian is one of my most favorite games. I love my little Trico.
Great video. Ueada and Time Ico's work is one of the greatest trilogy of games ever made. I love all three, and think of them often.
Ico has a dreamlike quality unmatched. Shadow of the Colossus is stealthily philosophical and provokes great self reflection. And The Last Guardian? I'm not kidding when I say it's my favourite of the three, because it hits me on an emotional level no other game has managed.
Weirdly, I never had trouble with Trico, but it does make me apprehensive to play it again just in case I do! I couldn't stay mad at him for long tho I reckon. It's so strange how a bunch of 0's and 1's makes me care so much. But it's a wonderful thing also
SOTC has been played by me, my 14 year old son, my sisters, my dad, my wife, and I hope my 2 year old will one day play. Mario has Also been played by all of us, but it’s the only game to make us all have wildly different interpretations of the story. My son actually cried at the end.
10/10 games. So well designed, unique and interesting. Its crazy how ahead of its time SotC was in game mechanics and physics as well as how minimalist it actually was in story. I am shocked that i never heard about the game when i first found it, but it caught my eye for a long time at my local blockbuster, eventually i got it and fell completely in love. Over a decade later i still consider it one of my favorites. Also one of if not the only game i could probably speedrun lol
Nice Kirie pfp
one of my absolute favorite youtubers when it comes to game essays talking about my favorite game of ALL TIME ?
yes just yes
I've been a waiting for a video like this for a long time. These games, especially SOTC, have such a special place in my heart and they're not talked about enough. I played Shadow of the Colossus as a kid and it made me cry, and even still does almost every time I complete the game as an adult. When I got a little older, I started appreciating the music, vague storytelling and overall atmosphere of the game a lot more. There really isn't another game out there like it, and the same goes for Ico and The Last Guardian too. All of these games are so beautiful and need to be played by so many more people. I hope this video encourages people to go out and give them a try.
Just played Ico for the first time about a month or two ago. I went into it not expecting much, especially since I'd never heard of it until recently. It was a short experience, maybe about 7 hours. But, with those 7 hours alone Ico quickly became one of my favorite video games of all time.
The atmosphere was perfect and I fell in love with the characters and all the little quirks of the game. I spent a lot of time sitting on the save couches with Ico and Yorda, just reflecting on the journey up to those points, and how much I probably had left to enjoy. Needless to say, I was in tears when it ended. It seriously left such an impact on me that I felt compelled to track down a physical copy (I played through it originally on an emulator), and I managed to find the PS3 remaster, which I now happily own.
I never had the opportunity to play any of these game myself, always hearing about them here and there from other UA-camrs. But god, these stories had me weeping at my computer, especially The Last Guardian. I'm moreso interested in a good story and experience from video games, and jesus christ this team really delivered. Thank you for covering these games so lovingly, your passion is always the best part about your videos. I hope one day I'll have the chance to experience these wonders for myself.
I relate to your comment as a kid who was not allowed or given any gaming consoles growing up. The only thing I could do was watch playthroughs of Shadow of the Colossus. The game moved me to tears. I thought there would not be much point in playing it myself since I knew how it ended. But once I finally got my hands on a copy of the game, I realized I couldn't be more wrong. It's one thing to watch someone else play a Team Ico game, and another thing to live and breathe within the world of the game itself. I'm not ashamed to say I talked aloud to Trico more than once! I hope you get to experience it, too. Just have a lot of tissues on hand...
I know that long form content is slowly fazing out in popularity, but damn Liam I will never not click on your videos. Video games helped shape me and help keep the kid and creativity in me alive, and I can always hear the care and passion in your voice and writing. Thanks for what you do man I hope it’s as rewarding to make them as it is to watch them
used to play ico with my father when i was a kid. i feel really nostalgic about it. i remember being scared of the monsters.
I love all three games but Shadow of the Colossus my favorite. Love the "boss Fights", the music, the look, art style, the horse, the world, the graphics. There's so much to love in each game. I have many fond memories in each game.
Another great video. Thank you!
Honestly, all three of the Team Ico games have their frustrations in terms of the actual gameplay, but in my eyes those frustrations serve the greater story of the game itself. With Ico, the occasional obtuse puzzle and the struggles to juggle keeping Yorda safe while fighting off the shadows serves to emphasize the terror of the castle and your journey together through it. With SOTC, the clumsy way in which you climb the colossi emphasizes the suspense and challenge of climbing a massive creature. And with TLG, Trico sometimes not understanding what you want them to do emphasizes the idea that you and Trico are companions in spite of the ongoing conflict at hand and despite the challenges ahead to overcome. Ueda is a genius when it comes to forming a strong connection between the player and the game, and this trilogy is largely unparalleled in that regard. And just like you said, all three of these games are MASTERPIECES in spite of those frustrations. Genuinely, this may just be my favorite set of games ever and I think this trilogy is among the best forms of entertainment PERIOD. I sincerely cannot wait for the next title from genDesign and Fumito Ueda. It is sure to be yet another astounding example of what is truly possible with the video game medium.
Also wanted to say, I only just played TLG and finished it just a few hours before making this comment. I have waited until I finally did this to watch this video, but the reason it took so long was because I had heard so many detracting things about TLG that I was afraid I wouldn't like it. But it may just be my favorite of the three, and I regret not having played it sooner.
one thing about last guardian that not many people realized is that tricos AI learns from you actively, trico starts out not entirely trusting of you and doesnt quite understand always so will do things less reliably. if you praise trico and pat them as it follows commands, take time to pull out the spears and clean their feathers, and generally treat trico with patience and praise like an actual animal companion and not just a video game mechanic, trico will learn swiftly, and as you play through will follow commands more and your bond will grow. if you replay the game on the same file trico will become more and more responsive as you continue to the point where trico will do things almost flawlessly i found, it is frustrating unfortnatley at the begining which really barred many people who were expecting another shadow of the colossus or a more streamlined experience but it is a really interesting mechanic when you are able to experience it to this extent and really adds to the themes overall.
also an interesting fact is like in shadow how agros gender was mistranslated in the english version, Tricos gender was also mistranslated in one line to 'he' but in the original japanese version no gendered terms were used for trico.
this was a fantastic video! it's always great to see people look at these games and see what they took from the experience
I still remembered The Last Guardian review about Trico which said that "Trico is the most realistic animal ever portrayed and adapted in gaming history" and after playing and experiencing my self, I 100% agree.
I was in literal tears, two or three separate times in TLG, as an adult man in his early 30s. I don't think that has happened in any other game I've ever played. If you are a real animal lover, this game really tugs at your heart.
I remember when The last Guardian came out, I was 12 and a fan of Jacksepticeye. I watched his playthrough and fell in love with the game, I got a PS4 that Christmas with a copy of The Last Guardian from my aunt and uncle. That game stuck with me up until now, I hold it in extremely high regard and the soundtrack is so nostalgic it brings me to tears. I still have my original copy and I've had a poster of the game in my room since I was 13, still in the same place I put it then. This game completely changed my perspective on video games as a whole and made me appreciate the art and beauty they can convey. My heart shattered at the end and the loss of Trico still hurts, but it really is an experience I think more should be open to. It really impacted me as a kid, this video made me want to replay.
My first contact with the work of Fumito Ueda was with the fascinating video of Jacob Geller. Yesterday, Shadow of the Colossus appeared for the second time in my feed and after that video I got here. I had to comment two things: congratulations on the great job you've done here, it must have taken a lot of time and effort! Second, seeing all this games I feel mostly discomfort, an oppressive emptiness. Some part of me feels really threatened by all this vast places with no living soul except for a horse, no dialogs, nothing! All of this just makes me wonder what it must say about Mr. Ueda's feelings, since our creations reflect our most intimate being...
A game delayed this long and made by anybody else would have likely been a disappointment but Ueda just has a genius about him that makes the length of time taken to create his games totally irrelevant. I feel sorry for people who cant or wont experience games like his.
The Team Ico games are my personal favorites, so I’m always happy to see the games get genuine respect/understanding particularly Ico.
I have never heard of Ueda Fumito nor known about his games but this video actually moves me, it makes me eager to try and study more about the guy himself and the games. This is a great video. I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
You have an opportunity to experience the epitome of interactive storytelling for the first time
I do hope one day ICO will get the worldwide recognition that SOTC had got, I still think it's their best game even with all its faults. Patiently waiting for their next game (hopefully soon!)
aaand finished the whole video, I think it's your best one yet!!!
Thank you for reminding me my love of Team ICO. The team that truly changed my life.
I remember watching my dad play this when I was a kid and playing shadow of the colossus Jam Pack when I was a little older and just thinking that’s how games were made. I thought they were natural simulations of life, it wasn’t until much later that I realized that these games were special for their time. When I took down a colossus for the first time I felt the guilt of killing a sacred beast at 5 years old. What a feeling, I’ll never forget that.
Looking forward to watching this. Absolutely love Ico and Shadow. Due to not having a PS4 (or PS5 at this point either), I haven't yet had the opportunity to play The Last Guardian, so I'll likely skip that part of the video (unless the way the video is made makes it impossible). I'm always in for a Team Ico based video.
Yes, the video makes skipping the last guardian impossible. Never played any of these games now I want to play them all.
Hearing City of Tears in the background of this video makes me want Liam to do a video on Hollow Knight so badly.
49:16 It has been years since I beat Shadow of the Colossus, but no matter how long it has been, when Agro falls I always feel a deep wave of goosebumps, dread, and sorrow that flows through me.
The atmosphere in the game in unmatched.
Ico… one of the most underrated platform/puzzlers that I’ve ever played.
Another great video with so much in-depth emotional analysis that is worded so well it evokes much emotion without having played these games myself. Thank you for taking me (once again) on a journey I never knew I needed. (I also spent a good three minutes pausing on 0.25 speed to know what that flash said at 57:03 lmao)
First of all, thank you so much. Second of all, that was a rendering mistake that I somehow DID NOT CATCH lmao
Incredible video - I also spent the last five minutes trying to catch it and failing. Glad to know it was a rendering mistake lmao (but what did it say??)
@@Floorthirteen13It was from an earlier subtitle, during the Japanese commercial. For some reason it appeared for a single frame much later. It wasn't on the timeline there, though. I have no idea what caused it...
@@LiamTriforce Wild haha. Either way, absolutely incredible video. You really did justice to the feeling these games give while playing them
I remember when each of these came out and still to this day I love these special games, I'm so glad I lived in England, because the box art we had and have for Ico is so icon for me and beautiful, matching the art direction of the game
The Last Guardian and Shadow of the Colossus are both in my top 10-20 games of all time. Unforgettable experiences.
36:40 I don't know what the tracks in SOtC are called, but as soon as you said "To say it's empowering is putting it lightly" I knew EXACTLY what track you were referring to.
God, the music in that game is just impeccable.
31:51 HEHEHEHEHEHE That got me all tear-eyed because of the Ico bit, laughing like an idiot because I've played the OG sotc and it's my favorite game ever.
I´ve just finished watching your retriospective on my favourite trilogy of all time. You made me cry, i feel no shame to admit it. It´s the fact the FUmito Ueda touch me deeply, since i´ve played ICO for the first time 20 years ago. You did a fantastic job. Long live videogame as a medium!
Very special group of people, Ico especially being an exquisite piece of art.
They're the best developer for animation and story telling with no words.
No Ps2 and ps3 even come close to Shadow of the colossus horse gameplay animation.
Fantastic video, i think you can pass the essence of these games they are expression of art, and the three of them are unique and have going to be remember on the industry forever.
The Last Guardian is a game best played alone. Without spectators. It is one of my absolute favorite games of all time. Sometimes I had to make Trico suffer a lot for the platinum trophy. That broke my heart. I recorded the entire game without background music for material for a UA-cam video, but a lot of the emotional moments were really ruined. I can only say:
MUST PLAY “The Last Guardian”! It's a wonderful experience.
It's really unfortunate that this team doesn't exist anymore, really. Closing down Japan Studio was a mistake.
I knew Ico was special when I showed it to a friend of mine back when we were kids. He was one of those kids that legit hated on everything and found a reason to nitpick and not like nearly every game. He got so annoying I eventually stopped recommending games to him. But I remember showing him Ico and him thinking it was "really cool"...which honestly shocked me.
the last gaurdian introduced me to sotc and now ig ico lmao
every criticism got me cryin this shits my fav stop /lh
actually cried, i love this game thank you for covering it
47:40 that may apply to some of the collosus, but some of them are absolutely psychotic.
i remember hiding underground for upwards of 4 minutes as one just constantly pounded the ground after seeing me for only a couple of seconds. itd probably still be shaking the earth to this day if i haddent slain it
Time for a new Liam Triforce video 🍿
So glad to see this project finally go live. Always enjoyable to listen to these analyses/essays, thank you for sharing
Fantastic video. I loved all 3 of these games to death. I weirdly think ICO is my favorite of them all. When it comes to impactful games for people to try, these will always come to mind
I originally played Ico on a demo disc many years ago, and lost the disc. I absolutely loved it, but forgot the name of it. Then a friend introduced me to shadow of the colossus and I realized wow this looks just like Ico, so I looked it up and it was from the same creator and I was able to find the original game and play it. I’ve been a huge fan ever since. I even bought the PS4 specifically to play The last guardian. I love the last guardian but it’s not as long as it should be considering how long it took for it to come out. I’m not holding my breath for the next game, it’s already been seven years I’m expecting another five.
What a monumental video, as monumental as the games themselves!
I also urge everyone to watch Folding Ideas' video called "The Morality of Shadow of the Colossus", as is yet another deep dive on this brilliant game.
It’s truly heartbreaking to know that Sony shuttered Japan Studio. That was the heart, soul, and lifeblood of the company. Sure they may not have been huge sellers, but they were what spurred me to buy into Sony’s entire ecosystem. These niche titles were the perfect way to mix up my gaming habits. I would buy EVERY Sony published game from 2008 to 2022. Sony is pretty much dead to me now as the PS5 generation has been their most mid generation ever. Some third party (mostly Capcom, FromSoftware, SquareEnix) and Nintendo have maintained my hope in the love, fun, and art in gaming. 💔 let’s hope Sony turns it around and returns to form. Bring us a Fumito game!!! That would be Humanity Restored. Great video btw. I’m loving your retelling of these masterpieces, Liam. Thank you
I'm definitely going to be watching this, SotC is easily top 3 favourite games, ICO and the last guardian are really great too
You, king k and summoning salt are definitely the best of the best. Thanks for your awesome work and consistency
There are truly no other games like these.
Thank you.
I've been watching you for a while...was waiting to see your thoughts on these amazing games.
The last guardians ending made me cry so so bad and I will never forget the journey we had with trico. It was my first game on the ps4 and I will forever treasure it
I am beyond happy that i found your account a few months back. Your video quality is extraordinary, and your way of reflecting on these games is simply great. I wish you the best and already look forward to your next video!
Ever since I played the last guardian two years ago, I have fallen in love with the entire series of team Ico games, i felt like I gained a new perspective when seeing how influential these games were in the gaming industry, I really wish more people would experience these classics, Team Ico will forever be my favourite game studio, they never have failed to make a game where I feel I dislike it. Im really excited for their upcoming game.
Takeshi Furukawa's soundtrack for The Last Guardian is God tier.
Awesome video and such beautiful games, thank you Liam!
If art is something that evokes human emotion, than the ending of The Last Guardian did more for me than 99% of "conventional" art out there. It wasn't just the fact that you had to send your friend away, after everything you've both gone through, but that the game makes YOU, the player, hit the button to do so. When I realized that the game was waiting on me to do this I broke down. It was one of the few moments in my life where a game had impacted me to that degree.
One of my favorite moments in gaming history
I am crying so hard right now. Talk about moving! This was phenomenal!
God damn this video was so good. Randomly came across it and I haven’t seen many Last Guardian analyses as good as this. Or really at all.
Instant sub! Thank you for this
Watch his mario 64 video, it hits like a truck
This was easily my favourite video you have ever released. I will play at least 1 of these games because of this video guaranteed.
was waiting for you to make a video on these masterpieces
I took painting art classes, but I never understood the difference between the hue and the tone of a color until I played ico. ICO looks so realistic without putting too much emphasis on details. Just look at the artwork of John Sargent, and you'll see what I mean. His artwork looks so "realistic" but if you zoom in, there not much detail
Ico is a legend. And the good cover design was one of the things that captured my imagination enough to want to buy it in the first place. The USA cover is, I totally agree, ridiculous cr@p, and it boggles the mind that someone could've signed off on it.
I've completed Shadow many times. Had no idea you could climb on the horsey with the dangling bits by charging at the danglers and leaping off onto them! I've always snuck up on it while it's back was turned, and leapt up on the bony tail bit, which can be grabbed.
I agree that the Shadow soundtrack is great. Probably one of the best game soundtracks ever. My only problems with the game are that I was unhappy about having to slay the creatures. I couldn't see anything innately evil about them. Doing that slaying makes the protagonist a bad person, even though he's doing it to save someone. Also, it's distressing that one can't climb to the top of the central tower. I really want to do that. Only climbing to the garden is insufficient. Sounds weird, but that fact is incredibly frustrating to me. I want to stand on top of the tower, looking out at the world. (I'd also like to be able to go down into parts of the canyons where it's impossible to go without dying and look around too, if possible.)
Whilst Last Guardian was fun/interesting in a way, and visually spectacular, in some ways it's my least favourite of the three. The ending is deeply dissatisfying. I know it's designed to be poignant and realistic to the storyline, and I do like poignancy and realism - to an extent. But I'm also playing for escapism. To experience "The Good Guy Wins," that I so rarely see in the real world. In my opinion, the boy needs to show the villagers that the guardian's actually a good guy, and have it live with them or something, or, if the villagers refuse to accept it, the boy needs to eschew the villagers and go back to the city with the guardian to show his friendship and solidarity with it. I like replaying games again and again, but (if I still owned this,) I'd very rarely if ever do so - because of the ending.
Also, the soundtrack, while definitely pretty cool, has only two tracks that are exciting. Falling Bridge, and one of the Guardian tracks. Everything else is too mellow. I like mellow, and, for that, it's good. But there's too much of it. There needs to be more exciting/stirring music. Other than that, a lot of the textures and plot ideas are really good.
nice, you made me cry three times! beautifull video.
Thank you so much for shedding light on my 3 favorite games of all time. Your passion for the works of Fumito Ueda shines all throughout this video. It was a great watch. Thank you!
Last Guardian is the only piece of media that has ever made me ugly cry.
Same.
These are some of the best and most beautiful games of all time and you did a great job covering them 👏
Extremely well done thank you
Another amazing video! 👏