Second Runner Up: The Last Guardian
2016 ended up being a really weird year overall, but for games, it got even weirder with the arrival of both Final Fantasy XV and The Last Guardian. The latter title from Sony and Team ICO was often snarked at for believing to be quietly dead before suddenly reappearing at E3 last year, intended for the PS4. After a decade of waiting, fans were ready to be taken in by the story of a boy and a giant bird-cat-dog thing called Trico being paired up together.
It’s a tricky gamble for Team ICO after a decade of development, and fortunately, they delivered. Whatever else one can say about the game, it can’t be denied that they absolutely nailed the bond between the Boy and Trico. If you can imagine being a kid again who just discovered that they got a kitty for Christmas, that’ll put you in the right mindset here. Trico is, simply put, one of the most adorable video game creatures to ever exist, and he’s so lifelike and precious that it becomes hard to not feel the pain that he does when the story decides to put him through the wringer. What also helps is the art design and music, which make the wise decision to show you a story instead of outright telling you.
After a decade of waiting, Last Guardian is indeed another feather in Team ICO and Sony’s cap. There’s camera and control issues to be sure, but when looking at the success of its lead characters and stunning art direction, they’re minor. If you thought Colossus and ICO were works of art, then TLG is sure to be right up your alley.
