The Last Guardian critics opinion wrap up and analysis

It's doing well so far in many eyes but no so much in others.

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With The Last Guardian preorder numbers surprising Sony, one must have asked the question: how good will the game be or is it just another over hyped piece of garbage? Well, numerous websites have release their reviews today since they are no longer under NDA. Metacritic should give us a nice overview on the scoring and their opinions of the title.

We got an average score of 83 on Metacritics, with 43 positives and 12 mixed. Here's what some of the critics have to say about the game:

PlayStation Lifestyle Score: 10 out of 10 by Anthony Severino.

"When the journey comes to an end, you'll find yourself in shock, emotionally-drained, and appreciative The Last Guardian stayed in development this long and still made it to release. The entire game's pace is perfect. The difficulty and challenge is high, and completely reliant on how observant and explorative the player is. Every section of the game is stunningly gorgeous - a real work of art. The gameplay is pure perfection (aside for some clunky controls). The thematic use of the boy and the beast's relationship and how it applies to the gameplay, the world, and the puzzles is nothing short of brilliance. The climax is a real tear-jerker, while not going for the obvious and providing a positive, heart-warming conclusion. If there were ever a game that was deserving of the word 'perfect,' The Last Guardian is it."

gamesradar+. Score: 4.5 out of 5 by Tom Senior.

"The Last Guardian is a fulfilling and emotional adventure, and while framerate problems must deny it the full five stars, but there is nothing else like Trico in games. "

Gamespot Score: 9 out of 10 by Peter Brown

"It isn't clear whether or not The Last Guardian means to be frustrating at times--if it's a concerted effort to test your patience for a lovable-yet-stubborn creature. Your affection for Trico and sympathy for both characters blossom nonetheless, culminating in an enrapturing series of revelations that cements your attachment to their personalities. Trico is the undeniable star of the show, exhibiting believable physicality and emotional range, but the boy is a valuable lesson in how to be patient and resilient when faced with unforeseen challenges."

IGN Score: 7.0 out of 10 by Marty Silva

"The divide between the highs and lows of The Last Guardian is staggering. For every wonderful moment of absolute beauty and emotional attachment to its lifelike companion, there's an equal and opposite baffling moment that ruins the mood with frustrating controls and camera angles. But I found myself willing to put up with all of these hiccups if it meant experiencing any of its multitude of incredibly-beautiful moments."

The Jimquisition Score: 6.5 out of 10 by Jim Sterling

"I wish I could say I love the game, that its plagued by only minor setbacks, but I cannot honestly do that. I can't look back at how much time was spent not enjoying myself, at how much time was spent actively wrestling with the game to wring anything worthwhile from it, and say I played the masterpiece many are going to say it is."

Slant Magazine Score: 6 out of 10 by Aaron Riccio

"Figuring out The Last Guardian's puzzles-like the one in which a broken wheelbarrow must be used as a makeshift catapult-isn't nearly as difficult as getting Trico to cooperate. Timed sections are the worst; miss the narrow window in which Trico chooses to cannonball into a lake, temporarily raising its water level, and it's anybody's guess how long it may be before he willingly does so again. The game also poorly defines its objectives, so much so that sometimes the best thing for you to do is simply climb aboard Trico and see if he'll leap to some new perch, carrying you forward."

The Last Guardian critics opinion wrap up and analysis 12

Piecing out the What's Hot and What's Not from these opinion will be quite a task but it will be a rewarding one. Personally, it would be quite interesting to compare this analysis (more like a projection) with a possible future review from our gaming editor: Derek Strickland or Simon Hutchinson.

What's Hot

+ The heartfelt relationship and bond between The Boy and Trico

+ Intriguing story

+ Moments in the story that make your jaw drop

+ Clever Puzzles

+ Beautiful sceneries

+ Trico AI makes the creature feel alive

What's Not

- Clunky controls that might make you have a mental breakdown

- Puzzles require some surgical precision to solve them

- Odd camera issues from the era of PS2

- Trico AI can sometime be tricky and uncooperative

Let us know if you have pre-order the game and your first impressions of it down in the comment section down below.

The Last Guardian critics opinion wrap up and analysis 13
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