Latest PSM3 issue gets hands on with The Last Guardian

By Stephany Nunneley

The latest issue of PSM3 features a rather large spread on The Last Guardian, and according to the magazine, it was able to get hands-on with the Team Ico title and experience the “emotional interactions,” between the boy and Torico.

Thanks to the fellas over at GamersMint, you don’t have to go looking for the issue unless you really want to, as the site gleaned everything it possibly could from the Fumito Ueda feature for you.

Here’s what we know so far, thanks to GM:

• Guards in armor are actually shadows, when their armor glows, they can vanish.
• Team ICO has sought technical advice from all in-house Sony Studios wherever possible.
• The Last Guardian will be similar to Ico.
• The game we will not be as confined as in Ico.
• The game’s original music is not the one presented in the trailer. It’s just a test track being used.
• There will be less fighting sequences in TLG than in Ico.
• Torico-AI will focus on that moods and reactions to the environment. The game will be based on its relationship with the child to solve puzzles and explore the fortress.
• Torico can apparently eliminate the guards, the child however can’t do that (so he will be playing undercover when he is alone).
• Torico’s feathers, butterflies, dust, particles, everything is managed in real time, many great animations were all made by hand.
• Ueda, does not consider his work as art. It could go much, much further in the concept art but that would make it difficult for some fun and commercial viability of titles. He must find the right balance.
• Ueda didn’t reveal who the Last Guardian is, Torico or the boy. He said we’ll have to find out.
• Ueda has assured that the game will be released by the end of this year, at least in Japan.
• Ueda is wary not to make the game’s puzzles too difficult, however, he wants to maintain a good amount of challenge and hence they’re constantly beta-testing to measure the difficulty of puzzles and find the right balance.
• Ueda stated that he’s allowed to achieve things with the PS3 which he couldn’t manage to fulfill due to the tech on offer with PS2.
• Ueda would love the game to release on time, however he won’t rush things.

The Last Guardian is exclusive to PS3 and is scheduled for a holiday release in 2011. However, some UK retailers have it pegged for early October.