Oh boy, who'd have thought that we'd still be talking about The Last Guardian in 2016? Formally announced in 2009, it was confirmed to be in development well before that, yet ended up completely dropping off the map altogether after its initial unveiling. With rumours swirling around the reasons for its media blackout and the game's initial developers seemingly departing from Sony not long after, around 2011 everyone assumed this fabled Team ICO release had been quietly canned. Of course, with its grand re-unveiling in 2015 this clearly wasn't the case. However, for once it's not a troubled development history that might lessen The Last Guardian's impact when it lands this year, but simply how much the entire video game industry has changed since it was first shown. Like many reporters who commented on the game last year said, the type of sentimental, narrative-driven experiences that Team Ico provided in the early 2000s paved the way for the likes of Journey and other indie games that have since stolen our hearts over the past decade. In 2016, Team Ico's titles no longer stand in strong isolation against a sea of faceless shooters and racers, but provide an experience that's no longer very unique to see in the gaming world - especially considering the swathes of indie releases and experimental games that have come since. Which upcoming game do have a worry for that you just can't shake? Let us know in the comments!
