The Last Guardian

Today, I'm going to interrupt my art blogging schedule to talk about the above video.  This is the 2009 E3 trailer for the Last Guardian, a game that, much to my agony and despair, hasn't actually come out yet.  Take five to enjoy it and then read on.

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The first thing I noticed about this trailer is how it grabs the viewer's attention with both surprise and suspense.  The initial surprise springs from the unexpected jarring of the viewer's sense of scale (comparing the blackbird to the now-enormous feather), followed by the giant clawed foot (with some, might I add, pretty darn flawless lighting).  Suspense follows, created by the drawn-out reveal of what Torico (the creature) actually looks like, and whether he is friend or foe.  Comparing the boy's sprint down the hallway to Torico smashing the guard fits perfectly, making it almost a surprise when the adorable griffin pulls the boy up instead of sending him to his fate.  The viewer is pulled in by wanting to know more about the characters, and is not disappointed.

In terms of mood-setting, the editing is perfect.  The clips highlighting the boy and Torico's boy-and-his-dog relationship and mechanics are definitely extremely contrasted against the enemy soldiers.  Calm, fun puzzle moments are edited with fading cuts, more violent encounters with sharp, staccato beats.  The music fits these editing choices flawlessly.

Most of all, the trailer shows off the capabilities of the game, and lets the viewer know what sorts of things to expect: feeding, swimming, puzzles, riding around on a giant chicken dog, sneaking around, and beating up mean men who want to kidnap the main characters.  It's presented in an engaging way, with gorgeous animation/lighting, happy music, and Torico, who is just adorable in every way possible.

There's a reason why, four years after this trailer aired, people still comment on it talking about how much they want the game to come out.  Without a good enough trailer to pull people in, my guess is that The Last Guardian would long be forgotten.  Luckily, it's memorable enough to keep gamers anxiously waiting, hoping and praying the title makes it way out of development hell.

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P.S. That's me talking about one of my favourite trailers.  However, I just can't help but tack this commercial on to the end.  Classic, even if it never aired in the States.