[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.07,0:00:09.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Last Guardian is the third game to be\Ndirected by this clever chap. He's called
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.99,0:00:15.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fumito Ueda and he's the Japanese designer\Nresponsible for three pretty important games.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.31,0:00:20.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's Ico, which is about forging a friendship\Nwith a girl. Next came Shadow of the Colossus,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.88,0:00:25.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is about toppling giant mythological\Nbeasts. And now there's The Last Guardian,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.78,0:00:30.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which cleverly rounds off this triptych by\Nbeing a game about forging a friendship with
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.22,0:00:33.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a giant mythological beast. Called Trico.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.13,0:00:38.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the reaction to this game has been, shall\Nwe say... mixed, with plenty of disagreement
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.48,0:00:43.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the clumsy controls, annoying input\Nlag, clunky physics, patronising hints, omnipresent
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.50,0:00:46.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,button prompts, tedious puzzles, and so on.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.42,0:00:50.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But one thing most gamers can agree on is\Nthat this game does a pretty stellar job of
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.61,0:00:54.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depicting a bond between the boy, and Trico.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.28,0:00:59.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in this video, I want to show how Ueda,\Nand his team at genDesign, achieved this relationship
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.88,0:01:05.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not through lengthy cutscenes or dialogue\N- but, instead, through the unique language
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.68,0:01:07.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of video games.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.06,0:01:20.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to start by looking at combat because while it's not a significant part of the game it
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.43,0:01:25.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,offers a convenient way of comparing The Last Guardian to other games that feature a companion character
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.99,0:01:30.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, back in the day, a companion often meant\Na dreaded "escort mission", which is where
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.95,0:01:36.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the player has to protect another character.\NLike how Monkey needs to keep Trip alive in
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.28,0:01:37.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Enslaved, because...
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.74,0:01:41.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,TRIP: If I die, you die
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.96,0:01:44.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,MONKEY: Argh!
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.35,0:01:49.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This means the player has to do everything.\NMonkey has to look after himself, and kill
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.28,0:01:53.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all the robots, and look after Trip, who can't\Nattack enemies and can be killed if you don't
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.56,0:01:54.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,look after her.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.59,0:01:58.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It makes for an interesting dynamic, but a\Nlot of players found this style of gameplay
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.89,0:02:04.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stressful and frustrating. Trip is, I should\Nsay, one of the better ones because she hides well
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.70,0:02:06.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and can survive one robot attack.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.88,0:02:12.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But anyway, in an attempt to fix this frustration,\Na more recent trend has seen the rise of invincible
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.41,0:02:16.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,companions, like Elizabeth in Bioshock Infinite\Nwho cannot be killed in combat, so you only
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.98,0:02:20.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,need to look out for yourself and the enemies.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.01,0:02:24.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a very simple fix, really. And it certainly\Navoids any frustration. But it does create
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.95,0:02:30.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a nagging disconnect between what's happening\Nin the story, and what's happening in the gameplay.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.27,0:02:34.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BOOKER: You think people like that are just gonna\Nlet you walk away? You are an investment,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.62,0:02:38.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you will not be safe till you are far\Naway from here.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.07,0:02:42.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think she'll be fine, dude. I mean,\Ngoing by the combat, Elizabeth is not only
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.35,0:02:47.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,invincible but is actually protecting Booker,\Nas she finds him ammo, offers up her ability
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.07,0:02:52.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to pull in machine guns from an alternate dimension,\Nand even brings him back from the dead.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.20,0:02:57.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course, we can just write this all off\Nas goofy video game logic but what Fumito
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.13,0:03:02.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ueda has always understood is that video games\Nspeak most loudly through their design. And
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.03,0:03:08.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he uses this to explore themes and tell stories,\Nalmost entirely through gameplay.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.17,0:03:12.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The game Ico doesn't need to tell us that\Nit's a game about a boy protecting a girl.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.79,0:03:18.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We get to experience it ourselves, as Yorda\Nis frail and vulnerable during combat, and
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.41,0:03:21.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the invincible Ico has to save her at every\Nturn.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.90,0:03:27.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Last Guardian is the mirror image of Ico,\Neffectively putting you in the role of Yorda.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.10,0:03:31.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The boy can't defeat the magic soldiers, and\Nwill die if he's taken into a spooky door.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.81,0:03:36.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Trico, on the other hand, is invincible and\Nmassively effective in combat.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.26,0:03:40.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, we feel vulnerable when we're alone,\Nand thankful for Trico's company when he saves
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.97,0:03:42.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,us from danger.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.32,0:03:47.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In all of Ueda's games, combat is not just\Nsomething to do to pass time between the story
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.54,0:03:52.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bits. The roles that the characters take in\Ncombat tell us so much of what we need to
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.19,0:03:55.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,know about their relationship to one another.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.84,0:03:59.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Outside of combat, The Last Guardian shows\Nus that this is, actually, an interdependent
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.85,0:04:04.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,relationship, where Trico needs the boy, just\Nas much as the boy needs Trico.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.62,0:04:10.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think a stronger bond is forged when\Nboth parties help each other. That's why Enslaved
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.32,0:04:16.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,narrowly escapes the escort mission trap,\Nas Monkey ultimately relies heavily on Trip,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.07,0:04:18.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to create distractions and hack stuff.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.94,0:04:23.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are lots of examples of this in The\NLast Guardian, such as the boy petting Trico's
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.00,0:04:28.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,back after a fight to calm it down, or him\Nfinding it barrels of food. But let's focus
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.47,0:04:31.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on these stained glass eyes.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.38,0:04:36.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whenever Trico spots one, the creature becomes\Nparalysed with fear, and it won't move forward
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.40,0:04:42.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until the boy has found a way to smash or\Nremove the eye.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.03,0:04:46.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This gives the boy a chance to protect Trico. And it shows how the two characters
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.47,0:04:52.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are strong in different ways. Trico is powerful\Nin combat, while the boy excels in platforming
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.04,0:04:53.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and puzzle solving.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.04,0:04:57.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this also establishes some pretty clear-cut\Nrules: the boy can't defeat enemies without
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.57,0:05:02.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Trico, and Trico can't advance until the boy\Ndestroys these stained glass eyes.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.30,0:05:06.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Rules like this help you understand how the\Ngame works. So when you reach a room like
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.03,0:05:10.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this, you know exactly what it all means. There's\Na stained glass eye, which the boy needs to
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.98,0:05:15.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,remove, but he's going to need to go through\Nthese enemies, without Trico, to approach it.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.14,0:05:20.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's tense and nerve-wrecking, but it feels\Ngood when the glass has been smashed and Trico
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.09,0:05:25.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can join the fight.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.27,0:05:29.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then I got to this bit. Two soldiers are\Nblocking this window by holding up shields,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.62,0:05:35.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,made from stained glass. I knew what it meant,\Nand I knew what to do. I needed leave Trico,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.53,0:05:39.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sneak around, shove the baddies off the ledge,\Nand let the beast through.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.39,0:05:46.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Except, I rushed in, dropped down, and got\Nambushed by soldiers. I struggled free, and
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.26,0:05:51.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ran up the slope, and shoved one soldier\Ndown before being grabbed again.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.56,0:05:56.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I knew, at that moment, that I was screwed.\NThe boy can't fight these soldiers and Trico
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.00,0:06:02.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can't help because of the shields. Rules are\Nrules. It's over. And then this happened.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.52,0:06:06.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh. Yeah.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.67,0:06:11.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The game wanted to show me that the relationship\Nhad advanced to the point that the boy's safety
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.80,0:06:16.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was more important to Trico, than its own\Nfear of the stained glass eyes.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.15,0:06:20.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And to do that, it broke a clearly established,\Nmechanical rule. Which are supposed to be
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.99,0:06:24.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these unbreakable, static... well, rules.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.77,0:06:30.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And to me, this made it more impactful than,\Nsay, the bit in The Last of Us where, after
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.20,0:06:34.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,establishing that Ellie, another invincible\Ncompanion, shouldn't use a gun
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.48,0:06:37.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,JOEL: Uh uh.\NELLIE: What? I need a gun
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.88,0:06:43.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,JOEL: No you don't.\NELLIE: Joel. I can handle myself.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.59,0:06:44.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,JOEL: No
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.59,0:06:48.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She then shoots a guy to save Joel.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.68,0:06:52.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's a really good cutscene and strong storytelling.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.05,0:06:54.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ELLIE: I shot the hell out of that guy, huh?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.05,0:06:57.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I think the moment in The Last Guardian is actually stronger.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.76,0:07:02.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because, and this is gonna get a bit arty\Nfarty but stick with me. It's clear that each
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.17,0:07:08.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,artistic medium has its own unique language.\NPainting uses the language of shape and colour.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.13,0:07:13.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Music is an exploration of sound. Literature\Nuses the language of, well, language. And
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.74,0:07:15.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,film is about moving images.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.61,0:07:20.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And video games can, of course, use all of\Nthis stuff. But what makes the medium unique
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.07,0:07:26.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is interaction. Things like mechanics, rules, and systems you can poke at are the language of video games
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.44,0:07:31.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- and so where Naughty Dog is largely borrowing\Nfrom film to tell the story of Joel and Ellie,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.66,0:07:34.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by using mechanics and rules to tell their story,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.96,0:07:39.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Last Guardian is an artistic work,\Nin the medium of video games.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.66,0:07:43.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Last of Us does gets some bonus points\Nfor making Ellie become a more formidable
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.48,0:07:47.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,character in the combat sequences, following\Nthat important cinematic.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.44,0:07:49.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ELLIE: You're welcome.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.60,0:07:55.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anyway. This moment is all part of Ueda's\Nplan to sell Trico as a real creature, rather
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.74,0:08:01.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than a predictable and flawlessly programmed\Nvideo game tool. We can see this in the incredibly
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.52,0:08:06.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lifelike animations and in familiar moments\Nwhere, say, Trico hesitates to jump into the water.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.92,0:08:16.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this is also where the game's most controversial\Ndecision crops up, as Trico does not immediately
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.02,0:08:18.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and reliably listen to the player's commands.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.95,0:08:24.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ueda says "When the boy calls Trico, we could have\Nmade Trico come immediately, like clockwork.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.49,0:08:28.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if we did that, Trico would not seem like\Nan independent creature. It wouldn't seem
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.42,0:08:31.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like it was alive and making its own decisions."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.32,0:08:36.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, you have to be patient, and learn\Nto understand Trico's sounds and body language.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.58,0:08:40.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plus, according to players on Reddit, the\Nway you interact with Trico can impact its
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.99,0:08:47.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,loyalty and responsiveness. All of those wonderful interactions with Trico, like removing
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.00,0:08:51.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,spears, tending to its wounds, finding food,\Nand petting it can all make the creature a
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.74,0:08:53.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,better companion.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.38,0:08:57.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In a way, this all sounds like another great\Ndecision to use gameplay mechanics to show
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.69,0:09:02.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the relationship between the boy and Trico.\NWe see that this is an animal, and that the
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.95,0:09:07.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,boy can't rely on Trico like he could a human.\NAnd by building a system where certain interactions
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.94,0:09:13.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,change Trico's behaviour, we can explore,\Nas players, what it's like to love or mistreat
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.71,0:09:14.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an animal.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.71,0:09:18.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that is cool. But isn't always fun.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.32,0:09:22.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is a unique challenge of being a\Ngames designer who is interested in making
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.61,0:09:27.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a game that says something interesting. Similar\Nto our discussion on Dark Souls, where Miyazaki
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.70,0:09:32.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has to sacrifice certain players because those\Ngames wouldn't be as meaningful without their
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.96,0:09:34.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,intense level of difficulty.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.30,0:09:40.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this instance, making systems and mechanics\Nthat are both enjoyable and charged with meaning
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.10,0:09:44.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a brutally difficult balancing act, and\None that Fumito Ueda boldly attempts with
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.01,0:09:45.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every game he makes.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.76,0:09:50.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whether he succeeds or fails is ultimately,\Nup to each individual player. Sorry, that's
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.07,0:09:54.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a cop out. But for my money, I'm glad there are developers like Ueda out there,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.02,0:09:58.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at least willing to take these risks to do\Nsomething a bit... different.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.32,0:10:02.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Last Guardian is about a relationship\N- and not just in the cutscenes, or in tiny
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.96,0:10:08.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,scraps of dialogue between fights. Everything,\Nfrom the roles in combat, to the way you solve
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.59,0:10:13.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,puzzles, to vignettes that are set up by the\Ngame's rules - it's all there to say something
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.43,0:10:18.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,interesting, and we get to explore that as\Nplayers - because it's said through the unique
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.15,0:10:21.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,language of video games.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.80,0:10:29.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hi everyone. Thanks for checking out this\Nvideo. I'd love to hear your thoughts on The
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.45,0:10:34.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Last Guardian in general in the comments below.\NThis has been a very divisive game and I'm
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.23,0:10:38.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,curious to know how it's landed with all you\Nguys out there. Game Maker's Toolkit is now
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.52,0:10:44.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,entirely powered by Patreon, which is fantastic.\NThe people on screen are those who have pledged
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.84,0:10:46.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,five bucks or more.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.91,0:10:50.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,While these names are scrolling past, I wanted\Nto take a moment to talk about a few more
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.63,0:10:55.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,games that do an excellent job of speaking\Nthrough their mechanics.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.17,0:11:00.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Indie games are especially brilliant at this. Undertale is a game that tells us a lot about the game's
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.60,0:11:06.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wacky cast of characters through the way they\Nfight. Papers, Please lets us poke and prod
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.33,0:11:12.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at a system to reveal a message about bureaucracy\Nand corruption. And Brothers tells an amazing
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.10,0:11:16.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,story of two siblings pretty much entirely\Nthrough gameplay that I wish I could say more
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.32,0:11:20.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about but all the good stuff is in spoiler\Nterritory so just go buy it.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.49,0:11:25.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, while you're here, check out my earlier\Nvideo on Fumito Ueda's philosophy of Design
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.34,0:11:29.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by Subtraction, where he removes everything\Nthat doesn't contribute to the game's core
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.91,0:11:34.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,idea. You can definitely apply that to The Last\NGuardian. so maybe give that a rewatch now
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.81,0:11:35.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you've played his third game.