Fumito Ueda's Work: Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian and Ico. Unusual Games and What's Next

In December 2024, a new project from genDESIGN was announced. Although the game still has no name, this event excited fans of Fumito Ueda, who is heading the development. We remember him for such masterpieces as Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and The Last Guardian. Our article is dedicated to the creative path of the Japanese game designer and his bright creations.

Immediately after graduating from the Osaka University of Arts, 23-year-old Fumito got a job at Sega. In 1993, it was considered one of the leaders of the console race and the main competitor of Nintendo. Ueda's first work was a port of the horror D for Saturn. Then he took up the horror Enemy Zero. In both cases, the hero of our article acted as an animator for 3D models and CGI videos.

However, the guy's ambitions were much broader — he wanted to develop his own games. In 1997, he left Sega and got a job at Sony, which by that time had seized the initiative in the console market.

At a meeting with Sony representatives, Fumito showed his idea in the form of a three-minute video. It shows a boy and a girl holding hands and overcoming various obstacles, while they are pursued by aggressive creatures that resemble robots. Majestic castles, endless plains, mountains and islands can be seen in the background. Moreover, according to the guy's plan, these are not just decorations, but full-fledged levels where the game will unfold. The interesting concept combined with the enthusiasm of the young developer was liked by the producers, and they agreed to finance Ueda's plans. The game, which was called Ico, was supposed to be released on the first PlayStation. However, in the end, the development dragged on, and the project appeared only in 2001 on the brand new PS2.

At first glance, Ico may seem too simple. There are no hundreds of characters, complex gameplay or a well-thought-out plot with long cutscenes. One type of opponents, linear levels, minimal opportunities for interaction with the environment. Moreover, this is not the developers' laziness or a forced step, but a conscious decision by Fumito. He decided to get rid of everything unnecessary in order to focus on the main thing — overcoming obstacles, puzzles and interactions between the main characters.

To advance further along the level, it was necessary to use the skills of the boy Iko and the girl Yorda. The guy knows how to fight with a stick or a sword, so he protects his companion from the shadows that pursue her. In addition, it was necessary to help her climb large ledges and periodically lead the beauty by the hand. The player who controls Iko involuntarily becomes sympathetic to the girl.

It is important to note that in Ico, behind a simple action platformer, there was a game with an amazing atmosphere. It gave what was happening a special meaning and created the illusion that the project was deeper than it seemed at first glance. This effect works even today, although 23 years have passed since the project was released.

The game repeated the fate of many of the author's creations — it collected rave reviews from the press, but failed miserably in sales. 700 thousand copies for a PS2 exclusive are not at all the numbers that Sony could count on after 4 years of development. However, the company's management agreed to allocate money for another Ueda project.

Although the gameplay of Shadow of the Colossus differs from Ico, it was created using similar principles. Despite the large open world, there are no additional tasks, opponents or secondary characters with whom you can have conversations. Only the main character, his faithful horse and the only task — to exterminate local bosses, one by one. But the devil is in the details.

The very first video sets the right mood. A guy named Vander brings the body of the dead girl Mono to the temple. To bring her back to life, the warrior needs to kill sixteen colossi. The mysterious inhabitant of this place will tell you where to find the next giant. If you complete his task, you will be treated to a delightful ending to the whole story, which is surprising, but at the same time completely fits into the logic of what is happening.

Fumito creates an interesting dissonance. The music, the movements of the colossi and, especially, their big sad eyes seem to hint to us that these stone monsters are not guilty of anything. The hero who attacks them is perceived as a villain, despite his noble goal. Moreover, the game's picture resembles a watercolor painting, and the distant mountains make you remember the works of the artist Nicholas Roerich. All this creates a stunning atmosphere that echoes what we saw in Ico.

But if Ueda's first project cannot be called outstanding in terms of gameplay, then Shadow of the Colossus offered a new gaming experience. Each boss is not just a big guy with a large health bar. You need to find his weak points and hit them with a sharp sword. Moreover, one colossus flies, so you need to jump on his back when he gets close. Another attacks with a stone structure that you can climb up. There are giants that swim, jump like riding animals, or even represent a huge statue. As a result, each battle is perceived as a kind of puzzle.

But not a single battle can be called simple. Even when the player knows exactly what he needs to do, it can be difficult to implement the plan. Colossi resist, try to throw the hero off their back, or develop high speed, hoping that Wander will not be able to hold on.

Unlike Ico, Shadow of the Colossus was a commercial success. Later, both games were released on PlayStation 3, and specifically "Colossi" also received a remake for PS4. If you want to check out the project today, we recommend buying the 2018 reissue.

Immediately after the release, Fumito received the go-ahead to create a new masterpiece. The author was criticized for spending too much time on development, so this time they wanted him to complete his task as quickly as possible. Ironically, instead of the 4 years that were required for Shadow of the Colossus and Ico, The Last Guardian was created over the course of a whole decade.

Initially, Fumito's third project was conceived as a PS3 exclusive. However, the game designer did not manage to complete the development during its life cycle. It took several more years to port the game to PlayStation 4. It only appeared on store shelves in December 2016.

This time, we control a boy who made friends with a giant creature named Trico. Outwardly, it resembles a cross between a bird and a cat. At first, the animal is indifferent to the hero, but over time it becomes sympathetic to the guy, and a friendship develops between them. Moreover, the animal behaves surprisingly naturally and realistically. You want to take care of him, especially when he gets into trouble. As the game progresses, we begin to perceive Trico as our own. Anyone who has a cat or dog will see familiar features of their pet in Trico and quickly begin to understand his mood.

The Last Guardian evokes different emotions — from tenderness and delight to sadness. For example, the animal itself does not seem so big and formidable when it encounters other representatives of its species. And at the end of the story, you will find it difficult to hold back a tear.

In terms of gameplay, we have a puzzle with action elements. The boy does not know how to fight the guards, so he is forced to look for a way to defeat them with the help of the environment or the animal's skills. Riding the animal, you will overcome obstacles and travel long distances, for example, fly over chasms. But from time to time, Trico himself needs help from the main character.

You might have noticed that Fumito changed the gameplay every time, but always relied on a thick atmosphere. Judging by the trailer, this time Ueda's game will take place in a sci-fi setting, with space flights and huge robots. Fans are waiting for a new adventure through mysterious places. The release date has not yet been announced.

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Have you played Fumito Ueda's games? Or is this the first time you've heard of them? Share your opinions in the comments!