The Next Save Point

Via NeoGAF (and many other outlets by now), footage of the next Team Ico game has been making the rounds on the internet. According to sources at NeoGAF, this is only concept footage, not actual game footage, and it’s rather unpolished. It was shown internally quite some time ago and the final game will not entirely resemble it.

Take a look.

In spite of being unpolished, it’s a truly stunning video. The griffon-like creature is heart-meltingly adorable, and the potential for breathtaking visuals and fascinating gameplay via interaction between the boy and the creature is mind-boggling. And since it’s Team Ico, you know there will be something that evokes a strong emotional response in the end. It combines the two-character interaction of Ico with the large creatures of Shadow of the Colossus. As a fan of both of those games, I am simultaneously filled with awe, hope, and dread. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of beautiful experience Team Ico will present, but I’m worried that the creature will be hurt or killed somewhere along the way, as these things tend to go.

I have an extreme dislike for rumors and speculation. I also tend to take information from NeoGAF — a haven for cynics and misanthropes — not completely seriously. But considering that a picture of the chain was used in a job recruitment ad for Team Ico last year, the footage appears legit.