The Last Guardian
Bonus costumes
Successfully complete the game to unlock the Badge Of Honor for Trico and to be able to unlock outfits for the boy. Start a second playthrough and feed Trico the indicated number of barrels of food to unlock the corresponding outfit. The barrels can be found scattered across the game. You can view your progress towards unlocking outfits by pausing the game and selecting the “Items” option.
- Enduring Attire: 12 barrels of food
- Fine Featherpainter: 96 barrels of food
- Homecoming Costume: 24 barrels of food
- Horned Apparel ( ICO outfit): 48 barrels of food
- Warrior’s Clothes ( Shadow Of The Colossus outfit): 64 barrels of food
All Barrel locations
Search the indicated locations to find all 48 food barrels that can be feed to Trico. Feed Trico all 48 barrels to get the “Lock, Stock, And Barrel” trophy, and unlock outfits for the boy during your second playthrough. Note: There are no food barrels in Part 3: Sleeping Trico and Part 11: Trico vs. Trico.
Part 1: Meeting Trico
Food Barrel 1, 2, and 3: In the chamber where you find Trico chained up and wounded, there are three food barrels. One on both sides of the small ruin in the cave, and one in the gated room. Pull the switch to get the barrel inside.
Food Barrel 4 and 5: After leading Trico out of that chamber, you will enter a cave with light coming through the ceiling and illuminating a grassy area. Climb on top of Trico and jump onto the high ledge to throw both food barrels to Trico.
Food Barrel 6: After returning with the mirror, use it to clear the way on the higher ledge in the same chamber where food barrel 4 and 5 are found. Use Trico’s head to reach the higher ledge, then throw the barrel down to Trico.
Food Barrel 7, 8, and 9: Drop into the underground pool of water and turn left. There is a wooden barricade you can destroy with Trico and the mirror. Once the wooden barrier is gone, climb up the chain to find a crate with all three barrels. Push the crate down to break it open, then throw all three barrels out into the water for Trico.
Food Barrel 10: In the same water-filled cave chamber, use one of the previous three barrels to lead Trico toward the waterfall. Climb on top of Trico and jump to the green moss the boy can climb on the side of the rock walls, to the left of the waterfall. The last barrel in this chapter can be found at the top of this green climbing path.
Part 2: First Ruins
Food Barrel 1: After leaving the chasm and reaching metal gates where Trico cannot follow (but will still stick his head through the doorways), take the stairs up to find a hole in the ruins wall with a view of the chasm and the makeshift bridge. Call for Trico and he will jump into the hallway. Lead Trico down the stairs and use the mirror to destroy the debris at the cave-in to reveal the barrel.
Food Barrel 2: Use the previous food barrel to lead Trico into the larger room with the small doorways. There is a set of handholds only the boy can reach. Climb on Trico to jump to the ledges and climb up to reach an alcove with the barrel.
Food Barrel 3: After climbing out of the chamber where the second barrel was found, you will reach a cave at the top with a mineshift to the left. Enter this small alcove with a lit torch to find the barrel.
Food Barrel 4: Ride Trico as he jumps across large gaps through the canyon, stopping at a new large chamber with a stained-glass eye on the ledge to the left and a glowing-blue device ahead. As you take the steps up, look to the right for a narrow passage only the boy can squeeze into. The barrel is at the end of this path.
Food Barrel 5: From the fourth barrel, go up the stairs on the right. At the top, turn left (there is a gate here). Once the gate is open (by using Trico to reach the windows up higher and following the ledges to another window on the left), you can reach the final barrel in this chapter. It can be found down the hall from the gate switch.
Part 4: The Second Tower
Food Barrel 16: After completing the pots puzzle and reaching the second huge tower, climb the broken pillars. At the top, use Trico’s tail to climb up and reach the upper ledge. Climb up Trico and jump to the platform. The food barrel is found in the second alcove with three archways.
Food Barrel 17: This food barrel is very close to the previous one. Cross the dilapidated wooden bridge to find the barrel on the balcony. Do not feed it to Trico yet, as you will need it.
Food Barrel 18: After finding the previous barrel, continue until you reach a chamber with enemies. After defeating the Armors, look in the back-left corner from the entrance door after dropping down to find the barrel.
Food Barrel 19: After leaving the purple-tinted narrow passages filled with Armor, you will reach an exterior broken bridge with bright sunlight. There is one final Armor watching the bridge. Take it out, then follow the narrow path to the right. The barrel is at the end of the path, stuck in the rubble.
Food Barrel 20, 21, 22, and 23: After leaving the area with the broken bridge, you will need to crawl through a gate. Continue down and into the courtyard to find a crate with four food barrels on the right. Get Trico’s attention by pushing the crate, and it will break it open. This is the area where the boy learns how to issue commands for the first time.
Food Barrel 24: Proceed up and out of the previous chamber to enter a narrow passage that leads to a view of the broken bridge from earlier. Pull the switch, then look to the platform on the right (as you leave the hallway) to find the barrel is over there. You will need Trico’s help. Crawl on Trico, and when it stands tall, jump onto the high ledge to get the barrel.
Food Barrel 25: Jump over the broken bridge with Trico. On the other side, have Trico stand tall (and jump up) so the boy can reach a high spot on the arches to the right after leaping the gap. There is an easy-to-miss barrel up in this hidden area.
Food Barrel 26: Later in the dungeon, you will need Trico to pull a glowing blue chain. After pulling the chain tight, the boy will be able to get through a gate. Push a metal stopper down the ramp and wedge it beneath the gate so Trico can follow. The barrel is in an easily-visible alcove straight ahead from that gate.
Part 5: The Glass Eyes
Food Barrel 27: After pulling the switch and returning to the room with Trico, climb the ledges in the back right corner to find a hanging chain. Climb that hanging chain to reach a platform with the barrel.
Food Barrel 28 and 29: From the raised gate, lead Trico through the narrow hallway to get a view of the glass eye. On this rocky exterior, there is a high series of archways to the left when facing the glass eye. Lead Trico to the rocky wall where the arches meet. Get Trico to stand so the boy can jump onto the high platform where two barrels are hidden. You will also need to reach this platform so the boy can jump to the hanging cages.
Part 6: Another Trico
Food Barrel 30: Follow the set of train tracks from the gate, and look for a hole in the ground. Drop into the dilapidated floor beneath the tracks to find a very narrow crack in the stone wall. Squeeze into the dark passage to find the barrel at the end.
Part 7: The Branches
Food Barrel 31: While riding Trico down the large shaft after it saves the boy when he is stuck, jump off onto the ground floor and climb through the ruined area to find the barrel, which is required to progress.
Food Barrel 32: After the boy climbs up and around the ruins to disrupt the armors carrying glass eyes, opposite the balcony where the armor soldiers are located, there is a metal gate with missing bars. Crawl through the missing bars to find the barrel.
Food Barrel 33: Grab an armor head and proceed down into the hallway with headless armor suits that glow purple. Get close to the last armor suit on the right to activate it. Destroy it and enter the dark alcove behind it to get the barrel.
Food Barrel 34: When the boy is trapped in a cave with murky green water while Trico is on the wooden scaffolding above, climb out using Trico’s tail. In the room where you emerge, make Trico jump up two ledges to reach a large metal gate. Jump through the hole to get the barrel on the other side.
Food Barrel 35: After escaping the collapsing bridge, Trico will save the boy and leap across rocky ledges. You will eventually reach an arena. Clear the armors, then search for the barrel on the curved balcony overlooking the arena.
Food Barrel 36: To escape the arena, Trico will launch the boy using a wheelbarrow. At the top, open all the doors with the switches and take note of the armor helmet. Call Trico up through the upper-level door from the outside balcony, then attach the armor helmet to the soldier’s body to bringing it to life. Defeat the enemy with Trico, then get the barrel from the alcove hidden behind the armor.
Part 8: Escape
Food Barrel 37: When you drop into the shallow waterway from the narrow rock path, go to the area in the back-right corner to find the barrel.
Food Barrel 38: After using Trico to dive and swim underwater, you will appear in another enclosed cave with a metal gate at about water-level. Ignore that for now and look at the wall to the left of the gate to see a small door high on the ledge. Have Trico jump up to reach this small room with the barrel.
Food Barrel 39: After breaking out of the elevator the boy gets trapped in, grab the armor helmet and take it into the working elevator. Ride down and attach the head to the dormant armor soldier. The barrel can be found in the soldier’s alcove, behind the armor suit.
Part 9: The Depths
Food Barrel 40: From the elevator platform, you will find one remaining guard rail the boy can use to cross to the crumbled stairs. Use Trico to climb up the cave until you can squeezes through a narrow crack in the ceiling. Then, jump into the narrow path to the right in the rocky canyon and use the stairs to reach a room with the barrel.
Part 10: Taking Flight
Food Barrel 41: Once Trico flies and lands on the tower near the boy and he jumps to Trico, there will be a short cutscene. After the cutscene, go up the stairs, and enter the curved stairwell to the left. At the top, go up another set of stair to find the barrel.
Food Barrel 42 and 43: When Trico is wounded and lands on the interior ruin bridge, the boy will arrive to pull out the spears, but you both will tumble and fall down. Help Trico, and pick up the mirror that falls from Trico’s mouth to illuminate the stacked mine carts. Destroy the carts to find two barrels behind them.
Food Barrel 44 and 45: In the same area as the previous barrels, climb up the ruins to find a hanging chain. Jump to it and climb. At the top is a passage covered with rubble. Behind the rubble are two barrels.
Part 12: The White Tower
Food Barrel 46: While outside the huge white stone tower, use Trico (and the mirror) to target and destroy the four balconies where armor soldiers are throwing spears. After clearing the enemies, make Trico stand tall so the boy can jump up and enter the third balcony passage from the left to find the barrel inside.
Food Barrel 47: While outside the huge white stone tower, the boy will open the gate that leads to interior stairs. From that switch, run right and look down to find a secret ledge below with the barrel. Find the closest ledge to the platform you are standing on, then carefully lower the boy down using Trico’s tail.
Food Barrel 48: After riding the elevator to the upper levels of the tower, exit and explore the circle area. There are lots of broken barrels, but there is one barrel mixed in that is not broken.
All collectible locations
Search the indicated locations to find all 95 Hints, 48 Barrels, and 15 Trico Holes (158 total collectibles) and get the “All Talked Out”, “Collar”, and “Lock, Stock, And Barrel” trophies. Hints are audio comments you get when stuck in an area for a long time. The narrator will say 1-2 sentences. Note: Audio cues are not required for the “All Talked Out” trophy. Some hints take a long time to trigger — just wait in the area. It usually takes 5-60 minutes for the hint to appear. Sometimes certain actions are required (shown in video). If nothing triggers it after one hour, restart the checkpoint, try running around a little, then try with and without the shield in your hand. You can also sit down by pressing L3/R3, which sometimes makes the hints appear quicker. However, do not get confused, as doing this also instantly replays the last hint. A lot of the hints sound very similar. Sometimes just a few words are different. Barrels are food for Trico. After finding a barrel, you must feed it to him to make it to count. You can view the number of collected barrels in New Game+. Trico Holes are holes that Trico can put his head through. He does that when you go to an area where he cannot follow. He then sticks his head through the hole to see where you are going. Since there is no chapter select, all collectibles are missable. If you missed a collectible, you can still get it in the next playthrough. All collectible progress carries over into New Game+ and all subsequent playthroughs. You must reach the next checkpoint after finding a collectible. If you die or restart checkpoints, you must collect all unsaved items again.
Completing five hour speedrun with no deaths
Complete the game in five hours or less without dying to get the “Lightning Emissary” and “Untouchable Emissary” Gold trophies, “Fleet Emissary” Silver trophy, and “Spry Emissary” and “Though We Are Far Apart” Bronze trophies. Use the video below to help if you are stuck in an area or want to refresh your memory for the speedrun. It goes through all areas as fast as possible and shows only what is necessary to progress in the story. The five hour limit is not too difficult to complete. There is some room for error, but you cannot make too many mistakes. The following are tips for completing the game in under five hours and never dying:
- There is no way to view your in-game time. Use a stopwatch to keep track.
- Restarting checkpoints does not count as a death. Make use of this when you are about to die, miss a jump, or fall into the abyss.
- Getting eaten by Trico does not count as a death. He will eat you in the antenna rooms, which is part of the story and results in a cutscene.
- Back up your saved game (using a USB device or PS+ Cloud) whenever you have completed a section quickly. If you were slow, reload that save to try again. Go to PS4 Settings – Application Saved Data Management to backup and restore save games.
- Sometimes Trico glitches out and does not do what he is supposed to. The controls can also be difficult at some points. These are common problems and the biggest challenge in completing the game in five hours. You sometimes have to get lucky that Trico listens to your commands. If you are stuck for too long, reload your last backup save.
- When pausing the game, it is recommended to dashboard out to the XMB (press PS button after pausing). This is probably not needed, but it is the safest option since it will completely stop the game.
- There is no chapter select. This means the only way to practice is by reloading your backed-up save. Then, play the next section until you are satisfied with your speed. Reload the save from the USB/PS+ to practice the section again.
- The game keeps counting the time when you die (and does not reset the timer to last checkpoint). Dying can cost a lot of time if you have to repeat long sections. Always reload the backup save when you die.
- Pressing R1 + Triangle tells Trico to jump up. Face in the direction you want him to jump to. This is the command you will need the most. It only works after unlocking this skill a while after the first antenna.
Easy “Balancing Barrels” trophy
The best area to do this is at the start of the game. There are three barrels in the room where the game begins. Get two of them and stack them together. Drop one barrel on the ground by pressing X to drop it. Then, take the second barrel and drop it on the first one. When both barrels are stacked, lift them up by pressing Circle. Next, walk in a straight line for 10 meters to get the “Balancing Barrels” trophy. Walk slowly and do not turn around. The starting room is great for this because there is a lot of space and you can go there at any time by starting a new game.
Easy “Broad-Backed” trophy
This can only be done in one specific location. Approximately halfway through the game, you will reach a Coloseum, where you will get attacked by four enemies. After that, Trico must open a gate which reveals a cart. To progress in the game, you must push the cart to the middle of the arena, then let Trico propell you upwards where you can hold on to some metal. However, you do not want to hold on to the metal at the ceiling to get the “Broad-Backed” trophy. Place the cart close to the middle of the room, just outside the lighted area. Wait for Trico to step on the cart, and you should automatically land on his back. This is the only cart in the game and a very memorable location. You will know it when you see it. The cart is unmissable because you need it to progress in the story.
Easy “Cryptozoologist” trophy
This can be done on the tower at the very end of the game. The last few minutes of the story take place on top of a tower. You will get attacked by some enemy beasts. There are seven total beasts. Just jump on them and briefly climb in their feathers. Jump on all seven beasts to get the “Cryptozoologist” trophy.
Easy “Get Off My Back!” trophy
A great area to do this is after the first antenna room. You will encounter suits of armor for the first time. While they are in combat with Trico, you can jump on their backs. Use the following buttons: Press Triangle to jump at their back, and hold Circle while you jump. You must keep holding Circle. Then, press the Left Analog-stick left and right for a few seconds. When the enemy lifts up one leg, let go of the Analog-stick. Wait a moment (until he puts his leg down), and again press the Analog-stick left and right. Repeat this for 30 seconds to get the “Get Off My Back!” trophy. If Trico knocks over the enemy, you must restart the checkpoint. Alternatively, you can look for a single suit of armor at later points in the story (when Trico is not with you). After the enemy grabs you, quickly run around and jump on its back. It is easier to do this during combat since the enemies are focusing on Trico.
Easy “Keep On Running” trophy
There are three antenna rooms throughout the game. The antennas are blue glowing objects that will make Trico go crazy. He will then try to attack and eat you. Being eaten by him is required to progress in the story and results in a cutscene. However, you must evade him for three minutes without being eaten to get the “Keep On Running” trophy. Just keep running around him in large circles for three minutes. You can do this at any antenna. If you do get eaten before reaching the three minutes, quickly pause the game and restart the checkpoint.
Easy “Last-Minute Reprieve” trophy
During combat encounters, the suits of armor will try to carry you away. If Trico is nearby, he will help you and kill the enemy. The trick is to let the weak enemies grab you (brown armor). They die with one hit. The ones in white armor take three hits to kill and will not instantly die. A great farming spot to do this is at the end of the game, on your way up the last tower, where you will have the two largest enemy encounters in the game. Let some enemies grab you near Trico and wait for him to kill them. Then, restart the checkpoint before the battle ends and repeat the process until you get the “Last-Minute Reprieve” trophy. It can also be done over multiple playthroughs, as your progress carries over into New Game+.
Easy “Lifeline” trophy
This can be done after Trico learns to catch you with his tail, which happens automatically during the story. He will do this when you are about to fall to your death. This results in a short slow motion sequence. A good farming spot to do this is shortly after the tunnel collpases in the mines, which is relatively late in the game. After that happens, you must climb out, kill some enemies, and go to a bridge. After a climbing section, there will be a cutscene. The bridge will collapse and Trico will fly to a tower. While he hangs from the tower, you can farm this by climbing on Trico’s back and looking at his tail. Press X to fall down. You will see a slow motion sequence and he will catch you. Do this 10 times to get the “Lifeline” trophy. It only counts when there is a slow motion sequence during the fall. There are several other area like this throughout the game. Sometimes Trico will hang off a cliff or bridge. The same strategy applies, just fall off his back and he will catch you.
Easy “Losing Their Minds” trophy
Sometimes during combat, Trico will knock down the suit of armor enemies and they will not instantly die. They will usually stay on the floor for a few seconds before getting back up when this happens. While they are on the floor, walk up the them, hold Circle, and press the Left Analog-stick near their head to pull off their heads. Do this ten times to get the “Losing Their Minds” trophy. A great farming spot to do this is at the end of the game, on your way up the last tower, where you will have the two largest enemy encounters in the game. There are some stronger suits of armor (white armor) that can take up to three hits from Trico. Wait for one of them to get knocked on the ground and quickly pull off their head. Then, restart the checkpoint before the battle ends and repeat the process until you get the trophy. The game creates an automatic checkpoint after the fight. It can also be done over multiple playthroughs, as your progress carries over into New Game+.
Easy “That Hits The Spot” trophy
Sometimes when you encounter suits of armor, there are pots or food barrels on the floor. Throw them items at the enemies. You do not have to kill them with it, just hit them. A great farming spot to do this is shortly after the first antenna room. You will reach an area with four suits of armor and a barrel. Grab the barrel, throw it at one of the enemies, and immediately restart the checkpoint. Keeping repeating until you get the “That Hits The Spot” trophy. If Trico kills the enemies, it will create a checkpoint and you will have to start a new playthrough to reach this area again. Thus, make sure you restart the checkpoint as quickly as possible. This can also be done over multiple playthroughs, as your progress carries over into New Game+.
Trophies
Successfully complete one of the following tasks to get a trophy:
- The Last Guardian (Platinum): Collect all other trophies.
- Intensive Care (Gold): Remove all spears from Trico as quickly as possible.
- Keep On Running (Gold): Avoid Trico for 3 minutes or longer when he goes wild in an antenna room.
- Lightning Emissary (Gold): Reach the end of the game in 5 hours or less.
- Lock, Stock, and Barrel (Gold): Give Trico every single barrel.
- Losing Their Minds (Gold): Defeat 10 or more suits of armour by removing their heads.
- The Call of Nature (Gold): Catch Trico… in the act.
- Untouchable Emissary (Gold): Reach the end of the game without a game over.
- All Talked Out (Silver): Hear every hint.
- Balancing Barrels (Silver): Move 10 metres while carrying 2 or more stacked barrels.
- Beast Friends Forever (Silver): Paint Trico’s entire body.
- Dressed for the Fest (Silver): Collect all of the boy’s costumes and equip them.
- Fleet Emissary (Silver): Reach the end of the game in 15 hours or less.
- Get Off My Back! (Silver): Cling onto a suit of armour’s back for 30 seconds or longer.
- Lifeline (Silver): Saved from falling by Trico’s tail 10 or more times.
- Broad-Backed (Bronze): Land on Trico’s back after being propelled upwards from a cart.
- Collar (Bronze): Make Trico put his head in every hole.
- Cryptozoologist (Bronze): Touch all enemy beasts.
- Last-Minute Reprieve (Bronze): Have Trico defeat 20 or more suits of armour while they are carrying the boy.
- Practice Makes Perfect (Bronze): Have Trico catch a thrown barrel in mid-air 20 times.
- Spry Emissary (Bronze): Reach the end of the game in 30 hours or less.
- That Hits the Spot (Bronze): Hit suits of armour with 20 or more barrels or pots.
- Though We Are Far Apart (Bronze): Play the game all the way to the end.
- Thundering Wonder (Bronze): Defeat 20 or more suits of armour with Trico’s lightning.