The Last of Us

The overall zombie/post-apocalyptic/infected/dystopian story may be somewhat trite, yet that doesn't halt The Last of Us from being one of the best and most cinematic video game experiences ever.

You can see multiple filmic influences throughout the game, 28 Days Later, The Road, Dawn of the Dead, Pontypool, Rec, The Road Warrior.

You play the game as two (soul) survivors, a hard boiled man who's lost everything and a cocky young girl who just may have the solution to save the world.

It's very much like interacting in a live action film rather than just playing a game. These feel like real people and not just game characters.

Looking forward to the inevitable sequel(s).

My The Last of Us review I'm so overwhelmed by this game right now. This game is like a delicious meal. When it ends you want so bad to have more of it but in some other way you are the most satisfied human being in the planet.

The graphics are so amazing I can't even digest it. The story is so well done that I was left teary. And thinking about the ending is surprisingly just as deep as analyzing a good movie. I'm gonna talk about the ending later so keep on with me (haha). Where to start... OK.

This game tells the story of a man with a mission. He has to go across a post-apocalyptic America to deliver a little girl to a rebel group of survivors. As I came aware that it was involving a rebel group holding against the government I was worried. I said to myself "Oh, this is so cliché!". But I was wrong. And I have to mention this was just a meaningless worry still having in my mind the amazing prologue that I just witnessed. The setting the gameplay and the execution of what envelopes is superb in the prologue and in the whole game in general.

The game is divided by seasons (I know, it's weird but awesome). and every season ends with something big. My favorite I think might be winter but it's hard to pick one because they all are amazing! But I'm just gonna go with winter now. The pacing and the way they are told and experienced are awesome.

Now... what most gamers were worried about...! The gameplay. Let me say this. This game... has the most fluid and satisfying gameplay that I have ever experienced. The way the gameplay combines with the atmosphere and story is done masterfully. It has a level of intensity to it that hits you right in the brain's sweet spot. You have to carefully walk through dark hallways and smartly plan what to waste and what to spare. The brutality of the combat also makes it engaging and sometimes disturbing, like when you are choking the life out of an enemy. In Uncharted you just went "snap" with the dude's neck and you were done, here you see Joel's face struggling to keep a grip, and the victim's eyes starting to loose it as he claws for Joel's face.

There was good variety in the enemies and very few and minimal glitches that I encountered.

OK, now let's get into the graphics. These are easily the best graphics that I have seen on a console. They are smooth, detailed and very beautiful. There were a few scenes with animals in them and they are jaw dropping. (Yes, even the rabbit.) Oh and the lighting. Haha man the lighting. The shadows the reflections and the beautifully animated dynamic lighting make this game shine. (No pun intended) The cherry on top of all of this must be the ending. I understand that some didn't like it because of it's abruptness but for me it was deep, dark and let's say, real! I spent easily a day thinking and analyzing these characters (specially Joel at the end) to really understand this character's complex payoff! I mean, what game does this! I can really think of critically acclaimed movies that go toe to toe with this game.

This game is a masterpiece of our time. Everyone must experience it and it should be taken from now on as a reference to what the gaming industry is capable of and how it has already reached the heights of film depth and quality. I'm giving The Last of Us a 10 out of 10.

Thanks for reading! Have a good day!

I know this has almost become clichéd on IMDb but the greatness of this game has indeed caused me to write my first and only review. The Last Of Us is a unique game which captures the fragility of our social structure and demonstrates the brutality that some people are capable of. Don't pay any attention to nonsensical reviews by critics such as Polygon's Phillip Kollar who argues criticisms such as 'the game isn't fun' as it was never meant to be. The world that the game is based in isn't fun and this has been further emphasised by every trailer and demo that had been revealed prior to game's release. When playing on normal i felt like almost every encounter could be my last and i was equally terrified by the fact that Naughty Dog wouldn't hold back in showing just what the consequences of failure are. The game rather than focusing on horror revolves around the relationship between Joel and Ellie and this is masterfully complimented by the score which was composed by two-time Oscar Award winner, Gustavo Santaolalla.

The game-play is reminiscent of Uncharted as it uses the same engine however it is much more down to Earth; focusing on small-scale firefights or stealth to navigate through levels. However, one small downside I found was that the AI for followers/companions would often act obstructive or perform actions like running right in-front of eight people you may have spent 10 minutes sneaking past and for some reason not even warranting a reaction.

The story may be (inspite of some tiny detail over-sights which you may or may not notice as they linger in the back) quite possibly the greatest asset to this game. It is so well structured and directed by Neil Druckmann that it is hard to believe that this was his directorial debut. The game leaves a long lasting impression on you long before you're even halfway through the game and a series of events in the game leave your jaw hanging and your eyes teary.

The game is well presented and ammo is scarce; helping to emphasise the survival-orientated objective of the game. The multi-player is far from just a distraction as although it could still be a little more refined it has an interesting concept.

In conclusion, this game is absolutely amazing and it is hard to argue that the storyline isn't one of the best in gaming. I'd like to point out that I am a hardcore gamer and in the 15+ years of gaming I have only previously used the word 'Masterpiece' for four titles: Zelda: Ocarina of Time, FFVII, Half-Life 2, and more recently Bioshock: Infinite. I can whole-heartedly say that The Last Of Us is a Masterpiece in every sense of the word.

Pros:

• Amazingly Great story & characters
• Great gameplay
• Great ending
• Amazing graphics
• Companions are very helpful
• Great cinematics and cutscenes
• A-grade voice acting and animation
• Diverse level design
• Effective horror elements
• Online is also not bad

Cons:

• none

Verdict: Emotional and deep, this is might be the best game I've ever played on all consoles.

10/10

When The Last Of Us was first announced I knew it would be a cut above most games but I didn't know it would be this good! For me Naughty Dog has had a flawless track record, with Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter and Uncharted all possessing unique qualities. However, The Last Of Us manages to raise the bar set by all of these games, setting the bar for video game excellence, as we head into the next generation.

The story is an absolute masterpiece, with the best voice acting in the industry on display. It's this voice acting from Troy Baker as Joel and Ashley Johnson as Ellie, that gives this story all of its emotional weight and therefore, its momentum. Troy Baker does an excellent job of portraying a man on the edge, who's wiling to do anything to survive and to protect those that he cares about. However, it's Ashley Johnson who steals the show, perfectly portraying a badass teenager whose had to mature fast in order to survive. The relationship between these characters develops beautifully, providing you with an unparallelled sense of attachment to the characters. This relationship, is partly shaped by these two characters encounters with fellow survivors, with all the supporting cast doing a brilliant job, particularly Nolan North. Last but certainly not least, the score is by an academy award winning composer and it shows, as this is the finest soundtrack for any game and is an integral part of the story.

The gameplay is pretty similar to that of Uncharted, with refinements made to the shooting system, which ensure that all your shots register. The crafting system is excellent, giving you incentive to explore in order to better equip yourself for upcoming engagements. These engagements are unparallelled in video game history, as engagements with the infected create a real sense of fear and your ability to advance in the story, is determined by how you choose to engage enemies. Clickers and Bloaters are the toughest enemies and the freedom to choose between stealth and aggression, is much appreciated. Graphically, the game is stunning, adding that extra bit of realism to proceedings, as you get swept up in the environments. Finally, the most impressive gameplay feature is the dynamic speech. Whether it be conversations between Joel and Ellie about ice cream and whistling or Ellie telling you that you nailed an enemy, all of the dynamic speech contributes greatly to your investment in these characters, highlighting how Naughty Dog continues to innovate effectively.

Ultimately, The Last Of Us is a masterpiece and Naughty Dog should be commended for showing the world that the gaming medium can be considered art, just like the movie and TV mediums. The unprecedented voice acting, story and fear on display, all contribute to a beautiful game which opens in cinematic fashion and which ends, boldly and beautifully. The Last Of Us differentiates itself well from other story's in the over-saturated zombie genre, making it a must buy and the game of the generation.