The Last of Us

Before I begin this review I've played other big name games, ranging in ratings that is. Such as The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, Batman Arkham City, Portal 2, etc. Never have I played a game so human though as The Last Of Us.

When the game first released I was too young to play, and it really felt bad having to wait to play. 6 years later here I am, got it for the PS4 and started playing. Was I ready for the emotional rollercoaster of the first 20 minutes? Nope. Was I ready for how absolutely mind blowing the game would be after that? Nope. Will I ever forget my experience with this game? Not for a second. This game really takes it home for me when it comes to big name games (listed up top). The characters are human and you can feel their every emotion, the story is so captivating and great pacing. The score by Gustavo Santaolalla is very suiting for this game. Everything about this game just lines up perfect. This game may just be the definition of masterpiece, not just in gaming, but period.

A must play to any human ever!

Leave it to a video game to produce the greatest zombie story since George Romero's Dawn of the Dead. Yes, the story is great. Yes, the voice acting is great. Yes, you get emotionally involved with the characters and everything that happens to them. With that said, though, The Last of Us is more than just a well-told story, it could very well be a sign of where the genre is headed, and if that's the case then colour me excited.

What I'm talking about, mainly is the emphasis on survival. In most zombie games, ammo is really the only resource you need to worry about, and more than often there seems to be enough of it. I'm not saying those kinds of zombie games are bad, but it really seemed like a cop-out when these games would continue to embrace a heavy action, FPS style of gaming. But what about the survival aspects? What about having to consistently gather food, weapons, various items, and find shelter? Why not makes these games about how far someone's will can take them, of how determined they are to survive and the things they're will to do in order to do that? The Last of Us aims to do just that.

While still an action game, it's definitely not a shoot-em up. While you collect various weapons throughout, mainly guns, ammo is extremely scarce. There is no guarantee that an enemy you kill will drop some ammo, and if they do it may not be for the gun you need it for. Sometimes they don't drop ammo at all, but instead supplies that can be used to craft other weapons. Even then, the amount of supplies that's dropped is never consistent, and if you don't have enough of one particular item it can mean the difference between crafting another weapon or health kit, and ultimately, your ability to survive. In short, The Last of Us encourages you to find new ways to kill or bypass your enemies in order to preserve your supplies for as long as possible. Though the game doesn't go as far as I've described in the last paragraph, The Last of Us definitely points towards that direction.

I'm also a fan of how involved other humans are in this game. It isn't simply one person or a few persons trying to sabotage you the whole way, you interact with a lot of people in this game, and it's because of that that it really grounds it. It doesn't simply become a game of Us Vs. the Infected, but instead, and a lot like in Romero's best Zombie films, it's mainly about the collapse of society, of people trying to carve a little spot for themselves in this New America, and striving to discover your purpose and worth amongst the chaos. It's so easy to make the zombies the villains in these games, but it's ultimately pointless because zombie's cannot reason. They are what they are and their nature must be accepted, for better or worse. Humans, on the other hand, can reason, and it's what they're capable of that is most frightening. The Last of Us gets that, and that's why it stands out.

With all of this said, there are some issues I have with the game, though not detrimental enough to cause any kind of dent in my rating, though they're issues non-the-less. I'm not the biggest fan of there being different types of zombies, as it just feels like the developers are purposely doing it to give gamers varying levels of difficulty in their encounters, which doesn't ring true to me. I'm also not a fan of how your allies interact with the zombies; so Clickers can kill you in one attack, but if they attack Ellie then she can withstand it for a longer period of time? There's just no consistency there.

Still, the good far out way those two quibbles of mine. The game is damn near flawless, from how the story is written and acted, to the mechanics and how the game is played, to the graphics and just how real and involved everything feels. Naughty Dog continues their success with this game, and the way it ends definitely calls for a sequel. It's one of the best games I've ever played, and I can't wait to see where they take the story next.

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).

I rate a ton of things on this site all the time, but I've never done an actual review. The Last of Us more than warrants one. I've never had a gaming experience quite like it. It transcends an average game.

The story is the meat and potatoes of this game. It will grab you in the opening scene and hold you throughout. You will come to care a lot about the characters and their struggles in this post-apocalyptic world. This game also contains some of the darkest topics ever touched by gaming. I won't go into any of them but know that it was a bold move and it paid off. Note that this game truly earns its M rating and is not for everyone.

The major reason that the story works so well is because it contains some of the greatest characters ever crafted in gaming. The characters feel so real and they face problems that are all too real. The voice work is as good as any I have ever seen. Hats off to Troy Baker as Joel and Ashley Johnson as Ellie for their exceptional performances. This game has made me a fan of both and I can't wait to see more work from them.

The gameplay is just as smooth as the Uncharted series, but it offers more of a chance for some variety and stealth. There is so much choice in the route and strategy you choose to take while going through this game. There are times when going guns a blazing will work, but those times are quite few. Stealth and scavenging are heavily encouraged.

The graphics are possibly the best that have ever graced the PS3. The amount of detail in the characters and the environment is incredible. The lighting, colors, and textures are very strong. There is no way to see everything in one playthrough...all the more reason to return.

This game is receiving near universal praise from both critics and gamers alike. A ton of perfect scores have been given out and they are certainly well earned. This game is a gritty experience the likes of which I have never played. I'm not a person who cries, but I am a thinker. This game has invoked a lot of deep thought since I finished it last night. It brings up a lot of issues and you won't be able to stop thinking, hmmm...would I have done that or been able to do that? There were times where I said yes and some where I had to say no. That is the true power of The Last of Us. It brings out feelings that gaming rarely succeeds in doing and it will get inside your mind. All in all, The Last of Us is a chilling masterpiece that sticks with you.

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.