Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Add Reply
The Last of Us
Topic Started: Jul 1 2013, 10:44 AM (182 Views)
TheGreg
Administrator
Is it possible we are entering a golden age of cinematic video games?

Just like Bioshock Infinite before it, The Last of Us tells a story that exceeds anything I’ve seen in theaters so far this year.

It is a gripping and emotional piece of cinematic and interactive storytelling. The Last of Us is a cross between The Road and The Walking Dead and tonally the game invokes the same isolated melancholy.

The game is as brutal dramatically as it is physically. It’s rare that we see this kind of intelligent, realist style in games and the final chapters are as conflicting and morally ambiguous as you’ll ever see.

We play as Joel, a father who lost everything in a worldwide viral endemic, as he escorts a young girl named Ellie across the country. Ellie is immune to the virus and Joel must deliver her to a faction, known as the Fireflies, who will attempt to synthesize a cure.

We come to genuinely care about these characters, especially the feisty Ellie. Their relationship grows organically and never feels contrived.

Both are superbly performed by Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson. Troy Baker also served as the lead in the aforementioned Bioshock Infinite. Who does this guy think he is? Nolan North?

And yes, as you would expect, Nolan North does show up. It is a Naughty Dog game, after all.

Like their Uncharted games, The Last of Us’ visuals are outstanding. Among the best I’ve seen on a home console. Lighting, textures and animation are all jaw-dropping.

Although the game is instantly recognizable as a cinematic and technical powerhouse, the gameplay gradually builds to excellence.

There is a nice amount of depth in scavenging and crafting items as well as using workbenches to upgrade the variety of weapons.

One of the reasons the gameplay takes time to establish is because there is no way to get through encounters cleanly. You can sneak around and attempt stealth takedowns, but encounters almost always turn into gritty, survivalist affairs. Enemy AI will go for cover and systematically search out the player.

There is a brutality here that perfectly fits the game’s tone and storytelling. It’s survival at all costs. Style points do not exist in this world. The game’s extreme violence also serves this notion well.

Controls are rooted in reality and as a result you can’t run around enemies and mow them down. Joel moves deliberately and doesn’t possess any superhuman abilities. This makes threats actually threatening and plays far more like a Resident Evil title than any of Naughty’s previous titles.

The gameplay is brilliantly balanced. Action is actually far less frequent than one would expect amid the exploration and story segments. It actually leaves you wanting more as opposed to so many games that pile up the body count to epic proportions. Even the previously mentioned Uncharted games had a slight tendency to overdo it with seemingly endless hordes of enemies to wipe out.

The Last of Us is an absolute must-play title. It excels in every aspect and tells one of the most mature and emotional stories ever featured in a game. It is a true survival horror game at a time when the likes of Resident Evil and Dead Space have shied away from the concept for the sake of the broader appeal of dumb action. It takes the best of what has come before it and sets a new standard for the survival genre and story-driven gaming.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Free Forums. Reliable service with over 8 years of experience.
Learn More · Sign-up Now
« Previous Topic · Posts · Next Topic »
Add Reply


Find more great themes at the IFSZ