Often, towards the end of a console generation, there's a lot of questioning as to whether or not it is the time to move on to newer, better hardware, and to how much untapped potential lies in the current generation. The Last of Us, by Naughty Dog, is the finest example of why it's time for next-gen, pushing the PS3 to its limits, and leaving a nigh unreachable bar in its place as the standard for the end of the current generation.
I've gushed about it an earlier piece, and still feel I have not praised this game enough. In every sense of the word, The Last of Us is an experience, and one that, should you have the means and a PS3, you should partake in. Graphically, it is THE most beautiful title currently on the market, and will likely remain so until the next generation releases. It doesn't suffer from brown palette syndrome, the use of ambient lighting and color makes the space really come alive, and it doesn't suffer from obvious texture pop-in. From urban decay to the wilderness, the world looks and feels vibrant and alive. The designers and artists have even gone as far as creating handwritten notes left behind by others that can be viewed, opposed to just being a blurry texture and the HUD font placed over it. It is also one of the most incredible sounding games this generation, without having been over-produced. It can be so reserved and subtle at times, with the unsettling silence in places to create a larger fear of the unknown.
The gameplay in The Last of Us is something of a hybrid, with pieces coming from the traditional 3rd-person shooter, the survival horror, and stealth genres. Items are scavenged for from the environment, and are more often found as requisite components as opposed to finished goods. Crafting takes place in real time, as does healing, adding to the tension of every encounter. Ammunition is scarce, and the melee combat is brutal and, at times, off-putting, due to the sheer savagery of it. The shooter and cover mechanics are very solid, however, Joel, not being a highly trained soldier, has some accuracy shortcomings at times. While commonly thought of as a single player game, The Last of Us does include multiplayer. While sometimes criticized for it's small team sizes, this was likely a design choice to make it fit into the setting better, and it is highly enjoyable.
Where The Last of Us really shines, however, is in its characters. With a strong and diverse supporting cast, and some of the best portrayals of actual human beings, the weight of the story is increased, and it compels you to see it through to its conclusion. It's incredibly easy to get very attached to these characters, and when it's over, it feels a bit like losing a friend. This seems to stem from the way Naughty Dog uses their voice actors for motion capture as well, forcing the actor to give a more convincing performance overall, and giving the digital artists more to work with on the animations and faces. The story, while set in a variation of the overused zombie motif, is one that manages to break away from the stereotype, and will both shock and surprise you. From the cold open, all the way to the closing moments, the pacing and writing are superb, and to say much more than that would only spoil it. The Last of Us will be talked about for years to come, and is a highly memorable and moving ride.
I've gushed about it an earlier piece, and still feel I have not praised this game enough. In every sense of the word, The Last of Us is an experience, and one that, should you have the means and a PS3, you should partake in. Graphically, it is THE most beautiful title currently on the market, and will likely remain so until the next generation releases. It doesn't suffer from brown palette syndrome, the use of ambient lighting and color makes the space really come alive, and it doesn't suffer from obvious texture pop-in. From urban decay to the wilderness, the world looks and feels vibrant and alive. The designers and artists have even gone as far as creating handwritten notes left behind by others that can be viewed, opposed to just being a blurry texture and the HUD font placed over it. It is also one of the most incredible sounding games this generation, without having been over-produced. It can be so reserved and subtle at times, with the unsettling silence in places to create a larger fear of the unknown.
The gameplay in The Last of Us is something of a hybrid, with pieces coming from the traditional 3rd-person shooter, the survival horror, and stealth genres. Items are scavenged for from the environment, and are more often found as requisite components as opposed to finished goods. Crafting takes place in real time, as does healing, adding to the tension of every encounter. Ammunition is scarce, and the melee combat is brutal and, at times, off-putting, due to the sheer savagery of it. The shooter and cover mechanics are very solid, however, Joel, not being a highly trained soldier, has some accuracy shortcomings at times. While commonly thought of as a single player game, The Last of Us does include multiplayer. While sometimes criticized for it's small team sizes, this was likely a design choice to make it fit into the setting better, and it is highly enjoyable.
Where The Last of Us really shines, however, is in its characters. With a strong and diverse supporting cast, and some of the best portrayals of actual human beings, the weight of the story is increased, and it compels you to see it through to its conclusion. It's incredibly easy to get very attached to these characters, and when it's over, it feels a bit like losing a friend. This seems to stem from the way Naughty Dog uses their voice actors for motion capture as well, forcing the actor to give a more convincing performance overall, and giving the digital artists more to work with on the animations and faces. The story, while set in a variation of the overused zombie motif, is one that manages to break away from the stereotype, and will both shock and surprise you. From the cold open, all the way to the closing moments, the pacing and writing are superb, and to say much more than that would only spoil it. The Last of Us will be talked about for years to come, and is a highly memorable and moving ride.
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