The Last of Us

Voices of: Troy Baker, Ashley Johnson, Hana Hayes, Jeffrey Pierce, Annie Wersching, Robin Atkin Downes, Merle Dandridge, Brandon Scott, Nadji Jeter, Ashley Scott, Fred Tatasciore
Directed by: Neil Druckmann, Bruce Straley
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Designer: Jacob Minkoff
Rating: M
Genre: Action Role Playing Game
System: Playstation 3
2013

Times Completed:
Tim: 1

Summary: Joel and Ellie embark on a dangerous cross-country trek through a pandemic-ravaged United Staes.

Review:
Tim: I sometimes struggle to describe video games I truly love. That's likely going to be the case with Naughty Dog's The Last of Us. This is a brilliant game filled with cinematic qualities. It's a game that puts characters first, narrative second, and the actual gameplay is designed in service of the story. This is the kind of video game that pushes the boundaries and limitations of the medium. I played this game, yes, but even more so, I felt like I experienced it. It's a masterpiece, one of the best video games of all time.

What I love most about the game is the establishment of these two terrific characters, Joel and Ellie. We meet Joel first, in a cinematic, shocking introduction that is rife with tragedy. The way this game starts feels like a movie and it immediately thrusts us into a mature, unflinching look at a pandemic that turns people into fungi-infected zombies. The game is rated R and it leans heavily into language, bloodshed, and gore. Those are always in the service of the story, though. We see Joel as a broken man, a man struggling to live without much of the will behind it. Through his eyes, we learn about his post-pandemic world. The worldbuilding is fantastic and immersive. Soon, we meet Ellie, a firecracker of a girl who clashes with Joel at first. Their relationship throughout the course of the game is beautiful. It feels mature, complex, authentic. That's why this game is so superb. As the game progresses, you learn to love Joel and Ellie. Their friendship gives you hope. There's big moments between them, but it's often the quieter ones that pack the biggest punch. I can't say enough about these characters and what they mean to you when you play.

The world they inhabit is wonderfully designed here. I loved that you start in Boston, even though some of the design of the city is totally made up and unrealistic. You face a number of enemies- myriad infected individuals, yes. However, it's the more horrific ones that really stand out. The Clickers are especially memorable. Their chilling sounds, the ease at which they can kill you- you do not forget them. The best way to take them down is through stealth, and I spent many moments inching towards them from behind, trying to stay silent as I held my breath. The Bloaters were definitely challenging to take down at times. And, of course, there's a lot of humans you have to battle as well. The game does a nice job of throwing different enemies at you through the course of the game. Some of them are relatively easy to take down, but several sequences required me to play over and over to complete them. The game is well-designed, so when you die, you know it's your fault. It's so fun that it's not that big of a chore to replay the battle. There's several standout sequences throughout the game. I loved the scene where you're hanging upside down by your foot and you have to shoot infected while you're swaying back-and-forth. Brilliantly executed and it offered a perfect challenge. There's some beautiful scenes throughout the game as well- the giraffe one is definitely memorable. As the game progresses, I admit I felt more and more nervous. Could Joel actually die? Could Ellie? I wanted them both to live so badly. The story is engaging, thrilling, and exciting.

The game's conclusion is fantastic- Joel is faced with an impossible decision, a choice that will change everything. The game tackles this in a mature and thought-provoking manner. I had a blast playing the final sequence, trying desperately to stay alive, as if my playing would impact the actual narrative.

I completed the game with 739 total kills. I did die 151 times, which makes me laugh. I wasn't all that interested (or good at) in finding collectibles. I ended up grabbing 84/140 total. This just didn't feel like a game that I wanted to replay sequences over and over to find everything. I wanted to survive and I wanted to progress the narrative. In addition to finishing the game, I did also complete the Left Behind DLC. I did collect 13/14 of the Collectibles there. It's cool that the game offers those opportunities, but I was so intent on the characters and narrative that I couldn't get very interested in collecting for the sake of collecting.

There's a lot of video games I love, but The Last of Us feels special even among the top tier games. Joel and Ellie are two of the best designed, most memorable characters I've ever seen in a game. The graphics pushed the boundaries of the PS3- it's a beautifully rendered game. This one is top-notch, undoubtedly one of my favorite games of all time.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A



If You Enjoyed This Game, We Recommend: Mass Effect, Bioshock, Uncharted