The Last of Us

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!

Rightfully one of the best games in history!

The very story that will hook almost every gamer, despite the banal theme of the post-apocalypse (this deserves special praise).

An interesting idea, it's not really about the battle with the infected, no, but more about moral values, the price of survival and showing the nature of people who can do even the most disgusting things in this horror.

The game is not particularly scary, but it can keep you on your toes. It's just the most beautiful world that you want to admire. From the first location, you immerse yourself in this atmosphere... And the music! It's just something.

An interesting plot with steep character development and the game itself is told slowly (but it only gets better), despite the linearity of the plot, you can walk around the entire location and "sniff" every corner :)

As a result, it's just a great game, considered a "living classic", and which everyone should play!

For me personally, the best game on this topic and just one of the best, in general (after all, there is no better game in general. But it is very possible to single out some kind of game from the genre)

My Rating : 10/10.

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.

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).

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!