The Last of Us is Naughty Dog's latest IP, released two years after the conclusion of their blockbuster epic Uncharted. This game has been showcased as a gritty, dark and very violent game, which is not usually Naughty Dog's style. However, the Sony owned studio have always managed to please gamers, and receive critical claim with new IP's, but can The Last of Us do the same?
Story
The Last of Us starts off in present day USA, and introduces us to Joel, the main character, along with his brother Tommy and daughter Sarah. On the night of his birthday, a mutant Cordyceps infection breaks out amongst humanity, which quickly spreads throughout the country. 20 years later, and a much older and rugged Joel awakens, and he and his smuggling partner Tess are entrusted with a mission to deliver a young girl named Ellie to the Fireflies, a rebel group, fighting against what remains of the authorities. Joel and Ellie must make their way across a United States now teeming with infected humans, hunters and thieves and make sure that Ellie is delivered safely to the Fireflies.
The story of this game is incredible, and you will feel a connection with the characters almost immediately. You will never know which way the story is going to go, and you will be guessing as to what happens, as well as going, right until the end. Naughty Dog did an amazing job making the player feel an emotional connection with all the characters you will meet in Joel's and Ellie's journey.
Gameplay
If you have played Uncharted before, you will see some of the mechanics naughty dog brought over from those games. You will spend the majority of the game playing as Joel in a third person perspective, while Ellie is controlled by the AI. As the game is based on survival, sneaking is essential, as ammo and other supplies are very limited. There is also a crafting system, where Joel can create Shivs, bombs, and other items, provided he has the necessary parts scavenged from the game world. Naughty Dog created a new AI system for this game called "Balance of Power", where the enemy AI will react depending on the situation. For example, if Joel is preoccupied with fighting off a group of 2 or 3 enemies, another lone enemy may sneak around and take Joel by surprise. It's a new fight every time, and it keeps the player constantly alert for any and all threats. The gun-play has been adapted from Uncharted, but given some changes to keep the survival element of the game intact. For example, you can no longer fire from the hip, as this would be a huge waste of valuable ammo. There is also a higher level of control needed when firing, as Joel will not be able to aim as well under fire. Another new feature of this game is "Listen Mode", which allows Joel to see enemy movement and positions, as long as they are making noise. Enemies that are quietly moving around the area will not be visible and will still require the players' attention.
While I am usually not a fan of stealth games, and I dislike having it forced on me, it's completely understandably why there is such a huge emphasis on it in this game. If you were to run out guns blazing like in Uncharted, you would be dead in seconds, and the feeling of the game would be completely ruined. Joel isn't supposed to be a superhuman, he's just a regular guy, and the game gets that point across very quickly.
Visual/Sound
The feeling of a post apocalyptic world is shown really well in the design of the levels. Nature has started to reclaim its territory, with plants and animals covering towns and cities, but the destruction of other survivors is also shown well too. Windows are smashed, doors are hanging off hinges, makeshift barricades from early in the outbreak still exist in places, but most of the areas you explore will have been long ravaged by other survivors. Again, it really adds to the survival aspect of the game, and completely immerses the player. The music in the game is equally fantastic, and always matches the current situation. Most of the music is slow, but in some of the more gripping parts of the game, it will slightly up the pace. The music and look of the game is just another wonderful piece which really helps keep the immersion and feel alive from beginning to end.
Multiplayer
The multiplayer mode of the game incorporates many of the survival aspects from the single player, and adapts them to a multiplayer setting. The multiplayer has its own story, independent of Joel and Ellie's journey. You must choose between being a member of the Fireflies, or a Survivor, each with their own mission lasting 12 weeks. 1 multiplayer match counts as one day, and you are in charge of making sure your camp is well fed and healthy. You do this by scavenging for supplies in multiplayer matches, either by killing enemies and looting their bodies for supplies, or scavenging from supply boxes located around the maps. Just like in single player, there is a huge emphasis on survival and stealth, and it is key to making sure you maintain a happy and healthy camp, which will constantly be growing. Cooperating with other players on your team is essential, and trying to lone wolf will almost always get you killed by better prepared opponents. As of now, there are only two modes, Supply Raid and Survivor, both of which revolve around killing the enemy team in order to win. Hopefully the community keep this multiplayer ali
ve, and Naughty Dog add some new modes that are not just based on killing, as it is a very unique concept for multiplayer and can be very fun.
The Verdict: The Last of Us is most definitely Naughty Dog's crowning achievement this generation, and has left me eagerly awaiting their next game. The game has been crafted to near perfection, and I cannot see another game this year beating it to become Game of The Year.
10/10