The Last of Us has very familiar gameplay. It's no surprise that it's similar to Uncharted, because they come from the same game developers, but it also has some semblance to the Arkham franchise - having its own version of the Detective mode, a stealth kill system, and the gradual development of arsenal as the story progresses.
But one thing that sets it apart though is its dark tone and incredibly gripping story telling. (Which makes it a perfect game for gamers to play, and non-gamers to watch.) The game's been around for a while now, but I'm pretty sure this is one of the biggest reasons why it's become so popular.
Joel and Ellie. You love em immediately, I swear!
It's set in a post-apocalyptic world, where humans have been infected with a virus that changes them into zombie-like creatures, and those few who are left live in military-run quarantine zones and try desperately to survive. Joel, a jaded middle aged man, just barely gets by by doing questionable jobs. Everything changes when he takes on a very peculiar task - to transport Ellie, a tough but brash little girl, through the treacherous, zombie-infested land outside of their walled city. Their trip turns changes the both of them, and might just as well change the fate of the entire human race.
Clickers. You are so gonna hate these things.
Both Troy Baker (who also voices Joker in Arkham Origins) and Ashley Johnson and all the supporting cast deliver powerful performances. And all the emotion is captured by the impeccable CG visuals. The cinematography, the soundtrack, and the acting are all movie quality. I can't tell you enough how wonderful this game is to watch! The dramatic moments make you forget you were playing a video game!
Get'im Ellie!
But aside from the story, the impressive gameplay is also worth noting. It's a game about survival. And it doesn't get any more survival-ly than this! Collecting ingredients for weapons, is like scrapping off food from the floor - there's really not much to go around. If you use it all up, there's no default gun with unlimited ammo, you're left with NOTHING. Only your bare hands to defend yourself. Heck, you've got better chances just running away from the zombies! I know, it's not very heroic. But that's what's great about this game. It's realistic. If YOU were in a zombie world, would you try to kill every zombie you see? you wouldn't. Coz that's just a waste of perfectly good ammo. (Or scissors, in Last of Us' case)
Vicious zombies aren't the only things you have to worry about.
Oh, and let's not forget, there's a ton of crazy horror shit going on all the time. Stressful as f***.
Gaahhh!!
I haven't finished it yet, but I'm biding my time. I want to enjoy every second of it. But as early as now, I can say, it IS the masterpiece everyone puts it up to be. It's one scary and brutal survival game with unique gameplay and compelling story telling.
I hope there's a happy ending after all of this. If one of these guys die, good god....I'll cry.
MICMIC RATING: 9.5/10
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