The Last of Us (Re-cap)

I’VE STRUGGLED A LONG TIME WITH SURVIVIN’...AND NO MATTER WHAT, YOU JUST KEEP FINDING SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR...

I actually don’t know where to start with this blog post. I’m here to talk about “The Last of Us” but all thats on my mind right now is ‘Oh my god,’ ‘I’ve never adored a 14 year old girl this instantly. Probably never…

Pubescent girls are the worst. No offence…I was one too.’ and ‘I can’t believe I spent a straight 8 hours on it last night, into the morning hours.

I did the thing where you’re in too deep to stop at like eleven, you sense you’re near the end anyway so might as well continue because someone else is waiting to borrow the game, then before you know it, its 4:30 and you’re watching the credits. I have started writing this the following day around 8.45am on a very hot bus, pre-breakfast and very tired so apologies if I’m a little babbley at times.

Point is, playing this game, to me, had strokes of games like Uncharted, Resident Evil and Dead Island- All games that I loved! This

game (as you may hear elsewhere) has such a good story and such likeable characters that its really emotional, too.

Also there are so many twists in the story… I’m pretty sure that I spent several parts of the game with that same expression people get when they hear someone kill a dog in a movie.

Seriously though, I’ve just started watching cutscene movies from the game on youtube because I loved the story and need more time to get over my Ellie and Joel obsession.

Everyone loves those stories about a troubled guy who won’t let anyone in but risks his life, and others for this awesome, unique kid. The graphics are crazy, I’m sure if you’ve seen trailers or anything you’ll already know. I could literally sit and stare at that window on the main menu forever because combined with the music its so serene and its visually really nice to look at.

That’s a weird thing to say but its true.

Obviously I had ass-kicking to do, but you know…

Anyway, like most games there are little quirks like how your friends sometimes get in your way and blow your cover but usually they can stand face to face with an enemy and not even set them off, which is funny, but nothing really problematic or likely to stop you playing.

I’m trying hard to find a slight fault in order to give an unbiased view and that might be the most I can come up with. Even there, however, I just see it as realistic because in that situation people may accidentally screw you over and for them to set off all the traps and go charging in braveheart style would just make things difficult for you as a gamer, so its cool.

Besides, more often than not I find your team members are better to have around than to not. Whether they’re used as bait for enemies whilst you deal with exit strategies and getting a good shooting distance, or whether they’re assisting you in trouble by lobbing a brick at someone. Safety in numbers and all that…

Weapon wise I was pretty satisfied during the game, you’ve got your upgrades, usually a fair amount of

ammo and a selection that isn’t so vast as to seem impossible to lug around (i.e. no invisible suitcase full of arranged supplies, Resi 4 style- not that it wasn’t a sick game); but there was still something for everyone. The only reason it reminded me of Dead Island, besides having infected people running at you is that you can modify and swap found weapons like bats, machetes, axes and wooden planks. Plus the added bonus of making molotovs and nail bombs etc. One of the real upsides to artillery in the game is the later discovered flamethrower. Unlike Dead Space where you can torch certain enemies for hours and they still won’t die, these enemies catch fire like a paper towel with the right distance between you. Its like the Dragon gun in Resistance if you ever played with it, a short fiery burst and they go up in flames. VERY useful when dealing with the near-end mass of clickers, bloaters and runners if spotted. On that, using the bow as a stealth weapon was very convenient. I always enjoy bows for some reason.

I think the scariest of infected is probably the clickers, purely because unless you’re kitted out with shivs they will kill you instantly if close enough.

That, and sneaking around dozens of them in a dark room without guidance is one of the most unnerving stealth challenges I have ever attempted. I know bloaters rip your face apart without any chance of defending yourself but to be honest they aren’t exactly fast and their spores are annoying but avoidable and take little damage. Also I rarely whip out the molotovs and nail bombs so as long as I’m equipped with boom-booms and can bomb the living hell out of them before they make it over, all is golden.

I love the casting in this game as well, some known favourites, unlikely names and the fact that motion capture means most of the characters really resemble their voice actors. I always have loved Troy Baker’s voice. I also laughed when I discovered the great Laura Bailey voices some of the infected. Talented lady that one.

This of course blows my mind though:

That’s all folks.

Happy Gaming!

(Images aren’t mine, but drawings are.)

Huge thanks to naughty Dog & all others involved, for bringing the awesome.

Never has a 29 year old done such a good job of becoming a 14 year old. I love her.

Back to the gameplay though, I would like to give a heads up that parts of it can be quite difficult. Not incredibly, (unless you’re playing on hard) but enough that you want to set aside time and be careful at certain points. I really don’t know what else I can say about this game, especially without giving too much away, as this is intended as a review with a few hints thrown in rather than an all out walkthrough. All I can say is it blew my frickin’ mind. Believe the hype guys… As long as you or someone you know has a PS3/4, if you haven’t got it yet, get it. Or beg someone else.

Be warned though as I’ve witnessed people lending it out, then pining, eager to play it through again. It’s that hard not to love.