The last of us was released in 2013 to critical acclaim which was one of the reasons behind me buying it. The game itself is made by the same company that made Uncharted. Plot-wise the game is set in a post apocalyptic world where a disease has wiped out a majority of the human population. At the start you see how the disease started to spread then the game skips to twenty years after where the player is met by a very different world and characters.
The main attraction of this game was its plot, how the story is mainly character driven. The two main characters are Elli and Joel. Joel is a middle aged man who has survived twenty years of the apocalypse and its clear that he has done some bad things to survive. Elli is a teenager who at first knows next to nothing about surviving in the world outside the quarantine zone she grew up in. There are other characters like Joel's brother Tommy, the distant relationship Joel has with his brother is another hint towards the dark things they had to do to survive in the early years.
As the game progresses they begin to realize how much they need to rely on each other to survive. This is where the character progression takes place, one instance is when Joel and Elli have entered a city. Elli insists that she should have a gun in case she has to defend herself but Joel refuses believing that she is too young. The pair discuss the subject a bit more but Joel doesn't change his mind. Eventually they get separated and he gets ambushed by a bandit who tries to drown him. Elli shoots him, an act the Joel doesn't thank her for straight away but it does show him that she can't be treated as a kid anymore. This is just one of many small moments that help to build a connection between the characters and the player.
The game shows off a range of environments for the player to explore. At first the player is set loose in a quarantine zone where he has to help another character find someone. Later on the player finds himself in a small town over run with infected and traps. After that a city filled with bandits, there's even numerous changes in the time of year. All of these placeds are beautifully detailed and show the devastation that followed in the aftermath of the outbreak. Taking a note from the Uncharted games there are elements of the environment that must be used to complete tasks which is a good break from the sneaking and killing.
As for the gameplay it is quite distinctive in that there are many ways to approach tasks and not all will be available. There's the direct approach that needs to be planned out to some degree for any hope of success or there's the sneaky way. The first was my most chosen option with me using a mix of melee weapons, guns and traps to deal with the enemies but the game is at it's best when your back is against the wall. When you find that you have little in the way of supplies and no bullets you are forced to avoid any sort of confrontation and be aware of your surroundings.
This brings me to some of the other gameplay features. There's a crafting system that is simple to use and is very effective. Within seconds the user can craft items for use in fights and there are even options to upgrade the character. These are done through the use of pills, why are there so many pills laying around two decades after the apocalypse ? your guess is as good as mine.
Overall the game is a masterpiece equiped with stealth and gore suited for the thinking man's shooter. Whether or not you like it depends on the preference of game you like but The last of us should at least be tried as there is a good chance that it will pleasantly surprise you.
10/10
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