The Last Of Us

The Last of Us (from Naughty Dog) is an action adventure survival horror game that will undoubtedly appeal to the growing numbers of gamers who are particular fans of this genre.

The game is set in America twenty years after a devastating fungal pandemic swept mercilessly throughout the continent decimating civilization and changing people's lives forever. In the aftermath, society has collapsed and plague-infected human survivors have resorted to killing each other for food, supplies, weapons and anything else that could be utilised for survival.

The main character is Joel, a hard, callous black-marketeer who attempts to fulfil his promise to a dying friend to help brave young 14 year old Ellie escape the harsh regime of the Quarantine Zone and get to safety. They set off on a long journey that will take them through the remnants of post-pandemic US in their attempt to find a resistance group called the Fireflies. They must bond together and take each day as it comes; learning how to become the hunter not the hunted. As a team they will need to work hard and build an infallible strategy; avoiding the seemingly never ending collection of deadly infected villains they meet at every turn. On their travels they must compete with an assortment of ferocious scavengers and must do their utmost to escape capture by military forces as they go.

This is an exciting, horrifying storyline offset by some truly stunning visuals.

• Andrew Highton October 17, 2013 PS3

  ****

  With most of my articles and reviews I usually have my own weird writing style to amuse and intrigue.....but not today. Because every now and again in life, a game comes along that makes jaws drop, a game that garners near universal praise and a game that genuinely makes me sad when I've finished it because I can't experience that all-important first playthrough again. Today.....The Last of Us gets this super rare/serious review to honour this truly remarkable game....well only a bit of seriousness.....
  
  The Last of Us is a monstrous statement of intent as to what we can expect from games in the future and the next generation of gaming. By having a couple of memorable characters forging a beautifully broken relationship, interspersed with additional characters enhancing an incredible narrative and a post-apocalyptic survival adventure you get Naughty Dog's finest hour yet.
  
  America is the starting point of the journey and it's an early peek of what is to come for the soon to be disaster-ridden world. One of the main character's you will control is Joel and his daughter is trying to sleep. She is suddenly awakened by a phone call from Joel's brother Tommy, requesting to urgently speak to Joel, only for the line to go dead. It quickly becomes clear that things aren't right and it leads to a desperate exodus from the city as thousands of people attempt to flee but get feasted on by newly diseased people called "Infected". After an intense opening we are suddenly lurched forward a few years (20 to be exact) and you find yourself controlling a much more grizzly and aged Joel along with his female companion Tess. Soon after, you encounter the focal point of the game which is the escorting of Ellie, a 14 year old girl, to the rebel faction known as the Fireflies as she could be the answer to the infection.
  
  In terms of characterisation, Ellie is an absolutely wondrous gem and a breath of fresh air for gaming. Actually forget that, Joel and Ellie both are and they are black holes that suck other characters into their path of characterisation enlightenment to extract more detail, exposition, emotion and story. Joel from the get go is an emotionally crippled man who sadly has a negative and distasteful view of the world due to what he's seen around him. He gives the impression he's a remorseless bastard.. But do you know what the funny thing is...? He's anything but. He just does what he has to. Survival of the fittest.
  
  On the other hand, Ellie has the slight pressure of being the only human alive (to our knowledge) that is immune to the Cordyseps virus which is what has created the monsters known as "the infected". She has the infection but her body is resistant to the metamorphosis process of becoming an infected. She doesn't realise her importance and as such her light-hearted attitude in a serious environment littered with death, limited supplies, simply stunning environments and even more potential death is brilliant.
  
  Speaking of environments, graphically the game has picked up the benchmark set by God of War, Gears of War, Uncharted etc and run far into the distance with it leaving many top titles quaking in fear and crying. I'd think at some point we've all imagined what a world ravished by a pandemic would look like. Cities look destroyed and left desolate without a trace of life. Oddly enough, in order to create this effect the world needs to appear lively and open. Lots of the city areas are openly and pleasantly lush with gorgeous greens, everywhere you go is a sight to marvel at. What makes it all so commendable is that snowy areas are easy to do and destroyed buildings are easy to do, it's not easy to do them this well. The attention to detail is one thing that struck me with The Last of Us too as Naughty Dog are nailing down the more simplistic details that you take for granted; like trees.
  
  Yes. Trees. Trees are trees. But the branches actually move if you walk into them! I genuinely cannot think of the last game I played where you didn't just walk straight through them. But Naughty Dog trees now have physics. The water is almost lifelike and the appropriate amount of clothing gets soaked dependent on what part of your body is engulfed in water etc. From the early days of my childhood on Crash Bandicoot and Sonic to this.... it's just something that makes me smile and makes you appreciative of the advancement in video game technology.
  
  This technology helps our dynamic duo, Joel and Ellie, to CONSTANTLY interact with each other and what's more surreal is that this is sustained till its 16 hour+ conclusion. Forget the main story which I'll rave and froth at the mouth about later, Ellie's struggle to whistle is an amusing little thing to pick up on as she learns to do it after failing to do it earlier in the game and Joel acknowledges she has one more thing to annoy him with. Whistling will then occur sporadically throughout the game and it's the tiny little things like this that make you open your eyes and realise how lazy games have been over the years. Personalisation and immersion all through additional pieces of dialogue should now necessitate the future of compelling game making I hope, nay I implore!
  
  The interactions between characters and environments are unlike anything I've ever experienced before and I was overwhelmed for the majority of the game. Brawling with either human or infected enemies can lead to an all-out bar room brawl with anything capable of inflicting damage. Having a fistfight next to a wall? Joel will smash his head into it. Tussling next to a chair? The enemy will go through that chair. But as a whole the combat is incredibly satisfying. You have a nice gap between the discoveries of each new weapon and there is a nice selection from rudimentary pistols to full-on flame throwing fierce fear fire force!!
  
  Combat can be a thinker as ammo is scarce along with supplies. This isn't like your standard shooter where you can find clips of ammo in abundance; it's easy to become a miser with regards to bullets as you never can tell what unfathomable scenario you could find yourself in next. Scenarios may feature any of the types of Infected within the game: Clicker's, Bloater's, Runner's or Stalker's.
  
  The soundtrack never falters with every piece of music created for every situation in the game. Intense battles are met with a frantic chorus of desperation mixed with the horrible sounds of the infected. Clicker's make the most horrible croaking sound and they're blind but have impeccable hearing so any false moves and you'll have your throat ripped out instantly. Bloater's are BIG things that take most of your weaponry to take down and have ranged attacks. Runner's are fast enemies that can see anything so be wary and Stalker's are a mix of a runner and a Clicker but not as deadly as you might think.
  
  Now one of the crucial aspects of the game is the crafting system which is delightfully ingenious in its own right. Throughout the journey you'll find supplies such as blades, tape, alcohol etc. I'll stop you there; I know what you're thinking; that's one sadomasochistic party. But no reader, that's not what I'm getting at. Using all the resources at your disposal you can concoct devices such as molotovs to inflict quick fiery death or craft a first aid kit to use when you inevitably get attacked by a swarm of infected. It requires thinking too because you may have enough alcohol for either one first aid kit or one Molotov.
  
  Now the A.I is either a sore point for some people and I understand why. Naughty Dog made the decision that if enemies see Ellie or any other ally companions you have with you, then they won't be discovered and will be ignored (even obnoxiously loud footsteps as they run past and even INTO enemies). But this was done as to not punish the player for A.I's lack of understanding to life or death circumstances. Nevertheless, whilst it does very slightly bother me, I understand it. The amount of times I've sneaked my way around a part of the game picking off enemies is countless. The amount of times my companions have wondered into enemy paths is also countless and to have had my cover blown as a result of this then it makes me thankful for Naughty Dog's decision.
  
  The A.I in the game is rather good though I must say. Human enemies will converse amongst themselves and strategise against you by skilfully and carefully flanking you, plus checking all around them. If they do get their hands on you then expect a graphic death as your face gets pummelled to death, likewise with infected enemies. The game never holds back with its gory detail and yet it attains glory in its gory..ness.
  
  You headshot a man with a hunting rifle and that is skill. Seeing head hole disintegrate into chunks and a pool of blood provides thrill in the kill. Not to sound excessively warped but your survival is paramount and you have to be under the illusion that these people want to end your existence as soon as possible. So by showing that your marksmanship is superior it makes the overall experience more rewarding as you were the better man.
  
  Your mission to deliver Ellie is a long one, almost 16 hours for me first-time round, and I do mean first one because you will be playing this at least one more time. You can also start a New Game+ whereby you keep all your equipment and weapons just as you had when you finished the game. The pacing of the game is just right as it never feels off or fast etc. It's not plagued, no pun intended, by Hollywood set-piece cinematics and this story that feels so tangible is just too moving for words. I've said that characterisation is at the forefront of the game's storytelling mechanics because Ellie's maturity for someone her age is undeniable and she's like a flower that you see grow before your eyes into a hardened veteran almost. Joel's reluctance to accept her is so powerful and so understanding that at the same time that you can feel the tension between THEM hurting YOURSELF.
  
  I'm usually reluctant to cover online in games as I see it as optional, but The Last of Us managed to grip me properly for the first time since Call of Duty 4 as I couldn't stop playing game after game after game. The transition from single player to multiplayer is great. You choose to be either a Firefly or a Hunter and you have to survive a 12 week journey as either. Each match you play constitutes a day which means that in order to complete the journey you need to play 84 matches.
  
  In each match, you and 3 teammates must fight the opposition which consists of either 4 Fireflies or 4 Hunters (depending on what side you chose). It doesn't really affect how the game plays and you have to earn parts/supplies for your faction. You kill an enemy you get some parts which are used to buy in-game upgrades during your matches. But those parts are automatically converted into supplies too.
  
  After each game you will have earned so many supplies through various ways and you automatically gain survivors for your camp. As each day progresses you'll find, particularly early on, that you keep gaining survivors. It gets to a point where additional survivors are dependent on your ability. If you're not so good at the game then you might be stuck with between 40-50 survivors, which aren't too hard to maintain. Sadly, I managed to get to a point of having about 105 survivors which required MVP performances every game; not easy, but fun.
  
  Missions crop up after several days where you can gain or lose a percentage of survivors, some missions even have the risk of losing 100% of your survivors so it lives up to the mantle of the main game's survival theme.
  
  In a nutshell, The Last of Us is going to be in the top 3 for candidates for Game of the Year in 2013. There are no superlatives to describe this game that would do it justice. Naughty Dog have created another sensational, emotive masterpiece that should be played by everyone. It's so befitting that we come to the end of this generation of gaming and we're treated to a game that maximises the PS3's capabilities. Graphics, audio, gameplay, story etc, The Last of Us ticks every box and gets an A+++++.

• Ravi Nijjar October 10, 2013 PS3

  ****

  The Last of Us is a fantastic story. But it's not a fantastic game.
  
  What's the distinction? Well, while the story of the game is beautifully-told, through a series of engaging and well-acted cut-scenes (as well as some reasonably important moments that take place within the body of the game itself), there's a strong sense that the whole thing is "on rails": that you actually have a fairly minimal input into an experience that is largely laid out for you before you even so much as pick up a controller.
  
  At first glance, the game looks like a hugely immersive, involving experience. And in terms of the world that developers Naughty Dog have created, and the story they've chosen to tell within that world, it is. But what they seem to have failed to do is to couple that story with a method of gameplay that makes you feel as though you're really having any effect on the story one way or another. And for a game that puts such a burden on its strong central narrative, that's a fairly significant flaw.
  
  The story involves a small group of humans trying to survive in the aftermath of a plague that has ravaged America and turned countless people into mindless (but nonetheless dangerous) zombies. It's a perfectly fine setup for a game, and even if the basic premise isn't particularly original, it makes up for it with some distinctive lead characters in Joel and Ellie. The mismatched pair - one a cynical older man, the other a sparky, optimistic young girl - make for compelling protagonists, and the development of their relationship over the course of the game is one of the main elements that will keep you hooked.
  
  Another thing that will keep you hooked is the beautiful look and feel of the game. The graphics are second-to-none (outshining even the slightly more recent GTA V), with ultra-detailed environments that you'll want to spend many minutes simply exploring and looking at in their own right before you even start to make progress through a given level. And the sound is equally lovely, with some understated music (such as the mournful main theme that plays on the title screen) and realistic sound effects that help bring the dystopian world of the game to life.
  
  But unfortunately, all of those positive elements are completely separate from the gameplay, which consists of fairly standard fighting/shooting/stealth/puzzle-solving sections that all feel as though they could have been lifted from any number of games. There's very little scope to explore beyond the narrowly-defined levels: to attempt to find unusual routes or alternative solutions to the problems that the game throws at you. You're essentially required do nothing more than continually jump through the hoops that the game wants you to jump through - and that gets pretty repetitive after a while.
  
  It's such a shame that a game with such a bold story and such high production values is saddled with such a generic, clunking game engine that really makes no attempt to disguise the fact that the actual gameplay sections exist only to move the story on from cutscene to cutscene. For this reason, even the most heartfelt and emotional sections of the story end up feeling quite hollow and disconnected from the gamer: like watching the events happen to someone else, rather than the character who you're meant to be inhabiting for the purposes of the game.
  
  If you're interested in being told a good story, then pick up The Last of Us without hesitation - and be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster that's unmatched by any other game I've ever played. But if you want to feel truly involved in the action - and feel as though you have a genuine influence over how the game plays out, and a true choice in how to approach the various problems that the game sets for you - then your money might be better spent elsewhere.
  
  Ravi Nijjar
  

• Gordon Myatt July 16, 2013 PS3

  ****

  Prepare yourself for the game of a lifetime. That's a bold claim, but one I think I can back up. In fact, I have no qualms about saying that THE LAST OF US is not only one of the finest console games ever created, but that it might be one of the first ever games to warrant the status of "art".
  
  THE LAST OF US is a survival/horror game, but it's so much more than that. Whilst it might look on first glance like a mash-up of UNCHARTED with THE WALKING DEAD and a little bit of RESISTANCE: FALL OF MAN thrown in, it's actually got a lot of original touches too.
  
  Most of all, the game's storyline is head and shoulders above most other games I've played, being as complex and engaging as a great Hollywood movie.
  
  It's sometimes harrowing, but that's to be expected from a game that's all about a plague ravaging the world and turning most of the people into mindless bloodthirsty zombies. It's certainly not for the faint-hearted, but if you're brave enough to stick with the more hard-going stuff, you'll find it immensely rewarding.
  
  Amongst all the horror, there are great lead characters that you get really attached to and who really make you care about what's going on. Joel and Ellie are the two main characters in the game, a gnarly old guy and a perky young girl who have to team up and travel across America to try and save the world from the plague.
  
  As they traverse harsh outdoor terrains and overgrown urban environments, they encounter all sorts of enemies, including private militias, rogue black-market traders looking to make a quick buck, and - of course - the zombies themselves.
  
  Fighting enemies is more complex than most action games, encouraging a mixture of stealth and quick, incisive action to despatch your foes, most of whom are far better equipped or more physically strong than you are.
  
  The game's artificial intelligence is also good, leading your enemies to make intelligent choices and to pick up on giveaway clues that might alert them to your presence.
  
  There's a nice variety of bad guys too, particularly when it comes to the zombies, who can come in various stages of infection. In the early stages they're fast, but not particularly strong, whilst in the later stages they're more superhuman (although blind, but with super-hearing to detect where you are).
  
  But it's really the story that keeps you playing THE LAST OF US. Like I said earlier, this is an experience that's as immersive and as satisfying as a great Hollywood movie, with production values to match.
  
  The graphics are amazing - some of the best I've ever seen, even after some amazing leaps and bounds in that department in recent years, like the BLACK OPS and ASSASSIN'S CREED series. And the acting is excellent, as good as some of the best TV and movies, helping you to really root for Joel and Ellie and want to persevere to get them through their living nightmare.
  
  Part of me wants to be more balanced about this game, and pick out some kind of flaw or imperfection to prove that I'm not just mindlessly praising it without proper critical evaluation. But I literally can't think of a bad word to say about it, other than perhaps it would have been cool to have a more elaborate multiplayer mode, or maybe an open-world function that would allow you to explore the universe of the game a little more (as the game is pretty linear for the most part, a bit like UNCHARTED).
  
  But that's just wishful thinking, and it's clear that the people behind THE LAST OF US have put all their efforts into making it a satisfying single-player experience, which to be fair, it is. In fact, it's pretty much perfect.
  

• Chris Harley June 24, 2013 PS3

  ****

  To say that Naughty Dog's The Last of Us lives up to the impressive hype surrounding is clearly an understatement. That much is immediately clear from the outset as soon as you start playing.
  
  I'm the first to admit that I'm not an incredibly experienced gamer, but when a game like this comes along, I can't help but find myself glued to my controller. And when you're investing in a new game, that's definitely a quality you should be looking for.
  
  Director Bruce Starley, whose previous work includes the brilliant Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, has done a fantastic job of bringing out a new survival/horror game that has the same kind of thrills, if not more, as a survival/horror movie or TV show. If you're a fan of, say, the Resident Evil franchise or a show/graphic novel like The Walking Dead, this is definitely for you.
  
  Like all my favourite games, we're taken through the game via third-person, which always gives the feelings of fear and panic that much more immediacy, in my books.
  
  The Last of Us starts by introducing the character which we play through most of the game as: Joel. He is haunted by his background, in which his daughter is killed during the onset of a rapid infection that decimates America.
  
  Soon into the game, we are given charge of a young girl, Ellie, who we must sneak into the safe keeping of the Fireflies, a group of rebels standing up to the government.
  
  It is from here that the game really begins. With Ellie now in our custody, it is up to us to get her to safety, for it is believed that she holds the cure that could restore humanity and bring back life as it once was.
  
  As Joel, we trek through cities devastated both by the virus and those seeking to take advantage of the aftermath, ever aware that Ellie's life is in great danger on all sides.
  
  Composer Gustavo Santaolalla's score for the game is just beautifully haunting. With but a few notes on the guitar, a handful of plucked strings, he can capture moods brilliantly, helping to evoke senses of nostalgia, loneliness, and highly-strung tension for Joel and Ellie.
  
  One of the things both critics and regular players have been celebrating most is the intelligence of the AI, and its ability to adapt to any situation. The enemies you're facing are able to react much better than any other game I've played - if I'm out of ammo, for instance, they'll try to take advantage. And it's up to me to play through and gain control of the situation, or else suffer the consequences.
  
  It is simply amazing.
  
  The bottom line: If you haven't played it already, The Last of Us is an absolute must. It's quickly become one of the most talked-about games of the year so far, and very much with good reason. Believe every good thing you hear about it.

• Paul Martin June 21, 2013 PS3

  ****

  Introduction
  
  The Last of Us is a new PlayStation 3 exclusive from highly acclaimed studio Naughty Dog, the creators of the world renowned Uncharted series. The studio has attempted to bring a new IP into the fold, changing direction from the Indiana Jones like series, into a darker more realistic setting. Has it been a new direction worth pursuing, or should've the studio developed what it already does best? Let's find out!
  
  Story
  You play as Joel, a normal guy in 2013, living in the suburbs when the infection hits out. People start to become insane, rabid even and the U.S army arrive on scene. Without going into too much detail to avoid spoilers, the game moves forward to the year 2033.
  So now that you are in the year 2033, 20 years after a pandemic infection starts to spread across America, causing panic, chaos and as close to Hell on Earth as you are going to get. The major cities in the world are abandoned, overgrown, and deserted with only clans, bandits and infected occupying the area making it off limits to the civilized world.
  
  Average civilians live in quarantine zones, set up by whatever government remains. These are supposedly safe, and secure areas, with only a handful remaining intact defended by the U.S Army.
  Joel, the games 'hero' if you want to call him that, has a disturbed past, and you can only sympathize with him in the early stages of the game. Joel lives in one of these zones with his partner, Tess. Joel and Tess are dealers, weapons dealers to be precise. Despite being illegal in 2033, it gets them by on what little remains in the world.
  
  Tess arrives in Joels apartment talking about knowing the location of Robert, another dealer that screwed Joel and Tess over at some point in the 20 years. You set out to find Robert, leaving the quarantine zone and into the infected world.
  
  Again to avoid spoilers, at some point early in the game you come across a 14 year old girl named Ellie with a very strong personality, putting it mildly. You are asked to take Ellie to the 'Fireflies' a rogue group opposing the U.S Army/Government for the harsh treatment of those outside the quarantine zones. Unknown as to why this little girl is so important, you set off an unforgettable, albeit dangerous adventure, with questions in need of answers.
  
  
  Gameplay
  The game is adult rated, and for a reason. Its opening sequence will atone for how serious the game will play out. It includes a lot of gore and facial expressions, it is all very real, arguably a little too real for the type of game it is. This is a warning for those who are looking to buy it for the younger generation.
  
  The game is played in 3rd person, for those that do not know what this is; it is a camera behind the playable character on screen. It plays out very similar to Uncharted in terms of movement and action.
  
  A single playthrough of the game will roughly take 15-20 hours long, depending on how much scavenging and collecting you decide to do along the way. A hefty package for a single player narrative, but at no point does it feel over bearing, or boring. I never found myself asking, "When will it end", instead I found myself willing "Please do not end yet!" it is gripping stuff.
  
  The story being very cinematic, it can be best described as a blend between Heavy Rain, and Uncharted. Its cinematic tone, with action, only with less jumping across buildings and climbing up drain pipes like our beloved Drake does.
  
  The game features an upgrade system for both weapons and Joel himself i.e. Increase in health, or craft items faster. These are upgraded by collecting / scavenging for parts/items throughout the game. Joel is upgraded by collecting pills of sorts, and the equipment by collecting parts scattered through levels. It can be very addictive looking for these spare parts and collectables throughout the adventure, trying to tune up your equipment as best possible helping your cause in the process.
  
  The enemies in the game are ranged. You will be fighting normal human bandits or Army like foes to infected rabid like creatures. The infected are standard people, similar to zombies, however the longer they are infected the more mutated they become. The more mutated the more dangerous, i.e. a clicker, arguably the next evolution if you will of the standard zombie infected. These have what looks to be a coral reef for a head, and track you via sound instead of sight as they are blind. Let me assure they are very dangerous, and they will kill you instantly if they get close. Then you have the next evolution mutation with armour scales etc. as you progress throughout the game. It adds variety that all these types of enemies are handled in different ways. The A.I is impeccably well designed, always trying to gain the upper hand in combat, perhaps trying to flank you or looking behind objects as they pass to ensure you are not hiding waiting to strike from the shadows Splinter Cell style.
  
  A lot of the gameplay, although optional yet advised is stealthy. The ability to go behind an enemy and dispatch him via strangling or using a shiv is one of the main attacking options, if not the main option you will use in the game. By not alerting the enemy to your presence, you can attempt to dispatch all foes in the immediate area without much of a fight, but it is harder than it sounds. It is also advisable you neutralize all enemies in one area, this will allow you to explore and scavenge for ammo, or as mentioned above weapon parts etc. to upgrade you character and equipment.
  
  The multiplayer aspect of the game is the biggest downside of the games gameplay, although not bad, it is weak in comparison to the main narrative the game has to offer. Similar to Uncharted, it all seems familiar and nothing new is to be gained from "tacking" on the multiplayer experience like most games do these days. It's frustrating that developers feel the need to add it, for the sake of it these days. So many have tried and failed, Assassins Creed, Dead Space and Mass Effect to name a few. That's not to say these multiplayer experiences are bad, much like this one they are enjoyable, but in comparison to the whole package they are the weakest element the games have to offer. As stated the same rule applies to this game.
  
  Overall the gameplay is nothing shy of spectacular, with a great variety and balance the game shines were most fail. It makes you, the gamer want to continue, never get bored and will the story to never end. The ability to play new game+ is a good addition allowing you to play again, whilst keeping your upgraded equipment/Joel. Yet it will never beat the first time you experience in what could easily be the greatest single player narrative in this generation of consoles.
  
  
  Graphics
  
  The graphics in the game are superb; I recently reviewed Bioshock Infinite and stated the graphics are the best you can get on current generation consoles. I also stated they could be improved had the game appeared on the next generation.
  
  How wrong was I?!
  
  This game is evidence to back up my incorrect judgement at the time. This game, on current generation consoles, looks better than all of the games shown at E3 despite games being shown to release on the next generation consoles. It is definitely the best looking game I have seen, hands down. With only a few clippings where my character would phase into a box as I walk past throughout the game, it is the highest standard in video game history. With jaw dropping cinematics, impressive level design and immersive colours to create a life like, albeit daunting world. The game is the best looking game you may see for the next year or so. It makes me eager to see what can be developed on these supposedly more powerful systems, especially when they are supposed to be x3 more powerful. This is as lifelike as you are going to get right now. The next step would be boarding reality.
  
  Overall the graphics are impressive, easily the best graphics in the history of video gaming, but at such a pivotal time, I just wonder what they may have done on the next generation had they started development and held it back for the launch date of the PlayStation 4. Could it be any better, I am unsure, it is that good already, but still you cannot fault a game that has set the new standard.
  
  
  Audio
  
  I am strong believer that audio is what makes the game gripping and believable. By sheer sound you can cause tension, drama, suspense and many more emotions.
  
  The main characters in the game Joel, and Ellie are voiced superbly. The standard is that of Hollywood. I only hope other studios take notice when you look again at what could be the industry standard. The voices are believable, and by just listening you can feel the characters pain, tension or whatever emotion is desired on screen at the time. It's a work of art.
  
  The soundtrack of the game is also just as good, if not better. Countless times I found myself entering a dark room with goosebumps across my arms and the hairs standing up on my back just by suspense of the music used at the right time. It is gripping, and impressive to experience. I cannot praise the studio anymore for the outstanding job on what it has created. The whole design of when the bass should come in, to the drop of an object onscreen with the sound echoing in the darkness with the tension to follow, hoping you have not alerted the herds of infected is nothing short of genius.
  
  Naughty Dog again has set a standard in the industry, not only in graphics but sound aswell, this is perfection. I would be shocked to find anything better in the future, if anything this is perfection. Future games can only be on par now, it cannot get any better.
  
  
  Overall
  
  The game is nothing short of genius and perfection. It has received perfect 10's across the board for most gaming sites, and yet you will not believe it until you experience it. The whole package is nothing short of genius, the only let down is the tacked on multiplayer experience. It's not bad, it's just not the standard to what the main narrative of the game delivers, yet I honestly do not believe it cannot be improved upon, even with no multiplayer, and that to me is a testament itself. Naughty Dog has twisted the formula that worked with its Uncharted series, and created something that has not only topped it, but set the precedent for the future of gaming. As a strong believer no game is perfect, this is as close to perfect you will get. If you do not own a Playstation 3, borrow it, buy it, basically get it, you owe it to yourself as a gamer reading this to play this masterpiece. 9.9/10
  

• Dave Wallace June 18, 2013 PS3

  ****

  Is this the final truly great game of the PS3 era? If it is, the console couldn't have picked a more perfect title as its swansong. Because 'The Last of Us' is an epic, brutal, moving, and surprisingly cerebral action-adventure game that marries an incredibly sophisticated game engine with an equally nuanced, complex and involving storyline, whilst also boasting some of the best visuals that home systems have ever seen.
  
  Set in the aftermath of a crippling virus that has decimated the world's population and created hordes of mindless zombies, 'The Last of Us' is partly a post-apocalyptic thriller, partly a horror-oriented survival game, and partly an RPG-style adventure. As well as featuring a strong central plot that provides the opportunity for some tense action sequences, it's also a game that draws you in by creating deep emotional bonds between its characters - which it then capitalises on by pushing them into impossible situations and requiring you to make some pretty tough choices.
  
  Playing as Joel - a jaded, worn-out survivor of the outbreak - it's your task to shepherd to safety a teenage girl named Ellie, who (you soon discover) may be the key to humanity's fight against the virus. You see, Ellie - who was born after the virus broke out - appears to be immune to the disease that has crippled so much of the world in 'The Last of Us', and ensuring her survival (in the face of seemingly impossible threats) is the goal of the game.
  
  As the story goes on, Joel's harsh exterior gradually begins to crumble as he warms up to the perky, sparky Ellie, and the interplay between the two characters becomes just as involving as the action set-pieces or the stealthy exploration that you're required to accomplish to make progress. Joel might be a pessimistic and growly type, but Ellie eventually teases the inner humanity out of him, even against a horrific backdrop of death and destruction - and in many ways, that relationship symbolises the ultimately positive message about human nature that the game seems to be trying to convey.
  
  Incidentally, if it sounds strange that I'm talking about these characters as though they're real people, that's no accident - because 'The Last of Us' is possibly as close as video games have ever come to creating living, breathing human beings that we can really grow to care about. Through a physical performance-capture technique that gives Joel and Ellie convincing human movements and facial expressions, as well as some great vocal performances (particularly Ashley Johnson as Ellie), developer Naughty Dog has come nearer than ever to putting a realistic person at the centre of a videogame.
  
  It's all the more upsetting, then, that these ultra-realistic and incredibly sympathetic human beings have to undergo such a nightmarish journey as they work their way through the game.
  
  As you'd expect from the setup, one of the main enemies that you encounter is the zombie-style infected, who are more in the scarily-fast-moving and dangerous mould of '28 Days Later' than the classic shuffling zombies of old. Nicknamed 'clickers' - due to the weird clicky noise they make - these zombies are blind but have incredibly sensitive hearing: a clever twist that means you can actually sneak right under their noses as long as you can stay quiet enough.
  
  This creates the opportunity for all sorts of tense, stealthy sneaking around, meaning that you'll more often than not have to use your brains rather than your weaponry to find a way past your enemies. To help achieve this, the game includes a "listening mode" that feels like a clever spin on "detective mode" from the Batman Arkham games, allowing you to see through walls and detect your foes (which also include human enemies, such as rogue militia groups) before they have a chance to get a glimpse of you.
  
  The fact that 'The Last of Us' only resorts to violence and bloodshed when absolutely necessary only serves to make it especially shocking and brutal when it does happen - and when it does, you'll have a fair amount of choice in terms of how you approach it. As well as the standard array of firearms that fans of shoot-em-ups will be used to - such as pistols, rifles, crossbows and shotguns - the game includes an inventive selection of makeshift weapons and gadgets that you'll be forced to use as you try to conserve your dwindling supplies of ammunition.
  
  These various tools are mostly upgradeable, giving you a certain amount of scope for improvisation as well as a couple of difficult choices to make (for example, do you use alcohol and bandages to treat a wound or to create an explosive molotov cocktail?), adding to the complexity of the action elements without ever making them feel complicated or difficult to master.
  
  But really, the action is only a small part of the appeal of 'The Last of Us'. Thanks to the beautifully-realised world of the game - which takes full advantage of the PS3's graphical capabilities, pushing them to the limit - you'll find other elements just as satisfying. For example, there's just as much scariness and suspense derived from exploring the dank, waterlogged basements of abandoned skyscrapers as from facing down a horde of zombies - and you get just as much of a tingling sense of achievement and enjoyment from breaking out of the city, through the suburbs and into the lush countryside beyond as you do from simply killing someone who was trying to kill you. The visuals of the game are really like nothing else you've ever seen, particularly when it comes to the verdant plantlife that threatens to engulf the concrete, urban environments that represent the old world that has been overthrown by the zombie apocalypse.
  
  The whole sophisticated package comes together in a way that's incredibly polished - for which a certain credit must also go to the sparse, minimalistic and beautiful music. I don't normally notice music that much whilst playing a game, but the incidental sounds and melodies that you get in 'The Last of Us' really help to set the tone for the game, making it feel even more cinematic and immersive. Crucially, though - and unlike Naughty Dog's other big franchise, 'Uncharted' - the balance of cinematic elements against actual gameplay is always tipped in gamer's favour here, meaning that you always feel as though you're in control of the action, and you always have a real sense of emotional investment in what's happening as you play.
  
  As you can probably tell from the warmth with which I've described it, I was hugely won over by this game, and I'd probably hold it up as one of the best console titles ever created. The gameplay, graphics, sound, story and central performances all come together to create something truly special, making 'The Last of Us' a title which is bound to go down in gaming history as a major milestone.
  
  At a time when all eyes seem to be turning to the newer systems that are due to arrive this Christmas - notably the PS4 and Xbox One - 'The Last of Us' is a welcome reminder that the quality of a platform's games is always far more important than the hardware itself. And if the PS4 can come up with any Playstation-exclusive titles that are even half as good as The Last of Us, then the battle of the next-gen systems could be very short-lived indeed.
  

• The Last of Us PS3 | 01:53 Play Trailer
• The Last of Us -VGA 2012 Trailer PS3 | 01:48 Play Trailer