Years in the making and possibly the PS3’s final big-name exclusive, The Last Of Us is one of the most important games to come from the Uncharted creators at Naughty Dog. Can it possibly live up to the hype, and with the PS4 on the horizon, is there a danger that it could get lost in the rush for new hardware? Does it deserve to be? Read on to find out.
The good
It’s almost ironic that just as Sony is getting itself ready for the next-gen push, the aging PS3is graced with what could end up being one of the defining games of the current generation. The Last of Us is an incredible achievement in terms of visuals, storytelling and action, and when you’re battling through its riveting, frightening single-player mode, you’ll genuinely wonder if you really need PS4 just yet. Developer Naughty Dog has pushed Sony’s console to its absolute limits, and in doing so has crafted a remarkable technical achievement.
Of course, pure visuals are just one part of the game’s appeal. Taking cues from Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and zombie phenomenon The Walking Dead, The Last of Us pushes you into a harsh and unrelenting world where mankind is on its last legs following a worldwide plague which turns people into little more than walking plants. Early infection creates a zombie-like state, but after a while mushroom-like growths cover the body, resulting in deadly enemies which react to sound rather than sight.
Thankfully, lead character Joel is resourceful and has a canny sense of hearing, too – one of the game’s unique touches is the ability to track nearby threats using sound, and plan your moves accordingly. Joel is also rather handy in a fight, and is able to string together brutal combos as well as blast away with an host of firearms. Ammo is always in short supply though, forcing you to take your shots with care.
With the young Ellie in tow, Joel begrudgingly finds himself responsible for the life of another, which gives the game its unusual narrative and lends it some of its most captivating moments. Born after the plague has taken over the world, Ellie doesn’t know any different – and her perspective provides a counterbalance to Joel’s weary observations. We’ve seen some good relationships in games lately – Bioshock Infinite springs to mind – but The Last of Us sets a new benchmark in this regard.
The bad
Finding fault with The Last of Us is like trying to spot mistakes in a Da Vinci masterpiece. There are occasional moments when the frame rate drops slightly and some of the enemies showcase some questionable AI when attempting to navigate larger areas, but these issues don’t ever come close to spoiling the overall experience. The Last of Us is incredibly polished, well-written and brilliantly constructed – it’s as near to perfect as you’re likely to get this generation.
The bottom line
The PS3’s swansong? Perhaps not, as the console is a long way from a spot on the scrapheap and has plenty of other big games coming soon. However, if any of these future titles can come anywhere near to matching The Last Of Us, then we’d be pleasantly surprised. Naughty Dog has taken what it has learned from making the Uncharted series and has introduced the kind of storytelling which is usually reserved for award-winning movies and TV shows; the game’s central characters are perfectly formed and brilliantly acted, and the emotional pull of the plot keeps you glued to the screen until the bitter end. Factor in a robust combat engine, amazing visuals and great use of audio, and you’ve got a solid-gold classic. The Last Of Us is one of the best games we’ve played in years, and a must-have if you own aPS3.
