‘The Last of Us’ Game Review

COULD YOU BE……THE LAST OF US?

When the world you knew is gone, when the line between right and wrong is blurred and when life or death decisions are an everyday reality, what would you do to stay alive?

For  Joel, every day is about looking after number one; but when Ellie comes into his life, their journey across what remains of the USA will push their humanity-and their will to survive-to the limit.

When I first got my hands on this game, I literally got the apocalypse vibe when I read that text given behind the case.

This isn’t just a game folks, its an experience.

This is literally the BEST game of the PS3 era. It has everything; be it amazing story, graphics, scenery, there is no end.

The thing which makes the game even more interesting is that the “infection” is based on a real-life fungal infection known as Cordyceps infection. Fortunately, it only affects insects—–BUT——-

If this thing gets mutated or evolved enough to infect human hosts, we can have an apocalyptic situation for REAL!!!!!!

Singleplayer…..

We take control of Joel, a guy who is like you and me, trying to make ends meet and living a safe and comfortable life with his daughter Sarah. On the night of his birthday, infection strikes and ruins his life and all his dreams.

20 Years Later, when the infection is in full swing, military personnel have started a Quarantine Zone where adequate steps are taken to keep the area free of infection and the infected hosts. A rebel group known as Fireflies promises the remaining humans hope trying to find a cure and to retaliate against the strict actions of the military personnel, thus, having enmity with them.

Joel and Tess are buddies and smugglers, who smuggle anything from guns to pills. Their boring life takes a sharp turn when the leader of the Fireflies asks them to smuggle a “parcel” for them.

 

This amazing journey takes us through ravaged city streets, reclaimed by nature over the past 20 years, and stripped of any supplies by the survivors outside the Quarantine Zone.The ‘best friend’for the main character, Joel, is his ‘bag’.

There is a crafting mechanic in the game. Survival won’t just depend on what you find along the way, but how you use it. Press SELECT button to open your bag and here you get to know the reason why I called it his’best friend’.

Use the supplies you gather along the journey to craft items. Sound like a child’s play, but it is not. It requires a lot of strategy. Eg. You have the option of going offensively by crafting a Molotov or going safe by crafting a Health Kit to recharge your health. Both these use the same supplies. It is not just these two, but many more.

 

This game has a fresh start for the apocalyptic games. It has won over 200 Game Of The Year awards and will make you laugh, cry, and feel like a bad-ass; all at the same time.

The graphics are out of the world. Highly detailed textures, surroundings; you name it.

 

Now, let’s talk about the game. The story is so beautifully expressed that you can hardly let go of your controller until you’ve completed it. A sure block-buster hit that busts the best movie ever.

 

Now, the enemies,

At first when the infection gets hold of the body, it slowly starts growing over the brain and controls their hosts and converts them into violent zombie like creatures.

The first stage is the ‘runners’ who still having little control of their voice. You can still hear them moaning and crying as they are still trying to fight off the infection. But once they see a non-infected capable host, they go totally zombie like; ripping people apart and tearing them off. Just not this… As the infection progresses, they get more scarier and are sure to give you nightmares.

But the infected are not the only danger you’ll come across. In this apocalyptic world, you find people fighting even for a loaf of bread, a gun, a water bottle.They have to constantly Struggle. One such group is known as the Hunters, who rob anyone of anything and few have even resorted to cannibalism.

 

There are some flaws, but they are very minute except a few.

The stealth engine is amazing in this game, but, Ellie was found by the enemies more number of times than the best computer can keep track, and still the enemy is like….”Where is this guy :{”  This did have me laughing and getting shot thrice in the face…

 

Ellie literally dances in front of them and they hardly notice her. Same with other AI supporters. Eg. Bill. He stomps around like an elephant and the clickers hardly hear him. But if I tell Joel to stand and walk they attack him and rip him.

 

Multiplayer……

**To play  the multi-player, you first need to enter the supplied voucher code into the PSN and download a network pass.  Second hand buyers would be needed to pay a little extra for the multiplayer as they do not have the supplied voucher code**

 

When you first select the Multi Player option from the main menu of the game, you will be asked to select a faction: Firefly OR Hunter.

After this, you are pitched against other online players in a battle to survive 12 weeks.

*One match = 1 Day. So 12 weeks = 84 matches*

The multiplayer is amazing. You work with other players of your faction and  try to win against the other faction players.

 

Trophies……

This section is for my beloved trophy hunters who have spent nights without sleep trying to get the 100% on games.

Every coin has two faces.

This game has a bunch of glitched trophies but they luckily have been patched.

Another drawback is that on the PS3 disc, you will not get the Left Behind DLC or the Grounded Mode DLC. You won’t get the map pack extensions either. You need to pay extra for those. Feel really sad for my fellow trophy hunters….

 

But on the PS4 disc, you have both, the Left Behind DLC and the Grounded Mode DLC included. You don’t need to pay extra for these. Voila!!

For more information and a detailed walk-through, please refer the following guide:

Guide By: Breadskin & TheFlyingToaster; DLC: AshtimusPrime  Thanks a lot guys.

http://www.playstationtrophies.org/game/the-last-of-us/guide/

 

 

Final Verdict:

Story 10/10

Soundtrack 10/10

Physics and Graphics 9/10

Sensible features 10/10

AI 9/10

Multiplayer 10/10

Overall Score    10/10

 

P.S: Naughty Dog should make DLCs free for the PS3 and should definitely push a patch for the flaws mentioned here. A must have for all owners of the PS3.

 

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