Developed by Naughty Dog, the studio behind the much-acclaimed Uncharted series, “The Last of Us” is a PlayStation 3 game set 20 years into a post-apocalyptic future when an outbreak has decimated the population of the United States and left cities mostly abandoned.
You play as Joel, a Texan who journeys between survivor groups in a collapsed society where streets are flooded and vegetation is overgrown. At every turn, “The Last of Us” strives to deliver a level of realism rarely seen in games. Ammunition and supplies are limited (don’t expect to come across many machine guns), sneaking around is often more successful than combating enemies, and the game does a great job of not elbowing in an encounter with monsters at every turn.
The animation and voice direction are astounding in “The Last of Us,” delivering character drama more real than most games of this generation. The game has a simple but emotionally charged storyline, edited tightly and filled with nuance. Some characters truly despise the people they interact with, others are quirky and lighten the mood. The mix of personalities keeps dialogue exchanges realistic, and the time Naughty Dog spent perfecting design and script really shines.
If you want to experience a game that features story-telling on par with a season of HBO or AMC quality television, “The Last of Us” will satisfy. The game breaks conventions, features unpredictable character choices and will surprise you with its many human moments, making for an extremely compelling experience.
“The Last of Us” is available now for the PlayStation 3.
