What do you get when you combine survival horror with stealth / action and light RPG elements? Naughty Dog’s “The Last of Us” is shaping up to be a one-of-a-kind tension-filled experience that gamers will undoubtedly find to be wholly unique and very evocative.
The story / background for “The Last of Us” is as follows: It is around 20 years after the initial apocalypse pandemic destroyed the world, and our two characters (Joel and Ellie) happen upon a city which they must explore. Naturally, the city itself is not only rundown and decrepit; it is also infested with all manner of shady, violent characters. This scenario presents our protagonists with an interesting situation in which they can choose to approach each encounter by utilizing either stealth or brute force.
In terms of graphics, “The Last of Us” is most definitely an A-list title, containing all the bells-and-whistles you would expect out of a top-tier release. From a gameplay point-of-view, this upcoming title is meant to present gamers with a slightly more realistic experience. That is to say that ammo is in short supply and there simply aren’t fully functional “health packs” lying around everywhere which are can be conveniently dispersed. In fact, health isn’t regenerated in “The Last of Us”, it can only be replenished by cobbling together your own makeshift medical treatments.
Unlike some other games which paint a dark picture of post-apocalyptic ruin, the aim in this game is not to simply scare you. Nor is it to provide an excuse to fire dual-wielded rocket launchers into a pack of enemies; no, “The Last of Us” attempts to paint a believable presentation for gamers of the difficulties of such a situation. There are no snappy quips uttered after enemies are dispatched, instead, our characters seem distraught over the horrific scene that they just witnessed and even feel remorseful.
While you are thrust into the game without much of a back story to go on, you will uncover enlightening elements as you progress throughout the game which will fill in the details for you. The fact that you aren’t given too much information up front is in some ways, refreshing, as it forces you to use your imagination. So, while you are focusing on trying to survive in a world gone mad, your mind is racing as you try to piece together the details that led to the situation at hand; very intriguing to say the least.