I love cinema. I love games! I don't love overtly cinematic games! I think a decent chunk of the AAA game industry, particularly Sony's studios these days, has leaned so far into this style that it's really limited their potential. Games shouldn't try to copy film; they should take advantage of games as a medium and use their interactive nature to enhance an experience rather than copying an existing format. With all that said, surely I'd think this is an overrated albeit good game, right? It's not exactly filled with depth, it has tons of slow walking and ladder "puzzles", and the exploration isn't exactly thrilling either. But, despite ALL of my feelings about this, I can't deny one essential fact.
This was an emotional experience that I have never felt before within the medium of games.
As much as the Uncharted series can pull off balls-to-the-walls action and make sure you have a blast, The Last of Us barrels into the far opposite direction. Games are "supposed" to be fun, but I'd argue this is the most powerful example of how games as a medium can explore other areas of your psyche. The tension, fear, and eventually calm relief you feel before and after every enemy encounter never ends. The bond you grow with your new daughter only grows stronger with every narrow escape or cute moment that can somehow come out of this desolate hellscape. The overwhelming peace as you and her look out into the landscape ahead of you, beautiful and serene despite the dangers you both know lie hiding.
There isn't anything super special about The Last of Us 10 years after it released. In 2013 I could easily see an argument made for it being one of the greatest games of all time, but the landscape has changed a bit since then, and its downsides have started to reveal themselves more too. But even then...does any of that matter? There are so many nitpicks and problems I can have but none of that even matters when my experience with this title was so unique. I think this might be experienced best as a story in the HBO show (which I haven't seen yet) but there's something not even Pedro Pascal can provide: Ellie is in YOUR care. It's YOUR job to keep her safe. The remaining scraps of humanity in this broken world, the last of US, need her to save us all. But in the end...who needs her more? The world...or you?
This was an emotional experience that I have never felt before within the medium of games.
As much as the Uncharted series can pull off balls-to-the-walls action and make sure you have a blast, The Last of Us barrels into the far opposite direction. Games are "supposed" to be fun, but I'd argue this is the most powerful example of how games as a medium can explore other areas of your psyche. The tension, fear, and eventually calm relief you feel before and after every enemy encounter never ends. The bond you grow with your new daughter only grows stronger with every narrow escape or cute moment that can somehow come out of this desolate hellscape. The overwhelming peace as you and her look out into the landscape ahead of you, beautiful and serene despite the dangers you both know lie hiding.
There isn't anything super special about The Last of Us 10 years after it released. In 2013 I could easily see an argument made for it being one of the greatest games of all time, but the landscape has changed a bit since then, and its downsides have started to reveal themselves more too. But even then...does any of that matter? There are so many nitpicks and problems I can have but none of that even matters when my experience with this title was so unique. I think this might be experienced best as a story in the HBO show (which I haven't seen yet) but there's something not even Pedro Pascal can provide: Ellie is in YOUR care. It's YOUR job to keep her safe. The remaining scraps of humanity in this broken world, the last of US, need her to save us all. But in the end...who needs her more? The world...or you?