31.1.2015

Having been a gamer since the days of the ZX81, before we even called ourselves "gamers" (back then, we were the decidedly less punchy "home computing enthusiasts"), I have played more video games than I should rightly admit, across numerous and competing formats. Indeed, today's PS4 versus Xbox One is historically mirrored with yesteryear's ZX Spectrum versus the Commodore 64. All this is a fairly long-winded way of getting to the point that this particular game, The Last of Us Remastered, is simply one of the finest single player campaigns that I have ever played.This game is fantastic. Fairly simple controls and a linear game narrative are embiggenend, to use a perfectly cromulent word,by a masterful narrative, terrific voice acting and the best production values that gaming currently allows. The sound design, too, is superb, with the crack of a rifle bullet echoing around (mostly) deserted city streets. The Last of Us Remastered is incredibly easy to learn but a game that rewards those with attention spans, as much of the rich detail is conveyed not simply through the stunning vistas of post-apocalyptic landscapes but through the notes left behind by other characters (this is particularly effective in the "storm drains" chapter).All of these factors help develop a story that is both credible (the virus in the game actually exists - it's a tropical infection that only attacks insects (Cordyceps, a lethal fungi) and thankfully it hasn't actually jumped the species barrier) and emotionally affecting - a real achievement in gaming history. This is an absolutely stunning game about the cost of survival and the paths that humanity might take, whether banding together to look for hopeful solutions or turning into self-centered, sadistic sociopaths.If you enjoy the great television series (or graphic novel precursor) The Walking Dead (with a tip of the hat towards Terry Gilliam's brilliant film, 12 Monkeys), you'll probably love this game. If you prefer open world games or run and gun shooters, then this might be too restrictive or too slow for you. I think both GTA V and Battlefield 4 are great games for different reasons but the Last of Us Remastered has simply blown me away in a fashion that a game hasn't for many years. I haven't yet played the multiplayer, so I'll update the review once I've had a good crack at that but this game is worth getting simply because it's possibly the best single player story ever made. If you missed this game the last time around - and I did because I owned an Xbox 360 - don't miss this second bite of the apple. This is a stunning game that shows you just how powerful a video game narrative can be and is certainly one of the strongest arguments in the "is gaming art?" debate.Edit: after some time on the multiplayer, Factions, I can confirm that this comprises quite a fun metagame within the campaign's overall theme. While initially appearing to be similar to Gears Of War's unforgiving multiplayer, Factions is a quite splendid online multiplayer in its own right. Dispensing with irrelevent statistics like the kill/death ratio (surely one of the worst ideas in online shooters), the concept behind Factions is that during an online match, you scavenge supplies from dead opposition players and loot boxes around the map. These supplies then help you grow and maintain the population of your camp (there's no management required, everything is done for you). So you win a game with a net surplus of supplies and perhaps three more people will join your camp. Suffer a net loss of supplies and you can expect your meagre band of followers to start going hungry or getting sick and ultimately dying. Consequently, the games have real tension, as there's more at stake than a drop in your k/dr but rather your camp population may start to dwindle.The overarching idea is to maintain and grow your camp for as many days and weeks as possible. Sitting at the perimeter of a map and just sniping will get you nowhere. Sticking close to your team and supporting each other is key to success. Also, there's no grind to unlock scopes and other weapon attachments, though you can choose which perks and custom loadout best suit your play style.All of this combines to make The Last of Us Remastered a complete package. The single player campaign is one of the best ever and the online multiplayer is refreshingly different and tense, despite it being three variations on team deathmatch. The recommendations can not be strong enough.

1.8.2014

You will be in one of two camps, the first that simply never played the PS3 version of The Last of US and the Second that did and are wondering whether or not to upgrade to the PS4 version. For those in the first category, can I suggest you slap yourself around the face because you really did miss out! Joking aside lets talk about the game.The Last of Us really was a triumph of what developers could create if they put their mind to it. Crucially the developers weren't pushed into rushing the game and as such when it did arrive on PS3 it was exactly as they intended. In my book the PS3 version even to this day remains one of the best games going and is certainly in my top 10 games ever.So what is The Last of US?It's a Third person based, role playing adventure/horror game. You must survive in post apocalyptic America where a mutated fungus has taken hold and infected virtually everyone. It's edge of the seat stuff from beginning to end and really does showcase how good games can be!Rather than waffling on and going into the ins and outs of everything in the game I simply want to say a few things about the differences between the PS3 and PS4 versions. While I wouldn't necessarily say it's worth upgrading to the next gen version if you still own a copy of the PS3 edition, as the PS3 edition was truly brilliant in itself. Be in no doubt that the graphics do look better with better textures and indeed the frame rate clearly running at a higher level (60 frames a second) and you can tell that simply by the fight scenes and shootouts as they run smoother on screen with no screen lag or graphical shudder (there wasn't exactly a lot of that in the PS3 edition but now it's completely gone). Now it's fair to say that the graphical jump isn't Massive but it is noticeable and you can actually switch between 30 and 60 frames per second through the menu and judge for yourself.Aside from the graphical jump you also get the DLC (downloadable content) included with the disk which you had to pay extra for on PS3. I do like how they have utilized the speaker in the PS4 controller too, it now plays audio diaries when you pick them up and indeed makes a noise when you turn the flashlight on (almost creating the feeling that you're holding the flashlight yourself). Needless to say the Duelshock 4 controller is more enjoyable to play this game with rather than its older brother. Now you can use the actual triggers as opposed to L1 and R1.Pros: Stunning graphics with the game running at the golden 1080p and 60 frames per second * The same great story of the PS3 edition * You get 2 free DLC map packs included for multiplayer and the "Left Behind" Story mode DLC * The environments as you travel around are beautifully detailed * Voice acting is spot on * Photo mode so you can take snaps of the awesome scenery * Game play that puts many high end games to shameCons: Be prepared to lose your social life for a few weeks as the game is incredibly addictive * Massive Hard Drive installation is required 50GB+VERDICT: If you never played the PS3 edition then get this game as you won't regret it one bit, its got a brilliant mix of a stunning storyline in combination with stealthy gameplay that will blow your mind. It does have a decent online section with lots of DLC included but lets be frank, you don't play this game for its multiplayer, this is one of those games in which the single player wins it hands down. 5 stars and thoroughly RECOMMENDED!

1.8.2015

What's so special about this game is that it works both as a survival horror game and as a grippingly emotional story.The Story (no spoilers)The opening prologue is a masterpiece of both storytelling and game design. It presents rising action that escalates to a shocking and emotional conclusion, and immediately sets up the rest of the story. 15 minutes into the game, I was doing what I usually do during a well-told film: I was anticipating and looking forward expectantly to the rest of the adventure.As if that wasn't surprising enough in a videogame, the game makers went on to do something 99% of Hollywood filmmakers fail to master: they refused to play to my expectations,they paced the dramatic peaks and valleys properly, they used humour effectively as emotional relief, and they constantly surprised me.I can honestly say that the direction the story took, and its eventual outcome, was utterly unexpected and genuinely morally upsetting. It was not just unexpected for a video game - it's the kind of ending you'd need a Roman Polankski to pull off successfully in a movie. So as a piece of storytelling, TLOU for me is the near-equal of No Country For Old Men, or Chinatown, or The Road in its sober and morally ambiguous intentions. In the video game world, this makes it instantly the Citizen Kane of video games, because the dramaturgy of most games is worse than in kindergarten books. In this respect, it's absolutely peerless.The GameThe gameplay - third person exploration, collecting, shooting, stealth, light puzzle solving - is extremely solid. It is, I think by design, stressful overall.Gunplay is violent. I would say that it is easily the most violent game I've ever played, simply because the violence is never allowed to be fun. It is consistently shocking and visceral: after 10 hours of game time, I found myself in a surprise face off with three men in the snow storm level, and dispatched them messily with an axe and a gunshot to the head. I was left not victorious, but sickened from the sounds of the axe blow and the blood pouring out of the body in the silence after it had hit the floor.The sound details in this game which produce this level of realism are incredible. It's a bold decision, and it supports the story. Unlike the recent Tomb Raider reboot, which begins realistically but descends quickly into a silly turkey shoot in the jungle, the game makers at Naughty Dog decided to keep their game stone cold sober all the way through. I can imagine some people would not like it, as it is essentially a mood belonging to film, not games, and it is at odds with the players desire to enjoy the action. But even though Joel and Ellie do kill people, it is always presented somehow as desperate measures, not power plays for the benefit of the player, and so the business end of the story stands up: we believe these characters as people, not as video game avatars.Overall, I would say this is easily the best narrative game I’ve ever played, and certainly the most emotionally affecting. There’s literally nothing else to compare it to in video games, which is a shame; it makes me wonder if the trick could ever be pulled off twice.

11.3.2015

Ok I'm going to point it out now for people so they don't need to waste their time with the entire review. If you own it on the ps3 then you don't really need to buy it again...unless you want to support the game that much, but in all honesty, just buy some of the psn games and support small developers, or give the money to charity.Ok, sorry everyone else. Here we go.I loved this game. I absolutely love this game. I didn't own it on my ps3 because I was broke when it came out so I decided to wait until it came to the ps4, and I loved it...might have said that once or twice.Ok first point for why this game is great is that it gives you the entire story, and not try to build for a sequel.Nice one Naughty Dog. This plot is good as well, they actually manage something few devs can do, which is make a well rounded game. The writing is great, still not on the same level as films, but films aren't on the same level as books, so there we go. What I liked was there were no stupid optional conversations, just what the writers thought should be put in. Joel and Ellie are written well, and yes, Joel is typical "man character" for video games, Ellie is a breath of fresh air.I played this game following Joel and Ellie as they seek a cure, avoiding the mutated humans, and hiding from gangs of men who seek power in the dank future. I played loving it, working short days to find out what happens to these two. Wanting to know that they find safety, and enjoying every minute of it.The game play is great. Making the game that little bit more difficult was a nice touch, along with the idea that Joel can't take on too many people before being overpowered and killed. The stealth gameplay works well, but did have me cursing on more than one occasion, but that isn't a problem. Games should be a challenge, and that's what this was.The length was about right. I think if it was much longer then it would get annoying as by the end I just wanted to get it done, and know what happens, and this game does something few games do. The boss fight isn't really a boss fight, but is set out that way, and because you are playing as Ellie at the time, it makes it feel like a boss fight.The graphics are far better in this remastered version, and is nice to see how good games can look on the ps4. It's also nice to area crafting system that makes you make it in real time, meaning that if you need a health kit in battle you better find a quiet spot because the enemies are still coming.If you haven't played this then please get it. This game shows how good writing does make a game better. This is the type of games a lot of devs think they've made, but usually fail. For example Assassins Creed: thinks its a complex plot, but in truth it's a bundle of misunderstood truths mixed with utter rubbish, patched with mediocre plot. This game had a beginning, middle, and end. Why is this so hard to do?

24.12.2018

The last time I played a video game all the way through was probably…well…come to think of it I don’t recall ever playing a video game all the way through. I have owned all of the hardware through the years, from the Master system, through Megadrive, PS1, PS2, X360 and now PS4, XONE and Switch but I’ve never been much of a gamer as such. I’ve enjoyed the odd game of Madden and that’s about it. Weird that I keep buying the consoles come to think of it!That all changed when I picked up a copy of The Last of Us on the back of the comments and reviews right here on Amazon. The game has left such an impression on me that I have gone on to purchase a number of games,and at the grand old age of 37 have found myself a new hobby which I just can’t leave alone.The most important aspect for allowing myself to become immersed in a game was the accessibility level. In the past when I have tried games I have gotten bored very easily as I am simply rubbish at solving puzzles, knowing where to go etc. In short, I am just not very good at playing games. What I liked about the Last of Us was that it was easy for an amateur like myself to pick up and learn the ropes. And because it relies so much on taking your time, assessing the situation and applying stealth, it allows you go at your own pace.When I try to play a game like, for instance GTA5, you need to go at pace and thus it shows up the shortcomings in my style. The Last of Us is perfect in the way it allows you into the seams of the story. And let’s face it, the story is a barn-burner. It is cinematic in style and execution. Everything from the character arcs to the sound design to the player mechanics makes you think you are watching a Hollywood blockbuster. You will feel like you are part of Joel and Ellie’s story.Don’t get me wrong through, even on the easiest settings (which of course I played) together with auto-locking turned on, this is no easy game. And I apologise to no one for playing along with BKStunt’s excellent video walkthrough on GameFAQs.com. Without his guiding hand I would never have completed the game. But I did complete it and I enjoyed every minute of it. And I was sad when the end credits rolled and I knew that I wasn’t going to see Ellie and Joel again (until the long awaited sequel that is.)The disc comes with the only single player DLC included, Left Behind. This was a nice way to extend our time with Ellie for a couple of hours but is by no means essential. Make sure you play it after completing the main game though, even though it is a prequel of sorts.If you are like me and are looking for a narrative-lead action thriller to spend 20 or so hours with then you could do a lot worse than pick up The Last of Us. Granted, I don’t have anything to compare it to, but I can’t believe that any game I will ever play in the future will be as good as this.

28.2.2015

Like the majority of people who have reviewed this, I was absolutely blown away by this game from the moment I started it up. The story was immediately engaging and there was no doubt that this was going to be a dark tale (of course a zombie apocalypse isn't going to be a sunny story). There are so many reviews I'm just going to point out what I really liked in case there are game developers out there who actually read these reviews and listen.I loved:-the graphics. Beautiful, gross, occasionally stunning. Rooms and homes were decorated in various ways which went a long way in making the game more realistic, and some of the city scenes were incredible. And the giraffes made the long journey worth the agony.-the voices.If there is a better man's voice out there than Joel's, I have yet to find it. Ellie, Tess, Tommy and Sarah were also superbly done. I love the fact that I didn't keep hearing the same voices over and over for multiple people (even Skyrim blew it on that).-the dialog. It was realistic and emotional.-the criminals. Bad to the bone from years of fighting to survive, except these people have lost their humanity in the process. They are tough, deadly and without an ounce of pity.-the music and sound effects. Beautifully done.-the storyline! There were hard choices, iffy decisions, times when they were helpless to intervene on behalf of others because it would have just thrown their lives away, and the all consuming need to see this thing through. One of the best storylines of any game I've ever played.-Ellie. One of the best portrayals of a teenager ever. Scared sh!*less most of the time but unwilling to show it. She was determined to find a way to get Joel to care for her as much as she had come to care for him. He was who she trusted.-Joel. An honorable but flawed man who lost his way after Sarah but found his way back through his ordeal with Ellie. An amazing job of making his character believable, and seeing him struggle with his increasing affection for Ellie was completely understandable, believable and ultimately fulfilling. I also loved that he was an older man. He had nothing to prove and was just doing what needed to be done. I loved him. No really. Loved him.I have always gravitated towards games like this. Adventures, quests, vanquishing evil and rooting for the underdog. Perhaps because I'm such a prolific reader, who knows. But stories like this are enjoyable on an entirely different level than non story games are (although I enjoy those too). Games with storylines that make you come to care for the characters are few and far between- Red Dead, Skyrim, Fallout New Vegas are some that come to mind at the moment, and I truly appreciate all of the people who work to make them happen. So thank you to all of the people who worked hard to bring this wonderful work of art to life.

23.12.2014

I never got the chance to play The Last Of Us when it was originally released for the PS3 and as we sold our old console to get money off a PS4 I thought I truly had missed out on a much hyped game. So you can imagine my delight when The Last Of Us was re-released on the next gen console!The story revolves around Joel and Ellie. Both are living in a post pandemic world where an infection has mutated most of the population into mindless monsters. Joel is on a mission to transport Ellie through America for a really important purpose and of course on the way to two of them learn many things about each other and come across multiple threats.I didn't immediately get hooked into The Last Of Us likeI was expecting but after 2-3 hours of gameplay the moment did come when all of a sudden I couldn't put the controller down. The characters, the world, the story is all so engrossing that Naughty Dog really do deserve all the awards they have won for this game. It really is hard to play a video game that makes you feel as engrossed as The Last Of Us does, especially concerning story and characters.Now I would've given this game an undoubted 5 stars if it weren't for the gameplay. The gameplay is quite repetitive (enter building, realise mutated humans/violent survivors are nearby, sneak around/hack and slash, reach objective) is pretty much the basic formula the game maintains from start to finish however the story really is it's saving grace. Most games you would get bored after 2 hours if it maintained that formula but with The Last Of Us I had no problem whatsoever in overlooking it. I also wish they would've made the New Game + mode more flexible. If you complete the game on easy then you can only play New Game + on easy too. Personally I would've preferred it if you could restart the game on New Game + in any difficulty level.I never played the PS3 version so I can't give a fair graphics comparison but all I do know is the PS4 graphics look beautiful, although Naughty Dog is known for their detailed work anyway. The remastered edition also comes equipped with the single player DLC 'Left Behind' which is a short story delving into Ellie's past as well as revisiting a few moments from the main game's timeline. The DLC is definitely worth a play through as it not only reveals some surprises about Ellie's character but it introduces welcome new gameplay features that are absent from the main game.All in all The Last Of Us is not just a video game, it is a fantastic story that could easily rival most Academy Award/Oscar winning movies and is bought to life by the fantastic visuals, brilliant voice acting, fully dimensional characters and gripping story. Naughty Dog have confirmed The Last Of Us 2 is on the way, part of me can't wait and another part is anxious to see how they could possibly top their predecessor!

16.10.2014

Simply put The Last of Us is the best game I have ever played. It’s more a cinematic blend as, forthcoming movie adaptation proving, the narrative is way and above most games and an integral part of why it is so good. My girlfriend was pretty happy to sit and watch me play this because it played like a movie in a way and also has great survival horror action. For PS4 this is the best game available. I played it on the PS3 and to be honest the enhanced graphics although beautiful really don’t enhance the gameplay as the game was already so great on its own and I tend to forget the graphics getting pulled into the action and story.

19.8.2014

I always approach hyped up games with a large degree of trepidation, how can it be THAT good? Well in the case of the Last of Us the hype wasn't lying. A new bench mark has been set now for story telling in games, I mean comparing other recent games like Tomb Raider reboot's story to this is like night and day. All developers will now have to up their game. The Last of Us is like reading a great book, you just want to find out more and more about the story. Its very difficult to stop playing.But its not just the story, the game play takes the Uncharted formula but makes it a more visceral stealth strategy style with a gritty survival difficulty thats always puts you at a disadvantage and forces you to avoid confrontation.

3.2.2015

This game is flawless.Soundtrack sets pace and mood perfectly,It ranges from the peaceful somber moments between Ellie and Joel's dialogue to building tension in close encounters.Speaking of Ellie and Joel, the characters, the actors and the motion capture is incredible, If you have played the game before you will know within the first ten minutes of gameplay; there will be tears. The script is executed with such brilliance - it is no surprise they're adapting this game into a feature length film.I will not mention much of the Left Behind DLC that is included with the game, only that I strongly recommend it be played after you have completed the main story mode.If online multiplayer is your thing,

25.2.2018

What to say that's not already been said about this game ?? So here is my humble review.........Believe it or not im actually writing this around 5 years after the original game was released.. Why you may ask....? Well ill admit im not the biggest gamer in the world..... I only heard of this game around a year or so ago and after recieving a PS4 for Christmas this was at the top of my list of games to play. Bearing in mind this is not normally my type of game, the usual zombie adventure game has been done a million times before but theres something about this game that makes it stand above the rest. So i'll try and summarise it below...... Without any spoliers!The game itself its absolutely beautiful,

28.5.2016

There are few games released that are worth buying a console just for that game but this is one of them. In my opinion it is the best game ever made and it will take something extra special to ever be better than it. One of my bug bears is when people call it a zombie game, it's not. The enemies in this game are infected humans (and non infected ones too make no mistake) they aren't dead but very much alive and suffering a fate worse than hell.The environments in this game are special and sometimes you just stop to take in all the details. Some people complain it's not an open world game so they mark it down for that reason.

5.1.2015

So one of the reasons I bought a PS4 was to get this. Having had an xbox in the last gen I heard about this game and wanted to play it. So I bought and waited. And it was worth the wait.The story is a simple one (if only it was actually). Ellie is a young girl who holds the key to a vaccine from the zombie plague that has decimated America. Joel is her companion. And that's about as much as you are getting as the storyline is the key thing for this game. The gameplay is a typical one of forced perspective shooter with various melee and weaponry drip fed (and I mean drip fed at times) to you throughout. Its all intercut with sequences which push the story onwards.In a typical game review there would now be a discussion of game mechanics,

31.12.2015

Before buying 'The Last of Us' you should understand what type of game you're buying. 'The Last of Us' is a survival, stealth game with some action elements; it requires you to take your time and conserve whatever precious resources are available and due to the nature of the game play it will take you several attempts at different points throughout the game so patience is a must. It goes without saying therefore that those of you looking for a full on action experience should go elsewhere because 'The Last of Us' isn't one of those games.The gorgeously realized post apocalyptic world allows you plenty of opportunities to explore the game's beautiful looking setting but it's certainly no open

10.10.2014

Firstly i would like to ask the public to ignor all the "reviews" below 4/5 stars. They idiots or COD lovers or they are Xbox fan boys who will do anything to hurt Sony.This is truly a remarkable game. I got this free with a replacement PS3 console (my fat PS3 died) with Amazon. I had not heard much about the game (before the hype) and was not expecting much as i put the CD into the PS3.After a few minutes i was fully submerged into the game, i could not stop playing and i lost control of time. Everything in this game is so well made. The voice acting is spot on and you feel for the main characters. The graphics and game play are fantastic and the story is just so refreshing and interesting.It took me several hours to complete,

The Last of Us: Remastered (PS4) - Reviews

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