The Last of Us is a survival-horror action game developed by Naughty Dog and Published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The story is about Joel and Ellie in the post-apocalyptic world where a deadly plague spread into the modern world.
The harsh world and depressed economy turn the world into where human need to struggle for food and daily supplies, including weapons. This also included Joel, where he work as smugglers with his friends, until an event make Joel on duty to take care of Ellie, a brave fourteen years old girl.
Meet Joel and Ellie, the last of.... well, just two ordinary human among some few survivor.
The event took place two years after the infection spread, and many part of the world have been quarantined in order to maintain the infection to not spread further.
Ellie and Joel must survive in the dangerous zone of U.S, outside of the Quarantine Zone, where not only normal survivor exist, but also the infected one and other dangerous peoples.
The infected one is not the only threat to the player.
In the dangerous post-apocalyptic world, Joel and Ellie must work together to survive, as they continue their journey, scavenge to life, fighting their way, discovering new allies and new enemy, and ultimately learn the truth.
There are many hostile enemy in the game, and player must know how to survive and dealing with them. Player control as Joel, which can use anything in his surround, start from firearm, blades, to some bottles or brick to thrown at enemies.
There are many strategy to deal with the enemy, and teamwork is very crucial in order to achieve victory. Joel must protect Ellie at all cost, as player control him. However, Ellie also could wield weapons and fight impressively, especially, remembering how old she is.
Teamwork is the key to victory.
Quarantine Zone and its system are the idea of government, FEDRA. They are the only one of the few government agent that still operate even after the infection outbreak, and putting an iron fence mental against the infection. FEDRA act swiftly as the infection start, as they took over the US Armed Forced and take out the other bureaucrats.
While FEDRA creating the Quarantine Zone and having total control there. Their absolute power viewed as tyrant for certain people, and thus lead the creation of a militia organization known as Fireflies, which aim to defeat FEDRA, and a way to cure the infection.
Those official organizations is not the only fraction for the people. Civilians slowly getting impatient with FEDRA and their act, and start to move on their own as the government isn't reliable. They need to get their own food to survive and all, then the peoples known as Hunters born.
They are civilians who hunt for foods and supplied of the other survivor who may come into their territory. They move on group and having a leader, so in other words, they are just like thug which formed because short on supplies and being oppressed by the government.
A Hunter with a Shotgun is searching Joel and Ellie.
Of course, doesn't matter who the good and bad guy is, The Last of Us is "technically" a zombie game (well not really), so its not complete yet without take a look at our graaaaawrh guest.
The Cordyceps Brain Infection (CBI) is the name of the pandemic that decimate the mankind, and only few people survive. The infection is caused by a fungus Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis, or people usually refer just as Cordyceps.
The fungus are known to infect on insect in the real world, and create a "zombies" out of them. However, in The Last of Us, Cordyceps evolve/mutated to the next level so that it can also infect human, which also turn them into "zombie".
Typical zombie game? Nope.
The host will lost their mind, and slowly, their body will also be deformed into a grotesque monster. The infection have 4 phase, which will be listed below;
- Runner - The basic form of the infected. They still have their human body, but have already lost their memory and humanity. They are aggressive, fast, and still retain some of their intelligent.
- Stalker - An advanced infected one, which already developed some change, including some mushroom growing in their body, especially one of their eyes. They are usually will follow their target from far and attack as they come closer, hence their name.
- Clicker - In this form, the infected no longer have their human will, as the fungus finally take over the body of the victim. Their whole face is covered by a large mushrooms, and so does most part of their body. They are blind, so they rely on sound to detect their prey.
- Bloater - The final phase, and the longest to ever be reached. Bloater have big deformed body, which are covered by a thick plate of mushroom that act as armor. They are really dangerous, but move slowly. However, they also could throw mycotoxin dust into their target if they are too far away.
The 4 phase of the Infected victim.
Those zombies share an universal trait regardless of their phase; they all weak to fire. This probably because few theory like they dislike heat, fire can neutralize the spore, or simply because both human and fungus are organic life form. My explanation is simple; fungus live in damp and cold area, and which why need a constant need of high moisture. If they infect human, they will use the blood as their nutrient and water source. Not only that heat evaporate or boil water, it also a basic knowledge that it will burn plant, and mushroom can be count as plant.
Okay, that's not a simple explanation.... but never mind it, I just throwing my analysis, and not like I can pull a simple conclusion anyway.
Anyway, the Fireflies are doing the right thing to seek a cure for this horrendous pandemic, but however, the truth to hope is not as bright as it seems. In the end, a certain sacrifice is needed to be taken for the sake of the rest, but can the one who hold the hope really can pull that of?
A twist of moral and mind-blowing truth is up ahead, and whatever it is, its waiting for the two survivor. They and the rest of their allies, and what about their fate? What about the others who hide in the shelter, cowering and hiding from the infected, and live in fear of being turned into a brutal grotesque monster?
This is the journey of Joel and Ellie, as they walk into the abandoned city of the former metropolitan that now are overgrown by the nature. They survive and gather allies, trust, but also betrayal and conflict. This story is realistic, touching, somehow humanist yet imperfect, but deep inside is a portrait of the dark and light side of human that are surviving in the hard time, for their own and the other.
As you see, after that long review, we still had something else to do. Yes, that part :)
Story and Concept
I enjoy the story a lot, it was nicely executed and somewhat more realistic than other stories that I already review. The conversation is nicely made, to make it more natural and less monotonic.
If we talk about the concept, The Last of Us is one of the most original zombie game, seconded to few others like Dead Space, which have better story and concept, but pardon me, Last of Us is also nice.
Other than the creative new zombie type, Last of Us is also good at making the post-apocalyptic setting, where everything is nicely put - the fractions, government, peoples, places, zombies, problems here and there and some nicely add twist.
Its not really that good though... I personally dislike the ending, but not like I can judge Joel and the rest because if I was in his position, I will probably do the same. Not going to give spoiler, so I will just say that sometimes a sacrifice is required to be the savior of all. Though I also dislike it if its meaning there is only one or certain people who carry the burden or sacrificed, if that isn't his decision anyway.
The Last of Us have high moral twist, which make it far from idealistic, but more realistic. Its also not really have much moral value, not only that it contain moral twist from the beginning anyway. I could tolerate a moral twist as long its good, but not on The Last of Us.
The concept is all fine anyway, and talking about that. Have you seen yet the original concept of the zombies? They looks more interesting there, just try to see them.
Gameplay and System
The Last of Us have Joel and Ellie, but you only control one. Well, not like having two always better than one, but in this one, it does.
You need teamwork to do things, and there is many unique system to support that. Like how Ellie support you when you had trouble with enemies, fighting together in many conditions, to be able to see if Ellie is in trouble even if you can't see her, and so does the other way around.
You could use so many things as weapons and things to do, so that you don't always need to rely on firearm or powerful weapons. Bottle, wood plank, and many other tools can be used as weapon, distraction method, or other type of tactic.
The zombies are not always an easy one, Bloater are like "mini boss battle" in this game, where just simply shooting or punching it won't do any good. The other zombies also have their own unique characteristic to make you must analyzing and understanding them to be able to survive from them.
One last thing is the unique system known as "Balance of Power", a new system where the AI is extremely clever, and not only just following their original pattern. Enemy may take advantage of your weakness, such as running out of ammo, or ambushed by other enemies. In the other side, Ellie also could give lots of support, from helping when you pinned by the enemies, locate the target you can't see, and more.
Graphic and Animation
Only for this one, I really want to put more than just 5 star....
The graphic on the game is INSANE, and not to mentioned that it will be remastered on PS4 soon, while its already eye-melting on the original PS3.
The Last of Us have successfully create a wonderful world where nature took back our civilization. The modern cities that overrun by wild plants, flooded water, and animal making home on there, is simply breathtaking and beautiful!
I'm not exaggerating AT ALL. I'm seriously amazed by how beautiful the nature in this game, really is! All the environment on this game is marvelous. I always know that post apocalypse setting where cities have been overgrown by plants and water running free is such a refreshing scene.
The other things than the environment is also good. The face mapping and animation is clear and dynamic, also quite real for me. This combined with the nicely made environment making the game graphic is masterpiece to behold.
Need a prove? Here, take a look at them! I will post all the beautiful environment here, including the concept art. Have a nice look at this brain-melting scenery on how amazing the new era of game graphic is! (P.S: Put them on the next tab or click them directly to see the full view, its better that way!)
CLICK TO SEE THE PICTURES!
Okay thats enough...I put too much of an example.. =w=
Well, they all so beautiful, so I can't hold on to collect some more. If you want more, you can just simple google The Last of Us Environment and voila!
Characters and Fractions
The Last of Us applied an ordinary daily life character, nothing special... But they able to utilize that ordinary character into something interesting.
Ellie, Joel, Tess, Tommy, and many more. They all just an ordinary people with their own different personalty, and shown their own unique side in such hard time. In post-apocalyptic world, its interesting to see what humanity become, whatever the change. Can it be from personal trait, daily routine, new task to do, what they do to survive, and many more.
Each character is a unique side of that, and shown variety of changes in that time. Like how Ellie is mature way beyond her years because of her circumstance and dangerous experience in such young age. Joel is used to be a family man, but now changed into a bitter salt rugged smugglers because of the tragedy in the past, and now are now trying to redeem his life with the help of Ellie n his side. There also many interesting character, like Tess, a strong independent woman and are Joel smuggling partner, who are while never act like a girl, is a really great big sister figure for Ellie. Or David, not your ordinary thugs or hunter, but deep inside are a dangerous man. There also Marlene, the leader of Firefly, who also surprisingly have connection with Ellie.
With all the dynamics, I couldn't simply give it 4 star even if they all just an ordinary people. The use of organization such as FEDRA is also a nice addition, which fitting the image of the U.S government anyway.
Also, each character have their own unique interaction with the other, which almost can be count as redeeming value of this section. The conversation never really been boring, they are not anything great, but very very natural.
Just take a look at the wikia to see their quotes or just simply watch the video gameplay. You will know that Ellie is mature WAY beyond her years with her jokes and conversation. Its so unbelievable how she can keep up with such a hardened man like Joel, who are not even trying to be nice to Ellie at the beginning. Ellie also surprisingly good with sarcastic joke and curses, making it she sound like 20 or something on that age, not just a 14 years old girl.
Overall Rating
I thought I will give 4.5 star (90 point out of 100) to this game, but I ended up with 5 star. I'm sure I am reviewing a good game anyway, and I am even more sure I can see the pros and cons of a game, however this is out of my prediction this time.
However, that's not really surprising since most review out there about this game is so high anyway.
The Last of Us is a beautiful game about an ordinary peoples in the zombie apocalypse world, where nature strike back, literally. Fungus infection take over humanity and causing worldwide pandemic.
The gameplay is nice with the teamwork setting and the dynamic actions, you can have so many way to deal your things and execute variations of plan by take advantage of your surrounding.
The story is dark, but that makes it good. Its a story about humanity, a journey to seek hope and redemption, but also decorated with so many bonds and relationship between the survivors, making a dynamic line for those relationship and chained events.
With the breathtaking graphic and environment, The Last of Us is surely a game to be recommended, in both visual and story, it was nice. The view of the environment is like a big bonus of the game, where its so refreshing that its almost like taking a vacation out to somewhere, where its not just an ordinary beach or forest, but the remaining of our civilization.
The journey of Joel and Ellie will end with whatever the result is. Can the cure actually be found? What is the key to it? And what Joel will do about it even after he know the truth? Its all wrapped in The Last of Us, story of the human journey to survival, redemption, and hope.
I do lots of work for this one, its finally doneeeee!!
You see, I need to collect lots of data just because I really need to do it, or the review would be half-assed.
Its worth in the end, but I can do review easier if I could just simply get the game on my hand, sadly, thats too hard for me to do. In order to make good review, its better for me to play it, but I can't always do that. SO I need to do extra work in exchange of that, by collecting so much data to fill my empty experience.
Let's meet again in the next review on the next weekend! I wonder what I will review next?
If you want to see the candidate of my review, just click the tab "review plan", I put everything there.
- Crimson Scythe
A twist of moral and mind-blowing truth is up ahead, and whatever it is, its waiting for the two survivor. They and the rest of their allies, and what about their fate? What about the others who hide in the shelter, cowering and hiding from the infected, and live in fear of being turned into a brutal grotesque monster?
This is the journey of Joel and Ellie, as they walk into the abandoned city of the former metropolitan that now are overgrown by the nature. They survive and gather allies, trust, but also betrayal and conflict. This story is realistic, touching, somehow humanist yet imperfect, but deep inside is a portrait of the dark and light side of human that are surviving in the hard time, for their own and the other.
As you see, after that long review, we still had something else to do. Yes, that part :)
Story and Concept
I enjoy the story a lot, it was nicely executed and somewhat more realistic than other stories that I already review. The conversation is nicely made, to make it more natural and less monotonic.
If we talk about the concept, The Last of Us is one of the most original zombie game, seconded to few others like Dead Space, which have better story and concept, but pardon me, Last of Us is also nice.
Other than the creative new zombie type, Last of Us is also good at making the post-apocalyptic setting, where everything is nicely put - the fractions, government, peoples, places, zombies, problems here and there and some nicely add twist.
Its not really that good though... I personally dislike the ending, but not like I can judge Joel and the rest because if I was in his position, I will probably do the same. Not going to give spoiler, so I will just say that sometimes a sacrifice is required to be the savior of all. Though I also dislike it if its meaning there is only one or certain people who carry the burden or sacrificed, if that isn't his decision anyway.
The Last of Us have high moral twist, which make it far from idealistic, but more realistic. Its also not really have much moral value, not only that it contain moral twist from the beginning anyway. I could tolerate a moral twist as long its good, but not on The Last of Us.
The concept is all fine anyway, and talking about that. Have you seen yet the original concept of the zombies? They looks more interesting there, just try to see them.
Gameplay and System
The Last of Us have Joel and Ellie, but you only control one. Well, not like having two always better than one, but in this one, it does.
You need teamwork to do things, and there is many unique system to support that. Like how Ellie support you when you had trouble with enemies, fighting together in many conditions, to be able to see if Ellie is in trouble even if you can't see her, and so does the other way around.
You could use so many things as weapons and things to do, so that you don't always need to rely on firearm or powerful weapons. Bottle, wood plank, and many other tools can be used as weapon, distraction method, or other type of tactic.
The zombies are not always an easy one, Bloater are like "mini boss battle" in this game, where just simply shooting or punching it won't do any good. The other zombies also have their own unique characteristic to make you must analyzing and understanding them to be able to survive from them.
One last thing is the unique system known as "Balance of Power", a new system where the AI is extremely clever, and not only just following their original pattern. Enemy may take advantage of your weakness, such as running out of ammo, or ambushed by other enemies. In the other side, Ellie also could give lots of support, from helping when you pinned by the enemies, locate the target you can't see, and more.
Graphic and Animation
Only for this one, I really want to put more than just 5 star....
The graphic on the game is INSANE, and not to mentioned that it will be remastered on PS4 soon, while its already eye-melting on the original PS3.
The Last of Us have successfully create a wonderful world where nature took back our civilization. The modern cities that overrun by wild plants, flooded water, and animal making home on there, is simply breathtaking and beautiful!
I'm not exaggerating AT ALL. I'm seriously amazed by how beautiful the nature in this game, really is! All the environment on this game is marvelous. I always know that post apocalypse setting where cities have been overgrown by plants and water running free is such a refreshing scene.
The other things than the environment is also good. The face mapping and animation is clear and dynamic, also quite real for me. This combined with the nicely made environment making the game graphic is masterpiece to behold.
Need a prove? Here, take a look at them! I will post all the beautiful environment here, including the concept art. Have a nice look at this brain-melting scenery on how amazing the new era of game graphic is! (P.S: Put them on the next tab or click them directly to see the full view, its better that way!)
CLICK TO SEE THE PICTURES!
Okay thats enough...I put too much of an example.. =w=
Well, they all so beautiful, so I can't hold on to collect some more. If you want more, you can just simple google The Last of Us Environment and voila!
Characters and Fractions
The Last of Us applied an ordinary daily life character, nothing special... But they able to utilize that ordinary character into something interesting.
Ellie, Joel, Tess, Tommy, and many more. They all just an ordinary people with their own different personalty, and shown their own unique side in such hard time. In post-apocalyptic world, its interesting to see what humanity become, whatever the change. Can it be from personal trait, daily routine, new task to do, what they do to survive, and many more.
Each character is a unique side of that, and shown variety of changes in that time. Like how Ellie is mature way beyond her years because of her circumstance and dangerous experience in such young age. Joel is used to be a family man, but now changed into a bitter salt rugged smugglers because of the tragedy in the past, and now are now trying to redeem his life with the help of Ellie n his side. There also many interesting character, like Tess, a strong independent woman and are Joel smuggling partner, who are while never act like a girl, is a really great big sister figure for Ellie. Or David, not your ordinary thugs or hunter, but deep inside are a dangerous man. There also Marlene, the leader of Firefly, who also surprisingly have connection with Ellie.
With all the dynamics, I couldn't simply give it 4 star even if they all just an ordinary people. The use of organization such as FEDRA is also a nice addition, which fitting the image of the U.S government anyway.
Also, each character have their own unique interaction with the other, which almost can be count as redeeming value of this section. The conversation never really been boring, they are not anything great, but very very natural.
Just take a look at the wikia to see their quotes or just simply watch the video gameplay. You will know that Ellie is mature WAY beyond her years with her jokes and conversation. Its so unbelievable how she can keep up with such a hardened man like Joel, who are not even trying to be nice to Ellie at the beginning. Ellie also surprisingly good with sarcastic joke and curses, making it she sound like 20 or something on that age, not just a 14 years old girl.
Overall Rating
I thought I will give 4.5 star (90 point out of 100) to this game, but I ended up with 5 star. I'm sure I am reviewing a good game anyway, and I am even more sure I can see the pros and cons of a game, however this is out of my prediction this time.
However, that's not really surprising since most review out there about this game is so high anyway.
The Last of Us is a beautiful game about an ordinary peoples in the zombie apocalypse world, where nature strike back, literally. Fungus infection take over humanity and causing worldwide pandemic.
The gameplay is nice with the teamwork setting and the dynamic actions, you can have so many way to deal your things and execute variations of plan by take advantage of your surrounding.
The story is dark, but that makes it good. Its a story about humanity, a journey to seek hope and redemption, but also decorated with so many bonds and relationship between the survivors, making a dynamic line for those relationship and chained events.
With the breathtaking graphic and environment, The Last of Us is surely a game to be recommended, in both visual and story, it was nice. The view of the environment is like a big bonus of the game, where its so refreshing that its almost like taking a vacation out to somewhere, where its not just an ordinary beach or forest, but the remaining of our civilization.
The journey of Joel and Ellie will end with whatever the result is. Can the cure actually be found? What is the key to it? And what Joel will do about it even after he know the truth? Its all wrapped in The Last of Us, story of the human journey to survival, redemption, and hope.
Hope is the key to survival.
I do lots of work for this one, its finally doneeeee!!
You see, I need to collect lots of data just because I really need to do it, or the review would be half-assed.
Its worth in the end, but I can do review easier if I could just simply get the game on my hand, sadly, thats too hard for me to do. In order to make good review, its better for me to play it, but I can't always do that. SO I need to do extra work in exchange of that, by collecting so much data to fill my empty experience.
Let's meet again in the next review on the next weekend! I wonder what I will review next?
If you want to see the candidate of my review, just click the tab "review plan", I put everything there.
