‘The Last of Us’ Video game review
The game ‘The Last of Us’ is first and foremost a story about human nature. You are taken through the journey of two characters, Joel and Ellie, their hardships as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world and the close bond they build. The Naughty Dog game was created by Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley and was released in 2013. Throughout the game, you navigate America twenty years after the outbreak of a deadly fungus called Cordyceps. Cordyceps take over human hosts and cause them to exhibit zombie-like behaviour ( Cordyceps is a real fungus that takes over insects).
The game opens with one of the most heartbreaking and shocking scenes I have ever seen. The power to make you care about characters you have only met 15 minutes ago and have you sobbing before the title card and time stamp “twenty years later” is impressive, to say the least.
The Last of Us is stunning. Many people underestimate video games as a storytelling medium, dismissing them often as just mind-numbing ways to kill time. However, when pulled off correctly the result is nothing short of outstanding. The fact that the first game was released in 2013 and I am still talking about it as passionately as ever is a true testament to the unforgettable experience that is playing The Last of Us. In one review, the reviewer said that playing The Last of Us made him want a daughter. Changing his perspective on having children entirely and as much as I adore this game, hearing that blew me away.
The soundtrack for the game, composed by Gustavo Santaolalla, is immersive and atmospheric to the point that I am listening to it while writing this and I have to skip some tracks due to the sheer amount of tension and unease they make me feel. The soundtrack and game are so perfectly matched I can’t imagine one without the other. My good friend, who has also replayed The Last of Us more times than she can count, (has four copies of the game and two posters on her wall) and I are both able to tell where in the game the music is played while listening to the soundtrack.
The remastered edition of the game was released in 2014, and the sharper graphics make the already impressive scenes breathtaking. One scene that comes to mind is during Fall in the game when the characters are picking their way through a forest as the sun sets.
The sheer amount of detail in this game truly adds to the overall experience to make the characters and the world they are in believable. From the billboards and posters, newspaper clippings, safety leaflets, letters left by other survivors, graffiti and abandoned cars to the comic book series Ellie collects throughout the game called “Savage Starlight” and the joke books she finds and reads to Joel.
Many have called The Last of Us a dark game. For a game set in the apocalypse, it is somewhat expected. These characters have to do what they have to to survive, a lot of the time sacrificing their morals and humanity to do so. Yet there is contrast. Like the political activist group from the game ‘The Fireflies’ motto “In the darkness, look for the light,” there is light if you look for it. Joel and Ellie form a father and daughter relationship throughout their time together, they have conversations about what the world was like before the outbreak and how Joel wants to teach Ellie guitar one day. In another scene the two see giraffes roaming through a destroyed city and the theme of life prevailing provides hope. The moments where the characters can almost pretend that everything was how it was before are peppered throughout the darkness bringing glimpses of light.
Despite all the details, soundtrack and graphics being so beautiful. They would have nothing to hold them up if it wasn’t for such a life-changing story. The story of The Last of Us is what I fell in love with. Before this game, I could never imagine that a game would be capable of making me feel such a roller coaster of emotions. That a game could make me question my morals and humanity. By the end of the game, you are pushed to make a choice, ultimately making many players feel that Joel is no longer a hero. When in reality it just reveals that he is flawed and human. When it comes to the scene in question many players hesitate, feeling the hesitation and inner turmoil Joel must be feeling while making this drastic decision that puts Ellie before what is left of the entire human race. The final scene of the game gives me goosebumps every time I see it. The music cuts off, and strings slowly creep in along with the words “Swear to me everything you said about the Fireflies is true” “I swear” [pause] “Okay.” The music comes in in full force, and the screen cuts to black. The ending is ambiguous, perfectly setting it up for a sequel while at the same time feeling complete.
The overarching and contrasting themes of humanity, nature, beauty and horror make The Last of Us as rich as any novel or a film. Just like those other art forms, you don’t have to analyse it to enjoy it, however, doing so has made my love for the game so much stronger. I have such immense admiration for the people who made this game and only aspire to write something so meaningful one day.
Sources / references
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Images:
https://wallpapersite.com/games/the-last-of-us-joel-ellie-hd-4k-8k-3278.html
https://thunderclam.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/tlousunset.jpg
http://www.idiotgamer.co.uk/2015/12/photo-mode-in-the-last-of-us/
