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I don't "get" TLOU

V

VanCityGamer

Member
I love that there are so many different opinions out there. That's why we have so much wonderful variety in this world.

That said, you're crazy.

Kidding. But TLOU is by far my favorite game of all time. I love everything about it and think all of the praise is 100% merited.

My favorite part is the incredible atmosphere; the world is so detailed and convincing. The second best part is the characters; superb writing, voice acting, etc. The plot is phenomenal too. And I think the gameplay is a top-notch blend of exploration and action.

if you're only 1/3 in, keep playing. The story does become more intriguing. Some of the most exciting gameplay moments are also still coming.
 
M

MercuryLS

Banned
kittens said:
You're saying it's unfortunate that the game has optional easier modes. Sorry dude, games aren't made just for you. If you like challenge, cool, play on the harder difficulties. Some people don't want to struggle through a game. And for some people, the easier difficulties are a struggle. I'd rather give people options so that the game is accessible than appease some pretentious "core".
Click to expand...

My previous post was unfair and I take it back. I just feel for this game, in order to get the most out of it, it should be played on harder difficulties. The way the gameplay mechanics are set up really feel like they were designed with higher difficulties in mind (lack of supplies especially). In most games it makes no difference, you get less health and enemies become bullet sponges - it's better to play on normal and avoid the frustrations. In TLOU, the higher difficulties are just more enjoyable in terms of context (harder gameplay mirrored by struggles in storyline) as well as forcing the player to make tough choices and heightening the tension (infected and hunters should be threatening not cannon fodder that normal makes them into).

I just feel like people that can handle higher difficulties but are only playing this on normal are doing themselves a disservice.
 
B

brandonh83

Banned
Chuck Norris said:
Saying the level design is bad doesn't make it so. Give me some examples? I've only heard praise for TLOUs level design up until now
Click to expand...

I wouldn't call it bad. But one of my biggest problems in this that the enemy encounters felt too mechanical. You had grouped armed mercenaries which makes sense, but then the clickers were also in groups, and to me it would have been much scarier and tense if they were more spread out. Like for instance that neighborhood you get to explore. I never felt a shred of tension through most of the game because I knew that all enemy encounters were grouped together and even downright announced because of the environmental design. You get to a big open area with lots of cover opportunities and it's like yep, here's something.

It would have been so much better, for me anyway, if I would have encountered some of the clickers unannounced. The game practically screamed at me through a megaphone to tell me when it was action time. Nothing about it felt very organic to me, and that was jarring in a game that felt like it was trying so hard to be realistic/grounded.
 
L

leroidys

Member
Chuck Norris said:
I'm sorry this sounds to me like you played it like an Uncharted game. Running up and meleeing guys and then sprinting to a safe zone or shooting them from 30 feet away after you alert the enemies? I've played a lot of stealth games, and I haven't played any like that. I guess if it got you through the game then more power to you, but I don't think the game was designed to accommodate that style of gameplay

When I played it, I certainly didn't have enough supplies to play in such a run and gun style so I'm assuming that's the easier modes.

Also maybe work on your aim for shooting? One hit to the head, two hits to the chest

Saying the level design is bad doesn't make it so. Give me some examples? I've only heard praise for TLOUs level design up until now
Click to expand...

I'm heading to a party but I'll type something up later tonight.

Can you give me an example of outstanding level design in the meantime? (Honest request, not trying to sound snarky.)

I also haven't played it since release month, so I'll have to refresh my memory and certain areas that seemed egregiously closed off.

Anyway, I did not play it as an Uncharted game, and I played through on normal, then played up to winter on a hard playthrough before getting bored and quitting. I did end up dying a lot, but almost exclusively on clickers, as I was too bored of sneaking past zombies in what felt like a PS2 3D platformer stealth section to be cautious.

The humans, even on hard, were worthless in terms of AI, and most encounters forced you to just go into a firefight, or sit behind a counter forever to go hide behind the next counter. There are like two parts in the entire game where you can use a buildings levels to cleverly get through a point, and there it was only 2 levels.

Games like Splinter Cell, MGS, hell even Deus Ex HR allow you and even incentivise getting through large sections without killing or alerting anyone. In TLoU, it is basically always in your best interest to kill everyone you meet (especially the human encounters).

I guess it kind of makes sense thematically (?), but it was just dull to me.
 
X

Xanos

Neo Member
I can't comment on TLOU as I haven't played it, but I can relate in regards to the Uncharted series OP. I've played and beaten all 3 and while they weren't bad games by any means, I just couldn't comprehend how they were so highly praised. If I ever play TLOU, it'll be at bargain bin price.
 
M

Manu

Member
ShockingAlberto said:
It's a great game with the world's most annoying fanbase.
Click to expand...

I think it's tied with the Souls games in that regard.

Xanos said:
I can't comment on TLOU as I haven't played it, but I can relate in regards to the Uncharted series OP. I've played and beaten all 3 and while they weren't bad games by any means, I just couldn't comprehend how they were so highly praised. If I ever play TLOU, it'll be at bargain bin price.
Click to expand...

I played and beat all three PS3 Uncharted games too. I hated the first one, thought the second was better but still far from a masterpiece, and the third one was the only one I genuinely liked. And yet I loved TLoU.
 
C

Chuck Norris

Banned
brandonh83 said:
I wouldn't call it bad. But one of my biggest problems in this that the enemy encounters felt too mechanical. You had grouped armed mercenaries which makes sense, but then the clickers were also in groups, and to me it would have been much scarier and tense if they were more spread out. Like for instance that neighborhood you get to explore. I never felt a shred of tension through most of the game because I knew that all enemy encounters were grouped together and even downright announced because of the environmental design. You get to a big open area with lots of cover opportunities and it's like yep, here's something.

It would have been so much better, for me anyway, if I would have encountered some of the clickers unannounced. The game practically screamed at me through a megaphone to tell me when it was action time. Nothing about it felt very organic to me, and that was jarring in a game that felt like it was trying so hard to be realistic/grounded.
Click to expand...
That is a fair and very good observation, it never stood out to me while playing. There were a few occasions off the main track where clickers would pop up unannounced. But I also think you go down that track and you're falling into the trope of jump scares which garners criticism of its own
 
T

Tabular

Banned
Jedi2016 said:
Maybe you can help me out here, GAF. Maybe not.

Long story short, I don't like The Last of Us. I'm probably not alone, but I also realize that this is undoubtedly an unpopular opinion here, so we tend to stay quiet, those of us who think this way.

That's not to say I hate it, or that I think it's a bad game. Far from it. It's drop-dead gorgeous, of course (I'm a bit of a graphics whore, so that doesn't hurt). The story so far (I think I'm about a third .
Click to expand...

Let me stop you right there (about a third of the way) I just don't 'get' why you made this thread op.
 
K

Killing_Joke

Member
I don't get Zelda, Pokemon, or the yearly COD games but they still sell a shit load with tons of praise. It just wasn't your cup of tea. TLOU has a great story with solid gameplay. Not sure why it's hard to understand why it's so popular? Plus ND gained a pretty big following this generation. I don't think any team had a better track record than they did imo.
 
B

brandonh83

Banned
Chuck Norris said:
But I also think you go down that track and you're falling into the trope of jump scares which garners criticism of its own
Click to expand...

I'm not saying that clickers should have jumped out of closets and yelled "boo!" But it killed the tension of exploration for me to know that I probably wasn't going to hit any encounters while exploring houses and whatnot.

But thanks for not hurling insults at me for having a negative thought about the game. It's refreshing.
 
Boss Mog

Boss Mog

Member
While I don't share your assessment of TLoU OP, I do understand not liking a game that everybody loves because I think that RDR is the most overrated game of all time; the game is mediocre at best in my book.
 
S

Sanke__

Member
It's a stealth game.
Lots of people don't like stealth games.
It's just a stealth game that does a masterful job of not ruining the game when you are detected or making you feel like you have to restart at the last checkpoint.

Also, I strongly disagree with the try it on easy argument.
I loved it on hard mode and don't think I would have liked it at all on easy mode.
Kind of just like playing a hitman game on easy mode.
You just end up shooting your way through everything.
 
F

Fixed2BeBroken

Member
keltickennedy said:
Maybe the game is 14 hours too long...
Click to expand...


DAJFace.gif




SHOTS FIRED!
 
K

kittens

Unconfirmed Member
MercuryLS said:
My previous post was unfair and I take it back. I just feel for this game, in order to get the most out of it, it should be played on harder difficulties. The way the gameplay mechanics are set up really feel like they were designed with higher difficulties in mind (lack of supplies especially). In most games it makes no difference, you get less health and enemies become bullet sponges - it's better to play on normal and avoid the frustrations. In TLOU, the higher difficulties are just more enjoyable in terms of context (harder gameplay mirrored by struggles in storyline) as well as forcing the player to make tough choices and heightening the tension (infected and hunters should be threatening not cannon fodder that normal makes them into).

I just feel like people that can handle higher difficulties but are only playing this on normal are doing themselves a disservice.
Click to expand...
Yeah, all that makes sense to me. I like difficult games that nail that feeling, too. Halo (except 2 and 4) does a really good job of that, too.

Fixed2BeBroken said:
Lately, I'd say that more about the MGS series
Click to expand...
Me too.
 
F

FrsDvl

Member
I just started it today, and i completely agree with OP. Only started it now cause for some reason it never appealed to me, but figured with all the hype i had to give it a go.
 
Z

Zolbrod

Member
There's nothing to "get"
You either like it or you don't.

Like you, I think it's overrated, but I can see why people like it.
 
B

BurnOutBrighter

Banned
Because it's one of the very few games that actually use subtlety and subtext in its script, instead of bashing you over the head with what you're supposed to feel.

There is more going on between the lines of the characters, and that's what elevates it above every other lavishly produced AAA blockbuster.
 
CharminUltra

CharminUltra

Member
I only ever enjoyed fighting humans in this game, and only slightly. Everything else, including the story, was eh.

Some of the characters were obnoxious as hell.
 
A

Abdul Hafeez

Member
It's okay Jedi. Gameplay is not exactly the best part of the TLoU. So if you don't "get" it, it's fine. It also doesn't really change all that much throughout the game. My favorite parts were when you were hopelessly outnumbered, because then there was a sense of tension when everything went wrong. And things often went wrong. So although the gameplay itself isn't all that interesting, when things go wrong it can deliver some satisfyingly tense moments. I found that the game really encourages you to improvise in a way that stealth games fail to. In stealth games, it's easier to just reload a save, but here it was way more interesting/exciting/fun to let things play out.

That being said, you might just not like this game. And that is perfectly okay. Don't be under the impression that you "have" to like it just because so many other people do.
 
M

Meatyhooks

Neo Member
I personally feel as if it is the best game I have ever played. That being said, you shouldn't feel odd because of your perspective. If everyone liked the same things, the world would be a pretty uninspiring place.
 
prag16

prag16

Banned
SolVanderlyn said:
I'm right there with you.

Edit: I did end up beating the game, and I thought it was a graphical powerhouse, but otherwise a "pretty good" game. The amount of near-worship it gets is staggering.
Click to expand...
This is kind of where I'm at. Pretty good game with nice graphics. Enjoyed Uncharted 2 way more. Even Uncharted 1. (haven't played 3 yet)
 
C

Chuck Norris

Banned
leroidys said:
I'm heading to a party but I'll type something up later tonight.

Can you give me an example of outstanding level design in the meantime? (Honest request, not trying to sound snarky.)

I also haven't played it since release month, so I'll have to refresh my memory and certain areas that seemed egregiously closed off.

Anyway, I did not play it as an Uncharted game, and I played through on normal, then played up to winter on a hard playthrough before getting bored and quitting. I did end up dying a lot, but almost exclusively on clickers, as I was too bored of sneaking past zombies in what felt like a PS2 3D platformer stealth section to be cautious.

The humans, even on hard, were worthless in terms of AI, and most encounters forced you to just go into a firefight, or sit behind a counter forever to go hide behind the next counter. There are like two parts in the entire game where you can use a buildings levels to cleverly get through a point, and there it was only 2 levels.

Games like Splinter Cell, MGS, hell even Deus Ex HR allow you and even incentivise getting through large sections without killing or alerting anyone. In TLoU, it is basically always in your best interest to kill everyone you meet (especially the human encounters).

I guess it kind of makes sense thematically (?), but it was just dull to me.
Click to expand...
I understand your point if you are looking to play it as a no kill stealth game. Personally it didn't bother me, as I never expected it. In that sense I can understand why you would want it, but from Naughty Dogs perspective I don't think they had any thematic interest in designing it as a no kill game. That said, many situations were completely avoidable in the game. You can get through large portions without killing, but the trade off is always scavenging in this game. You have to use ammo to kill, but if you don't kill you can't search environments for ammo. That is the main reason the game is strongest on the hardest modes, because that risk/reward factor is more prominent.

Personally I thought of it more as a stealth action game where if you rent using elements of both, you aren't going to survive, I loved parts such as
the hospital at the end, which pitted heavily armed enemies against you and forced you to creatively use the environment to circle round enemies and get the drop on them. I thought the environments were all open enough to allow a diverse range of approaches to any situation making it a legitimate stealth game. One of my favourite scenarios in the game was where Ellie is just after the hotel, you have to clear three buildings in an area. You have to be careful who you take out and in what order because of the spotters on each building and the roaming patrol party. It caused me to be very careful and meticulous about my stealth approach which is what I liked. That is my favourite type of stealth, where you can see all the enemies for the most part and you formulate a plan to take them all down in a systematic way.
If I could complain about the stealth it was that the human enemies were difficult to manipulate. I think great stealth games allow you to manipulate the enemies in predictable ways, like throwing a distraction or making a noise. You could do it with the clickers, but not really the humans so much
 
I

Instro

Member
Its pretty ok, I don't find it more enjoyable than any of the Uncharted games really. The encounters generally pan out in the same way, the AI is pretty questionable, the crafting system is largely lip service without any real depth, the main plot is somewhat generic and predictable. The character interactions and dialogue are very well done, as one would generally expect of a Naughty Dog game, elevated beyond Uncharted in this regard as the characters are not one dimensional. People talk about the visuals, and its technically impressive but I find the art and locals of the Uncharted series, and other console games for that matter, to be more attractive. Walking through overgrown cities and derelict buildings doesn't excite me, although I applaud their attention to detail. I can't say I have any wish to replay the game, its too slow paced for that, and I was really done with it by the end.
 
L

Luthos

Member
FluxWaveZ said:
Seriously, this comic is apt. It's okay, dude. There's nothing to "understand" if you don't like it. You don't have to like it.
Click to expand...

Yeah I got nothing against OP, but I don't get these types of posts. Sometimes a game (or movie, book, song, etc.) just doesn't click with you, even if you like it's genre/type.
 
S

SparkTR

Member
It's because games aren't for everyone. The scores are great but they don't mean much when that particular brand of gameplay or storytelling does not appeal to you. A person who dislikes strategy games probably won't enjoy a '10/10' RTS, and likewise with you and this brand of game. You just have to follow what you like, not what the industry tells you to like. I fell into that trap so many times before I started being more careful.
 
D

DocSeuss

Member
But I just can't find myself getting engaged by the gameplay, and I can't quite put my finger on why. Gameplay is solid, course, as expected from ND. It's not the stealth element, as I can play the hell out of games like MGS.
Click to expand...

Um.

Okay...

This is just me, and my experience with ND in the past, but they're awful at gameplay, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if you can't find yourself getting engaged because it's not solid.

Don't really want to get into a huge discussion on why, since I haven't played TLOU, just Uncharted, but I mean... if the gameplay isn't working for you, chances are, the gameplay is a problem. With Uncharted, as crazy as this sounds, I believe that most of the appeal was due to presentation, rather than core gameplay (same with plenty of highly-rated games). Nobody says "I don't want more" when they like the gameplay. They start craving more gameplay. With Uncharted 3, prior to release, a bunch of people were just like "eh, I don't really feel like buying this day one." This would indicate that Uncharted 2 (and I could spend dayyys talking about how weak the gameplay was) probably didn't have as great a gameplay offering as people claim. So... Naughty Dog and great gameplay. This doesn't parse for me, based on my experience completing previous games.

I will say that, of footage I've seen, the AI in TLOU, just like it was in Uncharted, is atrocious for an action game. That could definitely contribute to its feeling off.

BurnOutBrighter said:
Because it's one of the very few games that actually use subtlety and subtext in its script, instead of bashing you over the head with what you're supposed to feel.

There is more going on between the lines of the characters, and that's what elevates it above every other lavishly produced AAA blockbuster.
Click to expand...

Did Druckmann just suddenly become a good writer between Uncharted 2 and The Last of Us? Because I'm ridiculously skeptical of the claim that subtlety and subtext exist within a game penned by the brain behind Uncharted 2, which was one of the most hamfisted games I've ever played.
 
D

dream431ca

Banned
I had a similar feeling. I enjoyed it and might get it for PS4, but the one thing that got me was it was another "zombie" game. Too many zombie games... Other than that, I enjoyed it.
 
J

jett

D-Member
ShockingAlberto said:
If your refutation of this assertion is to try and call me out for what you perceive my biases to be, I feel like my point is pretty well proven.
Click to expand...

You're just trying to unnecessarily rile people up with that comment.

And anyone who's familiar with your post history knows where your biases lie.
 
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