bigboss370
Member
Aside from the story, it has incredible gameplay. So yes, it is that special.
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Aside from the story, is 'The Last Of Us' really that special?
- Thread starter sploatee
- Start date
grandwizard
Member
If you aren't in it for the story the rest is pretty passable. The gameplay is fairly simple and boils down to a TPS that starts out stealthy until it goes hot, or an 'avoid the infected' type game where you can just crouch walk everywhere. Neither of its gameplay styles (stealth or action) are as good as other games dedicated to those styles, but it's still decent.
Pegasus Actual
Member
The gameplay is a hell of a lot more interesting than the Uncharted series at least. Crank up the difficulty and do some surviving.
ForsakenLotus
Member
But in my opinion it doesn't. In BioShock Infinite, without spoiling anything, his actions are justified the more you learn about who he is and what he is capable of. As for The Last of Us, I'm not sure in what way the game explores ludonarrative dissonance.
Uncle Rupee
Banned
I'm not of two minds. I was going to pick it up for PS3 until the remaster was announced.
I recently finished and very much enjoyed the Uncharted games, plus every media outlet that reviewed the game heaped insane praise on it. Plus what little I've watched of it I think it looks pretty damn good.
This is like asking "should I buy that cherry cheesecake?" I don't know, OP. Do you like dessert?
I recently finished and very much enjoyed the Uncharted games, plus every media outlet that reviewed the game heaped insane praise on it. Plus what little I've watched of it I think it looks pretty damn good.
This is like asking "should I buy that cherry cheesecake?" I don't know, OP. Do you like dessert?
thetrin
Hail, peons, for I have come as ambassador from the great and bountiful Blueberry Butt Explosion
Holy shit. I just realized why I don't like the gameplay.
Graphics and story (for a videogame anyway), are both top tier. I found the actual gameplay pretty average, and am mystified as to why it gets such universal praise arond here. GAF is usually pretty good at looking beneath pretty exteriors and analysing a games actual mechanics and I found the majority of the gameplay (stealth around, observe enemy patterns) was something I was already doing over ten years ago in the OG Splinter Cell.
Spine_Ripper
Member
To those saying that other games do [x] better, can you please explain how and why? I feel like everyone is saying the gameplay is simple/mediocre/condescending adjective in TLoU when really you can say that about any game without any real basis for such an opinion. It's like saying Street Fighter is the same game with every installment or something.
Try it. Try the multiplayer too. It brought me back to those Gears of War 1 days, but better because of it being more tactical and team focused.
The gameplay is great and shines in multiplayer where crafting, stealth, flanking, surviving and team tactics are very important. The story (themes, how they're treated, the subtle metaphors, etc. but especially characters) and music are amazing too. And it was a very beautiful game on PS3 bound to be even prettier on PS4. Great art direction.
The gameplay is great and shines in multiplayer where crafting, stealth, flanking, surviving and team tactics are very important. The story (themes, how they're treated, the subtle metaphors, etc. but especially characters) and music are amazing too. And it was a very beautiful game on PS3 bound to be even prettier on PS4. Great art direction.
Sorc3r3r
Member
Aside of that, aside of this, aside of of whatever.
Dismembering something that is built in way to give a certain kind of experience as a whole entity makes no sense in my opinion.
It's the whole package that it's outstanding, it's the universe they have created, the story the characters are living into, the way you have to approach to this world to survive, all is cohesive on a level that seldom has been seen by this media, all of this delivering a masterfully crafted game.
Dismembering something that is built in way to give a certain kind of experience as a whole entity makes no sense in my opinion.
It's the whole package that it's outstanding, it's the universe they have created, the story the characters are living into, the way you have to approach to this world to survive, all is cohesive on a level that seldom has been seen by this media, all of this delivering a masterfully crafted game.
Nintendojitsu
Banned
I can't speak on the story being special or not because I skipped that but the multiplayer from what I played was serviceable. Tomb Raider's was better though...
Frankly I didn't even enjoy the story. Sure I bawled my eyes out like a little girl during that opening sequence, but after that I just lost complete interest. Everything about the game just felt so average and some aspects even just outright bad (AI). Although I'm not a big fan of Uncharted either, so the Gameplay in these Naughty Dog games never really goes beyond 'bland' to me - TLOU had a little bit more depth than Uncharted at least, but I just still found it really uninteresting.
I am however very cynical when it comes to Zombie/Infected games. Entertainment mediums, and especially Video Games, are just completely over-saturated with the Genre and its reached a point where I'm just utterly sick of it. I actively avoid those types of games/movies and only play them if HIGHLY recommended.
I would still recommend TLOU to people, purely just because I know I'm in a small minority of people who just couldn't enjoy it. With all the praise it gets, chances are higher that you'll like it than you will dislike.
So I would definitely say it's a game that has to be tried... However you're going to be paying full price for it on release for PS4. So perhaps it would be better just waiting until you see it cheap one day - especially if you're not interested in Third Person Stealth/Shooter Gameplay and Zombie/Infected stories.
I am however very cynical when it comes to Zombie/Infected games. Entertainment mediums, and especially Video Games, are just completely over-saturated with the Genre and its reached a point where I'm just utterly sick of it. I actively avoid those types of games/movies and only play them if HIGHLY recommended.
I would still recommend TLOU to people, purely just because I know I'm in a small minority of people who just couldn't enjoy it. With all the praise it gets, chances are higher that you'll like it than you will dislike.
So I would definitely say it's a game that has to be tried... However you're going to be paying full price for it on release for PS4. So perhaps it would be better just waiting until you see it cheap one day - especially if you're not interested in Third Person Stealth/Shooter Gameplay and Zombie/Infected stories.
Although it still wipes the floor with Diablo 3.
justsomeguy
Member
There's always a danger with games that are HYPE FACTOR TEN that when you actually play them they'll feel like a let down in some way, even if they're great games.
TLOU was a bit like that for me - it's a really well done, solid, beautiful game with a good story (genuine spoiler, don't click if you haven't completed it:
).
I wish I'd played it on day 1 instead of after everybody had told me it would be the most mind-blowing experience I'd ever had; in a weird way I'd probably have enjoyed it more - instead I spent most my time waiting for the "OH MY GOD" moments that would redefine gaming, and they didn't come (again legit spoiler:
)
TLOU was a bit like that for me - it's a really well done, solid, beautiful game with a good story (genuine spoiler, don't click if you haven't completed it:
except the ending IMO
I wish I'd played it on day 1 instead of after everybody had told me it would be the most mind-blowing experience I'd ever had; in a weird way I'd probably have enjoyed it more - instead I spent most my time waiting for the "OH MY GOD" moments that would redefine gaming, and they didn't come (again legit spoiler:
although the giraffes were pretty close
freefornow
Gold Member
Q: Is "The Last of Us" really that special? Straight forward question, and I don't understand the vacillation in this thread.
A: No.
A: No.
bigboss370
Member
Winter John
Gold Member
It's a very good game and I enjoyed it a lot. It is not the second coming or the game of the generation, that some have hyped it up to be simply because it's a Naughty Dog game or a Sony exclusive. There's almost zero risk to the game, if you die big deal, there are plenty of checkpoints and no penaltys for death, which basically removes any tension. Still, if you haven't had the chance to play it and don't have access to a PS3 , I'd recommend it
funkystudent
Member
The game does stealth well. Maybe its the twist with clickers so you worry about sound and dont have to worry about line of sight that make it work and why the handful of human encounters in the game suck shit.
Also the wonky aim + no snap on auto aim really adds something to the game but I can see it pissing a lot of standard shooter people off who want it to play like a standard post Gears over shooter.
Also the wonky aim + no snap on auto aim really adds something to the game but I can see it pissing a lot of standard shooter people off who want it to play like a standard post Gears over shooter.
Hahahahah! Because I'm a bit more open minded than I let on, I suppose.
But I wanted to know how good the vanilla was!
Majmun
Member
Because TLOU is a movie, right? hurr hurr
As a game TLOU takes a crap from the farthest reaches of the universe on Zombie U. Don't even know why you're even mentioning that mediocre game in this thread.
It's premium vanilla ice cream, the tastiest you've ever had. Which is why so many of us are going back for seconds on PS4.
It's a good game. It's just completely different to TLoU. Two different ends of the survival horror spectrum really.
I thought the gameplay was excellent. It's a stealth action game with a huge variety in set pieces and level design. The AI, while not as refined as that original video, is still very good and puts up an interesting fight with the player. The stealth mechanics are really well done and, thankfully, the game doesn't fall apart when you get spotted and have to engage. The core shooting is great too and you can still pick off enemies one by one even if they know where you are.
The game follows the freedom within linearity model with large locales that allow the player to approach each scenario in a different way. The path is very wide and this makes for some very interesting mechanics. There are plenty of areas where you're surrounded by fully explorable buildings that you can use while the AI stalks you. Busting in through a back door while hiding in the dining room looking out the front window to see enemies walking around the house looking for you...it's very tense and interesting.
The only issue I really had with the game was the poor frame-rate which was disappointing considering how stable Uncharted 2 and 3 were. The core gameplay was just remarkable and the game was supremely long not unlike classics such as RE4 or MGS3.
Honestly, the poor combat is the one thing that really holds ZombiU back. It tried to be a "Dark Souls-like" experience but Dark Souls excelled due to its exceptional combat mechanics while ZombiU failed to deliver anything comparable.
The game follows the freedom within linearity model with large locales that allow the player to approach each scenario in a different way. The path is very wide and this makes for some very interesting mechanics. There are plenty of areas where you're surrounded by fully explorable buildings that you can use while the AI stalks you. Busting in through a back door while hiding in the dining room looking out the front window to see enemies walking around the house looking for you...it's very tense and interesting.
The only issue I really had with the game was the poor frame-rate which was disappointing considering how stable Uncharted 2 and 3 were. The core gameplay was just remarkable and the game was supremely long not unlike classics such as RE4 or MGS3.
I loved ZombiU but I actually think Last of Us features much more solid and interesting mechanics. ZombiU is limited to a very small set of actions that in themselves aren't remarkable. The melee attacks are slow and repetitive requiring the same number of strikes to take out most enemies while firearms aren't that effective either. Actually attacking in ZombiU just doesn't feel great. When you're actually engaging enemies The Last of Us is just so much more satisfying.
Honestly, the poor combat is the one thing that really holds ZombiU back. It tried to be a "Dark Souls-like" experience but Dark Souls excelled due to its exceptional combat mechanics while ZombiU failed to deliver anything comparable.
Spine_Ripper
Member
nvm, can't read :/
bigboss370
Member
the combination of clever resource management, with dynamic encounters, stealth vs. non-stealth approaches, atmosphere, great music, variety of environments, interesting puzzles, enemies, and solid weapons selection makes the gameplay in last of us very much "special". It would not be getting the 10/10s otherwise. The mechanics are very well executed, in a way where the gameplay runs on the systems of the game interacting with each other rather than a more passive interaction. I found it very engaging.
CharminUltra
Member
Gameplay is nothing special; humans were relatively fun to fight against, but the infected segments felt like a chore. The story is well presented (superb voice acting, pacing, etc.), but it's only impressive or surprising if you've somehow managed to avoid the bulk post-apocalyptic horror media out there. The campaign as a whole felt like a long string of very well-worn zombie-apocalypse scenarios with a slight twist.
The one thing I loved about the game though was the crafting system. It is one of the best ever and a pleasure to use. Simple, straightforward, and best of all, actually useful.
The one thing I loved about the game though was the crafting system. It is one of the best ever and a pleasure to use. Simple, straightforward, and best of all, actually useful.
Also just wanted to put it out there:
The higher difficulty you play it on, the less of a shooter it becomes. On the hardest difficulty levels it basically turns into a stealth game where you mostly bludgeon people to death with bricks... and knives made of tape and half a scissor.
The higher difficulty you play it on, the less of a shooter it becomes. On the hardest difficulty levels it basically turns into a stealth game where you mostly bludgeon people to death with bricks... and knives made of tape and half a scissor.
The story alone is exactly why it is great. There is no other reason needed.
Shanks D Zoro
Banned
I enjoyed it, but did not see the hype about it. The story was nothing new or special and didn't get me hooked.
The gameplay was good, but nothing revolutionary. It was all perfectly executed for what it was, but I prefered every installment of Uncharted over TLOU
The gameplay was good, but nothing revolutionary. It was all perfectly executed for what it was, but I prefered every installment of Uncharted over TLOU
Acquiescence
Member
Playing the game during combat/stealth segments is insanely fun and satisfying, especially when you slip up and all hell breaks loose. What was once methodical and measured becomes a mad scramble for your life at the drop of a hat.
Necromanti
Member
Did they ninja-edit their post? Because I read through it 3 times and didn't find any spoilers... Maybe I'm just tired.
I'd like to know what it is about the AI that you found bad.
I thought they offered an excellent challenge in that they were the right kind of sensitive. You could get spotted but they weren't so sensitive as to ruin stealth segments. Once engaged in combat they maneuvered through the relatively dense and complex environments pretty effectively and could definitely get the jump on you. It was the perfect type of AI for this sort of experience. It had a similar feel to the type of AI you expect in a Metal Gear game.
The opposite is stuff like Crysis 2 and 3, which I enjoyed regardless, where the AI is both too sensitive and completely dumb. Without a cloak they'd all see you immediately and know exactly where you were which wasn't fun but when cloaked they'd all completely lose you and start acting stupid again. There was no gray area.
Last of Us nails the all important AI "gray area" which I think is critical to any stealth action game.
Gone home got plenty of 10's as well.
OP the main draw of the game is the story and the characters. The gameplay is nothing special. It's not bad just passable.
I'm arguing that the gameplay is very special. People keep dismissing it without giving reasons.
After playing on Hard or Survivor difficulty, I genuinely feel the gameplay is top-tier. There's a lot of different ways to approach each encounter, the gunplay and melee feel truly visceral, and the AI is aggressive as hell.
But it sounds to me like you've already decided it's not the game for you, so why bother?
But it sounds to me like you've already decided it's not the game for you, so why bother?
Spine_Ripper
Member
No, I'm just really tired as well.
And fucking stupid.
And this. People, start giving actual reasons. Saying some other game did it first or better, without actually explaining why, isn't an answer. I could just as easily say that SMB3 is overrated because all you do is run, jump, and the enemies are predetermined. Also Pitfall did it first. And Rayman does it better. Moviegame.
bigboss370
Member
imo, its the gameplay more than the story that elevates this game beyond others.
it's the seamless marriage of the two
thesolidshark
Member
As someone who's never played this also, and is interested in playing it (probably not the MP though), is this more worth buying or renting where the gameplay is concerned? Do a lot of people feel the need to go back and replay it? If so, why?
SargerusBR
I love Pokken!
I would argue not even TLOU's story is that special
bigboss370
Member
true, its better than the sum of its parts. but i think those parts individually are top tier in their own right.
immortal-joe
Member
Every gameplay element it utilizes is weaved perfectly into the package, and the game moves at carefully tuned pace. Those two points are common among all my favorite games.
The gameplay is pretty much, as you say, a standard third-person shooter with stealth elements.
Fighting the infected is a blast, but really most of the game is spent on fighting humans in a very standard third person shooter manner. Besides some few special encounters, like that one boss fight late into the game, that's pretty much the gameplay you're served with throughout the game besides exploring the area and grabbing crates.
So as far as your appetite goes, maybe that's nothing for you at the moment, but if you like a good story, you should still give a shot regardless.
Fighting the infected is a blast, but really most of the game is spent on fighting humans in a very standard third person shooter manner. Besides some few special encounters, like that one boss fight late into the game, that's pretty much the gameplay you're served with throughout the game besides exploring the area and grabbing crates.
So as far as your appetite goes, maybe that's nothing for you at the moment, but if you like a good story, you should still give a shot regardless.
pharmboy044
Member
Another thread created to openly troll TLOU.
Even after a year since it's release people just can't give the game it's due.
Even after a year since it's release people just can't give the game it's due.
Nestunt
Member
this encapsulates everything about videogames' quality perception
well, everything else for that matter 
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