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The Last Of Us - Off screen footage from PAX East

Anteater

Member
Listen mode just needed to be more restrictive and not a glowing enemy you could see from 5 walls away, it's a pretty good idea for those without a good stereosystem.

Is there a cover/peeking system? Not for shooting but for looking without exposing your body.
 

John Harker

Definitely doesn't make things up as he goes along.
You got to play it?

I can play it anytime if I want to, but I just stood back and watched.
I'm actually not that fond of playing games at conventions, as weird as that sounds. I rather watch people play and watch their reactions (it comes from years of attending though, I think this will be my like 10th E3 this year).

It's really tough to get a sense from a game from a demo as it is, let alone with annoying booth staff breathing down your neck, sweaty people mean mugging behind you to hurry up, and of course all the loud noises that are distracting. Watching is more fun for me.

So granted, I didn't play but what I saw wasn't super impressive either. I was expecting less action/violence, more suspense/survival. but it could just be the demo. Things just looked kind too clean, bright and shiney too, which I wasn't a big fan of given the games themes, but I know I'll enjoy it anyway, so I'm not turned off away from it or anything. Probably my own expectations against me.
 
I get the whole "visual representation of what you hear" idea, but the execution is way too Instinct/Detective Mode for this game's atmosphere. It could've been more like focusing to hear enemies is visualized by Joel imagining where the footsteps are coming from. Maybe a dark vignetting around the screen that fills more of the screen the longer you "focus," and a faint light that "blips" in accordance to the footsteps which grows brighter/clearer the longer you focus. That way the game could give a hint about what's around the corner without outright highlighting the enemy.

Yeah, I was thinking this as well... would be a good representation. Either that or disabled.

Really hope ND gives us a chance to play with Listen mode disabled, or auto disables it on hard. Enough hand holding.
 

Anteater

Member
The game does look a bit bright and washed out from the videos, it almost looked like they turned the brightness up to make it easier for the players, but it's probably just how offscreen videos look.
 

Superflat

Member
The game does look a bit bright and washed out from the videos, it almost looked like they turned the brightness up to make it easier for the players.

There were a few write-ups from people at this event who said it was a pre-alpha version they were playing. I thought the game already looked pretty damn good from what I could see :U
 

UrbanRats

Member
I get the whole "visual representation of what you hear" idea, but the execution is way too Instinct/Detective Mode for this game's atmosphere. It could've been more like focusing to hear enemies is visualized by Joel imagining where the footsteps are coming from. Maybe a dark vignetting around the screen that fills more of the screen the longer you "focus," and a faint light that "blips" in accordance to the footsteps which grows brighter/clearer the longer you focus. That way the game could give a hint about what's around the corner without outright highlighting the enemy.

I agree with this.
Or make some wave-like circles from where the sound comes from, like in Mark of the Ninja when the enemies are out of sight.
 

arne

Member
I can play it anytime if I want to, but I just stood back and watched.
I'm actually not that fond of playing games at conventions, as weird as that sounds. I rather watch people play and watch their reactions (it comes from years of attending though, I think this will be my like 10th E3 this year).

It's really tough to get a sense from a game from a demo as it is, let alone with annoying booth staff breathing down your neck, sweaty people mean mugging behind you to hurry up, and of course all the loud noises that are distracting. Watching is more fun for me.

So granted, I didn't play but what I saw wasn't super impressive either. I was expecting less action/violence, more suspense/survival. but it could just be the demo. Things just looked kind too clean, bright and shiney too, which I wasn't a big fan of given the games themes, but I know I'll enjoy it anyway, so I'm not turned off away from it or anything. Probably my own expectations against me.

It's tough enough to get a sense from a game from a demo and then you take that a step further and try to get sense from other people trying to play a demo? Ha.

Hey now, myself and none of our booth staff will ever breathe down your neck. Play the damn game. You didn't even get to hear any sounds, which is like, important in this game! :)

Also, for all the graphics people saying it's bright/washed out/looked bad - it's offscreen video, there's plenty of direct feed snippets of the SAME area you can compare it to from, oh, like over a month and a half ago.
 
You know, with all the controversy regarding the "listen mode", SONY should capitalize on promoting this:

bigPhoto_0.jpg


Along with TLOU.

I mean, it's as if it was DESIGNED to be together giving more emphasis on audio experience as opposed to the visual chicanery that has become the defining factor this gen. Just think of the ads, it would totally throw off any preconceptions of just another "Uncharted" game. And if pushed through, ND should reward those with such headsets by giving special incentives (trophy for non-listen mode for instance) or a more immersive audio emphasis to throw player off guard. They can even use R2 to be reserved for something else entirely that may enhance the gameplay experience. Do it SONY, do it
 

Anteater

Member
There were a few write-ups from people at this event who said it was a pre-alpha version they were playing. I thought the game already looked pretty damn good from what I could see :U

Yea, the game does look good, I just meant to say they might've messed up the brightness settings or something, since in that video the dude barely needed to even use the flashlight. It could just be because of it being off screen though.

Also, for all the graphics people saying it's bright/washed out/looked bad - it's offscreen video, there's plenty of direct feed snippets of the SAME area you can compare it to from, oh, like over a month and a half ago.

edit: oh there we go

some people were on a media black out until now arne!
 

The Lamp

Member
Detective mode is a huge turn off.

What utter bull shit their justification for "listen" mode is.

You know, in Counter Strike I know when someone is in the next room, I can tell when someone is coming around the corner. You know why? Because I listen! That's the thing about great sound design.

I made my roommate play Ocarina of Time yesterday, his first time playing a Zelda game. He was getting frustrated with the torch puzzles in the Deku Tree.

This feature is in the game for gamers like him. The modern, impatient gamer who has fun from seamlessly progressing, not thinking or trial and error.
 

arne

Member
Yea, the game does look good, I just meant to say they might've messed up the brightness settings or something, since in that video the dude barely needed to even use the flashlight. It could just be because of it being off screen though.

oh there we go

yeah, just look up videos from most gaming sites, machinima, sessler, ign, etc. that spliced in direct feed b-roll into their interviews from the first week of Feb. It's all footage from the same areas.
 

Superflat

Member
Also, for all the graphics people saying it's bright/washed out/looked bad - it's offscreen video, there's plenty of direct feed snippets of the SAME area you can compare it to from, oh, like over a month and a half ago.

I haven't been following too closely, does anyone have the clip Arne's talkin about?

Is it this one?
 

Anteater

Member
yeah, just look up videos from most gaming sites, machinima, sessler, ign, etc. that spliced in direct feed b-roll into their interviews from the first week of Feb. It's all footage from the same areas.

thanks, yeah I haven't looked at any videos since the e3 demo, I just thought this is new since people were complaining about zombies in this thread, lol.
 

stryke

Member
You know, with all the controversy regarding the "listen mode", SONY should capitalize on promoting this:

bigPhoto_0.jpg


Along with TLOU.

lol, after every ad:

For the ultimate Last of Us surround sound experience, purchase the PlayStation Pulse Wireless Headset!!

I own these actually, not an audiophile but they're pretty good.
 

arne

Member
thanks, yeah I haven't looked at any videos since the e3 demo, I just thought this is new since people were complaining about zombies in this thread, lol.


complainers gonna complain. there's nothing here that wasn't revealed, talked about, Q&A'd, etc. back in late January/early Feb. Thing is, normal folks are now playing it instead of press, so people can provide real hands-on impressions. I didn't read all 7+ pages of this thread, but I haven't seen one person who has actually played it provide any impression about anything.

Critical or not, positive or negative, I would like to hear what someone who did play it thought of it.
 

GribbleGrunger

Dreams in Digital
Were you expecting a hardcore game from Naughty Dog? I'm guessing it's integral to the game and it'll make the game just frustrating if you toggle it off because the game might be designed with it in mind much like Tomb Raider and Hitman Absolution.

I've yet to see a game with an instinct mode that is as enjoyable when toggled off.

Surely though, the fact that in the demo we see in the OP the bald guy dies three times suggests that this is in fact a hardcore game? How many other games have a one hit kill system?
 

sappyday

Member
complainers gonna complain. there's nothing here that wasn't revealed, talked about, Q&A'd, etc. back in late January/early Feb. Thing is, normal folks are now playing it instead of press, so people can provide real hands-on impressions. I didn't read all 7+ pages of this thread, but I haven't seen one person who has actually played it provide any impression about anything.

Critical or not, positive or negative, I would like to hear what someone who did play it thought of it.

There's a couple here who tried the demo.
 

MormaPope

Banned
complainers gonna complain. there's nothing here that wasn't revealed, talked about, Q&A'd, etc. back in late January/early Feb. Thing is, normal folks are now playing it instead of press, so people can provide real hands-on impressions. I didn't read all 7+ pages of this thread, but I haven't seen one person who has actually played it provide any impression about anything.

Critical or not, positive or negative, I would like to hear what someone who did play it thought of it.

So you're seeking these impressions from a thread where the majority of people wouldn't have access to the demo? Also dismissing people's impressions because they haven't played the game in question is sort of bizarre, reception or perception are just as important as positive reinforcement or acceptance of what's in the game.
 

UrbanRats

Member
complainers gonna complain. there's nothing here that wasn't revealed, talked about, Q&A'd, etc. back in late January/early Feb. Thing is, normal folks are now playing it instead of press, so people can provide real hands-on impressions. I didn't read all 7+ pages of this thread, but I haven't seen one person who has actually played it provide any impression about anything.

Critical or not, positive or negative, I would like to hear what someone who did play it thought of it.

It's 7 pages of listening mode, btw.
 

demolitio

Member
You never know what type of reactions you're going to get on here.

Now we get to hear that the PS4 has spoiled us and ruined this game and that it should be delayed as if the game looks bad by any means. Amazing what a couple of months can do on this forum.
 

wilflare

Member
lol, after every ad:

For the ultimate Last of Us surround sound experience, purchase the PlayStation Pulse Wireless Headset!!

I own these actually, not an audiophile but they're pretty good.

I can't decide whether to stick with these.. or try out the Monoprice 8323 lol
 

Amey

Member
saw half a dozen deaths.. all players dying in exact same manner. what's going on in this game?
 

Lulubop

Member
You never know what type of reactions you're going to get on here.

Now we get to hear that the PS4 has spoiled us and ruined this game and that it should be delayed as if the game looks bad by any means. Amazing what a couple of months can do on this forum.

I don't think any one complaining is talking about the graphics.
 

Anteater

Member
saw half a dozen deaths.. all players dying in exact same manner. what's going on in this game?

Seems to be charging in and not paying enough attention to enemies' behaviour, there was that one death where he got carried away with just punching that zombie until he got killed from behind.

They weren't exactly playing too stealthy in those videos.
 

demolitio

Member
I don't think any one complaining is talking about the graphics.

So a delay to the PS4 idea is for what exactly? They wouldn't exactly change the whole game in a year...

They just want it on PS4 for the hell of it? I know there are complaints about listen mode, but there's also people acting like the PS4 has changed everything for this game. We knew about listen mode and we have seen the same section in direct-feed footage, yet this somehow brought us a new revelation.

I'm more commenting on the complete 180 when nothing has changed from what we knew before.
 
I don't think any one complaining is talking about the graphics.

Nope, just the gall of Naughty Dog at providing an optional feature that didn't cause this much ruckus when it was first spoken of. Nothing changed at all about it.

With that said, Listen Mode is not my cup of tea and won't be used.
 

Aaron

Member
Just watching footage, but this game seems way too fast overall. The speed of the attacks, the way he instantly collections ammo off a corpse, even the movement. I guess that's the problem when you're making a game largely for an instant gratification audience, but I wished that for a survival game all these actions would have more weight to them.
 

Anteater

Member
Just watching footage, but this game seems way too fast overall. The speed of the attacks, the way he instantly collections ammo off a corpse, even the movement. I guess that's the problem when you're making a game largely for an instant gratification audience, but I wished that for a survival game all these actions would have more weight to them.

The zombies movement were rather quick, and the quick meleeing/shooting didn't help those players in the video, and most likely won't be that effective without using your environments and stealth. I don't mind having responsive controls.

I thought it already look weighty enough with certain weapons and actions, for instance running and a heavy melee attack.

It looks like it could be fun judging from that other video someone posted above:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGJk77AB-p4
 
Arne.. I think people in here, including myself, would really like for "Listen mode" to be disable-able.. maybe even include a trophy for not using it. There was a write up from a journalist who played TLOU (the recent build) and he played through the entire demo without using it (he wasn't aware it existed/missed the prompt) and he said that even though it was very hard, it was very rewarding due to its difficulty, and having found out about the listen mode later he said it wouldn't have been quite as good/rewarding an experience in retrospect having used it. I think many hardcore gamers(especially here) are up to the challenge.
 

jett

D-Member
I see Arne has come here and has already dismissed all complaints. :p Did you really ask for impressions of people who played it in a forum where 99.99% of the posters have not?

Surely though, the fact that in the demo we see in the OP the bald guy dies three times suggests that this is in fact a hardcore game? How many other games have a one hit kill system?

It's a one-hit-kill enemy.

p.s. This is not new to gaming. One example: Chainsaw guy in RE4. Actually, the clickers function virtually the same. You simply get near to the guy, you die.

I wonder how many of the comments on this game are actually from people who never intended to buy it or don't even own the console it plays on.

That is a silly thing to say.
 

mr_nothin

Banned
Just watching footage, but this game seems way too fast overall. The speed of the attacks, the way he instantly collections ammo off a corpse, even the movement. I guess that's the problem when you're making a game largely for an instant gratification audience, but I wished that for a survival game all these actions would have more weight to them.

Yea, it just feels very light. I thought it was going to have more weight than Uncharted when it came to your actions/animation.
 

-tetsuo-

Unlimited Capacity
Were you. expecting a hardcore game from Naughty Dog? I'm guessing it's integral to the game and it'll make the game just frustrating if you toggle it off because the game might be designed with it in mind much like Tomb Raider and Hitman Absolution.

I've yet to see a game with an instinct mode that is as enjoyable when toggled off.

You dont need survival instinct in Tomb Raider. At all.
 
I see Arne has come here and has already dismissed all complaints. :p Did you really ask for impressions of people who played it in a forum where 99.99% of the posters have not?

Can you blame him when more than half a thread is people complaining about a completely optional feature that they never have to use?
 

jett

D-Member
Can you blame him when more than half a thread is people complaining about a completely optional feature that they never have to use?

Wallhacking is a silly thing and shouldn't even be in the game. It makes no sense in this game. It reeks of being a focus group-added feature, now that I think about it.

People brush it off as "Oh it was announced already". But it was new to me, and to a lot of other people it seems.

E3

New Demo

In the E3 demo the animation is much more organic, in the new one it seems like they just ripped Uncharted's snap to animation system and slapped it into The Last Of Us.

The camera sways in different way with the connection of each hit.

They've really taken away some of the impact from the melee attacks with the increase in speed. Welp, I'm sure they had their reasons.
 

-Plasma Reus-

Service guarantees member status
A lot of people on this forum actually thought UC3 was a bad game.
I wouldn't take the complaints too much to heart.

It would however, be nice of Arne could tell us whether this game puts as much focus on survival against human beings, as it does against these fungus creatures.
I prefer the human vs human interaction to these zombie type creatures (sorry, it's the best way I can term it).
 

MormaPope

Banned
Can you blame him when more than half a thread is people complaining about a completely optional feature that they never have to use?

Game mechanics that can be completely ignored by a group of players should be a sign that the mechanic should be altered or not in the game in it's current form.
 
It REEKS of being a focus group-added feature, now that I think about it.

Maybe that was their intention or maybe it wasn't. But there are people in this thread that have posted that they have hearing problems and a feature like this will help them with playing it. Isn't that a good thing? It's optional so you won't be bothered by it as long as you don't hit R2 while you aren't moving or stalking.
 

BeeDog

Member
Looks awesome to me, but then again I usually try to stay on the positive side for most things. The only minor complaint I have is that only one insta-death animation will get old fast if you're unskilled and keep getting killed by the Clickers.
 

zoukka

Member
I'm not sure why people are expecting this to be some kind of hardcore survival game... it's a Naughty Dog game, which means it has to be easily approachable and playable.
 

Tratorn

Member
Wallhacking is a silly thing and shouldn't even be in the game. It makes no sense in this game. It reeks of being a focus group-added feature, now that I think about it.

People brush it off as "Oh it was announced already". But it was new to me, and to a lot of other people it seems.



They've really taken away some of the impact from the melee attacks with the increase in speed. Welp, I'm sure they had their reasons.

If they wouldn't put this in, they would have to make the game easier. So of course it's a great addition, because people who want a real challenge can just put it off.
Without it you probably wouldn't even have the option to get such a high difficulty.
 
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