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The Last Of Us - Off screen footage from PAX East

Mahonay

Banned
I got to sneak in the play area and went through about 15 min of the demo. Definitely is at least a little bit difficult. I died a lot but that's because I was playing like an idiot and didn't have a good handle on the controls. It's a game that wants you to focus and take your time. Not a game that plays great in a setting like PAX. Overall it seems like it should live up to expectations. Makes me hate that I down own a PS3.
 
Got to play it. Loved it. The controls were tight and atmosphere was great. Being out numbered and clicker on your tail really tensed me up and was the first time I felt the need to survive so badly. PS3 is surely going out with a bang.

The only complaint I have was the listen mode. Much like Batmans Defective Mode or Tomb Raiders Instinct mode- I found myself using it too much.
 
Got to play it. Loved it. The controls were tight and atmosphere was great. Being out numbered and clicker on your tail really tensed me up and was the first time I felt the need to survive so badly. PS3 is surely going out with a bang.

The only complaint I have was the listen mode. Much like Batmans Defective Mode or Tomb Raiders Instinct mode- I found myself using it too much.

Do you feel reliant on it by design or are you just weak!?
 
So how was the demo received at PAX? How long were the lines? Were there a bunch of people waiting to play the demo? Any pics?
I can't wait for this game.
 
I think once you start using it, given the omnipresent threat of death, the temptation to use it becomes overpowering.

Exactly. Being trapped in a confined area with a clicker and three to four runners had me using it to keep updated of their where abouts as I sneaked around. I suppose as Arne has stated, "just don't press the button" could work but its hard to do so given that it gives the player an upper hand.

Maybe if it gave you a North, East, West or South glowing edge on your screen I'd accept it more. It would make more sense of "listening". The fact that it shows you where they are, behind multiple walls, takes away a lot of tension.
 

nib95

Banned
Exactly. Being trapped in a confined area with a clicker and three to four runners had me using it to keep updated of their where abouts as I sneaked around. I suppose as Arne has stated, "just don't press the button" could work but its hard to do so given that it gives the player an upper hand.

Maybe if it gave you a North, East, West or South glowing edge on your screen I'd accept it more. It would make more sense of "listening". The fact that it shows you where they are, behind multiple walls, takes away a lot of tension.

Arne mentioned they were keeping am eye on the thread for possibilities of a hardcore mode etc. Maybe in that mode they could disable the hearing mode altogether?
 

sappyday

Member
So how was the demo received at PAX? How long were the lines? Were there a bunch of people waiting to play the demo? Any pics?
I can't wait for this game.

From reports apparently the line was huge (some had to wait around 3 hours) and it was one of the highlights at PAX.
 
Is there any sixaxis support for this? I read a rumor long ago that there was and it was actually pretty cool.

Arne mentioned they were keeping am eye on the thread for possibilities of a hardcore mode etc. Maybe in that mode they could disable the hearing mode altogether?


Well they did address the UC3 aiming rather nicely so I have much love for ND and what they do.
 

Ryuhza

Banned
I would appreciate a toned down or gone listening mode on harder difficulties. Or an option to disable it in controls.

I think if it was less blatant, it wouldn't be so bad.

Is there any sixaxis support for this? I read a rumor long ago that there was and it was actually pretty cool.

Sixaxis support? In 2013? Are you MAD?!
 

GribbleGrunger

Dreams in Digital
Exactly. Being trapped in a confined area with a clicker and three to four runners had me using it to keep updated of their where abouts as I sneaked around. I suppose as Arne has stated, "just don't press the button" could work but its hard to do so given that it gives the player an upper hand.

Maybe if it gave you a North, East, West or South glowing edge on your screen I'd accept it more. It would make more sense of "listening". The fact that it shows you where they are, behind multiple walls, takes away a lot of tension.

But that to me is a very interesting dynamic. That you are put into a situation were you feel it necessary to use it actually adds something unique to this game. That struggle between using it and holding off using it could be used to create extra tension in certain scenes and even a sense of defeat if you eventually succumb to the temptation. If anything is going to sort the men out from the boys, this feature is. It's put up or shut up time people. If you are weak then press that button. The more I think about this feature, the more I'm seeing potential for its use.
 

Derrick01

Banned
I think once you start using it, given the omnipresent threat of death, the temptation to use it becomes overpowering.

And this is part of the reason why I wanted an option to turn it off. It's a lot easier to resist temptation when the object in question isn't dangling right in your face.

nib95 said:
Arne mentioned they were keeping am eye on the thread for possibilities of a hardcore mode etc. Maybe in that mode they could disable the hearing mode altogether?

-Option to turn off object highlighting (which may already be in the game)
-Option to turn off listen mode completely

I have other suggestions like smarter item placement and inventory limits to make you HAVE to use resources wisely and make difficult decisions (like do I take this health pack or keep the 2 pistol bullets I have?) , but without playing the game it's really hard for me to go into detail. For all I know the base game is like that on Hard.
 
This is splitting hairs but I played this demo and there is only one animation used for using a med kit. Its kind of lame considering how much work goes into the games animations.

Every time Joel is hurt, no matter the percentage in his health gage, its always his arm that gets wrapped.
But that to me is a very interesting dynamic. That you are put into a situation were you feel it necessary to use it actually adds something unique to this game. That struggle between using it and holding off using it could be used to create extra tension in certain scenes and even a sense of defeat if you eventually succumb to the temptation. If anything is going to sort the men out from the boys, this feature is. The more I think about this feature, the more I'm seeing potential for its use.

There is nothing unique about this feature, its been overdone this generation. Give me a hard mode or the option to rid it completely.
 
The combat is fantastic though. Myself and others played a section and each of us used different methods to clear an area. The moment you realize a Clicker knows of your presence is so great. ONLY play this game with a proper sound set-up, you owe it to yourself.
 

GribbleGrunger

Dreams in Digital
There is nothing unique about this feature, its been overdone this generation. Give me a hard mode or the option to rid it completely.

I don't know ... I'm liking this feature. Are you MAN enough to resist pressing that button? Do you really need something removed entirely because of temptation? I think that poses an interesting question about gamers in general.
 

sunnz

Member
This is splitting hairs but I played this demo and there is only one animation used for using a med kit. Its kind of lame considering how much work goes into the games animations.

Every time Joel is hurt, no matter the percentage in his health gage, its always his arm that gets wrapped.


There is nothing unique about this feature, its been overdone this generation. Give me a hard mode or the option to rid it completely.

Heh, a bit like far cry 3 with its same animation ( yea it had different ones, but for the majority is was the same one 90% of the time)
I agree thought, it would be awesome if he "heal" the part of his body that is the most damaged or something.

Sounds great, cant wait!!


But like arne said, its alpha ( or pre?) so you never know


Just wondering, what type of weapons are available? type of melee/guns?
 
I don't know ... I'm liking this feature. Are you MAN enough to resist pressing that button? Do you really need something removed entirely because of temptation? I think that poses an interesting question about gamers in general.

Are you implying that "gamers" have no self control if they ask for a toggle option? Okay, I'm a 26 yr old boy then.
 

nib95

Banned
I'll be honest, I'm going to use the feature. Looks too frigging scary and difficult as it is that without it I'd just be overly tense lol. I might turn it off on a second play through mind, maybe on a harder difficulty.
 
I would rather they take a nod from mark of the ninja and only show a pulsing effect from the enemies footsteps and not show the outline of the entire character in listening mode. You shouldnt be able to tell which direction the enemy is facing when listening to their movements.
 
I'll be honest, I'm going to use the feature. Looks too frigging scary and difficult as it is that without it I'd just be overly tense lol. I might turn it off on a second play through mind, maybe on a harder difficulty.

It really is frightening, cannot wait to play more.

I would rather they take a nod from mark of the ninja and only show a pulsing effect from the enemies footsteps and not show the outline of the entire character in listening mode. You shouldnt be able to tell which direction the enemy is facing when listening to their movements.

Perfect example of it being done right
 

Papercuts

fired zero bullets in the orphanage.
I don't know ... I'm liking this feature. Are you MAN enough to resist pressing that button? Do you really need something removed entirely because of temptation? I think that poses an interesting question about gamers in general.

Temptation does not really do or mean anything without actual punishment against it. Something like Dishonored seems apt here. The way they split mana and had partial regen let you have the xray vision mode active all the time, and blink was always usable with it once you let it regen a bit. You could just opt to not use it at all, but there is no reason not to.

Same with Batman and detective mode. The only reason I don't have it always on is because I wanted to appreciate the environments. There is nothing to be gained for not succumbing to a basic feature hardwired in the game.

Gamers in general typically use whatever resources to get as much of an edge as possible over the opposition. It seems silly to hinder yourself. That said, if there is an ingame option to start with it disabled I would gladly take it.
 

GribbleGrunger

Dreams in Digital
Are you implying that "gamers" have no self control if they ask for a toggle option? Okay, I'm a 26 yr old boy then.

I'll probably use it too lol.

How can I explain what I mean? You are in a situation where there are three exits and all of them appear to be as dangerous as each other. You know that one of them is the possible route but you're not entirely sure which one ... in fact, after attempting it twice already, you become convinced that they're random and that any of the three could be the possible exit. The dev could play with that moment of indecision, tempting you to check just once with a few well placed flurries of clicks and shuffles. There you would be with your fingers poised to look but that will power you promised yourself you had is fighting you. That moment would have been manufactured by the dev and so make the radar an interesting part of the narrative.

Make checkpoints rare and you have REAL tension and REAL indecision
 

The Lamp

Member
I would rather they take a nod from mark of the ninja and only show a pulsing effect from the enemies footsteps and not show the outline of the entire character in listening mode. You shouldnt be able to tell which direction the enemy is facing when listening to their movements.

This does sound cool.
 

nib95

Banned
Make checkpoints rare and you have REAL tension and REAL indecision

Please no. Just adds repetition, monotony and cheaply buffs game time. Make it difficult but make checkpoints relatively frequent enough that the you can keep coming back for more without too much repeat filler and frustration.
 

GribbleGrunger

Dreams in Digital
Please no. Just adds repetition, monotony and cheaply buffs game time. Make it difficult but make checkpoints relatively frequent enough that the you can keep coming back for more without too much repeat filler and frustration.

I was relating it to the scene I described with the radar use and game narrative. I don't mean all the way through the game. Just at those crucial moments.
 

i-Lo

Member
A few more pictures courtesy of PSblog on flickr:

8575806286_4127787341_o.jpg


8574711255_d829be2679_o.jpg


8575806340_d42d0beaf9_o.jpg


8575806324_01fefb4483_b.jpg

This last picture shows heavy jpeg compression artefacts at larger sizes unfortunately.

Here's the stream (pg 3).
 

zoukka

Member
PC gamers shouldn't have problems with listening mode. Think of it as quick saving. You wouldn't abuse that either would you? :p
 

AOC83

Banned
-Option to turn off object highlighting (which may already be in the game)
-Option to turn off listen mode completely

I support this, the highlighting hurts the atmosphere a bit and a real hardcire mode without the listen mode would be really neat.
 

bobbytkc

ADD New Gen Gamer
I'll be honest, I'm going to use the feature. Looks too frigging scary and difficult as it is that without it I'd just be overly tense lol. I might turn it off on a second play through mind, maybe on a harder difficulty.

The game is also designed and balanced to use that feature. I see no reason why you should not use it.
 

ksdixon

Member
I am someone who dislikes non-co-op-campaign multiplayer (death match, hoard mode, that sort of thing). And I also don't support day 1/on disc DLC out of principle.

One thing that got to me about the new Tomb Raider game was that I cannot support the developer further by purchasing side-storyline single player dlc as they are not making any, it is all going to be multiplayer focused.

Is there wiggle room in TLOS's storyline to be able to release single player/campaign dlc? Or is the story a 'one and done' kind of thing?
 
I am someone who dislikes non-co-op-campaign multiplayer (death match, hoard mode, that sort of thing). And I also don't support day 1/on disc DLC out of principle.

One thing that got to me about the new Tomb Raider game was that I cannot support the developer further by purchasing side-storyline single player dlc as they are not making any, it is all going to be multiplayer focused.

Is there wiggle room in TLOS's storyline to be able to release single player/campaign dlc? Or is the story a 'one and done' kind of thing?

They already said that TLOU will not be getting any new SP campaign DLC, all will be multiplayer campaign, maybe co op, maybe competitive. No one knows. No one even knows what the damn multiplayer looks like and is supposed to be and we're only 3 months from launch.
 

jett

D-Member
This is splitting hairs but I played this demo and there is only one animation used for using a med kit. Its kind of lame considering how much work goes into the games animations.

Every time Joel is hurt, no matter the percentage in his health gage, its always his arm that gets wrapped.

That poor arm will end up being a little string by the end of the game.

I don't know ... I'm liking this feature. Are you MAN enough to resist pressing that button? Do you really need something removed entirely because of temptation? I think that poses an interesting question about gamers in general.

tommyleejones460.jpg
 
Arne, I thought you said "dying sucks" when it came to Uncharted platforming. Those clicker deaths are mean, and I love it!

The best thing about the death scenes is how they fade to black abruptly so that you feel the maximum impact of it.

Just long enough to be horrified, but just short enough so it doesn't seem like gore porn.
 

jett

D-Member
The best thing about the death scenes is how they fade to black abruptly so that you feel the maximum impact of it.

Just long enough to be horrified, but just short enough so it doesn't seem like gore porn.

Eh? Death scenes are undoubtedly unfinished at this point.
 
The more I think about listening mode the more I dont mind it. I think games for the last decade have been so dumbed down that we take any new mechanic that aid the player as hand holding. If listening mode allow for more strategy but keeps it difficulty then I think that is great game design. It is the idea that KNOWING what to do and actually DOING it are totally different.

We praise games like Dark Souls for its difficulty but most of its challenge comes from entering a new area and being totally blindsided by an enemy. It is through trial and error and expectation that one gets better at the game. Knowing where the enemies are in that game allows for you to better prepare for battle. I think not all games have to be like that, instead I welcome games that allow for you to have a strategy before hand, and let the AI try its damnedest to make the implementation of that strategy as hard as possible.

Maybe I'll make a separate thread about it but for the people that are anti listening mode why are you? Do you think it'll make the game way too easy?
 
The combat is fantastic though. Myself and others played a section and each of us used different methods to clear an area. The moment you realize a Clicker knows of your presence is so great. ONLY play this game with a proper sound set-up, you owe it to yourself.


will buy the sony pulse headset soon
 
Arne mentioned they were keeping am eye on the thread for possibilities of a hardcore mode etc. Maybe in that mode they could disable the hearing mode altogether?

The NEED to have a hardcore mode. Most positive impressions mention the listen mode as the downer for taking the tension away and pretty much holding your hand. They can have a hardcore mode/difficulty where

  • Listen mode is disabled by default. You can still change the difficulty, and therefore enable Listen mode while playing through if you decide to pussy out
  • HUD is gone. No telling how bad you are on health (except by animation going into your bag in order to craft something to heal yourself) or how many bullets you got left. You would obviously be able to tell how many bullets you got if you opened the gun and looked at the clip.
  • Cross hair and Aim assist gone. You need to really know how to shoot and make those shots count.

And give me a gold trophy for my hardcore run. Speaking of which, they should handle trophies like Heavy Rain so as to not spoil anything.

@Arne, I know you said PS4 is not coming at this time (if it ever comes I'll probably double dip), but are there any plans for a companion app/second screen with the vita? We know it's standard on PS4 so if it ever comes there, it's a given, but what about on PS3? Crafting using the touchscreen while the action is still going on on the big screen would be awesome.
 

sunnz

Member
The NEED to have a hardcore mode. Most positive impressions mention the listen mode as the downer for taking the tension away and pretty much holding your hand. They can have a hardcore mode/difficulty where

  • Listen mode is disabled by default. You can still change the difficulty, and therefore enable Listen mode while playing through if you decide to pussy out
  • HUD is gone. No telling how bad you are on health (except by animation going into your bag in order to craft something to heal yourself) or how many bullets you got left. You would obviously be able to tell how many bullets you got if you opened the gun and looked at the clip.
  • Cross hair and Aim assist gone. You need to really know how to shoot and make those shots count.

And give me a gold trophy for my hardcore run. Speaking of which, they should handle trophies like Heavy Rain so as to not spoil anything.

@Arne, I know you said PS4 is not coming at this time (if it ever comes I'll probably double dip), but are there any plans for a companion app/second screen with the vita? We know it's standard on PS4 so if it ever comes there, it's a given, but what about on PS3? Crafting using the touchscreen while the action is still going on on the big screen would be awesome.

No crosshair for a third person shooter with a game were ammo is so scarce...


Not a good idea, that wont be hard, just be very frustrating as you cant ADS.

Maybe a little dot when you zoom in/ proper aim.
 
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