The Last of Us : Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

I recently finished The Last of Us, and wasn't very impressed. It had an amazing story, but I can't really think of much else to compliment. It's not as gameplay-driven as a game should be, and, despite how much I enjoyed the story, I didn't have much fun playing it.

Did I play a completely different game than the one that got tons of perfect scores, or am I just a loser?

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

Your opinion bud and your entitled to it. What games do you like playing ?

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

I really don't have one specific genre (outside of turn-based RPGs) that I play exclusively. I like playing anything. I usually stay away from most major AAA games.

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

There are some criticisms of the AI, particularly the human enemy and companion AI, that I think are on point and hurt the overall emersion of the game. Having issues witht he game makes you far from a loser.

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I'm replaying the game on Survivor and the AI is definitely ruining the experience a bit. Bill and Sam are the worst offenders. In the cemetery area Bill and Ellie literally run into you consistently over and over. This would be fine if you could walk through them like they're invisible, but they actually push you off your path and occasionally cause the infected to notice you.

Then there's Sam in the sewer which is so bad it's laughable. He RUNS right past all the way to the other side of the room and then yells to get their attention. I understand it was done on purpose at this part but it made me feel less sorry when he died.

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I'd love to see you in the moonlight with your head thrown back and your body on fire.

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

For me personally the worst offender is Tommy. I just beat it again for the first time in two years. I died only 6 times (2 if you don't count the hunter near the generators who can launch molotovs 100 yards away- horrible defect) up until the point where you get thrown off the horse near the barbed wire.
He proceeded to get in my way and cause my death an additional two times. He reminded me of the phrase that I so often said when I'm at those levels: "GET OUT OF THE F--ING WAY!" The dude is literally setting a pick like in basketball, so you're completely vulnerable to more shotgun blasts that you can't run from.



Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

Well, your opinion about it having an amazing story but not enough gameplay is a perfect reason to not understand the fame. Me, personally, can appreciate Call of Duty games and play them every day but also love story-driven games like The Last of Us. Some people would rather be playing fast-paced GAMES...only...

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

Some people prefer their games to be just that -- games, not cinematic experiences such as this or the titles that have been released from studios such as Quantic Dream, which take things a step further to the point where they are basically interactive films. I, like you, have been a big fan of turn-based RPGs all my life, but I'm very happily embracing this new trend in the gaming industry because I find that there's a lot more depth to be had and I actually care a lot more with what's going on to the characters.

The Last of Us may not be the most innovative in terms of its gameplay -- it's still, in essence, a shooter, and that genre is most likely to be treading familiar ground no matter what game you find it in -- though of course the gameplay is more than serviceable; but its story really is one of the greatest I've had the pleasure of playing through, and I do credit its cinematic qualities to how deeply involved I felt in it.

--
My middle name is ready. No, that doesn't sound right. I eat ready for breakfast.

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

I'm still waiting for that perfect balance between cinematic-experience and fun gameplay. Despite how I feel about The Last of Us, I do think it's gotten the entire industry extremely close to achieving it.

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

GTAV!

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I've never been able to get into GTA, but I've got no doubt that you are right.

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The Last of Us may not be the most innovative in terms of its gameplay -- it's still, in essence, a shooter, and that genre is most likely to be treading familiar ground no matter what game you find it in -- though of course the gameplay is more than serviceable; but its story really is one of the greatest I've had the pleasure of playing through, and I do credit its cinematic qualities to how deeply involved I felt in it.

To be fair, the story isn't that groundbreaking either. The premise is almost identical to Children of Men, and it borrows heavily from various other post-apocalyptic stories (The Road and The Passage in particular).

What it does have is a cast of layered and well-developed characters inhabiting an incredibly detailed and believable world, the writing and performances are fantastic, and the bond that gradually forms between the two leads is one of the most interesting and engaging relationships I've seen in any medium. And whatever I might think about the premise or plot, the ending - which basically turns the whole story on its head and calls everything we know about Joel and Ellie's relationship into question - more than makes up for any shortcomings in the rest of the plot. Seriously, I was mulling over that ending for three or four days afterwards. How many video games can you say that about?

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Of course there have been similar themes which have been explored before within the confines of books and film -- and to a lesser extent, yes, there have been zombie games before, but not on this scale.

I will go on record again and again as saying how amazing the character interactions are; they have such soul and breathe such life into this game. It's wonderful to look round and find new little things the characters are doing with each other each time you pop in the disc, find new conversations to add even more layers of rich depth and texture to make this title even more highly-engrossing.

In the end I truly believe that it is all of these things -- the execution of its story-telling, exceptional attention to detail, great characters -- which is what makes The Last of Us stand out as a groundbreaking and compelling title. It has that rare ability to form a connection with its audience, which is hard to do.

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I'm still waiting for that perfect balance between cinematic-experience and fun gameplay. Despite how I feel about The Last of Us, I do think it's gotten the entire industry extremely close to achieving it.


Uncharted 2 had a nice balance of that

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

Very well put.

"People need to shut the f-ck up and learn how to have fun"-The Dalai Lama

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

Maybe it just wasn't your game. I loved it!! But its not a crime not to. Peace and love!!!

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Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

For me the most impressive part is the characters -- the devs obviously spent a lot of time making them feel real. I love all of the individual interactions with the environment, how they'll often go off to one area of an empty house to search for supplies, or how Ellie will come across something she's never seen before and you can build a conversation around that. The hidden conversations are great.

--
My middle name is ready. No, that doesn't sound right. I eat ready for breakfast.

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

I'm chiming in a little late here in every respect having just completed The Last of Us last night after being without a PlayStation since the day before release. And I have to echo some of what the OP said and add that, although I liked The Last of Us very much, I found so many elements to have been similar to numerous other games in which those parts may have worked better. Not that what's here isn't excellent, especially the storytelling, acting and a great narrative, but I felt a sense of Uncharted met with Resident Evil and shades of Splinter Cell and even Red Dead Redemption abound. Furthermore, some of the combat with the Clickers and Bloaters seemed just too shopworn -- at least in my approach to them, i.e. shooting and running. Even the snowstorm felt less realised than the sandstorm in Uncharted 3. Again, I still liked this game very much and it's surely in my PlayStation 3 top-ten, but not my top-five.

NOW TARZAN MAKE WAR!

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

Yes this is a very good game and at times it does feel like you're watching a film as opposed to playing the game. After I completed it I looked at the reviews and was amazed at how good people said it was. Some are calling it one of the best video games ever. I thought it was good but not that good, I understand what the OP is saying. Personally I enjoyed Red Dead Redemption more than this. That game is just amazing...

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

Here was my take on the game after having completed it. After playing it again along with Left Behind, I stand by everything I said.



This was a very good game, yet I'm still left with the feeling that if this was the overwhelming Game of the Year, it must have been a bad year for games. The story and graphics are good. However, I found issue with the length of the story, along with the variety and quality of gameplay.

My personal experience was an 8 hr install time. For such a massive amount of time, I was expecting to spend a week or two completing the story, not two days. Compare this to GTA 5, the install was all of two hours, and it took me three times as long to complete the main story, not to mention the side stories and hobbies.

This brings me to the issue of gameplay. The lack of side missions, variety in missions, and a cover system left me wanting. I appreciate the exploration of the idea that the infected aren't the only enemy, but also other survivors and the military presence.

However, nature is another enemy to be examined within the game. Especially with the passing of seasons within the timeline, it would've been interesting to have side missions of scavenging for supplies to prepare for the coming season. Not only scavenging, but making contact with other survivors to make trades, even hunting to provide food for oneself and trade.

This would've helped with breaking up the repetition of the missions. Furthermore, the developers could've easily had provided more options to solve an issue that find a plank or ladder, or float Ellie on a wood pallet. For me, this was the most frustrating show of laziness by Naughty Dog.

Some smaller gripes would be the lack of a cover system and the durability of the melee weapons. With the lack of supplies, particularly ammo, the melee weapon should be a trusty back up, not a something that breaks after a few uses. Maybe the 2x4, but certainly not a pipe, machete, ax or baseball bat.

Rather, it'd be better if they had various advantages and disadvantages, such as damage and hit rate. The machete and baseball bat being easier to handle would have a greater hit rate, but the pipe and ax deliver more damage. Just my suggestion.

Lastly, the cover system is a minor nitpick. Not wholly necessary, but would've been an appreciated and realistic addition.

In the end, The Last of Us is a very good game, but its not a great one, and certainly doesn't deserve the top spot it has registered of many GOAT lists I've seen. For me, that would be Red Dead Redemption. The graphics are worse, but smoother gameplay and a more engaging story.

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?


My personal experience was an 8 hr install time.


I can't help but wonder what the hell is wrong with your system that it took that long to install.


The lack of side missions, variety in missions, and a cover system left me wanting


That's not the kind of game that this is, though. It's got a much more focused narrative and a more linear way of telling the story. I'm actually thankful for that because it makes TLOU a much more intimate and moving experience, and to me it wouldn't have worked or resonated on the same level had they pulled it out into more of a sandbox, open-world game.


Some smaller gripes would be the lack of a cover system and the durability of the melee weapons. With the lack of supplies, particularly ammo, the melee weapon should be a trusty back up, not a something that breaks after a few uses. Maybe the 2x4, but certainly not a pipe, machete, ax or baseball bat.


There is a cover system. Maybe not in the same sense in that, in the Uncharted series thus far, you could essentially press the circle button to snap to cover, but you can still crouch and hide behind things to avoid getting hit. I enjoyed being able to move around more easily while in cover. I'm the type who doesn't stay put for too long anyway, so cover was never a huge issue for me.

Someone else brought up the durability of the melee weapons in another thread, and I'm going to say to you basically the same thing I said to them: increasing the durability of melee weapons would make this game way too *beep* easy. Imagine if you had the ability to brawl your way through the game with a pipe, with no chance of it breaking? How lame would that be? I prefer the challenge, ta very much.

--
'Save me, Barry!'

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

This game had such an impact on me. A lot of people call me a fanboy because I often praise this game and tell them it's my favorite game. IMO the game is perfect and the only flaws I could find is : AI is not always the best and the replayability though it didn't kept me from replaying this masterpiece 7 times.

I don't know if I'm the only one but I really started to see how great the game is when I finished it. I just sat there thinking about the whole journey and I realised how great the game is. Some call it one of the best game of all time. I don't know about that but it's definitly my favorite and I can say that no characters have ever felt more real to me. Even some minor character like Bill , Tess and Henry were incredible. The dialogue/writing was flawless and the actors's performances beyond amazing.

To everyone who enjoyed the game but don't want to replay it again you should. I learned so much more by playing it a second time. every details in the cutscenes. every reference , easter egss etc..

Honestly I'm always a little " sad " when people don't like it the way I do. It's one of the best gaming experience I've ever had. And when I see or hear people say they didn't like it or just thought it was OK I want to push them to play it more and pay more attention. But like I said that's maybe my " fanboyism " talking. I LOVE THIS GAME

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Btw nevernedinginsomnia, your signature it's from Misfits am I right ? :D

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?


Btw nevernedinginsomnia, your signature it's from Misfits am I right ? :D


Indeed, it is! One of my favourite shows

To touch on something you said about replayability -- no, this game doesn't have a tonne of stuff to go back and do (aside from collectibles), but this is a rare game gor me insofar as my gaming experience is never the same. It's incredibly well made and highly detailed.

--
'Save me, Barry!'

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

You make a fair argument. I will clarify that it was an initial 4hr download to get to the point of being able to play, and another 4hr for it to complete. Perhaps this was exacerbated by it being a download from the PSN store.

However, I will continue to respectfully disagree with the other points you made. The lack of side missions reduces the re-playability of the game. I find this to be a problem with many games. This disagreement is probably just a matter of differing preferences. I have never found side missions to take anything away from a storyline.

While I may be a bit of a Rockstar Games fanboy, but both the GTA series and Red Dead Redemption are good examples of how side missions add to the story, rather then distract from it. I still felt emotionally pulled into the stories that those games presented. Adding side missions to a game fleshes out the world it takes place in, instead of making it just a string of missions.

In regards to the melee weapon durability issues, please refer to Undead Redemption. Even if a melee weapon has greater durability, that doesn't necessarily mean that you can brawl your way through.

Again, our disagreement is just a matter of clashing preferences, with the cover system in TLOU being a good example. As such, I won't go over that as I can't really tell you that your style of playing is wrong. Happy gaming.

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?


However, I will continue to respectfully disagree with the other points you made. The lack of side missions reduces the re-playability of the game. I find this to be a problem with many games. This disagreement is probably just a matter of differing preferences. I have never found side missions to take anything away from a storyline.

While I may be a bit of a Rockstar Games fanboy, but both the GTA series and Red Dead Redemption are good examples of how side missions add to the story, rather then distract from it. I still felt emotionally pulled into the stories that those games presented. Adding side missions to a game fleshes out the world it takes place in, instead of making it just a string of missions.



I have absolutely no problem with side missions -- I've played many games that have them -- but I still don't think they would have worked here, at all. The Rockstar games -- which I am very familiar with -- are great games, but they're also these enormous, open-world games which, as I said previously, is not the case here. Side missions work extremely well in that type of game because you can go basically anywhere and do everything; and that also means that the storyline and timeline make for more technically flexible and non-linear experiences.

The Last of Us is not that, nor does it strive to be. It's really Joel and Ellie's story, from point A to point B; while we as gamers are there to join them, we are not in the position to influence or affect that story and mission.

I actually do hope that we get a really solid, post-apocalyptic third-person shooter that combines some of the more survival elements and missions you mentioned. I'm just happy they didn't do that here.


In regards to the melee weapon durability issues, please refer to Undead Redemption. Even if a melee weapon has greater durability, that doesn't necessarily mean that you can brawl your way through.


Haven't played that particular DLC, but I'm familiar with melee weapons in many other games and I honestly prefer weapons that break too easily over weapons that last seemingly forever. Not only does it add that extra bit of challenge in terms of difficulty, it's also a challenge in terms of a gamer's resourcefulness whenever any supply runs low/empty. I like that.

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'Save me, Barry!'

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

I understand what you're saying as far as TLOU trying not to be a sandbox game, therefore it makes no sense to incorporate elements better suited to that style. I'm saying that I'd have preferred if it was more of a sandbox game, though I can see how it would be very tricky to balance an open world with the storyline of TLOU. At least we can agree that the idea of a post-apocalyptic in the style I hope for is at least a tantalizing idea.

In regards to Undead Redemption, I highly recommend giving it a shot. There are many elements of that DLC which I think should be used for the prospective game I imagine. Hopefully if you have a chance to play it, you'll agree that the melee weapons work well in spite of their durability. However, as before, it's probably a matter of personal preference which we will never come to complete agreement upon. Not something that will end the world.

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Well of course there isn't any side mission this a pure linear game not an open-world. Take Max Payne 3 for example , great linear Third Person Shooter game made by Rockstar. There isn't any side quest and you know why because most game doesn't have any. Only open-world games and RPG have them.

The game is focus on the relationship and journey of Joel and Ellie. What makes The Last of Us a good game is characters , writing , narative and the relation between the characters. You care about them.

But that being say the game has very little replay value like a lot of Linear game out there. except for Collectibles , Harder Difficulty and ( if you're a Trophy Hunter ) Trophies.

take Spec Ops : The Line for example : Short linear TPS game with a great story , very little replay value because it's a linear game.

GTA , RDR are Open World of course there will be a lot of things to do beside the story. The Last of Us isn't an open world and it wouldn't have been as good if it was one. Naughty Dog wanted the players to be invested in the story and the characters.

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

I was somewhat in the same boat. The story was top-notch. Amazing.

Buuuut... the gameplay was sooooo mediocre. Very basic gunplay. The crafting was okay at first. With the tension of being attacked while crafting and whatnot it felt intense. This changes once you make sure you're stocked at a decent level of items or know how the game functions, so you never have to "craft-on-the-fly".

Outright bad picks in specializations were apparent, too. When you skilled up certain talents there were a few obvious choices that were amazing such as the Shiv Master and Weapon Sway. Others were pretty useless if such as the max health one. Sure, max health helps a bit, but you can compare it to something such as an MMO where one character might have higher max health and the other better damage or armor... the max health's effectiveness becomes diminished.

That's kind of picky, but I was expecting the game to be much deeper than it was.

Another nitpick was how "game-y" it felt at times. You could walk around for upwards of fives minutes exploring, reading journals, etc. But you ALWAYS knew when there was about to be a gunfight or something like that via items on the ground such as bricks, bottles, and how the environment was sculpted.

As well, the AI completely ruined some of the game for me sometimes. Especially Ellie's AI/partner's... nothing ruins the immersion quite like her running in to an enemy in plain sight when you're stealthing through an area.

I'm just rambling, but how I felt about it summed up:
*Great Story, one of my favorites.
*Mediocre shooter, nothing special about it
*Spotty AI - Was not bad, but ruined immersion quite often
*Lack of true-depth for somebody like myself who likes depth such as that found in Dark Souls, Demon's Souls, MMO's, etc... RPG's in general, but this is a very subjective opinion.

IMO, a great game. Over-rated as hell, though. Touted as the best game of last generation by many, some think of all time.. Does not breach my top 5 of last-gen for sure. Might be in my top 10.

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

Best analysis I've seen of the game so far.
I recently gave the game a second chance when I rented it, and it's a bit better than I remembered, but it's still nothing too special (apart from the incredible story).

With such a great story and such generic gameplay with so many tiny issues, I don't know why they didn't just make a movie instead.

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

It's the best game I've ever played.

Not a massive gamer, but I've been on it since Atari and the Spectrum. Nothing compares to it.

Greggs, proud sponsors of Armaturk

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

If you don't mind, would you please expand upon why its the best game you've ever played? What does it have that other games don't? It agree that it was a good game, but I personally felt it lacking in some areas, therefore I'm interested in what other people think of the game, particularly those who put it at the top of their rankings.

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

Pros
- excellent story
- deep characters that evolve over the course of the story
- great detail work on the environments.
- a high level of immersion into the world it creates.
- its a linear game that doesnt hold your hand and allows exploration.
- the game allows you to play stealthily if you desire.
- great voice acting.
- human emotion, the game gets you to feel for the characters and their situation (which is no easy task)
Percieved Cons
- character control (adds to the intensity of certain situations. Similar to how RE4 did it)
- AI (however the AI is built around the game mechanics. Specifically the use of sound))
- pacing (entirely up to the preference of the player. I thought the pacing was spot on as the game uses it to craft an atmosphere)

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

The story is the thing. This story was probably the best video game story I ever experienced and I am a FPS/RTS, Halo, COD Starcraft guy.

http://DanteDreams.com/ My webcomic
Jesus saves, everyone else takes damage -Tshirt

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

Ive been playing videogames for over 30 years, and this one has been one of the best.

Re: Did I Play a Different Game From Everyone Else?

I agree
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