A marriage of technical supremacy and uncompromising expression; The Last Of Us is a magnificent experience, which will be viewed in years to come as the crowning jewel of an incredible console generation.

Like many great works of art, The Last Of Us liberates itself from the shackles of its medium’s stereotypes, defying trade traditions and in turn, player expectation. The game is littered with moments that will be remembered by those who have played it for years to come, not as a shooter, nor even a video game, but as an experience.

This mid-apocalypse tale of survival charts the endeavors of Joel and Ellie, two individuals brought together by an extraordinary set of circumstances. A smuggler of sorts, Joel often runs packages between the borders of the quarantine zones. However, this journey’s package proves slightly different, in taking the form of a young girl.

The Last Of Us initiates with one of the most masterfully crafted opening sequences in recent memory. Playing in prequel to Joel and Ellie’s meeting, the player takes control of Sarah, Joel’s daughter, in the initial hours of the apocalypse. Wandering tentatively through the deserted halls of the house as a defenseless young girl is utterly terrifying. The hollowing sense of abandon is rife in the air and the level of atmospheric tension is almost palpable; it’s a truly incredible opening. This is a level of tonal moderation that follows throughout the entire lifespan of the game.

Fleeing the overrun suburbs after the initial breakout is absorbing in as much as it feels like the end of the world. The real cascading inferno, fire and brimstone apocalypse where man doesn’t win. There have been so many iterations created and so credit to developer Naughty Dog must be given, as this feels like one of the most convincingly grounded iterations to date.

Flicking back to present day, the now united Joel and Ellie initially interact at a social distance during the title’s dawning hours, with both parties reluctant to accept one another. Joel’s stoic pessimism playing the absolute antithesis to Ellie’s misplaced enthusiasm, they are two who deal with their harrowing pasts in very different ways.

On the eye, The Last Of Us is far more than easy; it’s quite simply sensational. In the early hours visual stimuli strike and engage, as water flows around every building whilst rain falls endlessly from the gloomy skies. All of which gives the aesthetic a perfectly rendered glisten. Upon the change of season, the rise of the sun gives proceedings a totally different complexion. Draping light over the derelict exterior of the city, bringing to light a lushly regenerating environment as vines and other plant life begin to flourish in the absence of mankind.

The Last Of Us is at heart a linear, story-driven experience in how it plays out, but the central thread runs through environments that are expansive enough to ensure dynamic, unpredictable play. There is an absolute necessity in scavenging for resources, as through the excellent crafting system, Joel can create makeshift weapons to aid in combat. The need to scavenge adds a feel of expansiveness to the world, which is rich in a way that has rarely been seen. Every room tells a story of its own, through pieces such as notes and decor, to more subtle touches like newspaper clippings ex-residents have retained. The Last Of Us takes place in a world that is deserted, but more importantly, feels like it was once inhabited. This attention to detail is part of what makes this feel like an existing world to be explored, not just a tour of a make-believe land.

Tackling the game itself is an issue of preference. A subtle approach to near-enough all scenarios can be achieved through stealth. Sneaking past enemies and therefore managing resources more conservatively, is an option that can be achieved due to the excellent stealth mechanic. Alternatively, using the very limited amount of ammunition and resources given, Joel can pile drive his way through hoards of infected and scavengers alike, by blowing them away with the tricky yet rewarding shooting system. Neither of which is less competent than the other, such is the technical splendor on exhibition here.

An extremely important component that The Last Of Us manages very well is tone. Effortlessly cycling from an uplifting to harrowing tone within a heartbeat, it’s an emotional rollercoaster of masterful craft. 
This however, is not something that merely applies to cut scenes; the jading character arc that Joel is subjected to can be charted through every action within gameplay. This in large, is due to an unsettling immediacy to action that is emotionally exhausting. Violence feels, appropriately like a last resort, as it’s brutal and disturbing in true replication of the real thing. The lack of dramatic build up is a big part of what crafts the atmosphere of desperation in this every man for himself-style existence.

It’s a refreshing twist to see death receive focus in a different light. Death here hurts, even upsetting when not an ally. Joel’s reluctance to give Ellie a weapon is indicative of Naughty Dog’s respect for the narrative gravity of violence; it’s a big thing. And this emotional moderation is further extended by the on-form acoustic accompaniment. From pacey rhythms to pulsing beats, the exceptional soundtrack stops at nothing to inspire.

During the final few hours Joel and Ellie become close in a way that feels organic and real. It’s a breathtaking piece of character development for both of them that is grown from shared experiences and so possesses emotional weight come close. A true relationship that blossoms through thick and thin is far more relatable than a manufactured one, and this is what makes Joel and Ellie such relatable, well-rounded characters; they are imperfect.

Placed within a highly threatening environment, the game brushes the feeling of invincibility aside, in favor of terrifying desperation, the likes of which have rarely been committed to disc. Such a visionary and apt depiction of the apocalypse there has never been; The Last Of Us is meticulous in its every attempt at creating the end of the world and thus, is both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring at whim. It’s an illustration of the ability video games possess to be an expressive and personally enriching medium. In surviving an apocalypse, Joel and Ellie have done far more than endure; they have set a new standard for story-driven video games with an undisputable work of genius.

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