Tension - emotions - The Last of Us

Having now played the game extensively, taken apart, put back together and played again, I wish to make a small review to. It's kind of amazing because I CAN give the game only 5 out of 5 stars. Why this is so, I will explain now.

= Story =
If I had to describe the story in a word, I'd say "breathtaking". A parasitic fungus (Cordyceps), which normally affects only insects mutated and can now also infect humans. This fungus proliferates through the brain and takes control over its host. Already 20 years after the outbreak, 60% of the world population, either death, or infected. The few survivors gather in quarantine zones, or try in the wild to survive. So much for the big main story. What is much more important, the characters are. And they are all perfectly marked by the series! Each character you meet tells its own story and the relationship between Joel and Ellie continues throughout the crown. The game knows also deal with dramatic events. After nearly 20 minutes of playing time you will be faced with a situation that has not just a few people conjured tears to my eyes.

Moreover, the story does not deal with trivial and exaggerated statements as there was the outbreak of infection Cordyceps. You will get no explanation as to why or by whom this happened. The game focuses only on Joel, Ellie and her adventures. Every now and then you will find, however, records that reflect the perspective of other characters. Nevertheless, you will never find out what's really behind it. It is necessary to survive and by all means!

Gameplay = =
The Last of Us can play very fluently and without acrobatic finger arts. There is only one double occupancy R1 button to shoot (if you previously aiming with L1) or to recharge if you are not aimed. Otherwise, each key has its task. We can sneak our heroes, sprint, run for cover (happens automatically), grab enemies from behind or strangle parting, go in a listening mode, strike with a melee weapon and throw objects. That's a whole lot of features I want my.

Particularly noteworthy is the listening mode. Pressing the R2 button will turn the character in cover and the screen becomes grayish. Now you can make the opponents through walls by their noise. And the function is locally bitterly necessary! Especially when we consider that there are that can kill the player instantly opponents.

Raw materials and munitions can be found at the beginning relatively rare. The developer has made sure that such things do not simply lie somewhere around. In the quarantine zone or in the immediate vicinity of this one will therefore find not so much, simply because too many people live there and collect himself. By the time you come in abandoned sections, often still crowded with opponents, however, one will find more. Generally one can say that The Last of Us the players not spoiled, but not stingy when it comes to raw materials. Especially on higher difficulties, the player must provide households with what he has.

= = Crafting
The Crafting in The Last of Us is beautifully constructed. One can produce different things such as knives, Medi-kit, Splitter traps and smoke bombs. In addition, you can enhance his melee Wassen with knives. For every object requires two resources. A knife for example, consists of a pair of scissors and tape. A Medi-Kit from alcohol and a cloth. When you have gathered the resources, you can go into the crafting menu and hold the X button manufacture an object. That takes a little at the beginning and the game does not pause in time. So you are right in the battle, it can quickly become scarce.

In addition to crafting, there is a second variant of Joel to improve. Is inspired by pills you anywhere in the world you can Upgreades unlock such as increased health, faster healing, faster crafting or tremble when aiming prevent a gun. In addition, you will find now and then improve our capabilities Skill Books. So you can, for example, optimize the production of a knife and thus extend the shelf life of the weapon.

The last option is to weapon upgrades. Through the scrap pieces are found, you can improve weapons. Whether one the magazine capacity, rate of fire, or whatever improves, is left to the player. One can make each a holster for pistols and rifles even. This doubles the weapons that can be carried by our character simultaneously. For some enhancements but you need tools. If one is not exactly look around you overlook this and corresponding Upgreades can not make.

= = Graphic
For now really getting on in years, the PS3 graphics are very nice. There are many small details that are worth discovering. The play between light and shadow is also very well done. In general, the game is kept quite dark, but what also makes nothing. It underlines the mood only.

The individual scenes look beyond very realistic! I know some vacant buildings and playing of The Last of Us I always notice how similar the decline yet. As the designer of Naughty Dog have tidy flat out and probably many vacant buildings visited. Whether one is now in a subway tunnel is a luxury hotel or in a university. You can tell the places to where you are. Moreover, not all equally disintegrate locales. Places that were inhabited until recently, or still are, seen not as from decay.

The faces of the characters are also very well designed. I can still remember how I've played Heavy Rain and was impressed by the Secured. Then came the Uncharted series (also by Naughty Dog), and it looked even better. Now with The Last of Us, I feel we have reached the end of the potential for the PS3. The faces are almost photo-realistic and you can read a lot of emotion from the facial expressions of the characters. You have to sometimes even because much is explained with pictures and less words.

= Sound =
The game knows exactly when the player wants to hear a soundtrack and when you prefer the silence leaves him alone! The sound is so subtle and fitting that it's almost natural to hear this. In many places there is no sound, usually when you have to fight against clickers. These opponents occurs namely they give of themselves to a certain noise to what and not to be missed. You do not miss the music during the fighting but! The opponents, the environment and not least the characters themselves give their own sounds. The tension of the players in a dark cellar exactly thus experiences is for me so far unequaled what concerns Games. Very often I am sitting with sweaty hands in front of the console and watch the enemy behavior. When can I continue? Do I have to really kill? Lying here no shards, bottle or other things that betray me on the floor?

The German Synchro is very appropriate. Because you really can not say anything negative. Since the speaker have done all the work times. Thus one of the main reasons why you can accept the characters so and understand.

= Box contents =
The Joel and Ellie CE are some nice at such a poster, the first volume of a comic about Ellie's past (in German!), A label for the PS3 controller and an artbook with. Packed all this is being displayed in a pocket on the front side rebuste Survival either the face of Joel and Ellie. Depending on which version you bought. On the whole, does the quality of the things a very good impression.

= Conclusion =
The Last of Us is the first game for several years where I was hoping that it will never end. The suspense in this game does not exist, the stress is always on attack. Even in seemingly peaceful scenes can always happen and all hell breaks loose. After nearly 15 hours for the first play-through, I had to have in a long time to feel my money used for the first time with the purchase of this game properly. The developers have done everything right. Characters that are so tangible that you'd think it might would real people. You develop a real protective instinct as regards Ellie, will prefer Joel spend a beer once all this is over. In the complete game time you will be torn between sadness, joy, fear and anger back and forth. The gameplay is convincing and is not unnecessarily complicated. What shall I say more? Anyone have a PlayStation 3 calls his own, should belong into this game.