A Look Into: The Last Of Us

Description

The Last of Us is an upcoming action-adventure survival horror video game developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation 3 video game console. It was officially revealed on December 10, 2011 during the Spike TV Video Game Awards and is scheduled for a worldwide release on June 14, 2013 as a PlayStation 3 exclusive. The game focuses on two survivors, an adult Joel (voiced by Troy Baker) and a young Ellie (voiced by Ashley Johnson), trekking across a post-apocalyptic United States.

Gameplay

The Last of Us uses third-person view. The player will take control of Joel, while Ellie will be controlled by the AI. The game will involve gun fighting and melee combat as well as a cover system. The player will fight off the Infected — former humans — and the Survivors — humans that are not infected, but are hostile towards Joel and Ellie.

But this game is not exactly a walking dead clone, a new gameplay mechanic is a feature the developers call “dynamic stealth”, meaning that there are many different types of strategies and techniques that the player can use at any given time as they approach a new situation, to which enemies will react differently. Naughty Dog has developed an AI system called “Balance of Power”. This new system allows enemies to react realistically to any combat situation they are placed in by taking cover if they see the player, calling for help if they need it and even taking advantage of the players weaknesses, such as when Joel runs out of ammunition or when he is being attacked by other enemies. So basically, you’re fighting AI with choice (AKA one more step closer to robot domination).

Plot/Story

The story is set two decades after a cordyceps-type fungus has killed millions, with nature gradually retaking the abandoned cities and towns. The survivors are hemmed inside quarantine zones, completely under the heel of the United States military, with order and screening for any Infected being viciously maintained under martial law. Joel, a hardened black-marketeer within one of the quarantine zones, goes through an event which makes him promise an old friend that he will get a young, fourteen year old girl named Ellie, away from the harsh regime to a resistance group known as the Fireflies. They begin a journey through the U.S., avoiding the Infected, humanoid creatures whose sole aim has become spreading the fungal infection. Joel and Ellie also have to avoid scavengers that survive outside the quarantine zones who see Joel and Ellie as their latest prey. Adding to their problems, the military is determined to find Ellie and bring her back under their power.

Where did this concept come from?

The concept for The Last of Us arose after watching a segment of the BBC nature documentary Planet Earth, which documented a cordyceps fungus-infected ant, where the fungus takes over its brain and produces growths from its head; the idea that the fungus could infect humans became the initial idea for the game. Major artistic inspirations included the novels City of Thieves, I Am Legend, No Country for Old Men, The Road, the comic book series The Walking Dead, and their screen adaptations.

Trailer Review

While watching the exclusive debut trailer of this game, I noticed saliva dripping out of my mouth. The trailer was eye-candy and it did more than a good job of promoting the game; after the trailer, instantly, I wanted to play it. Out of all of the trailers I’ve seen of video games, this one takes the edge. The amazing animation makes me feel I’m watching a movie and the voice actors just made it so much more beautiful.

ALTOGETHER NOW!!

This game looks amazing and the promotional trailers just made me want it more.

 My only hope is that it doesn’t come out to be an “Uncharted” clone. But, I’ll just have to wait and see…