Packed with breathtaking gameplay, staggering depth and a vivid presentation, there's no game like it this generation.
Furthermore, the character detail will leave you awestruck. You can see how much the plague situation has shaken Joel to his very core, and how he's become grizzled in just a short amount of time. Ellie looks like a sweet, innocent girl, but there are situations where you can see just how she's become built for survival. The secondary characters aren't focused on as much, but these two steal the show – and deservedly so.
The audio plays a tremendous part in The Last of Us as well. The voice acting is unparalleled, as every actor – even the minor ones – put their all into the roles. Troy Baker, coming off a dazzling portrayal of Booker DeWitt in Bioshock Infinite, gives Joel just the right amount of depth, not going too far into camp but also conveying his emotions in a very stellar manner. Ashley Johnson is every bit his equal as the young Ellie, wondrous about the world but still alert enough to know the dangers in it. And the whole package is backed by well-realized sound effects that fit perfectly into each environment, and Gustavo Santaolalla's simple but elegant music score makes it that much more compelling.
The Last of Us is a game that a few may be frustrated with, especially considering you can't simply push people over as you could with Nathan Drake. But its survival tactics and decision making really play a part in it, more than most games you've seen in stores these days. Combine that with an unbeatable presentation, superb gameplay and multiplayer that actually has something going for it, and you have a masterpiece that will linger in this generation – and the next – for some time to come. The Last of Us is Naughty Dog's crown jewel…and it leaves you wondering just how much better the team will get in the next 20 years time.
Can't wait.
Score: 10 / 10
