|
|
|
THE LAST OF US (PS3)
|
Publisher: Sony.
Developer: Naughty Dog. Released: June 2013. Genre: Action/Adventure. Posted 30th May 2025. By Shane Battams © 2025 |
|
By 2013, Naughty Dog had established themselves as a key pillar in Sony’s first-party developer line-up, having found success across three generations of consoles. From Crash Bandicoot to Jak & Daxter and Uncharted, each series pushed their consoles to the limit and ensured the Californian developer’s newest release would be highly anticipated. Unlike prior generations, which saw the developer focus on a single series, a second new IP would launch during the PS3’s lifetime known as The Last of Us, serving as something of a magnum opus for both the platform and seventh generation of consoles. Even if the post-apocalypse was well-worn territory by this point, this epic story remains one of the finest examples even a decade later, and proves essential play for PS3 owners.
A fungal outbreak ravages the United States, with the Cordyceps turning hosts into mindless creatures intent on violence. Just prior to the full-blown outbreak, Joel attempts to flee a chaotic suburb in Texas with his daughter and brother when the military shoots and kills Sarah. Twenty years after, the entirety of the US is overrun and leaves few survivors whom are isolated to lockdown sectors, independent outcasts or raider groups. Joel is now a smuggler who gets more than he bargained for when being asked to smuggle Ellie, a young girl of mysterious importance. This takes the form of a cross-country trip with multiple pitstops as they run into other survivors, violent psychopaths and plenty of infected. The world-building and storytelling is simply phenomenal, replete with meaty story arcs that shock and ascend tropes you’d associate with competing games. Even skips in time feel valid, adding to the sense of distance this journey encompasses. It’s a masterclass in narrative, from the haunting opening to its thoughtful end.
The Last of Us stands as one of the PS3's most visually arresting experiences. Its beauty hides many dangers
TLOU mixes familiar gunplay with stealth, each benefitting from a brutal edge. Well-aimed shots can see limbs explode in gruesome fashion, and the range of armaments from booming shotguns to craftable nail bombs all hit the mark. While there remains some uneasiness with aiming, acclimatisation and reduced weapon sway skills help. Stealth can bore some frustrations of the genre, such as a clear lack of enemy vision, but this is eased by Joel’s hearing ability which highlights enemies through walls. Clickers add a great deal of tension despite their poor sight, with detection risking an instant death, at least until you acquire the Shiv counterattack. The only damper on both sides is some noticeable issues with AI. Allies may open fire during stealth, enemies can detect you despite facing the other way and tactile combat AI can also bug out. It’s nothing game-breaking, but it does diminish the immersion. Thankfully, The Last of Us mixes creative scenarios with incredible sequences which help mute these mishaps. Many spacious sections allow for both stealth and assault approaches, and though it comes at the risk of diminished ammo, chaining kills feels very satisfying. Memorable setpieces include a tense defence as Joel is hanging upside down, taking down a sniper then using the weapon to guard your allies and terrifying encounters with larger Bloaters.
The thread itself is strong, but the characters are perhaps even better. Joel benefits from a dedicated performance from Troy Baker, lending a sombre tone shaped by grief and the harsh world around him that feels sympathetic. While some of his actions prove questionable, even barbaric, it feels like a necessary evil to survive. Ellie, meanwhile, is almost the polar opposite. Ashley Johnson delivers her lines with the unsure awkwardness you’d expect from a teenager, only amplified when life around her is so volatile. She proves likeable and relatable, like how perhaps we’d act in this scenario, yet also vulnerable. The dynamic between Joel and Ellie starts cold, but seeing their tandem evolve as each imparts their backstory proves compelling. It helps that performances are motion-captured, with visual ticks and emotions coming across effectively. Even characters who appear briefly feel impactful in their short time, making the most of the setting and world.
The thread itself is strong, but the characters are perhaps even better. Joel benefits from a dedicated performance from Troy Baker, lending a sombre tone shaped by grief and the harsh world around him that feels sympathetic. While some of his actions prove questionable, even barbaric, it feels like a necessary evil to survive. Ellie, meanwhile, is almost the polar opposite. Ashley Johnson delivers her lines with the unsure awkwardness you’d expect from a teenager, only amplified when life around her is so volatile. She proves likeable and relatable, like how perhaps we’d act in this scenario, yet also vulnerable. The dynamic between Joel and Ellie starts cold, but seeing their tandem evolve as each imparts their backstory proves compelling. It helps that performances are motion-captured, with visual ticks and emotions coming across effectively. Even characters who appear briefly feel impactful in their short time, making the most of the setting and world.
FOCAL POINT: BEAUTIFUL RESONANCE
|
|
It helps that The Last of Us stands as one of the best-looking games of its generation, with Naughty Dog showcasing their skill at maximising a system’s capabilities. The sprawling levels, while admittedly linear, stretch great distances as you see the ruin of the apocalypse contrasted with nature unshackled, life and decay in tandem. Cut-scenes look excellent, boasting top-notch animations both in-engine and during full-motion sequences. Infected designs will make your skin crawl, with Clickers likely to linger in the memory as facial features are replaced by grotesque fungus. Even thugs intimidate with their scarred faces and worn clothes. The only blemish is performance, which holds steady next to most seventh-gen titles but dips noticeably during intense moments. Sound is equally fantastic, with stupendous voice acting heightening an excellent narrative, impactful effects such as potent gunshots and gruesome deaths, and understated yet effective music which raises the stakes, adds tension and pulls on the emotions further.
Taking around 14 hours to polish off, there’s a ton to seek out here. Collectibles offer more insight into life in the apocalypse and remnants of before. Optional conversations deepen the bond between Joel and his companions. Supplements and scrap allow you to upgrade Joel and his weaponry, respectively. You can handily carry these over to a New Game Plus, incentivising return runs. Meanwhile, multiple difficulty options allow for a story-focused experience compared to Survivor mode’s tense, resource-scarce challenge that recalls classic horror games. There was also an interesting multiplayer mode available, allowing you to side with the Firefly or Hunter camps and gather resources, though sadly this was shuttered for PS3 in 2019, though it is currently still playable via the PS4 remaster.
|
|
Even a decade on from its launch, The Last of Us remains a fantastic experience with incredible storytelling, stunning presentation and visceral gameplay forming a superb package. A step forward for video game narratives that remains strong to this day, Naughty Dog would deftly balance character development, scope and tone to keep players engrossed throughout. A few AI issues aside, gameplay feels weighty and is bolstered by a litany of memorable sequences. While PS3 owners would be initially starved for quality exclusives, as time went by, the system garnered a reputation for housing some of the best of the generation. This outbreak story definitely sits near the top.
|
|
VERDICT"The Last of Us mixes incredible storytelling, stunning presentation and visceral gameplay to form a superb package, and proves essential for PS3 owners." OVERALL: 9/10 |
READ SHANE'S REVIEW OF THE DLC:
The Last of Us: Left Behind (2014, PlayStation 3)