A masterpiece, but not for the faint-hearted
THERE are very few games I’ve played where I have come out the other side feeling I’ve been through the wringer. But by the time I’d spent 14 hours with Joel and Ellie in the ruins of the free world, I was spent.
The Last of Us was a masterpiece of storytelling, its haunting score married with achingly beautiful graphics, and refreshing gameplay to create an experience that leaves a lasting impression.
The ending didn’t demand a sequel, but I would imagine the huge sales – shifting 1.3 million copies in the first week of its release in 2013 – had developers racing back to the drawing board. The result is The Last of Us Part II, six years in the making and one of the most highly anticipated sequels I’ve ever known.
Set largely in Seattle, it’s a story of revenge that takes place four years after the original – and it is not for the faint of heart. It’s brutal, violent and absolutely compelling with visceral action that wouldn’t be out of place in the most gruesome of horror movies, and packed with plot twists that deliver punches to your gut.
We find Ellie and Joel settled in Wyoming, the pair living in a settlement with Joel’s brother and other survivors. Apart from the horribly mutated, cannibalistic virus victims that still roam the plains, life has settled into a comfortable pattern.
It’s so difficult to review this game without slipping up and giving plot details away, so I apologise in advance if I spoil anything for anyone. If you’ve not played it through yet, you might want to hold off reading ahead – or if you’re not bothered about spoilers, then feel free to read on.
That life all changes in a flash, with a single act of barbarism that sets Ellie on the path of bloody revenge.
Graphically, this game is stunning – the crumbling ruins of the city, deserted, and overgrown offices, the threatening, shadowy woods – are all a sight to behold. The characters are exquisitely rendered, the voice acting delivered with so much heart, that at times, you forget you’re playing a game – it feels more like a movie.
The instant connection you make with Ellie and the small band of allies she teams up with, makes it all the harder when you have to partake in acts of brutality – or witness their fates.
Unlike its predecessor, which saw you play as Joel – this game sees you play as Ellie. There are obvious advantages in that Ellie is much more nimble – being able to squeeze through small gaps and dodge oncoming attacks as she’s swifter on her feet.
The downside is that she is nowhere near as physically imposing as Joel, and lacks his strength, which makes her more vulnerable. But what she lacks in strength, she makes up for in speed – attacking with a ferocity which catches you off guard at first, her switchblade aimed at throats, hearts and heads.
The game’s brutal depictions of violence garnered criticism even before it hit the PlayStation.
A teaser trailer released in 2017, that depicted the torture and interrogation of characters, garnered condemnation in some quarters. Now the game is out, and even as a seasoned gamer, there were times when I flinched, or had to put the controller down for what the game was asking me to do – especially when I realised I was expected to beat someone t to death. Not a zombie, n not an infected creature that had once been a person, but another survivor – and I would be expected to push the button to deliver each blow.
The Last of Us Part II is uncompromising, it’s emotional. For every act of sheer bloody savagery, there are tender, heartrending moments that almost let you forget what has gone before. A masterpiece which transcends expectations, this is an experience not every gamer will want, but those brave enough will take part in a journey they will never forget.
Buy it:
£47.85 from shopto.net
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