The Last of Us-Review

               After a point in the game's run time, the hopelessness and despair seems to get to you. This point can differ from person to person. And therein lies the beauty of The Last of Us. It manages to draw out of us, emotions that we never knew we could feel. Blending beautiful storytelling with sublime game-play, Naughty Dog has grown leaps and bounds from its previous efforts, in both aspects.
              The dark atmosphere and lighting(or the sheer lack of it) gives an eerie feel to the whole game.The darkness is at times your worst enemy because of its unrelenting nature, in the sense that it seldom seems to be replaced by light. But this is one of the best and most attractive features of the game as it represents all that the story sets out to tell. The hopelessness, the fear and the prevalent desperation for a drop of joy. These painful emotions and the way they are conveyed through the various characters, are what sets The Last of Us apart from ANY other video game out there.
               One of the reasons why The Last of Us is so successful in its storytelling is because of the characters it employs to convey the tale. Everyone who plays can relate to at least one of the characters it presents, from the two main protagonists, Joel and Ellie, to the plethora of side characters introduced. The only thing common between these characters is sorrow, each one of them with their own painful story and what's beautiful is that we can feel what each of them feel at at least one level.

                 The control scheme is smooth, much unlike the clunky ones we were stuck with in the Uncharted series. This is exactly were we can see the large improvement and development that Naughty Dog has undergone. It is a delight to control Joel. Both melee and gun-play has been overhauled. The game doesn't hold your hand and guide you through missions. During its 14-hour story play-through, you are provided with around 5 guns. This dearth for guns is felt most when a horde of Runners jump up on you and you are forced to punch your way through them. But the scarcity of guns goes a long way in setting up the atmosphere for the game.

                The game also provides multiple ways to deal with a mission. Stealth,     straight- up attack, or a perfect blend of both. Every method poses its own challenge and this adds a value to the game. Almost all of the missions stand out in their own way.

                 The zombies are almost too creepy at times. Their unprepossessing faces, their concealment in the shadows, their responses to sounds or a flash of your torch only add to this creepiness. The games difficulty levels are perfectly moderated, with even the easy level posing some tough resistance. It could seem a little hard to inexperienced gamers, but once you get a hand of the control scheme and the various gameplay mechanics, you start to enjoy the challenge.

                   But the highest points and the reason it's one of the best games ever made is because of its story. That a video game can tap into your deepest emotions in such a subtle manner is truly astounding. The Last of Us manages to draw out a side a gamer, which he or she never knew existed. This is why The Last of Us is so much more than just a video a game. It is an experience, one that every gamer must indulge in. A revolution, which will inspire the games of the future. The Last of Us is video gaming at its peak.