Video Game: The Last of Us

I've had a pretty good year for video games so far. The games have either been addictive in their mechanics (XCOM and Sleeping Dogs) or really compelling story-wise (Bioshock Infinite and Heavy Rain). Now comes The Last of Us, a game that really has fun combat (though I think if I were playing it again I might try it on a harder difficulty setting) and one of the best video game stories I've played in ages.

The story hits all the basic zombie survival archetypes and tropes, so I feel like it shouldn't be as addictive as it is. It starts out with an attack, a flee to safety, and a significant death. Then we jump forward twenty years to find our main character, Joel, has become hardened, angry, and a loner. Well, not a loner exactly. He has a partner, and the two work as petty criminals. The United States has fallen, and though a group called the Fireflies is seeking to restore order and democracy, most of the country has splintered into safe zones controlled by various militant factions. The threat that all are working against? A fungus that causes the infected to turn into raging, face-eating monsters. Of course there are variations on this basic type--clickers, who use echolocation to locate prey, and blowers, on whom the fungus has transformed into a protective covering. At times you fight these, but just as often you defend yourself against other humans whose focus on survival has driven them to deep levels of brutality.

As the story progresses, Joel (through a series of plot twists) is left to take care of a fourteen-year-old girl named Ellie who may be the savior of humanity. The real power of this game is the relationship between Joel and Ellie. The game makers (Naughty Dog, who previously made the Uncharted franchise) have a real penchant for dialogue and for the beats of a compelling story, and the slow blossoming of friendship between Joel and Ellie plays out in a truly engaging way. Joel is not interested in taking care of this girl--it's just a job--and Ellie assumes she will be abandoned again, just as everyone in her life has abandoned her. But as the two get to know each other a bond begins to form that feels real and deep. The voice actors in this game are excellent, and the game has a few little tricks to make YOU care for Ellie as well--the way she hums a little tune behind you, or the way she tells jokes, or swears like a sailor as she gets into tense situations. It all feels believable, and the way the story is always developing (not only in cut scenes but also in minor dialogue as you search through overgrown and dilapidated environments) means that as a player you're always engaged. Because of Joel's personality and the world, I didn't get tired of searching every nook and cranny for supplies, because it seemed like someone as survival-focused as Joel would actually do. 

The game has a few crafting and upgrade mechanics that are really fun as well, as you have to consider where to spend your points in upgrading weapons and supplies. And while some of the weapons are bland, a few really stand out as fun. I loved Molotov cocktails and bow and arrow myself, as well as sneaking around trying to take out as many bad guys as possible. The combat works well in that sense. You can sneak or blast your way through, but with limited supplies and large numbers of enemies (at times), usually you end up doing a combination of both--sneaking to take out as many as you can, and then blasting your way through the rest. Like in Bioshock Infinite, you don't really have to worry too much about Ellie or your other companions. They can typically fend for themselves. That's good, because constantly trying to protect your partner in a game this intense could really be too much.

And the game is intense. I hesitate a little to call it "fun" because it's so dark and bleak. And violent. The game doesn't shy away from the blood this world demands or the viciousness not only the enemies but that Joel and Ellie must develop as well. It's shocking at times, but unlike most games I didn't feel like the violence was used casually. A few moments really stand out in that regard, as a character will just use brutal violence to protect him or herself, and the other can do nothing but stand in horror and watch.

It really is a fantastic game. I haven't been this drawn into a game in a long time. Even though I've played some great games this year, The Last of Us currently has my top spot for game of the year. An unforgettable experience.