Preview - The Last of Us
The post-apocalyptic world isn't a new one in the gaming landscape. Plenty of titles have explored what it would be like to live in a land where some kind of strange virus has wiped out the population, or turned everyone into flesh-eating monsters. And they're generally fun games, but the problem often comes down to narrative and how to pace the whole experience so it feels more realistic. The Last of Us gets this spot on, and if our hands-on was judged purely from a storytelling perspective this could be one of the games of the year.
The Last of Us isn't so much about the fungus that has infected millions of humans around the world over the past two decades - turning them into deadly predators in the process - as it is about Joel and Ellie's quest for survival. Joel is a hardened, cynical man who ends up having to escort 14-year old Ellie to the safety of a resistance group known as the Fireflies. And it's the relationship between these two that really sets the game apart.
Straight away you'll notice how they interact and play off each other. It's genuinely as if they're meeting for the first time and getting to know one another, and a special bond starts to form. Both Joel and Ellie are wary of each other but there is a mutual respect in place which is pivotal if they're both to survive. The voice acting for both characters is superb and really adds to the realism that Naughty Dog has managed to capture here.
Joel and Ellie will continue to talk to each other as you walk around and explore the landscape, and they have conversations that you are genuinely interested in hearing. There was a touching moment when Ellie came across a forested area for the first time in her life, and she stood there in awe for a few seconds, surveying the trees and the grass and the beauty of it all. And just for a second, Joel let down his guard, "Yep, it is beautiful."
But then it's back to the task at hand and moving on into ever more dangerous places. It's not uncommon to go 20 minutes without seeing one of the infected creatures - known as Creepers - but somehow there's always a huge sense of danger throughout. Creepers are often stood right behind corners so expect to experience a few shocks during your play through.
It's always best to avoid Creepers if possible and take the stealthier route out of trouble. There are always bottles and other bits and pieces lying around, which you can throw to cause a distraction. If a Creeper spots you it will charge, and they're very hard to take down. It'll take a few gunshots, but those are loud and there's a risk that other Creepers could be alerted to your presence.
Which brings me to the combat system. Personally the only gripe I had with The Last of Us was the way Joel struggled to shoot guns effectively. I know using the shotgun should only be a last resort, but there are times when you'll have to see off three or four enemies at once and the process of aiming, shooting and reloading is just a chore. It isn't accurate enough and getting through areas alive becomes more about trial and error than it does about pure skill.
But that's a small issue in a game full of wonderful moments. Naughty Dog has set the bar high in recent years with the Uncharted games, but The Last of Us looks like it might even top that with a heartwarming story, two characters that you can really connect with and a world that is both beautiful and deadly at the same time.