The Last of Us Review Leaked

[The_Scrivener]

I think they've patched it up and it has gone back to being hush-hush, but assuming that this isn't a publicity stunt--Naughty Dog is typically above such juvenile behavior--this game is apparently the cat's pajamas. The words Citizen and Kane were mentioned in the review.

Being that Bioshock Infinite blew the doors off of everyone except the most hardcore of contrarian irony-addicts in the online gaming media scene, this may be a monument year for gaming as a medium.

I was stoked. Now I am stokeder.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I doubt I'm gonna get Walking Dead level of feels, but this game really interests me.

I hope it lives up to the hype.

 

[The_Scrivener]

A little bit of the Walking Dead was lost on me because of the linear, point-and-click nature of old adventure style games, but you're right, it was a very emotional title.

I'm hoping Last of Us has the same sort of impact, but in a more loose gameplay style.

 

[PeterMerkin69]

What use do reviews have when a "serviceable shooter" was everyone's shoe-in for "game of the year," and Uncharted received almost universal critical acclaim despite gameplay that was literally so bad that it changed my mind about skippable combat, sexism and the idea that video game narratives should be taken seriously? It turns out you don't actually have to do a good job for reviewers to give you credit, you just have to script AI that stand over grenades so the player feels like a badass, highlight the protruding handholds so even the most special players can figure out which way to travel down the hallway, and eliminate all of the player input from platforming so no one has trouble getting to the next nonsensical cut scene. WHOOHOO VIDYA GAEMS

 

[Jimmy T. Malice]

What use do reviews have when a "serviceable shooter" was everyone's shoe-in for "game of the year," and Uncharted received almost universal critical acclaim despite gameplay that was literally so bad that it changed my mind about skippable combat, sexism and the idea that video game narratives should be taken seriously? It turns out you don't actually have to do a good job for reviewers to give you credit, you just have to script AI that stand over grenades so the player feels like a badass, highlight the protruding handholds so even the most special players can figure out which way to travel down the hallway, and eliminate all of the player input from platforming so no one has trouble getting to the next nonsensical cut scene. WHOOHOO VIDYA GAEMS

Almost none of your criticisms apply to Uncharted. The AI doesn't stand over grenades, the handholds aren't highlighted, and you're always in control except for in cutscenes.

 

[Full]

Usually when the words "Citizen" and "Kane" are used in the same sentence in a review it usually translates to "ths game gve me the emotionalz, I thnk it wil sell alot"

I loved some of the previews so far, like even if it just looks like a QTE it still sounds like they're truly struggling.

 

[Shadowstar38]

I still to this day have no idea what Citizen Kane is about or why people mention it so much...

I can always trust Naughty Dog to make an entertaining game. It doesn't surprise me.

 

[Dominic Crossman]

Push stick to walk through desert for 10 mins
Push stick to run through hallucination for 10 mins
Super obvious handholds
Rehashed gameplay yeah uncharted 3 was awesome (sarcasm)
Actually liked 1 & 2

Ot: I want last of us now

 

[NightmareExpress]

I still to this day have no idea what Citizen Kane is about or why people mention it so much...

This incredibly rich old guy (who is very lonely and unhappy) dies, his last word is "Rosebud".
So this other guy decides to find out what the hell that means by doing some investigating into the people that used to associate with him and he kind of finds "flashbacks" to points in his (old man Kane's) life. In the end, he finds that the guy had a sled called Rosebud when he was a kid and figured that he was looking back on the happiest period of his life. Before he found the sled in Kane's basement, he said that Rosebud was probably something he couldn't get or had probably long since lost in his life.

Short answer; a sled.
Long answer; a meaningful, lasting relationship.
'Tis a long winded story where the obvious answer is painfully simple but the probable answer is more tucked away and deep alongside, of course, the presence of the amazing Orson Welles.

Though, in terms of The Last of Us I doubt it's reflective on the plot. I think that the term is applied to give the game a sense of being "really good" and "probably going to be critically acclaimed".

 

[CityofTreez]

Naughty Dog made a good game? Well, that's just totally surprising!

*sarcasm

 

[PeterMerkin69]

What use do reviews have when a "serviceable shooter" was everyone's shoe-in for "game of the year," and Uncharted received almost universal critical acclaim despite gameplay that was literally so bad that it changed my mind about skippable combat, sexism and the idea that video game narratives should be taken seriously? It turns out you don't actually have to do a good job for reviewers to give you credit, you just have to script AI that stand over grenades so the player feels like a badass, highlight the protruding handholds so even the most special players can figure out which way to travel down the hallway, and eliminate all of the player input from platforming so no one has trouble getting to the next nonsensical cut scene. WHOOHOO VIDYA GAEMS

Almost none of your criticisms apply to Uncharted. The AI doesn't stand over grenades, the handholds aren't highlighted, and you're always in control except for in cutscenes.

I'm mostly referring to Uncharted 2, but... the handholds are sculpted, 3d objects that stand out against the 2d textures and they're almost always differentially colored, thus distinguishing them from the background. They don't have flashing lights emanating from them but they may as well.

The AI absolutely did stand over grenades. Or sometimes kneel down over them to attack or take cover. I wish I had the equipment to record it so I could put it on YouTube and shame ND, but even at the highest starting difficulty the enemies frequently did nothing to move away from the grenades I threw. If they were already moving in that direction to get to cover or attack from a slightly different approach they would complete the move regardless of whether or not bombs were there, and then conveniently die. It was either the result of terrible scripting or it was done on purpose, which absolutely would not surprise me.

By control, I mean there's one button you have to press to traverse pitfalls, and there's no timing or dexterity or thought required; one simply need point and press to win. This is downright primitive compared to the likes of the original Tomb Raider, Prince of Persia and, hell, Mario 64 games, where you got to choose different moves to explore an area.

 

[AnthrSolidSnake]

I played the demo today. The game looks good, plays smooth, and the combat and movement is VERY fluid. I loved the way the camera comes in during melee combat, because it always looks like a cutscene is going on, but in fact it's you doing the combat. I can't wait for the full game, simple as that. I realize a demo is just a demo, and is sometimes specifically made to get you hyped about it, but really if the demo is ripped directly from the full game then I'm sold. (well, I'm sold either way honestly.)

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

I'm mostly referring to Uncharted 2, but... the handholds are sculpted, 3d objects that stand out against the 2d textures and they're almost always differentially colored, thus distinguishing them from the background. They don't have flashing lights emanating from them but they may as well.

I've typed and erased like 10 sarcastic responses to this because it's just... you do realize that you're complaining about good game direction right? The antithesis to this would be like, dead space or something, where everything blends together with no indication of where to go and the developers had to map a "point a blue glowy trail to the objective" button because you can walk back the way you came for 10 minutes without even realizing it. I mean what's your proposed solution to this, have the things you're supposed to climb on blend seamlessly into the surfaces you can't climb on so that you have to spend 10 minutes confusedly clawing at the walls at the end of every area or constantly jumping to your death because you can't distinguish the things you can climb on from the wall?

Anyways, OT, it looks pretty neat. I've been avoiding any and all trailers/gameplay/reviews whatever so I'm not hyped for it but I'm interested. Very interested.

That said reviewers will throw out 10/10s at pretty much anything that's good and they're especially easy on story driven games. Bioshock infinite is a perfect example. The FPS gameplay is sub par and doesn't really thematically enforce what the game is ultimately about, but I saw it get quite a few highest possible scores because it has some nice atmosphere and a solid narrative. Last of Us does look much more well rounded though from what little I've seen and heard, so I'm relatively excited for it.

 

[tippy2k2]

Due to how poor I am, there are about three games per year that get the $60 Day-1 purchase from me.

I have pre-ordered "The Last of Us". I am giddy with excitement and anticipation for this game to come out and am starring at the clock with my attempts to make time go faster (it hasn't worked...yet).

After I saw the E3 trailer, this game went into a preview/trailer/demo lock-down for I want the experience to be as pure as possible when I sit down and play the game. I will check a review or two before I go pick it up just to be sure that my faith is well placed but I fully expect to be rewarded with awesome by this game. It's been quite a while since I was this excited for a game.

 

[MrWunderful]

Bah.

I sold my PS3 a month or two ago to a co worker whose son really wanted one for his birthday. I figure I didn't play it much, and this guy was pretty broke so I gave him a super deal.

Good news: I made this guys year so now I have him and his son as friends for life.
Bad news: I desperately want to play this and am starting to regret my decision. There is no way I am going to buy another PS3 with the PS4 coming out, so we will have to see if it shows up as a download in the future.

 

[Werewolfkid]

For anyone wanting to buy this game unspoiled the ending to The Last of Us is being posted all over Youtube. You have been warned.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Port it to the PC.

Until then, it is dead to me. Pfah to these console exclusives. Pfah, I say. Pfah.

 

[Scentedwiind]

I'm with bloated. If it isn't available to me, then I want nothing to do with the game. Haven't bought a Xbox yet and don't plan on it either.

 

[porous_shield]

I've typed and erased like 10 sarcastic responses to this because it's just... you do realize that you're complaining about good game direction right? The antithesis to this would be like, dead space or something, where everything blends together with no indication of where to go and the developers had to map a "point a blue glowy trail to the objective" button because you can walk back the way you came for 10 minutes without even realizing it. I mean what's your proposed solution to this, have the things you're supposed to climb on blend seamlessly into the surfaces you can't climb on so that you have to spend 10 minutes confusedly clawing at the walls at the end of every area or constantly jumping to your death because you can't distinguish the things you can climb on from the wall?

The bright blue line in Dead Space made sense in universe with all the other holographic doohickies you had in your suit. It was a pretty sensible solution to get people pointed in the right direction so it could be said you're complaining about good game direct as well.

---

Last of Us looks good and I just hope it isn't as generic or cheesy as Uncharted.

 

[StormShaun]

The words Citizen and Kane were mentioned in the review.

I'm not going to dislike the game because of those words but ...
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU ... k.
That movie was boring yet interesting, impossible! (And I did a presentation on Citizen Kane without watching it, tehehe)

Back on topic, the game doesn't really interest me.
I'll wait for some reviews to come out and see how it does.

... though I am still not interested. Possibly I might be in the future.

... with a price cut.