"The Last Of Us"...

Hello and welcome to "The World According To Jon", my name is, as you know, Jonathan

Paula. Now normally I only do these type of scripted-reviews for films in my "Movie Night"

show... but this game deserves the same treatment, as a majority of its experience plays out

like the best in cinematic excellence. So lets review, "The Last Of Us" -- LEFT

LEFT -- This 3rd-person survival horror action adventure game from acclaimed developer Naughty

Dog was released exclusively on the PlayStation 3 nationwide on June 14, 2013. Far more nuanced

and involved than a mere "zombie"-style game, this Mature-rated experience blends all the

best elements we play video games for: a fantastically engaging, and wonderfully voice-acted story,

terrific control mechanics, inventive and clever challenges, and plenty of smiles and

scares along the way. While simultaneously maintaining a bleak, yet hopeful atmosphere

throughout. Where this story goes is best left unspoiled: with a number of talented

characters coming in and out of the detailed, and lengthy narrative -- but our two main

heroes are portrayed with a delicate level of emotion and ferocity by Troy Baker and

Ashley Johnson. Their blossoming father/daughter-like relationship is the bedrock of the events

on-screen, and although these are largely immoral individuals who seemingly regret nothing,

they carry a huge burden, and a troubled past: making it easy to connect to their unbelievable,

post-apocalyptic, yet somehow realistic situation. All of the depressing and grotesque horror

is showcased alongside beautiful renderings of forgotten American neighborhoods - whether

you're trekking through the flooded Red Line subway tunnel in Boston, or hiding from enemies

in an abandoned ski-lodge in the dead of winter, the graphics here are a rare accomplishment,

and a true sight to behold. As Johnson mentions twice in the game during pivotal moments,

"you can't deny that view". I spent a majority of my playthrough simply admiring my scenery,

and exploring the landscape, in what is easily the best-looking game for the not-quite-dead

yet 7th generation of consoles. These breathtaking visuals are thankfully supported by an equally

haunting and moody score from composer Gustavo Santaolalla. In the gameplay department, everything

works precisely as expected, and following the occasional on-screen prompts allows for

easy immersion into the control-scheme - which combines wall-piercing hearing detection,

quadruple weapon holsters, conversation-initiation, crouching, running, shooting, and punching.

Health is commodity, and bullets are hard to come-by, forcing a much greater appreciation

for your supplies and ammo than ever before in gaming. The ability to collect materials

and supplies scattered throughout the lush environments, and craft them into Molotov

cocktails, health kits, or a baseball bat with knives attached to it - adds a great

deal of strategy and complexity to what is a largely linear chain-of-events. Some curious

decisions from your AI-allies breaks the illusion, as enemy combatants never react to their movements,

and a majority of chapters are repetitive, feeling like one drawn-out stealth mission,

even reusing a number of gimmicks. Otherwise, this game is near flawless, bouncing effortlessly

from somber and revealing cut-scenes to terrifying shoot-outs against 7-foot-tall infected humans

known as a bloaters, to sneaking past guards with shotguns in a hospital overgrown with

vegetation. Winning many "Best of show" awards at E3 2012, this week-old game is already

an obvious front-runner for game of the year - a positively thrilling, emotional, addictive,

and enjoyable adventure that is impossible to put down. I finished the 15-hour single

player campaign in only three evenings, and I want to jump right back into and go again,

searching for the few missing artifacts and pendants I missed along the way. I honestly

can't recommend this title enough. "The Last Of Us", A "Strikingly engrossing story. Excellent

gameplay."

Borrowed from Movie Night, here's the Rate-o-Matic with my score... a TEN. You might come for

the zombie-killing fun, but you'll stay for the incredible story... the poignant ending

of which resonated with me so deeply, I can't shake thinking about it several days later.

I have to score this an AMAZING.

Next week I plan to begin work on my 19th LP for "Game Time", but I'd like to know which

game you'd like to see my play-through. I was originally planning on playing Red Dead

Redemption's 'Undead Nightmare'... but perhaps you'd like to see "The Last Of Us" now? Let

me know in the comments below! You can also let me know if you enjoyed this game-review

enough to possible see more of them. But for now, that is "The World According..." to me,

my name is Jon - thank you for watching and listening, I hope to see you right back here

in the very near future.