The Last of Us Part 1 -PS5/PS4/PS3- 10

November 29, 2023

I first played LoU on the ps3 in 2014, again on the ps4 remaster in 2016, and a third time just now in 2023 on the ps5 edition. Playing through it a third time with the enhanced graphics grabbed just as fiercely and moved me just as deeply as the first two times I played it. LoUp1 is a masterpiece, and is without question the best game from the seventh console generation. There has never been storytelling on this level in videogames before or since (except for part 2). This was by far and away the best zombie story ever told in any medium (movie, game, book, or otherwise).

It also has one of the best father-daughter relationships I’ve ever seen in any story, right up there with the 1962 film, To Kill a Mockingbird. No videogame had ever felt this cinematic before, even surpassing how cinematic Metal Gear Solid felt for me on the ps1. Part of what made everything so impactful (in all three versions of the game) was the photo-realistic faces, as well as the motion-captured performances by the voice actors. This was the best voice acting in any videogame made at the time, and still is today (along with Part 2). You feel every ounce of emotion and trauma these characters go through.

The backgrounds and landscapes are equally striking in their realism (and they look better than ever on the Ps5). Exploring every nook and cranny to find supplies is always engaging, because the environments are so beautiful and realistic. The attention to detail in this post-apocalyptic earth is staggering. These were the best graphics on the ps3, and this new edition enhances them even further.

However, it’s really the story and the characters here that make this one of the best narrative experiences I’ve ever seen. Right from the devastating opening 20 minutes, this story grabs you by the throat and never let’s go. Joel and Ellie are written and developed so well, you can’t stop playing until you see the end of their perilous journey through this zombie-torn world. Every moment between them, big and small, is personal and genuine. The segment with David towards the end was my favorite part of the story, and it had some of the most riveting pacing I’ve ever experienced in any movie or videogame. Every one of the supporting characters is exquisitely acted and poignantly written. The drama that concludes with the Firefly’s is powerful and a real tear jerker. And the final bit of dialogue just before the end credits is subtle and just perfect.

Besides the story, the gameplay itself is highly addictive, with the best stealth I’ve seen in any game. The feeling of sneaking past an enemy is filled with tension, and pulling off a kill feels ever so satisfying. Many segments feel like a puzzle game to figure out how to escape unscathed, especially with how smart the enemy AI is. The enemies, both human and zombie are aggressive and terrifying. The shooting and combat feel intense and visceral, with plenty of upgrades for the weapons to deepen the experience. And let’s not forget to mention how much the somber music sets the tone, and all the little notes that you find that further enrich the post-apocalyptic setting to feel so believable and lived in. Of course I rate Last of Us (in any of its three editions) a perfect 10 out of ten. It is one of the greatest videogames of all time, and a true work of art.