Another week, another successful run for Naughty Dog’s mega-hit The Last of Us.
Following its great opening week, the game continued to back up all the hype that surrounded its release by again topping the UK Entertainment Software charts. Despite some stiff competition from other blockbuster titles like Injustice: Gods Among Men, the Tomb Raider reboot, and the British fan favorite Fifa ’13, The Last of Us remained firmly enthroned atop the British gaming world.
Speaking of things related to our allies across the pond, let me put this game’s success thus far in terms of the popular HBO series and stronghold for talented UK actors and actresses, Game of Thrones. While the series has all the spookiness and spine-tingling fear induced by a White Walker, it’s as lovable and witty as Tyrion Lannister, as beautiful and inspiring as Daenerys Targaryen, and as bold and heroic as John Snow. That said, it’s also ruling over the charts with the same iron-fisted domination as Tywin Lannister.
For those who haven’t either read George R.R. Martin’s bestselling series or seen the previously mentioned show, I apologize. For those of you readers who have, you know what I’m talking about.
What’s not to love?
As trends in contemporary gaming series have shown, post-apocalyptic set pieces have quickly become one of the most popular backdrops for video gaming in recent years. Where The Last of Us differs from these other survival or adventure games is in its dedication to its unsettling realism. Where other games litter the scenery with ammo and a plethora of weapon choices, Naughty Dog’s post-pandemic vision leaves you constantly struggling to find ways to protect yourself.
Just like in Naughty Dog’s previous successful trilogy, the Uncharted series, the beauty of the game’s scenery and pulse-pounding gameplay is compounded by the impeccable voice acting. The bleak worldview and intimate proximity of the characters creates tension and promotes the interconnection of the few sane people left in the world, embodied by the characters Ellie and Joel. In a world overrun with infected individuals and man’s inhumanity to man, it’s compelling to watch the last vestiges of civilization cling to what’s left of society.
The Last of Us may not be for everyone, though. It fluctuates between tense stealthiness and unabashed, brutal violence, and all the gore that the latter entails can be a bit off-putting for certain audiences. If you can stomach it, however, it’s irrefutably one of the best titles of this generation, and will undoubtedly leave you pleasantly disquieted.
That’s what the sales in the UK indicate, at least.
