The Last of Us has been the center of discussion in the decade since its original release. Many games, released long before and long after it contain wellpaced linear stories... yet the game feels somewhat different from its "cinematic" contemporaries. The Last of Us reveals a brutal irony, not just with itself but with games as a storytelling medium.

(I used the PS5 remake cuz its shiny.)



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Games Discussed:
The Last of Us (2013) / Platforms: Playstation 3, Playstation 4 / Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment / Developer: Naughty Dog / Genre: Storydriven, stealth, thirdperson shooter, cinematic, zombie, postapocalyptic, horror

The Last of Us: Part I (2022) / Platforms: Playstation 5, Windows / Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment / Developer: Naughty Dog / Genre: Remake



Games Referenced:

Ghost of Tsushima (2020) / Platforms: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Windows / Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment / Developer: Sucker Punch Productions / Genre: OpenWorld, Stealth, ActionAdventure, Historical Fiction

Dishonored (2012) / Platforms: Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Windows / Publisher: Bethesda / Developer: Arkane Studios / Genre: Stealth, StoryDriven, Shooter, ActionAdventure, FirstPerson

Thief: The Dark Project (1998) / Platform: Windows / Publisher: Eidos Interactive / Developer: Looking Glass Studios / Genre: Stealth, ActionAdventure

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) / Platforms: Playstation 2, Xbox / Publisher/Developer: Komani / Genre: Stealth, ActionAdventure, StoryDriven

Alien: Isolation (2014) / Platforms: Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Windows, Nintendo Switch / Publisher: Sega / Developer: Creative Assembly / Genre: Stealth, Horror, Survival Horror. Action Adventure

Metal Gear Solid (1998) / Platform: Playstation / Publisher/Developer: Konami / Genre: Stealth, ActionAdventure, StoryDriven

Final Fantasy VII (1997) / Platform: Playstation / Publisher/Developer: Square / Genre: RolePlaying Game, TurnBased RPG, StoryDriven, Anime

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) / Platform: Nintendo 64 / Publisher/Developer: Nintendo / Genre: Action Adventure, Fantasy

HalfLife (1998) / Platforms: Windows, Playstation 2 / Published by Sierra Studios / Developed by Valve / Genre: FirstPersona Shooter, Science Fiction

BioShock (2007) / Platforms: Windows, Playstation 3, Xbox 360 / Publisher/Developer: 2K, Genre: FirstPerson Shooter, Dystopian, Science Fiction

Portal 2 (2011) / Platforms: Windows, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch / Publisher/Developer: Valve / Genre: Puzzle, Puzzle Platformer, Comedy, ActionAdventure

Grand Theft Auto V (2013) / Platforms: Windows, Playstation 3, 4, 5, Xbox 360, One, Series X, Series S / Publisher/Developer: Rockstar Games / Genre: OpenWorld, Sandbox

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) / Platforms: Windows, Playstation 3, 4, 5, Xbox 360, One, Series X, Series S, Nintendo Switch / Publisher/Developer: Bethesda / Genre: OpenWorld, Fantasy, Action RPG

Assassin's Creed (2007) / Platforms, Windows, Playstation 3, Xbox 360 / Publisher/Developer: Ubisoft / Genre: OpenWorld, Historical Fiction, Stealth, Action

Batman: Arkham City (2011) / Platforms: Playstation 3, 4, Xbox 360, One, Windows, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch / Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive / Developer: Rocksteady Studios / Genre: OpenWorld, ActionAdventure, Comic Book, Superhero

Mass Effect (2007) / Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Windows / Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios, EA / Developer: BioWare / Genre: Action RPG, StoryDriven, Science Fiction

The Walking Dead (2012) / Platforms: WIndows, Playstation 3, Xbox 360 / Publisher/Developer: Telltale Games / Genre: StoryHeavy, PostApocalyptic

Heavy Rain (2010) / Platforms: Playstation 3, Windows / Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment / Developer: Quantic Dream / Genre: StoryHeavy, Suspense



Topics Discussed:
The Last of Us, Cinematic Games, Game Design, Narrative Games, StoryDriven Games, Cinematic, Like Cinema, Camera Control, Scene Direction, Film Theory, Open World Games, Pacing, Story Pacing, Choose Your Own Adventure, Behind the Scenes, Combat Design, Player Authority, Video Essay, Essay, Playstation, Astro Bot, PS5, PS5 Pro, Uncharted, Naughty Dog, Jak & Daxter, Horror, Halloween, Philosophy, Game Philosophy, Linear Game Design, HBO, PS5 Games, PS5 Exclusive, Soundtrack, OST, Original Soundtrack, Irony, Dramatic Irony, Ludo Narrative Dissonance, Left Behind, The Last of Us Part II, TLOU, Sony