The Last of Us: Remastered (PS4)

Having been a gamer since the days of the ZX81, before we even called ourselves "gamers" (back then, we were the decidedly less punchy "home computing enthusiasts"), I have played more video games than I should rightly admit, across numerous and competing formats. Indeed, today's PS4 versus Xbox One is historically mirrored with yesteryear's ZX Spectrum versus the Commodore 64. All this is a fairly long-winded way of getting to the point that this particular game, The Last of Us Remastered, is simply one of the finest single player campaigns that I have ever played.This game is fantastic. Fairly simple controls and a linear game narrative are embiggenend, to use a perfectly cromulent word, by a masterful narrative, terrific voice acting and the best production values that gaming currently allows. The sound design, too, is superb, with the crack of a rifle bullet echoing around (mostly) deserted city streets. The Last of Us Remastered is incredibly easy to learn but a game that rewards those with attention spans, as much of the rich detail is conveyed not simply through the stunning vistas of post-apocalyptic landscapes but through the notes left behind by other characters (this is particularly effective in the "storm drains" chapter).All of these factors help develop a story that is both credible (the virus in the game actually exists - it's a tropical infection that only attacks insects (Cordyceps, a lethal fungi) and thankfully it hasn't actually jumped the species barrier) and emotionally affecting - a real achievement in gaming history. This is an absolutely stunning game about the cost of survival and the paths that humanity might take, whether banding together to look for hopeful solutions or turning into self-centered, sadistic sociopaths.If you enjoy the great television series (or graphic novel precursor) The Walking Dead (with a tip of the hat towards Terry Gilliam's brilliant film, 12 Monkeys), you'll probably love this game. If you prefer open world games or run and gun shooters, then this might be too restrictive or too slow for you. I think both GTA V and Battlefield 4 are great games for different reasons but the Last of Us Remastered has simply blown me away in a fashion that a game hasn't for many years. I haven't yet played the multiplayer, so I'll update the review once I've had a good crack at that but this game is worth getting simply because it's possibly the best single player story ever made. If you missed this game the last time around - and I did because I owned an Xbox 360 - don't miss this second bite of the apple. This is a stunning game that shows you just how powerful a video game narrative can be and is certainly one of the strongest arguments in the "is gaming art?" debate.Edit: after some time on the multiplayer, Factions, I can confirm that this comprises quite a fun metagame within the campaign's overall theme. While initially appearing to be similar to Gears Of War's unforgiving multiplayer, Factions is a quite splendid online multiplayer in its own right. Dispensing with irrelevent statistics like the kill/death ratio (surely one of the worst ideas in online shooters), the concept behind Factions is that during an online match, you scavenge supplies from dead opposition players and loot boxes around the map. These supplies then help you grow and maintain the population of your camp (there's no management required, everything is done for you). So you win a game with a net surplus of supplies and perhaps three more people will join your camp. Suffer a net loss of supplies and you can expect your meagre band of followers to start going hungry or getting sick and ultimately dying. Consequently, the games have real tension, as there's more at stake than a drop in your k/dr but rather your camp population may start to dwindle.The overarching idea is to maintain and grow your camp for as many days and weeks as possible. Sitting at the perimeter of a map and just sniping will get you nowhere. Sticking close to your team and supporting each other is key to success. Also, there's no grind to unlock scopes and other weapon attachments, though you can choose which perks and custom loadout best suit your play style.All of this combines to make The Last of Us Remastered a complete package. The single player campaign is one of the best ever and the online multiplayer is refreshingly different and tense, despite it being three variations on team deathmatch. The recommendations can not be strong enough.

The Last of Us: Remastered on PS4 is a masterpiece. The updated graphics look incredible, and the story is just as gripping as ever. The gameplay feels smooth, and the remaster really enhances the overall experience with improved textures and lighting. The characters and emotional depth are unmatched, making it one of the best action-adventure games out there. If you haven't played it yet, this is the perfect version to experience. Highly recommend!I've been told part 2 takes things to the next level, so that's next on my wishlist.

Incredible game, spent hours playing it. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to give it a try.

Game Came In Perfect Condition And Works Perfectly

Finally got round to this game years later. It's a good game, fun and definitely of cinematic quality. This is the PlayStation Hits version, so all extras and DLC is included. The story is good and the two leads Joel and Ellie are great and entertaining. I won't repeat what others have said so I'll keep it brief.This is very much a stealth game, you'll need patience to play this, you probably won't enjoy this if you prefer only games with a lot of action. My only issue with the stealth is when sneaking around, my companions were basically invisible to the enemy, there were countless of times Ellie (or whoever) was right in someone's sight but it didn't trigger combat at all until they found me. Then in combat, the enemies could see everyone with me, a bit of a "huh?" moment. Though the Clickers in this could define it as a zombie game (you do go up against people too), you won't be able to just shoot and bash your way through the enemies. In a sense this is similar to the older Resident Evil games (and their remakes), with limited ammo and restricted inventory. Don't know about the multiplayer mode, but I don't really care for the multiplayer part.I was a little disappointed with it, seeing as people rate it highly I expected something more. Don't get me wrong it's a great game, I'm glad we've got a modern "zombie" game that isn't just shooting and bashing every enemy in sight. For me personally it doesn't match up to its hype. Though if you enjoy games with a good story then I'll still recommend getting this. Hopefully Part II will improve the parts I don't like.