The Last of Us (PS3) - 17 million copies sold

Honestly don't worry about spoilers on my account. I think you all do a great job of using the spoiler/inline spoiler settings in yours posts.

As I get deeper into the game I'd probably avoid this thread unless I get stuck (although I'm guesssing this game is pretty linear and the story takes you pretty much one way?)

Yup. You can go out of the way a little but not to the point that you'd get lost.

You know last night I only played up to the point where Tess shoots Robert and you (as Joel) go off with her and the Firefly but it's stuck in my thoughts all day.

The opening scene(s) where you control Sarah is one of the most memorable gaming experiences I've had, admittedly not many to compete with and the second section in the Boston ghetto had me so immersed I did not even hesitate to shoot that guy in the head with the broken gasmask where the spores were

Brilliant but bleak stuff

KeithyT wrote:You know last night I only played up to the point where Tess shoots Robert and you (as Joel) go off with her and the Firefly but it's stuck in my thoughts all day.

The opening scene(s) where you control Sarah is one of the most memorable gaming experiences I've had, admittedly not many to compete with and the second section in the Boston ghetto had me so immersed I did not even hesitate to shoot that guy in the head with the broken gasmask where the spores were

Brilliant but bleak stuff

It hasn't even got started yet.

I'm surprised the intro gets quite as much love as it does. It's very nicely done, of course, but all you're really doing is pushing forward for the majority of it or watching stuff happen, with a few QTEs thrown in. It's hardly up with the village siege in Resi 4. More to the point, it's more linear than almost anything in Uncharted, which consistently gets stick for its linearity.

rudderless wrote:I'm surprised the intro gets quite as much love as it does. It's very nicely done, of course, but all you're really doing is pushing forward for the majority of it or watching stuff happen, with a few QTEs thrown in. It's hardly up with the village siege in Resi 4. More to the point, it's more linear than almost anything in Uncharted, which consistently gets stick for its linearity.

rudderless wrote:I'm surprised the intro gets quite as much love as it does. It's very nicely done, of course, but all you're really doing is pushing forward for the majority of it or watching stuff happen, with a few QTEs thrown in. It's hardly up with the village siege in Resi 4. More to the point, it's more linear than almost anything in Uncharted, which consistently gets stick for its linearity.

It's incredibly atmospheric, set's the scene perfectly, is genuinely emotional and was completely unexpected for anyone who didn't watch spoilers. That's why it has such an impact on the majority of players. They also did an incredible job making you care for a character you'd known for less than 15 minutes.

DaveDS wrote:

rudderless wrote:I'm surprised the intro gets quite as much love as it does. It's very nicely done, of course, but all you're really doing is pushing forward for the majority of it or watching stuff happen, with a few QTEs thrown in. It's hardly up with the village siege in Resi 4. More to the point, it's more linear than almost anything in Uncharted, which consistently gets stick for its linearity.

It's incredibly atmospheric, set's the scene perfectly, is genuinely emotional and was completely unexpected for anyone who didn't watch spoilers. That's why it has such an impact on the majority of players. They also did an incredible job making you care for a character you'd known for less than 15 minutes.

This.

I envy anyone playing this for the first time.

I didn't really think the beginning was anything special, though I did enjoy it (on repeated plays it becomes a bit of a chore), didn't really feel any impact at the climax of it either because it seemed entirely obvious what was going to happen.

The bit of the game that got to me was Ellie breaking up after Joel found her in the house when she ran off. Can't really think of anything in a game that's got to me as much as that did.

DaveDS wrote:It's incredibly atmospheric, set's the scene perfectly, is genuinely emotional and was completely unexpected for anyone who didn't watch spoilers. That's why it has such an impact on the majority of players. They also did an incredible job making you care for a character you'd known for less than 15 minutes.

Oh, come on. It's blindingly obvious what's going to happen, and you don't get to know the character long enough to get genuinely emotional about it. (As a side note, what's this weird obsession we have with games making people cry? Why is that of such paramount importance?)

I didn't really think the beginning was anything special, though I did enjoy it (on repeated plays it becomes a bit of a chore), didn't really feel any impact at the climax of it either because it seemed entirely obvious what was going to happen.

The bit of the game that got to me was Ellie breaking up after Joel found her in the house when she ran off.

Same here. I wouldn't say nothing in a game has got to me in the same way, but I thought that was beautifully played and easily the most affecting moment in the game.

rudderless wrote:

DaveDS wrote:It's incredibly atmospheric, set's the scene perfectly, is genuinely emotional and was completely unexpected for anyone who didn't watch spoilers. That's why it has such an impact on the majority of players. They also did an incredible job making you care for a character you'd known for less than 15 minutes.

Oh, come on. It's blindingly obvious what's going to happen, and you don't get to know the character long enough to get genuinely emotional about it. (As a side note, what's this weird obsession we have with games making people cry? Why is that of such paramount importance?)

Blindingly obvious? Really? It's funny, I assumedhis daughter was the girl you spent the entire game with.I'd not seen any trailers, spoilers or reviews, so it was a surprise.

I didn't cry, but it was a shock.

You are clearly just a very good guesser. Or you had prior knowledge of the game.

The opening resonated with me too. I had no idea where it was going and was intrigued, then shocked, very cinematic opening that set the game and protagonist up very well, better than any other game I've played in fact.

I'm not sure how well it will hold up second time around, but that's ok, I have very find memories. Great game.

Seven Posers Posing wrote:

rudderless wrote:Oh, come on. It's blindingly obvious what's going to happen, and you don't get to know the character long enough to get genuinely emotional about it. (As a side note, what's this weird obsession we have with games making people cry? Why is that of such paramount importance?)

Blindingly obvious? Really? It's funny, I assumedhis daughter was the girl you spent the entire game with.I'd not seen any trailers, spoilers or reviews, so it was a surprise.

I didn't cry, but it was a shock.

You are clearly just a very good guesser. Or you had prior knowledge of the game.

The only prior knowledge I had of the game was knowing it was about Joel and Ellie which you can gather as much from the front of the box. It's not like I was waiting for it to happen but given you get plenty of time to think in that section my mind naturally assumed that would be the conclusion to things.

Not sure why you would think it's the girl Joel spends the game with, if you have enough knowledge to know he spends the game with a girl you must know what Ellie looks like and it's nothing like his daughter.

Having read nothing about the game I was expecting the intro section to finish with Joel and his daughter being separated and the aim of the game being trying to find her.

Did you need a hug after you found out the truth?

rudderless wrote:you don't get to know the character long enough to get genuinely emotional about it.

I guess I imagined that lump in my throat.

I was in tears at the end of the prologue.

Posted this video in the video thread, but thought it was worth posting here too...

rudderless wrote:I'm surprised the intro gets quite as much love as it does. It's very nicely done, of course, but all you're really doing is pushing forward for the majority of it or watching stuff happen, with a few QTEs thrown in. It's hardly up with the village siege in Resi 4. More to the point, it's more linear than almost anything in Uncharted, which consistently gets stick for its linearity.

I found the introductory section to be quite underwhelming. I only started getting into the game after a couple of hours.

rudderless wrote:I'm surprised the intro gets quite as much love as it does. It's very nicely done, of course, but all you're really doing is pushing forward for the majority of it or watching stuff happen, with a few QTEs thrown in. It's hardly up with the village siege in Resi 4. More to the point, it's more linear than almost anything in Uncharted, which consistently gets stick for its linearity.

rudderless, back in this very same thread wrote:suffice to say people getting excited about the prologue had good reason to do so.

It sets the tone for the rest of the game exceptionally, that's all there is to it.