The Last of Us (PS3)

[faetal]

The important thing is whether you come away from the whole experience blown away.
Too many reviewers focus on specific flaws as if not being perfect is somehow a big disappointment.

[Angel Dust]

Depends on the flaws and I would consider some of the things brought up in those reviews to be fairly significant. As gamers, we are more than a little immune, by necessity, to a bit of the old ludonarrative dissonance but if The Last Of Us strays into Tomb Raider reboot territory than I'll notice it, when I'm playing and in not in some after the fact analysis, and it will detract from the experience. So while I acknowledge that not everyone gives a shit about such things to the same extent I do, I'm glad their are some reviewers out there looking at things a bit differently.

And it's not as if these reviews are saying it's a big 'disappointment' either. They are favourable towards the game.

[faetal]

I was generalising.

[Angel Dust]

Apologies, didn't feel that way coming directly after my post linking a specific review.

[CCCToad]

The important thing is whether you come away from the whole experience blown away.
Too many reviewers focus on specific flaws as if not being perfect is somehow a big disappointment.

Being blown away is hardly the only metric. For example, I consider the first Mass Effect to be a superior game to the second one. While the second one leaves you feeling "blown away", the first one's depth and scope make for a game that can be replayed several times and still be fun. The second is boring upon the first replay.

[june gloom]

It is? Shit, I must be doing it wrong, because I was thoroughly entertained!

[faetal]

Apologies, didn't feel that way coming directly after my post linking a specific review.

Sorry, I should have been more explicit. I didn't even read the review you posted, was just commenting on the general nature of reviews having distributed opinion. Pick any game on metacritic, no matter how great and there are always some tepid or unfavourable reviews.

I think The Last of Us looks great, just a bit non-plussed that I'd need a new platform to play it on.

[faetal]

Being blown away is hardly the only metric. For example, I consider the first Mass Effect to be a superior game to the second one. While the second one leaves you feeling "blown away", the first one's depth and scope make for a game that can be replayed several times and still be fun. The second is boring upon the first replay.

I'm not talking about how re-playable a game is, just how good it is. Some games you buy to be re-playable, others you buy for that one amazing experience.

[Brethren]

This game might keep everyone busy (released yesterday) until The Last of Us comes out (at about a third of the price).

[SubJeff]

First impressions incoming! Woot!

[Ostriig]

I should have this sucker come in today, provided Royal Mail doesn't screw up. "Release Day" delivery was two quid, I figured why not.

[gunsmoke]

Tom Chick has his review posted.

[SubJeff]

Well so far it looks and sounds great, but the gameplay is pretty dull.

[Ostriig]

Shouldn't you be, like, at work or something?

At any rate, looks and sounds are what initially attracted me most to the title, but now that I have Bioshock Infinite behind me I'm very curious to see how the companion AI handles. Royal Mail delivered, though I probably won't get to play until Sunday. I do dread having to play with an action game with a controller again, I suck at it.

[SubJeff]

I finished work at 8am this morning.

[faetal]

Royal Mail delivered, though I probably won't get to play until Sunday.

That was £2 well spent

[Ostriig]

Meh, still get to play a bit this weekend. If I got it with Super Saver next Wednesday it's doubtful I'd have made time for it on a weekday evening, busy week coming up.

@ SubjEff - touché. I was going to ask for screenshots, but then I remembered consoles are too serious for such scandal.

[faetal]

I meant it more in a "c'est la vie" way.

[SubJeff]

I think you can get screenshots off a PS3 somehow but I don't know how.

[gunsmoke]

Yeah, Dragon's Dogma even has a native SS uploader and editor.

[CCCToad]

I'm not talking about how re-playable a game is, just how good it is. Some games you buy to be re-playable, others you buy for that one amazing experience.

Well.....this may sound odd at first glance, but it's not really the point. My point was that the first Mass Effect was that the depth of that game provided for a very rich experience, and that the ability to replay it and still enjoy it is evidence of that and the inability to really enjoy a replay of Mass Effect 2 is testament to that game's lack of depth.

I'm using replayability as an indicator, not the end goal.

[faetal]

That only works if re-playability has a static relationship with overall quality.

[SubJeff]

Okay, I'm a bit of a ways in.

This is a stealth game people, a good stealth game. Well if you start on Hard it is, I can't speak for Easy or Normal. Once I got into the sneaking and strangling I'm really enjoying it. Its pretty linear so far and on Hard it certainly is hard. I had to redo one section about 15 times because the enemies were so relentless.

I've been hit by this launch day save bug though - I understand its fixed but I won't be testing it til later/tomorrow.

[Malf]

Yup, definitely pays to be stealthy, but I too got hit by the save bug and have lost a good 2 hours play, so I'm leaving it alone tonight.
It's made me a bit angry to be honest, and I don't want to feel that way about a Naughty Dog game.
I'll tackle it again come patch.

Interesting thing, the bug has made me look at it more objectively, and it does play a bit like an old man's Uncharted. So far it's been incredibly linear and the Sarkeesian Damsel effect is being felt somewhat, what with it being about a macho hairy guy protecting the helpless girl. And I saw her Ellie's "Specialness" from a mile off; it's "Borrowing" heavily from Children of Men and other such works.
Still, it's incredibly atmospheric, the zombies are genuinely weird and a little bit scary and the rain on windows could mesmerise me for HOURS.
Oh, and speaking of influences, anyone else getting HUGE HL2 vibes from that first section wandering around the QZ?

[SubJeff]

Yeah, I thought of HL2 but despite the obvious parallel this is quite quite different.

Are you playing it on hard? I don't like to use my gun at all. The combat is pretty brutal.