The last of us guardian review

In an absolute gut-punch denouement, Joel and Ellie reached their destination — then much blood was shed and they movingly shared their truths.

A triumphant tale about humanity, or a zombie-lite ruining of the video game? Even in a bloated field of high quality TV, this stood out as appointment viewing. The central premise, established right from the opening shots of the scientists, is brilliant and terrifying, but the centre of the success of this series was in the casting of Pedro Pascal [Joel] and Bella Ramsay [Ellie]. Episode three barely featured the main cast and yet was perhaps the best single episode of TV any of us will see this year. Just try and avoid ageing gamers like me spoiling it for you through tear-filled eyes as we mumble something about giraffes. Tim, 49, project manager and still occasional gamer , Nottingham.

The last of us guardian review

Sony, PS5 Visual and haptical enhancements along with bonus content including new modes, cut stages and audio commentary from designers make this a required experience. There was such a haunting irony in the idea of people trapped at home by a global pandemic, playing an apocalyptic video game about … a global pandemic. Well, Covid never went away, and neither did the Last of Us — in , a free upgrade allowed new PS5 owners to play a tweaked version of the PS4 original, then came the critically acclaimed TV drama series, which brought a new audience to the desperate tale of Ellie and Joel. Now we have The Last of Us Part II Remastered, an overhauled version of the excellent game, which adds a new Fidelity Mode, offering 4K resolution at 30 frames-per-second, as well as a Performance Mode, in p at 60 fps. Movement is smoother, lighting is brighter and the scenic detail, especially on foliage, just has a touch more life to it, making for an even greater sense of immersion in this muddy, ruined world. More important are the changes to the controls, with full implementation of the Dual Sense controller. The granular haptic feedback and adaptive triggers allow a palpable difference in feel between the various weapons, adding to the sheer physicality of the combat. What really lifts the game is the array of bonus content. A new mode named No Return is a rogue-like survival game in which you seek to stay alive as long as possible through multiple enemy attack waves. You get a choice of paths through the series of procedurally generated stages, each based around areas from the main game. Also, some stages are against the infected, while others feature human soldiers, so the tactics shift accordingly. What you get is a compelling mix of stealth and all-out action, and at the end of each stage, you can upgrade weapons and items. My favourite addition, however, is Lost Levels, a selection of three playable stages that were cut from the game. These short sequences are unfinished and understandably rough in places but offer a truly fascinating glimpse into the development process — this sort of content is very rarely shared with players or journalists, for that matter.

What if he was wrong?

The Last of Us. The Crown leads in Bafta TV nominations. Published: 20 Mar Team Kieran or Team Pedro: who are you backing in the battle of the leading men? In one corner, we have Kieran Culkin, the actor who rose from Succession B-lister to steal the show.

Do not read unless you have seen episodes one to four …. All was going swimmingly until they got to Kansas City, where the highways were blocked and they needed to find a detour. Of course, this being The Last of Us , nothing can go to plan. Later, he gave his ward a few pointers on stance and grip for her troubles. Ellie, meanwhile, said she had killed before. Whoever could she mean? We then met Kathleen Yellowjackets star Melanie Lynskey , leader of a local band of revolutionaries who have seemingly risen up to overthrow the Federal Disaster Response Agency Fedra , which has control of the city, and dismantle the quarantine zone. As the militia searched high and low for the boys and the mystery outsiders we know to be Joel and Ellie, we saw a strange undulation in the ground.

The last of us guardian review

January Pushing Buttons newsletter. Visual and haptical enhancements along with bonus content including new modes, cut stages and audio commentary from designers make this a required experience. Booksmart actor cast in apocalyptic drama as vengeful soldier Abby, as TV series creators eschew close physical likenesses to the video game character. December November The award-winning author on smuggling games past her strict parents, finding comfort in alternative worlds and why the art form remains a source of inspiration. October

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She might be the saviour the world has been looking for. Reuse this content. For the first half an hour or so, it is a self-contained disaster movie that reminded me of those end-of-days blockbusters in the 90s such as Deep Impact, Armageddon and 12 Monkeys. Chases, shootouts and horribly tense forays through long-abandoned, zombie-infested buildings are balanced with quiet or quietly devastating scenes where all you do is talk and look around. And he blew it. Published: 28 Feb Then it shifts again, to and the aftermath. Not only from a post-apocalyptic show perspective but not shying away from other issues like the rising of religious groups and showing how far people would go to help the people they love most. I remain conflicted. Never for a moment did the awareness that I was watching 3D models interact with each other intrude on my experience of this story. This isn't one of those games though, this is The Last of Us, and your arsenal right now consists of a brick and a length of drainpipe with some scissors taped to the end. But a traumatic event drives her to leave the relative safety of Jackson on a revenge mission that takes her to the remains of Seattle. Movement is smoother, lighting is brighter and the scenic detail, especially on foliage, just has a touch more life to it, making for an even greater sense of immersion in this muddy, ruined world. Intense …. The Guide newsletter.

This desperately moving drama set in a zombie-ravaged US is a phenomenal blend of horror and heart, with a cast that could not be more perfect. The Last of Us recap episode one — welcome to the mushroom apocalypse!

The Guide newsletter. Now we have The Last of Us Part II Remastered, an overhauled version of the excellent game, which adds a new Fidelity Mode, offering 4K resolution at 30 frames-per-second, as well as a Performance Mode, in p at 60 fps. But he did it all for his little girl, the one he could save. My favourite addition, however, is Lost Levels, a selection of three playable stages that were cut from the game. It's not a massive issue, but given the lengths the game goes to to maintain suspension of disbelief, it can be slightly immersion breaking. Ellie tended to Joel in a dilapidated basement, then flashed back to bliss, booze and photo booths with her best friend — just before disaster struck. The Crown leads in Bafta TV nominations. The third episode is essentially a short film about a character named Bill who appears only briefly in the game, and it is powerfully good. She starts off unlikable and brash but becomes fiercely powerful and a strong character all on her own. As in 28 Days Later, these creatures are infected rather than undead, and although they remain consistent antagonists throughout, this game is clearly more interested in telling a story of post-apocalyptic survival than smashing rotten heads, and it's all the better for it. Never for a moment did the awareness that I was watching 3D models interact with each other intrude on my experience of this story. Published: 9 Jan But The Last of Us games provide more than a stylistic blueprint. What unbelievably horrifying viewing. Is this the TV episode of the year?