'The Last of Us' - A 2013 PS3 Exclusive!

PlayStation 3 exclusive ‘The Last of Us’ hits shelves next May 7, 2013. Watch the trailer below.



Not only did the New Year bring a fresh start to many but it also brought a whole new year of fresh titles and a wide range of much anticipated games we have all been waiting on. One such game is 'The Last of Us', a survival horror action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation 3.

Zombie apocalypse game, what else is new?

Although it has the typical "surviving in a zombie apocalypse" setting, this game will stand out among the rest as it uses some features from the 'Uncharted' series we have all grown to love. Not only that but it will also have a new game play mechanic the developers call "dynamic stealth", meaning that there are many different types of strategies and techniques that the player can use at any given time as they approach a new situation, to which enemies will react differently.

Though situations can have a different outcome, it all mainly depends on the player's preference of play.

Whats this game about?

Well the game takes place 20 years after a cordyceps-type fungus (yes cordyceps are an actual fungus that actually turns ants into zombies) has killed millions, with nature gradually retaking the abandoned cities and towns (Remember "I am Legend"?). The remaining humans who survived are forced to live in quarantined zones under the martial law by the U.S. Military. "Joel", a black-marketeer from one of the zones, goes through an event that forces him to make a promise to an old friend that he will get "Ellie" and take her away from the harsh regime. They must venture out into the deteriorating remains of the US and avoid the Infected, humanoid creatures whose sole aim has become to spread the fungal infection, and scavengers that survive outside the quarantine zones who see "Joel" and "Ellie" as prey. Adding to their problems, the military are determined to find "Ellie" and bring her back under their power.

Characters and Gameplay:
  

The game plays from a third person view and you play as "Joel", a ruthless survivor with few moral lines left to cross. Unlike other survival games you have a companion, a young girl named "Ellie" a brave young teenage girl who is wise beyond her years, which is controlled by the A.I. I know what you're thinking, "A.I. fuuuuuuuuu!!!!" and yes I know they usually slow you down, get you killed or get in your way but after watching some gameplay trailers this one looks promising not to suck.

Explore the world and areas otherwise in-accessible in most games by utilizing the games new and improved "Uncharted" engine. This allows you to use objects in the world such as ladders, boxes, and climb to reach those hard to get places! To fight off the infected, once-humans, or the humans who just want to take the things you have, the game will include gun-fighting, melee combat and a sneak and cover system to easily get around gangs of enemies.

Ah yes 'Last of Us' has all the elements to be a ground-breaking game. It is one game that I will be looking forward to this year.

More Screenshots:

'Last of Us' is available to pre-order from Amazon for $59.99.

Get official 'The Last of Us' wallpapers here!



-Alex Pardo - Geekstrap'd Contributor