10 Reasons The Last Of Us Is STILL The Best Video Game Of All Time
Look for the light.
Though the storied history of Naughty Dog is brimming with exceptional titles, it is perhaps 2013's The Last of Us which is the most revered amongst fans.
The developers take on the 'zombie apocalypse' genre was a shining example of how the otherwise overused plot device can be used to conjure one of the finest experiences the video game medium has to offer, and is a staunch reminder that single player games have more than enough in the tank.
Joel and Ellie's amble across a dystopian America differs largely from its action-packed, Indiana Jones-esque brother in that it manages to keep the players attention despite doing away with plentiful set-pieces and witty dialogue, though Naughty Dog's uncanny ability to create compelling characters is present in abundance.
Those characters, portrayed by a wealth of talented actors, are perhaps the main draw for the game's ~15 hour runtime, yet it's clear that the successes of the final product are far more eclectic.
Sony's other first-party developers have inched closer to The Last of Us' crown, with Santa Monica's God of War being within its grasp, but it is still Naughty Dog's magnum opus that reigns supreme, and this list is just a handful of reasons why.
10. Gustavo Santaolalla's Score
Though not known for its soundtrack, The Last of Us' superb score perfectly complements what's on screen. The credit is due largely to its composer, Gustavo Santaolalla, as it's his powerful melodies that can be heard throughout.
There are so many tense encounters in the story portion of the game, and there's plenty of opportunities to match the sequences with a calamitous concoction of instruments, yet the soundtrack remains stubbornly one dimensional, with the simple notes plucked from a banjo providing a backdrop for some of the games' most iconic scenes.
This may sound like a negative, but the haunting tones that come from the plucking of a banjo are not only a reminder of Joel's roots in Austin Texas, but also match the feeling of melancholy that infests the game's runtime. Naughty Dog manages to use silence to wonderfully convey the gravity of a situation, but the unsettling score only serves to heighten the game's quality.
Santaolalla rarely revisits franchises he's worked on previously, but considering his immense contribution to The Last of Us, it would have been a tragedy to not see him return. Thankfully, his appearance at E3 2018 confirmed his melodies would be present in the sequel.