The Last of Us: Playing the Game After the Series — First Impressions
We started playing The Last of Us
After watching the «The Last of Us» series, we decided to try the game. We previously discussed The Last of Us and considered playing it, but the abundance of stealth mechanics held us back (we’re simple folks—give us guns and zombies to shoot, not grass-hiding and stealth attacks). After the series, we wanted to see how well the adaptation matched the game. Maybe the series’ issues aren’t due to the rookie actress Bella Ramsey, as many claim, but the underdeveloped plot. We were curious to experience key moments of the game firsthand and explore the post-apocalyptic landscapes with vibrant greenery sprouting from concrete. As for the series: it has its moments but feels dragged out. About the game:
- Stealth — heavily emphasized as the primary combat tactic
- Smooth animation, including facial expressions—no keyframe compression or quantization, excellent bone hierarchy
- Stunning graphics and optimization — we play in HDR mode at max 4K settings, maintaining 60 fps (though we encountered one crash early on)
- No object clipping — gear on characters’ backs doesn’t phase through bodies, hair wraps around clothing/geometry, no floating heads (unlike CyberPunk 2077)
- Smart level design — the game guides you seamlessly without a map (crucial for a linear narrative, but shouldn’t feel forced)
- Multiple combat approaches — run, stealth, or go guns-blazing while praying for ammo
- Crafting — intuitive resource management, similar to games like The Evil Within and Silent Hill. Weapon mods look delicious
- Neat details — flashlight flickers and needs occasional shaking; enemies’ hats fall off if not secured
- Beautiful world design — lush, diverse biomes, vivid colors, cinematic angles that make you stop and stare
- Static environment — non-interactive decor: unbreakable lamps, unmoving pots; a few squirrels won’t save immersion
- Enemy AI — reasonably smart: avoids fire, reacts to fallen allies
Total playtime: 4 hours 43 minutes 
In our gaming section, we discuss mechanics and share personal experiences. Currently, we’re playing The Last of Us and wrapping up Baldur’s Gate 3.
Below, we’ll post our first Let’s Play video — watch on YouTube, chuckle, and our casual chat about the game and series.
Share your experience if you’ve played The Last of Us! We’d love to hear your tips or thoughts.