‘An Experience Unlike Any Other’ – Japanese Gamers Heap Praise On The Last of Us

Even in the age of worldwide launches, the Japanese releases of Western video games and movies have always been notoriously late, with some titles taking months longer to appear on shop shelves or movie theatre marquees than in other countries. Naughty dog’s The Last of Us is no exception, although mercifully this time Japanese gamers only had to wait six days longer than the rest of the world to begin their digital adventure, which arrived with the addition of a Japanese voice track for those who abhor subtitles.

[dedicatedtogamers]

This was actually pretty cool to read. I wouldn't have thought this game would be popular over there.

[FarEastOrient]

I was actually surprised how good it sounds in Japanese. Usually I want to hear it in English, for example Metal Gear Solid games sounds so much better in English than their Japanese counterparts.

[GribbleGrunger]

Try watching good Japanese cinema and you'll fully understand why the Japanese love this film ... sorry, game.

[Ace_Pheonix]

You truly puzzle me with your comment inconsistency. I don't necessarily mind it, I just find it confusing. You're probably just a potstirrer though.

[GribbleGrunger]

I've haven't got a clue what you are talking about Ace_pheonix. My best guess would be that I put 'film ... sorry game'. And I would assume because a lot of people see that as a negative and it's been used before to put down games like Heavy Rain, you assume I'm in some way mirroring those sentiments? Am I right? In the context of what I experienced with TLOU, it's a huge compliment. In other words, what I experienced was on a par with some of the greatest films I've ever seen.

[FamilyGuy]

Joels voice sounds really familiar, they used someone really common in japanese voice acting Im guessing. A naruto character or maybe a Final Fantasy voice guy?

[Denethor_II]

"Try watching good Japanese cinema and you'll fully understand why the Japanese love this film ... sorry, game."

Do you sometimes sit at the cinema with your DS3? Must be very frustrating.

[badz149]

and here it comes...something that exceeds their beloved Biohazard in any conceivable way...what's not to love?

congrats ND!

[ltachiUchiha]

I was about to submit this article lol. Add the japanese trailer mate. Cheers.

Japan loves survival horror games but to notice they loved the story aswell, u know this game is amazing. =]

[Prcko]

This game is a Diamond,whole world is talking about it,such a gem for end of this gen.
Thank You Naughty Dog

[boybato]

JP loves them lolitas. Joke

[Auron]

I was just about to say the same thing lol.

[Corpser]

They will like this game more if you can collect and train monsters

[HammadTheBeast]

Well, that's a bit stereotypical isn't it?

[Hadoukameha]

God forbid, right? So sensitive and politically correct these days, society is Nazi patrolling itself. Where's freedom of speech?

[Brucis]

@Hadoukameha

Nobody got on boybato for making a joke that implied the Japanese like underaged women. That's because he made it clear that it was a joke. Corpser, while I still understood it to be a joke, didn't make it clear if it was a simple joke or a slant against them. It's harder to discern intent over the internet so being as clear as possible with such things is important.

[Godmars290]

So is the reason we get late JRPGs, when we where getting JRPGs anyway, is because they were getting late editions of Western games? When they were getting them.

[sypher]

Deserves everything is gets. It is an experience for even those who aren't 'gamers'.

[jdktech2010]

Wait, the game is so good that the Japanese admitted they liked a western game? That's something to behold.....I'm about 5 hours in and yea it's that good so far

[vikingland1]

This game is a masterpiece.

[TXIDarkAvenger]

As of now, multiplayer is pretty stale.

[TheFirstClassic]

Multiplayer is awesome, provided you adapt to the slow.pace.

[TXIDarkAvenger]

Maybe I should explain.

Yes, its a lot of fun but it doesn't feel like I'm playing The Last of Us. They should of thrown in infected in the game while still having the same objective. Meaning the two teams have to eliminate each other but at the same time survive the infected. Iunno, just a crazy idea thrown out there, don't know if its possible.

[TronEOL]

I'm honestly not surprised. Japanese folks love anything horror from what I've heard/seen. And given how much better Last of Us handles it in comparison to many, many films and games, I would have guessed they'd love this game.

Hopefully Naughty Dog helps push others to make better products. And maybe this will confirm with Capcom that Survival Horror is still big, and maybe, just maybe, we'll see Resident Evil and Silent Hill (Konami) return to it's roots.

Good job Naughty Dog.

[DigitalAnalog]

Oh oh, even Japan seems to like this game. I think J-Blaze is on cardiac arrest ATM.

[level 360]

This game is breaking a lot of barriers!

[DVAcme]

Keep in mind that Japanese gamers tend to be VERY critical and adverse to Western games. Western games usually have to be in that "sweet spot" that caters to Japanese tastes for them to be successful. The runaway success of The Last Of Us there is testament to not only the excellence of the game, but its universality.

Kudos, Naughty Dog, you really might just have crafted the finest game of the generation and a benchmark for interactive storytelling. I'm personally LOVING the game, and it's moved me like few games ever have. I literally cried after the first ten minutes.