Game Changers: How The Last Of Us Changed Gaming

Matt Doria writes "The gaming landscape is ever changing, and with every new iteration of hardware (console or PC) comes with it new possibilities. While we’ve played some extraordinary games over the years, there are a few that stand tall among the rest as real Game Changers within the industry. In this series of articles AMH writers wanted to highlight a number of these games and discuss their impact and influence upon the industry. This is time we look at The Last of Us."

[98xpresent]

I Really loved TLOU.

[3-4-5]

Great game but it didn't change gaming.

Super Mario 64.....THAT changed gaming.

Goldeneye 64......that changed gaming..

Stuff like that...

[insomnium2]

I play TLOU online almost every day. All I get during the weeks is a one hour or so per day to play games so I'm using it wisely and playing the best game there is LOL.

I started again on PS4 and the online is smoother on 60fps. I love this game. It's up there with MW1 as online games that got me hooked so bad and the single player is the best game I have ever played. I just can't get enough of this game. Everything else gaming wise is on hold because of it.

[Army_of_Darkness]

Considering how TLOU hit a grand slam on all 3 categories (graphics, story, gameplay) I would think that's quite the accomplishment and personally a game changer for me, since you don't see much games succeed in that sense.

[miyamoto]

Dude, those games were from the 1990's. I consider Street Fighter II and Sonic the Hedgehog great game changers too. But gaming has evolved so much two decades later. We have game changers nowadays too on different terms.

Naughty Dog has created game changing games one after the other. From Crash to Jack & Daxter to Uncharted to TLOU.

I remember E3 2010 was a homage to how Uncharted 2 changed how AAA game development in terms of storytelling, level design, set pieces, voice acting, action sequences, sound, animation, character design and development, script, dialogue, even humor.

The big change will always be on how filmmakers in Hollywood change their perception of how games are evolving rapidly as a phenomenal medium of storytelling entertainment. The Hollywood press comparing TLOU to great literary and film masterpieces means the immense impact and change it made inside and outside the gaming industry.

Those can be behind the scenes changes but they are no doubt game changers.

[IGiveHugs2NakedWomen]

I've played it on survivor mode 7 times already. After I beat Shadow Warrior i'm gonna play it again. I can only describe this game as "One of the most amazing moments I have experienced in my 25 years of gaming."

[BitbyDeath]

I just got the trophy for completing grounded twice the other day.

[medman]

I completed survivor multiple times on ps3, and have been working my way through grounded mode on ps4...it's not as tough as I thought it would be. I always saved my supplies and tried to dead enemies with bricks, pipes, planks etc. and choked out human enemies with stealth, so even on grounded mode I seem to have plenty of ammo/molotovs/whatever for the tougher areas. This ammo/supply conservation has led to deaths in some areas most people probably wouldn't normally die because they would let off with the shotgun and be done with it, but it works for me. I forgot how scary some sections of that game are, especially now that I listen through the gold wireless headset and not 5.1 surround system that isn't cranked up during my sessions due to my being considerate to others regarding the noise.

[Ezz2013]

played it 6 times now (Hard+/Survival+)
and because the gameplay not the story
and have yet to play grounded mode Sp and the Dlc
i'm saving that for another time

i wish i could just take it out of my memory so i can play it again for the first time

[mediate-this]

I think this game is over hyped, I see lots love it and that's good but I couldn't even finish it.

So it's not the end all be all for me, I bought it on ps3 I couldn't play it, then bought remaster on ps4 got a little further and lost interest.

It may be amazing to alot of people but to me, it's nothing special.

[SmokingMonkey]

I used to work at a Gstop and the only people who disliked TLOU

Loved Mass Effect.

Let me guess; You loved Mass Effect.

[mediate-this]

Did not get into mass effect, loved uc3 and skyrim. I'm not sure why I didn't like tlou.

[spacedelete]

your comment is so typical. just because you don't like it you brand the game overrated even though you didn't even finish it. the game to me is the only good story in any game i've played. then theres the factions mode which is worth the money alone and has plenty of gameplay for those who claim its just interactive movie. maybe a dudebro game like FIFA would suit you more.

[smolinsk]

SYHHHHH....

[ufo8mycat]

mediate-this you just have shitty taste in games that is all, doesn't mean its over-hyped.

[SmokingMonkey]

Best Game Ever

Graphics-check
Story-check
Great Online-check
Gameplay-check

GOTY awards-many

[WildArmed]

I think the highlight for this game was Winter for me. That part made this game worth playing.

Just when I had gotten into the swing of things (rinse and repeat), they did winter. Such a nice change of pace.

I can see why so many people love the game. Definitely worth a play.

I think for me, the game really shined in two places: MP and Winter. I think I was like WHEN IS THIS GOING TO END for most of the other parts of the single player.

MP was really fun when playing with buddiies. So much fun flanking and such .

[ATi_Elite]

Tlou didnt do one thing that was new to gaming. NOT ONE NEW THING!

therefore it changed NOTHING.

Great Story. Gameplay MEH! but OMG such a Good story meanwhile GAMEPLAY WAS LACKING!

Half Life 1 and Half Life 2 changed GAMING FOREVER. Just ask Bungie and how Halo SP and MP was fashioned after HL.

Also I would Never say TLOU is the greatest game ever especially with Super Mario Galaxy The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask and Half Life 2 all having SUPERIOR GAMEPLAY to the great story but LAME gameplay Tlou.

TLOU maybe the greatest video game story ever but gameplay was simple.

*Edit oh and to all those who just wanna hit disagree because I'm telling the truth about an overhyped game then please state some FACTS as to how TLOU brought something new to the gaming world and I will list 3 games that did it first.

I enjoy FACTS not Rage disagrees. TLOU is overrated as far as gameplay but such a good story.

[SmokingMonkey]

Gameplay was excellent

No pausing during inventory management.

Nothing is more intense than having a Clicker *randomly* stirring about while you scramble to make a molotov.

How was that online gameplay of Super Mario Galaxy?

[ABeastNamedTariq]

"But despite not having directly influenced anything just yet, The Last of Us made us rethink how we tackle storytelling in video games."

There's a possible change (not saying it is). Get the stick outta your rear end lmao. The game was fun to play (for me at least), wouldn't that equate to good gameplay?

[lonz358]

Gameplay was great, stop playing on easy. Haters gonna hate.

[BitbyDeath]

I disagreed. TLOU might not have introduced anything new but it did certainly improve on the old.

Bringing back the likes of medkits (instead of regen health) but instead of just finding them all over the place like the old way you had to locate items in order to create them which adds more realism.

AI is fantastic, especially on the harder difficulties, they all react based on how you act which makes it harder to take them out as they don't just sit behind a knee high wall and take pot shots. They flank, they run away, they get backup, they attack head-on if you run out of ammo, they find a position that will give them the edge over you.

Weapons, harder difficulties make you rely on stealth more so than weapons as you have limited ammunition, this can change the pace of the game drastically, not just running and gunning but trying to find ways to outsmart someone else who has a gun.

Not just those things but many of the little things as well make this game one of the best ever made.

[Imalwaysright]

While I agree that TloU gameplay was nothing to write home about and that it changed nothing, Half-Life didn't do anything new either. It just perfected FPS elements. It was evolutionary. There are few games that can be called revolutionary and neither TloU or Half-life are part of that select group.

[solar]

HL1 changed the FPS genre by introducing a story and characters who werent just mute NPC's. also the AI was revolutionary where enemies would hide from you, double back and try to ambush you.

HL2 again revolutionized the genre with physics, atmosphere and showing emotion on the faces of NPC's.

[Imalwaysright]

So... evolution of AI and physics in videogames.

Story, atmosphere and talking to NPCs? How is that new or revolutionary in a videogame that was made in 1998?

Also if I remember correctly Sims 2 had facial expressions and was released before HL2 so not the 1st..

Revolutionary games are games that bring something new to the industry. Games like Donkey Kong (1st platformer ever made), Hydlide games (1st game with health regeneration) or even Zelda (1st game with save option). These games are revolutionary. TloU and HL aren't revolutionary.

[TXIDarkAvenger]

It's good but it didn't revolutionize anything. Maybe specifically the horror/zombie genre but its been done in other games. People overhype this game way too much because they never played a good single player story. Last of Us is amazing but come on, it wasn't really a game changer.

[Fro_xoxo]

It didn't change anything. . let's not kid ourselves.

It was a heavily cinematic game. . I still can't believe it got a pass for it's "gameplay". It seems like it doesn't take much to wow gamers these days.

The order:1886 is taking cues from that cinematic approach also. . the only thing that concerns me is the gameplay. I'm sure the cut-scenes will be beautiful.

I thought gaming was meant to be an interactive-medium and not just a passive one.

[smolinsk]

SYHHHH...

[MasterCornholio]

Dont kill me for saying this.

I liked the Last of Us but I enjoyed uncharted more.

I didn't try multiplayer yet but I'm sure its pretty good.

[ape007]

it did not changed gaming but took a step forward in story telling and pacing, it's a new standard in that aspect

[Picnic]

To say The Last of Us was a game changer would be a bit wrong.

In a way not dissimilar to Sunset Overdrive, the game borrows well from many other games. It's like a love letter to them.

Any game with dilapidated public buildings instantly recalls Silent Hill. The downloadable episode even seems to have a very strong nod to SH in having a carousel and a room of mannequins. I mean - and it's in a shopping centre. Silent Hill 3- remember?

What about the part where there are loads of abandoned vehicles in a wasteland? Reminded of Half Life 2's Route Kanal? In fact, the whole locked down city idea is Half Life 2- or Racoon City before it.

Anyone could add numerous other zombie games or film references.

But I will allow that perhaps the best way that it is a game changer is in its sense of playing a game of chess with the enemies. Except it's not enough to make the right moves. You have to move fast inbetween them as well.
It's a stealthy game in which you can't always win by being stealthy but instead must run and hide or separate the enemies sufficiently to be able to take them on.

I thought that Dishonored was a bit of a game changer but I understand why not everyone would like it. Some might say it owes something to Thief, Assassin's Creed and Batman Arkham Asylum.
But if you play the Lady Boyle's Party level you'd see why it's a very memorable game.

[gangsta_red]

"How The Last Of Us Changed Gaming"

LoL, I have to say WRONG, as I thought this game was good but not well worth the hype everyone seemed to make this out to be.

The story was ok, but nothing we haven't seen before in almost every post apocalyptic, zombie like film. Dad loses his kid, latches on to another kid who might hold the key to survival, all the while ducking not only zombies but the real threat....MAN. Cliché!!!

And before anybody says "They weren't zombies!!", yea I know, but they might as well should have been.

Now, the presentation was done right and by no means is this game not good, but a game changer? No. I think Silent Hill 1 and ESPECIALLY part 2 told a much better, deeper and scarier story. When I see all these survival type horror games, they all seem to take something or borrow heavy from Silent Hill one and two.

That is the game that should be up in the title. Not TLOU.

[smolinsk]

Wow you guys that don't understand what a game changer is, its when a game does something new that has never been done before,and will change the way we look at how a story can be told. The Last Of Us did just that story telling wise.

[andrewer]

I didn't play it, but from the people who played, this game is great. But it changed gaming? hmmmmm I don't think it's that easy to change gaming. Last game that had that "change" impact on me was Minecraft, but also couldn't say it changed gaming, was just a little bit different from what I was used to. So yeah, not for me. But nevertheless an example of a good approach.

[NewAgeisHere]

3 times on ps3, 5 times on ps4,only my 2nd platinum in 20 years of gaming (Dark Souls was my first plat), hundreds of hours of multiplayer...........yes the game definetly did change gaming and for the better......never in my life have I cared so much about the characters in a videogame.

[ashen122]

"hundreds of hours multiplayer"
same here i've never played such a team focused mp before, i hope more mps are like it.

[ashen122]

ahhhhhhh attack of the 1 bubble xtwats in here!

OT tlou has impacted gaming greatly it shows you can have great gameplay with a great story. i actually still play the mp on ps3

[IGiveHugs2NakedWomen]

The Dude/Bro shooter crowd will be the ones to disagree because fluid gameplay and an amazing storyline aren't as important as having lots of guns/weapons and players/targets to kill.

[babis1974]

The LAST OF US is a landmark in gaming industry...it's a masterpiece...

[Geekman]

It's great. Only bad thing it did wa make the Playstation fanbase more arrogant than it already was.

[RSKnight]

The only thing TLOU didn't change is Nintendo's retro mind set. Since this was a "boring" game to Miyamoto and company I think we will never have this level of masterpiece coming from the Mario's house, ever. But it doesn't matter now, Nintendo has become "irrelevant" just as Nolan Bushnell predicted three years ago.

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

Yeah it really did change gaming. Now barely managing 24fps is the new standard. Wasn't aware cimematic meant technically flawed as well.