My take on the LoU is a combination of Max Payne, Half Life, Condemned, and Uncharted. I like the Max Payne, HL, and Condemned; not liking the Uncharted. Also a little Bioshock flair.
I think Naughty Dog took some steps forward with this title. I am citing classic titles, well not really Bioshock, and NG really has captured some of that iconic feel that the classics still serve today. The Max Payne atmosphere to me is oozing, from the simple homage of grabbing pills to frantically checking corners of every room. The HL reference is mostly the sandbox feel, setting traps, the materials, and the zombies I guess. I keep thinking and seeing headcrabs. Condemend for the survival and the meat of melee. It just feels good.
I'm up to the part where you meet the
so I'm actually not sure how far I am. Overall I am liking this game more then UC2. Yet I wish there was less UC2 in this title. I bore of find the ladder and plank games. Keep it minimal or get more intuitive. It's like the HL2 box gravity gun games but less fun. I also find the stealth somewhat boring. It basically feels just like UC2, and that's how I played the game. I favored the stealth in UC2 but the LoU just feels all too familiar.
I'm playing my first go around on hard FYI. Losing to bites can be a drag.
Pros:
- Great Atmosphere
- Enjoyable foraging and crafting
- Good health system
- Sandbox options
- Satisfying Melee
- Solid gunplay
Cons:
- Brain-dead AI, about as observant as Mr. Magoo.
- Cheap deaths, bull-rush deaths are frustrating as they are a surprise. Plus I just get bitten or Game of Throne smooshed. Bioshock handles bull-rushes wayyyy better.
- Average platforming and traversal puzzle solving.
- Been there done that Uncharted stealth
- NPCs getting me spotted due to stupid AI
- Ellie, if you have shotgun shells and no shotgun, give them to me right away!!! /videogames
So far the game is leaning towards being great but definitely not amazing. I'm not seeing anything original here from NG just a damn good packing of what has worked out amazing in the industry's past. Hell if I would make a game, I'd look towards the classic game-changers to build a foundation. And along with the titles I cited, I see MGS in the cat & mouse, Tomb Raider with that swimming, and many more moments that click with my memory. NG should be applauded for compiling such great elements into a single package, but I would have liked to see more of their own footprint; beyond what Uncharted has already provided.
EDIT:
Oh and that Dead Space grab with the weapons table.