The Last of Us: A Legacy that Changed Gaming
The Last of Us celebrates its tenth anniversary this week, and it’s hard to believe that gamers have been enjoying Sony games influenced by The Last of Us for that long. The Last of Us joins the ranks of legacy-defining titles such as Grand Theft Auto 3, Super Mario Bros., Wolfenstein, and World of Warcraft – games that have forever altered the course of the industry.
When you sit down to play games like Assassin’s Creed Lilith, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, it's important to acknowledge the influence of The Last of Us. Red Dead Redemption 2's opening weekend success and Modern Warfare 2 shattering records owe a heavy debt to The Last of Us. While The Last of Us wasn't the first to introduce elements such as combat, cover-based shooting, gritty realism, linear storytelling, and well-developed characters, it excelled in every aspect, pushing the boundaries of what a video game can be.
The Last of Us has had a significant impact on Sony's lineup for the past decade. Many of their prestige games since 2013 have followed a similar formula – realistic, slightly nihilistic action-adventure games with world-ending stakes and a driven, linear story. Naughty Dog's work in The Last of Us Part 2 and Uncharted 4 demonstrated a fresh and unique take on these tropes.
However, the influence of The Last of Us may be growing stale. The prevalence of extremely linear, narrative-focused games with similar tropes in other titles like Assassin’s Creed, Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Colossus, Days Gone, and Red Dead Redemption has made the formula predictable. Even Xbox is following suit with the release of Warfare 2 and Halo Infinite.
But let's not diminish the impact of The Last of Us. It remains a timeless masterpiece that sparked a new era of storytelling in video games – immersive and cinematic experiences without sacrificing gameplay. As we reach the ten-year anniversary of the PlayStation 3 original, it's time for developers to seek fresh ideas and inspiration elsewhere.
A glance at the best games of the past decade – Red Dead Redemption, GTA 5, Zelda, Dead Rising, Resident Evil 2 – reveals their debt to The Last of Us. It changed everything, paving the way for a new generation of games. While The Last of Us 2 may not have set the same sales records as Black Ops IIII, its impact can be seen in some of the finest games of the last ten years. Its legacy will continue to shape the future of gaming.
