So yeah, I bought the Last of Us two nights ago. I wasn't planning on doing it, but considering that I'm a fan of Naughty Dog, I thought I would do it. 

I've been playing it for a day now, and I have to say that I think the game is great. In terms of story and atmosphere, it is definitely one of the best games out there right now. Not as good as Bioshock: Infinite, but still very good. 

Now, the main idea behind the plot doesn't seem original, and it's really not, but it's the execution of this idea that makes the story so engrossing. The writing is fantastic, the characters are very realistic, and the set pieces are so well realized. The visuals are also mindblowing. 

The game also does a great job of showing the gamers what it would be like to get stuck in a post-apocalyptic world: it's a world where normal people, even friends, can't trust each other, and human beings are desensitized to any kind of violence and brutality. A good example that demonstrates this kind of brutality would be the intro, which does a perfect job of setting the tone for the rest of the game. 

The gameplay of The Last of Us can be hit or miss. Most of the game revolves around stealth mechanics, but those mechanics are very limited. You can either sneak by enemies or distract them, grab them from behind, and either kill them or strangle them. There's not even an option for moving and hiding the bodies. Plus, there's nothing really original about the stealth elements. For example, you can hold R2 to "focus Joel's hearing", and basically listen to the footsteps of enemies and spot where they are from behind the walls. That might seem like an innovative idea at first, but it's basically like the "detective vision" from the Batman games (Arkham City/ Arkham Asylum). 

The AI is inconsistent. Sometimes, the enemies can hear you when you make a squeak, but other times your AI partners would be running around the room and the enemies won't even turn their heads. There were even times where one enemy would be looking right at me without noticing my presence and alerting the other gaurds. 

The crafting and upgrading system are welcome additions, but the number of items that can be crafted is very limited, and most of the upgrades are pointless. 

The gameplay also has a repetitive nature. You explore, walk into a room full of enemies, either knock them out or sneak by them, solve an easy puzzle, and then the same cycle repeats itself over and over again. 

Don't get me wrong, the gameplay is satisfying, it's just a little bit unpolished compared to the other aspects of the game. I wish the AI was more consistent, there were more items to craft, and the upgrading system had more depth to it. 

As mentioned before, The Last of Us is a great game when it comes to story, characters, and atmosphere. Unfortunately, the gameplay, while it can be fun and very satisfying, is not very deep or varied. The best aspect of the gameplay is the exploration and crafting, which is hindered by the limited number of items you can make. 

I haven't finished the game yet, but for now, I'm thoroughly enjoying it and I'm invested in the characters and the story. 

8.5/10 (the score might change after I beat the game)