The Last of Us Becomes Naughty Dog’s First Delayed Game
Terrible news, everyone! Those waiting in line come May 7th for a copy of Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic opus are doomed to reveal their damning faux pas to the one crushingly cynical, demoralizing GameStop employee they hate the most. You know the one. That shit-eating teenager who rolls his eyes damn near into the back of his head every time you disagree with his pompous opinions-masquerading-as-facts.
Oh, how he’ll laugh at you for getting a release date wrong and label you as a filthy troglodyte, all because — Right! That’s what the hell I’ve been trying to say. The Last of Us has been delayed until June 14th. Sorry, that one kinda got away from me.
That’s correct, calendar enthusiasts who don’t exist, Last of Us is dropping on a Friday, syncing us with the U.K.’s standardized video game release day (which, at the risk of my citizenship, is arguably more sensible). Naughty Dog’s reasoning for the date shuffle? Simple. They want the game to be great.
“As we entered the final phase of development for The Last of Us, we came to realize just how massive Joel and Ellie’s journey is,” said ND in an official statement. “But instead of cutting corners or compromising our vision, we came to the tough decision that the game deserved a few extra weeks to ensure every detail of The Last of Us was up to Naughty Dog’s internal high standards.”
I’ll say it again and again: I’m always for pushing a game’s date. It’s either a polished gem on launch day or several weeks of intolerable bugs until a dev can jump through the tedious hurdles of certifying a patch (which has the potential of breaking the game even more). Unlike that shit-munch teen — your end draws near, Anthony — you won’t see my eyes rolling during the wait.
The Last of Us (PS3) - May 7th
There’s just something magical about a dilapidated, crumbling apart post-apocalyptic landscape because the setting almost always makes for some extremely beautiful gaming environments.
Naughty Dog’s next big game may have been quiet for a little while, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t hiding just around the corner waiting to snatch you up (and, my, it’s good to see a glimpse of what ND can do with horror). May’s fast approaching, folks.
The Last of Us Box Art Revealed Alongside Pre-order Bonuses
This weekend Naughty Dog gifted us a brand new Last of Us trailer to gawk at as well as announcing what we’ve all been waiting for; a May 7th release date (you may have been waiting for just a release date, I was waiting specifically for a May 7th release date).
Today, we now get a good, hard look at the game’s box art (the pretty images above) and are also privy to the bonuses in store for those that pre-order the title. Participating retailers are handing out a voucher for the “Sights & Sounds Pack” which includes:
- The official soundtrack for the game
- A fancy PS3 theme
- Two avatars featuring our protagonists
Not to be outdone by those silly peasant retailers, however, Gamestop is offering both the “Sights & Sounds Pack” and the exclusive “Survival Pack” which leans harder on providing extras for the game’s multiplayer. Your online characters will be decked with:
- Bonus XP
- Special customizable items
- Extra in-game currency
- A melee attack booster
- And, as a bonus, Joel and Ellie receive additional skins (once you beat the game, that is)
Funny enough, I’m more grateful for the soundtrack thrown in than any of the multiplayer frills (truthfully — shame on me and my shit journalism — I wasn’t even aware the game had multiplayer). ‘Course, I might change my tune if the multiplayer turns out to be as amazing as the single-player campaign looks.
9/9/2012
Why, hello out there! I didn’t see you there. Or, rather, you didn’t see me here because I haven’t committed to a Roundup for damned near weeks now. First of all, sorry. Second of all, kindly step off my dick. Third of all, sorry for snapping at you. Fourthly, if I had to be honest, you are kind of needy and I know you hate hearing that because more than one ex has tossed that word at you, but come on, seriously, you’re gonna chalk that up to coincidence?
…Fifthly, sorry again. Video games. I don’t know why you let me get sidetracked. Welcome back to the Roundup, anyway.
Talk about an overwhelming day of news, folks. Germany’s Gamescom has kicked off and the gaming industry is doling out screenshots, footage, and announcements galore. And when I say “galore,” I actually mean “too goddamn much to keep up with, please poke my eyes out so that I don’t short out my brain.” We…we may have different definitions of “galore.”
But like a rising phoenix shooting towards the sky or, more similarly, a great white shark leaping from the ocean so as to tell a seagull just how the fuck he feels about gravity…The Roundup has risen once more.
What a helluva day for gaming. Sure, you can argue that a lot of announcements made on the first day were already outed or spoiled but exciting times nonetheless. How many days out of the year are this steeped in video game buzz?
Sony ended the flurry yesterday with their keynote conference. Taking stage to present was SCEA’s own President, Mr. Jack Tretton. He may have looked physically uncomfortable under the spotlight but he did a tasteful job of maintaining an air of professionalism which was especially welcome after listening to the combo of Aisha Tyler and the LITERAL trailer guy make uncomfortable shift-in-your-seat banter at Ubisoft’s presser.
Sony had their A game face on last night, and there certainly were some grade-A games shown off, but the presentation went soft the moment their peripherals took the limelight. Plus, while we were treated to some visual expounding on previously announced hits, there really wasn’t much in the way of fresh news. Click the jump so we can dig in.
“He Ain’t Even Hurt…” - New Glimpse at The Last of Us
While information on The Last of Us is light, the masses at large still seem to content themselves on boiling Naughty Dog’s latest effort down to just a “zombie game.” The infected shown in the game’s debut trailer certainly seem indicative of that, but Naughty Dog says pegging their post-apocalyptic foray as such is only looking at a smaller piece of the whole. So what is The Last of Us about? The game’s director Bruce Straley might have a better idea than us:
It’s a game about the human condition. 20 years after a plague has decimated our society, how does man survive? When all moral and ethical codes have been stripped, who do you trust? After watching your friends and loved ones pass, do you think you could still love? What is life without hope? We’re trying to make you feel these dilemmas while you’re playing The Last of Us.
Mr. Straley makes mention that this chilling teaser was released merely to amp people up for next month’s E3 demonstration where we’ll get to go to hell and back with The Last of Us.
The Last of Us (PS3)
Not just another zombie game. Actually, according to Naughty Dog, not really a zombie game at all. The worst and most consistent foe you’ll find yourself dealing with are your fellow humans. From a panicked government in steep decline to scavengers springing traps in order to steal a few more shells and cans of food, you might welcome the infected as a change of morbid pace.
“It’s been done before. We’ve seen the typical zombie shooter, the typical desaturated gray worlds. That’s not Naughty Dog. That’s not our style. It has to be beautiful. It has to give you that sense of mystery and entice you to want to see more.”
Bruce Straley, Game Director for The Last of Us (PS3), in this month’s Game Informer (issue 227).
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