Grave Gamer News & Views — ps3

There are games and then there are experiences.  With Naughty Dog’s recent step up in pedigree through its widely acclaimed Uncharted trilogy, I went into The Last of Us expecting quality, of course, but I came out the other side of its campaign unquestionably floored.

I really hadn’t anticipated to have my very emotions put through the ringer like this.  Over the course of about ten hours, I went on a grueling, thoughtful, gorgeous, and almost tough to swallow adventure that echoed the sentiments of countless apocalyptic literature and film so effectively that, often, it transcends the works it set out to pay respects to.

Let’s cut the pretense and get down to brass tacks.  The Last of Us is not just the best game to come out of Naughty Dog’s doors, and it’s not just the best exclusive title the PlayStation 3 has ever housed.  And it’s not just the best original IP of the year (which it is, even with more than half a year left of 2013).  No, no, that’s too small of scale to view this rarity of a game on.  Believe you me, my next words are not ones I loose unto the world lightly nor often:

The Last of Us is easily one of the best video games ever made.

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 Embargo’s Over, PS3 Faithful: Skyrim DLC Finally Releasing

Better late as hell than never, eh?  After an exhausting wait for even the most weathered journeyer, Bethesda has announced Skyrim’s downloadable content is at last releasing for the PlayStation 3 next month starting with the Dragonborn expansion.

To date, the PS3 version of Skyrim has missed out on three separate DLC expansions that the Xbox 360 has already enjoyed and basked in, each originally planned for only a 30-day exclusivity period on Microsoft’s console.  Technical difficulties, delays, and several months of seething fan anger later and it was painfully clear Bethesda’s original plans went tits up.

Understanding the almost scalable wall of disappointment and frustration this has caused PS3 Skyrim users, Bethesda is offering a week long discount of 50% Off for each expansion as they launch on PSN.  Once Dragonborn is out of the gate, the company is backtracking by releasing the Hearthfire expansion for those with a penchant for medieval decorating, and then the Dawnguard DLC in all of its vampiric glory.

While Dragonborn’s PC date is marked down for February 5th, all three pieces of the PS3’s DLC are expected throughout the same month at unspecified dates.

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.

9/23/12

Here’s last weeks news, this week because my lack of focus wouldn’t let me finish something I started on Sunday until Monday in the A.M.

Welcome back to the Roundup.  It missed you lots.