It also looked fine to me.
My only quibbles are pretty directly tied to how deeply I've internalized the beats and all of the original.
Really enjoyed the premiere, though I think it dragged a bit in the middle- they could have cut about ten minutes out of the second act without losing anything.
It was surprisingly faithful to the source material and what did change were IMO mostly improvements.
I sort of wish I hadn’t played the game so I could go into the show fresh.
Totally enjoyed the premiere episode. What a great first act. Can't wait to see future episodes.
If interested check out the HBO Last of Us podcasts which will premiere after every episode.
This is the YouTube version of the podcast. I’m gonna resist listening until I get the chance to watch the show.
Wondering if watching the show will ruin the game for me since I haven't playet it yet and waiting for the PC release in March.
The first season covers, I believe, the entire plot of the first game and it’s DLC, so yeah you probably don’t want to watch if you’re avoiding spoilers for the game. On the other hand, they released the remake partially because they know people will want to check it out after the show. So depends on what experience you want first.
If you watch the show before the game, the story doesn't get ruined by the terrible combat system.
Never played or watched a playthrough of the game and I was entertained throughout the first episode. Only weak point is Ellie, imho. I kinda wish they had gone with another angle than weak and frustrated teen.
Never played or watched a playthrough of the game and I was entertained throughout the first episode. Only weak point is Ellie, imho. I kinda wish they had gone with another angle than weak and frustrated teen.
Her character is going to go interesting places. She starts out that boring way as the starting off point.
If you watch the show before the game, the story doesn't get ruined by the terrible combat system.
The combat system isn’t for everyone but it really worked for me. There is a clunkiness to the + menu system and the crafting that makes me feel the same pressure I might feel if I was actually trying to reload a weapon or bandage a wound in the middle of a fight. It works in a similar way to the ‘no movement while shooting’ system in the early Resident Evil games (I really disliked that weird set up for controlling a character but I can see how it added to the terror and panic of those encounters.)
The bow, with it’s line marking the trajectory of the arrow, similarly made me feel like I was actually aiming with a bow and it made landing shots extremely satisfying. I’m probably in a minority but I particularly enjoy combat systems that force you to improvise from moment to moment and, on higher difficulties, the game definitely does that. I’ve had many memorable fights where I was constantly on the edge of running out of ammo completely and having to risk crafting a Molotov as enemies closed in or reduced to lobbing a brick or bottle at someone before closing the distance and fighting it out with clubs and fists.
Hopefully we'll start watching it tonight.
The combat system isn’t for everyone but it really worked for me.
Yeah, I really, really, dont like the combat in Uncharted (shooting gallery), but TLOUs combat always felt pretty good to me.
Also, great first episode of the series.
I had no issues with the combat and crafting system. It served it's purpose quite well.
Is there going to be a point where Joel laments that he's run out of scissors?
I’ve heard that episode 3 is mostly looting interspersed with discovering and reading a particularly riveting series of hand written notes.
Been looking forward to this. Listening now:
(The Last of Us is in the title. Judging by their track record, there’s, at best, a 50/50 chance they’ll actually talk about it in the episode.)
If I want to play The Last of Us on PC, should I watch or avoid the show until after I've played?
The first season covers, I believe, the entire plot of the first game and it’s DLC, so yeah you probably don’t want to watch if you’re avoiding spoilers for the game. On the other hand, they released the remake partially because they know people will want to check it out after the show. So depends on what experience you want first.
Follow your heart.
If I want to play The Last of Us on PC, should I watch or avoid the show until after I've played?
It’s a tricky call. I actually watched a play though of The Last of Us during the 360 era when I thought I’d never own a PlayStation. It didn’t reduce the impact the game had on me when I finally played it myself. It feels a little different with the show.
My general rule, when choosing which of two games in a series to play first say, is to play the version that is less sophisticated first then the next game will be an upgrade rather playing the better game first and spend the second game lamenting it’s lack of refinement.
It sounds like the HBO series adds a lot to the characterisation, extra scenes, etc so, in your position, I’d be tempted to play the game first but in reality you probably can’t go wrong whichever way you do it.
If you really want to understand the gameplay loop of the series, Episode 2's got you covered.
Episode 2 was very good.
I’m probably going to have to start watching these as they happen.
Pros and cons on the series so far by someone who luxuriates in the name of Freek in the Push Square comments:
Pros:
Amazingly life like graphics.
High production values.
Great story and cutscenes.Cons:
Little to no gameplay.
Cut scenes go too long.
Episodic content makes the wait unbearable.
A photo from the set of episode 2:
I haven't played the game but am really enjoying the series so far. My only criticism is that I can see more of the "video gamey" parts in the series than I would like to. Nothing too egregious, but lots of shots that feel like they're highlighting the gear and inventory, environmental puzzles, and pacing that feels right out of a video game. I feel like the series has enough to work with that it can be its own thing and would do well to lean into the fact that it isn't a video game.
Huh, having played the game, I haven't noticed any of that hubbinsd. What's some examples?
I feel the opposite, I like they can give some nods to the gameplay without it becoming absurd of course. The whole clicker scene felt like something from the game.
There also was the scene of giving Tess a boost.
I am just waiting for a nod to the crafting in the game 
Probably shouldn't do that more than once...
Maybe a puzzle at some point ^^
I dunno, I did laugh when they revealed Ellie in the Iconic ND Aesthetic: vertical grip flashlight in a shoulder strap.
Ok. I’ve signed up for NOW TV (where you get HBO content in the UK.) I’m now onboard to watch weekly and will probably watch the first episode tonight, which is quite exciting.
May want to clear a few days to read all the think pieces that have accumulated over the last couple of weeks.
There are some very odd takes I’ve spotted already. I’m not that interested in hearing people pick apart and intellectualise the show as it goes along. It doesn’t add to my enjoyment and is often just an annoyance. I’m enjoying all the positive reactions and reviews.
First episode down. I couldn’t have asked for a better made adaption of the game. It’s unbelievably good and, as lots of folks have already said, the changes only improve on what was already there.
It feels in some ways like I’m experiencing the story for the first time. I love that you get new scenes but then you arrive at a moment from the game that they’ve kept as is. It’s a joy to see scenes that I know off by heart being so well recreated. It’s even a treat to witness all the subtle set up and character work they are doing as build up for what’s to come. Watching Joel and Ellie interact with each other is a particular delight.
I was entirely sold on Pedro Pascal as Joel but I was worried how I’d respond to Bella Ramsey as Ellie. She originates from very close to where I live in the UK and I thought I might just see a local lass made good rather than Ellie but I needn’t have worried.
Onto episode 2.
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