IndexIntroductionNarrative in The Last of UsKey Mechanics in The Last of UsConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionThe Last of Us is a video game published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2013. It is developed by Naughty Dog and was directed by Bruce Straley. In short, The Last of Us is set in the post-apocalyptic United States. The game tells the story of main protagonists Joel and Ellie, as they face their arduous journey across the desolate country after a fungal plague has largely decimated humanity. The Last of Us allows players to participate in a deeply emotional and evocative experience, which is why I believe narrative is the game's central aesthetic. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Narrative in The Last of Us In an extremely dark world with little humor, hope, and humanity, the narrative of The Last of Us succeeds remarkably in providing a compelling, touching, and heartbreaking story. A mix of close-quarters and bloody combat, suspenseful gameplay and powerful cutscenes, results in a narrative that refuses to desensitize players, maintaining high immersion and emotional vulnerability. One of the main dynamics that add to the narrative is exploration. Exploration is one of the key dynamics present in everything. While the locations are somewhat linear, they don't hinder the exploratory nature of the game. Searching every hidden nook in the hope of finding limited resources is exciting and rewarding. This allows players to apply different game strategies to overcome future adversities, as the safety of the recovered resources is a decisive factor. Choosing a more "stealthy" approach reminds the player of the harsh and terrifying reality of the world, reinforcing the game's central aesthetic. Exploration can also lead to optional conversations that further influence the overall narrative of the story, as we gain more information about the characters, their goals and motivations. Collectibles, such as notes and personal items, can be found everywhere and provide greater insight and perspective on the world and its inhabitants. During exploration, the player is subjected to a perfect balance between moments of respite and more intense emotional and action moments, which strengthens the aesthetics of the narrative. Some key mechanics that contribute to this dynamic are the items and the crafting system. Key Mechanics in The Last of Us Items, a key mechanic in The Last of Us, consist of throwable items, ammo, bindings, rags, weapon parts, and character supplements to name a few. Items are recovered by the player during his journey through the game. The natural scarcity of items in this world reinforces the need for the player to undertake in-depth exploration. Ammo is a vital item, as the player will encounter many hardships and terrifying hordes of enemies throughout his travels. Secret, locked rooms containing large amounts of items can be discovered by exploring, which evokes a lot of satisfaction and confidence in the player, encouraging them to explore further. The mechanics of the crafting system also contribute greatly to the dynamics of exploration. Individually, many of the items mentioned above may not be of much use. It is the combination of such items that allows the player to create new and more useful items. Healing kits are made by combining individual items, rags and alcohol. Other crafts include Molotov cocktails, knives and various types of bombs. The player must make compromises to accomplish certain things, 2013.