Why the opening of The Last of Us is so very effective

Tom from GamersFTW writes: "One particular aspect of The Last of Us that seems to draw special praise, and live long in the memories of players, is the opening section of the game. I therefore thought it may be interesting to look in depth at how the opening section of the game is so memorable, and how it effectively sets up the player for the rest of the game to follow."

[Maple22]

Urgh... don't even talk to me about this opening. It still hurts after all this time.

[mep69]

Brings me tears thinking about it :'(

Very useful for my acting though :P

[G20WLY]

My missus watched me play it. She's usually pretty disinterested, but at the end of that scene, she slowly turned to look at me with a look of sadness/hurt/WTF. I felt happy that she'd been affected by a game, but disappointed with myself for being such a shitbag (I had played it before and made here watch it)! ;^P

I think the girls acting right at the end of the scene is what makes it so hard to watch. The sound during those closing moments is incredible, as is the editing in general.

[Goldby]

@g20wly

getting chills remembering the squels she made.

so many feels

[Rayven]

Most heart-wrenching scene in all of video game history for me. I remember being so hard and unfeeling before I played this game, It was when I just got over about 2 years of clinical depression. Most games I played then kinda gave me nothing-including most movies as well. But the moment that I first watched that opening scene from a friend's ps3, that was the moment I knew I was really getting better, because this game hooked me from the start, made me care what's next and simply gutted me during these kind of scenes. I remember getting a ps4 and buying tlou remastered and gta v as my first 2 ps4 games.

[Goldby]

i first played it on ps4 myself, never read much about any part of it, and all my friends who had played it on ps3 promised not to ruin anything for me, as they knew i was also suffering from depression and other mental issues. after i finished downloading the game, and played the first scene, i jumped into party and just said (guys wtf, im crying over a character i just met.)
the only opther time i have shed tears for a video game is the ending of Journey, highly recommend that Rayven.

i Hope all is well with you now.

[SkippyPaccino]

***SPOILER ALERT***

I find the part when Ellie & Joel are reunited after Ellie had hacked up David to be the climax and my most emotional part of the game (there were many)

[frostypants]

Yeah. That opening was brutal by any media standards. It hit harder than anything I've seen in The Walking Dead (the most obvious comparison). I cared more about those characters after 15 minutes or so than I did for characters who've been on TWD for years.

It also made everything about Joel's character in the game make perfect sense. Without that opening, he'd just seem like a jerkbag. But instead, he's this guy who was destroyed emotionally, and who can't bare to have such a thing happen to him again. Everything about him and his attitude towards Ellie is understandable. He probably likes Ellie right off the bat...but he can't let himself acknowledge it.

[rainslacker]

The whole scene was done to set up his character so he can overcome that loss through Ellie. It was an emotional growth for him.

Very sad scene. Very real in how you'd expect people to act in that situation, and really conveyed the fear and pain of the girl, and the helplessness that Joel was going through.

[skydragoonityx]

the last of us is a master piece. no other game comes close. as for the opening, whenever i replay it i wish i could skip that opening cus yea it still hurts :(

[Gatsu]

Emotional games are what a I love and consider them masterpieces to bring such feels. I cried in Life is Strange more than any other game before. It was quite a surprise to me :D, but TLOU is at the top too for me amongst few other special games.

[Paytaa]

After most of the trailers came out I went completely dark on the game. Come release day, I played for the first 20 or so minutes and jesus christ no game has ever hit me that hard that fast. I was legitimately crying.

If your game can do that, it's a masterpiece.

[TwoForce]

Shooting at little girl like that. That's just make me hurt and cry at same time. Oh my god, the freaking soundtrack from opening scene, it was just so heartbreaking.

[G20WLY]

Careful with the spoilers, mate. ;o)

I know it sounds ridiculous, but some haven't got themselves a PlayStation yet and will want to catch up on the likes of TLOU, Uncharted and God of War among the many other classic exclusives they've read about for so many years.

[TwoForce]

Sorry about that.

[G20WLY]

All good mate, I only thought it was worth mentioning because (although I had a PS3) I only played it recently on PS4 myself and I found out something pretty key beforehand from an innocent comment just like yours.

I know you meant well and it's difficult to talk about such an awesome game without wanting to talk specifics! :^)

[Gatsu]

Most emotional moments in games are effective and gives lasting memories. Which is why I love them. I still cry in certain parts in FF7, when replay it... after 17 years.

[SpinalRemains138]

That set the game up beautifully. It was emotionally charged and perfect.

Still though, it wasn't as sad as Emil's death in Nier. That takes the cake.

[The_BlackHeart__]

The best / worst video game intro ever made.

[Zero109]

It wasn't really effective for me. This coming from the guy who still plays the MP till this day. I can never get emotional or feel for a character when they die within the 1st 30 mins of any movie/game/show/anime/book etc.

I never got to really know her. She never grew on me. Sure I was like "damn, she got shot and she's about to die" but beyond that there was no link because of how little time I got to know her.

Now when *SPOILER*
Joel almost died and the screen went black and a few moments later you started using Ellie, THAT was effective. I got to know Joel. A connection was established. I actually cared about what happens to him. Same goes for Ellie at the end of the game. *END SPOILER*

Whenever any form of media has a character die so early, I feel like they're forcing me to care. Which just doesn't work work for me. Everything else about the game is fantastic (except the little to no ways *at all* you had to defend against clickers).

[Goldby]

it was more shock that she died, but wasnt used to create a bond with her, it was to establish a base line for joel, why else would he have a broken watch 20 odd years later. why else would he be so hesitant of ellie, and ulitmately why he chose what he did choose to do at the end of the game.

it all stems form that opening scene. not many games out there that are still talked about as much as that opening scene.

Props Naughty Dog. would love to work with them one day... even just getting them coffee

[Ashistheking]

It's entirely intergral to the story and Ellie. I love how it stays with him and you almost feel his pain the whole way through the game as he's slowly coming to terms with it. Probably the most cinematic and heart wrenching opening to a game iv'e ever played :'(.