Humanity lifts up the story of The Last of Us

Of this you can be sure: the developers at Naughty Dog know how to tell a story. The Last of Us (Sony; PS3; rated mature), released on June 14, begins with an unexpected prologue that sets the stage for the story you’ll play. The game overflows with thrills as well as tragedy, and at all times it will have you in awe.

This adventure game may be peppered with elements of the survival-horror genre, but it’s really about the astounding natural world and the beauty that can be found there, despite the savagery. Even the reason for the downfall of humanity—a Cordyceps fungus that turns people into mindless, gibbering monsters—elicits a certain wonder.

It’s been 20 years since the fungus first appeared, and it’s eradicated 90 percent of the world’s population. You play as Joel, a smuggler who is escorting a young girl, Ellie, out of a quarantine zone in what used to be Boston. One theme here is choosing safety or liberty: to live in the quarantine zone, governed by martial law, or to live outside, where the infected are a constant threat. Arguments for choosing one over the other are made throughout the game.

The intrigue of the natural world is reflected in the complex relationship between Joel and Ellie. The link that forms between these two survivors feels real, allowing players to connect with and care about them. Don’t be surprised if you cry for them. Their bond is another reason you’ll find yourself in awe.

All of the characters in The Last of Us are believable and fallible. Even the desperate scavengers who are your adversaries are flawed and yet noble, in their own despairing way. On their journey, Joel and Ellie are also confronted by humans infected with the fungus. They are to be feared and pitied, for those that retain vestiges of their humanity are not in control. The fungus is.

The artificial intelligence that governs the actions of the enemies is dynamic and robust, so they don’t follow predictable patterns. The human adversaries actually communicate with each other when coming after you. The combat system allows you to break lines of sight to escape, hide, and come up with a new plan of attack.

Using cover and Joel’s enhanced listening mode are key to survival here. You can avoid many battles if you distract enemies by throwing bottles and bricks and simply sneaking away. When you do engage enemies, it is brutal and ruthless. The violence isn’t overly graphic or gory, but it does have an emotional cost for both the characters and you.

Resource management is central to the game. You’ll need to use supplies like blades and tape to craft shivs, upgrade melee weapons, and create health packs. You can improve your skills during the game to craft more quickly, or extend the range of your listening abilities.

Perfectly complementing the stunning visuals is a minimalist sound design. Often, you hear nothing but the sounds of nature itself—the dripping of water, the croaking of frogs, the click of an infected human.

Those who were frustrated by the drunken-sailor movement mechanics of the Uncharted games—also developed by Naughty Dog—will have similar issues with The Last of Us, although they aren’t quite as pronounced. But you should find a way to deal with your annoyance, because this game is worth it.

As terrible and horrific as things get for Joel and Ellie, players will gape at the beauty of it all and at how nature finds a way to carry on.