Winner: The Last of Us
The Last of Us wins this one too. While the action gameplay mechanics were solid enough on their own, they were made all the more intense by situational tension. That’s the rush that makes the action feel more real, more important, and like there’s really something huge at stake.
And when those moments came around, Naughty Dog delivered. In countless moments throughout TLoU, players can take a survival approach that suits them, then try to pull it off. I was amazed watching another player do things that I never thought possible, and in reverse, she was surprised to see what I did at certain times. Taking things online, surprisingly, adds a whole other level to The Last of Us. Many had written it off as forced-in online play into a single player experience, but it turned out to be a great addition.
Going through the apocalypse sucks, but having all the life-and-death adrenaline flow without the actual pain and dying and disease can be a real hoot.
Runners Up:
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
- Tomb Raider
- Final Exam
Be sure to stick to PlayStation LifeStyle all week during our Best of 2013 Awards week, and for more on our awards and the process behind them, go here. For all the awards given out so far, go here.
