Tech-Gaming Technology, Gaming, and Culture
Dishing out hit after hit, XBLA is making the case for more DLC games and content, quite strong. In addition, despite their image, Microsoft should be commended for allowing lesser known, lower budget developers work some real magic on XBLA. PSN seems to be effectively competing with this by releasing quirkier more indie-like titles than their formidable opponent. Both services are worth buying from and PSN has been wise to take such a stance. With games like the PixelJunk series, flOw, echochrome, the upcoming Flower, etc., PSN has made themselves a valuable service to gamers by supplying us with games outside of the norm. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (curiously under the guise of Hindustan Electronics Co. Ltd.), The Last Guy is yet another PSN-exclusive game confirming that.
The Last Guy begins after a mysterious purple beam hit earth turning everyone outside at the time into zombies. People who were indoors remained unaffected but afraid and wondering where to go. You are The Last Guy. Your mission is to strategically lead as many citizens as possible to the safety of designated “escape zones”. You have limited time and the United Rescue Force ships will fly in on schedule so you had better hurry, regardless of how strong the zombie presence may be.
The game uses actual high definition aerial photography (not Google Satellite imagery as some assumed) from various locations around the world. You must run around these maps-turned-game-stages coaxing nervous citizens and VIPs (for extra points) from the safety of their buildings so they may be evacuated.
Gameplay actually works like a combination of Pac-Man, Pikmin and even Katamari Damacy. As you gather people, they follow behind you in a line that becomes longer and longer. Just because you run around a corner doesn’t mean your followers have yet made it there. You are able to both sprint and call your followers closer to you. These require stamina which slowly replenishes itself and becomes more abundant as you gain more followers. Having several followers with you even grants you access to certain areas of stages that are otherwise inaccessible.
Various powerups are supplied around each stage and have effects such as stamina replenishment and invisibility. Having no attack against the various types of zombies (each having different behaviors and abilities), your only choice is to run for safety. Thermography vision allows you to better find people in need of rescue and more clearly marks where buildings begin and end. Zombies are not visible when in use, however, making it dangerous to use for prolonged periods. The Last Guy almost feels like a PixelJunk game, having a simple but fun concept done really well. It’s challenging and addictive but can be played in quick bursts or much longer “just one more stage” sessions.
The use of aerial photography actually had me sympathizing more with victims in certain stages. While I like the games cartoony 3D renders plus photography look, be warned. You only want to play this game on an HD display. It might work on an SD display but you’ll have to sit close to the display and probably zoom your in-game view in all the way. My modest 22” HD display sitting about 8 feet away running in HDMI just barely does the job. If your display setup doesn’t quite meet those standards, you may end up squinting very hard to say the least. I’ve died a few times and have not been sure what even attacked me. This is partly forgivable because I found it happened usually when I was just being somewhat careless or unobservant. When closer to my display, everything is about as clear as a bell.
As for the sound there’s some amusing voice acting as well as Japanese dialog, the music is recycled quite a bit but I found myself liking the various chiptune and orchestrated pieces. I would have liked a few more tunes than I’ve heard so far, but it’s not bad for such an inexpensive game.
My, admittedly obvious, suggestion is to try the demo before buying. If you find yourself somewhat liking the demos one stage (not very generous) and it looks decent on your display then I’d recommend purchasing the full game. The demo had me curious but uncertain and the full version had me sold… albeit after buying it!
Final Grade: B+
Note!: You may have seen the browser-based demo version of this game called The Last Guy Everywhere. Don’t judge the real game based on this shambling undead corpse. The real game is much better and much more solid.
Great review, tide!
I played the demo and at first I didn’t like. I played again and liked it a bit more.
My worry before buying it is the difficulty get hard too quick. Can you comment on that?
Great review. I am thinking about getting this. Maybe at $5 or 7.50.
You didn’t mention the Enrish accent of the announcer.
Grade?
what resolutions are supported? 1080P or just 720?
What monster/hazards are present outside the demo? How many levels/cities does thew game have?
The graphics look very good. That top screen is beautiful.
Great review. I would have bought this immediately if it was $5.00. $10 is a bit too much.
Sounds like an interesting game. Once I get a PS3, I’ll check it out.
Never heard of the game. Looks interesting. I’d playing any thing that’s like Katamari.
Might have to pick it up.
The name sounds like a game show. A bad one at that 😉
I bet they call the sequel, the Last Girl.
It sounds like a good game.
I didn’t understand the part about follows rounding corners. You have to constantly call them? If so, that sucks.
How long does it take to beat?
It appeared to be 1080 but I didn’t think to inspect it super closely.
No you don’t have to constantly call them. They follow you as a long tail behind you. Much like the classic Snake game. If you stop and want to drag in the “tail” close to you then you must call them. Like if a snake were to coil it’s tail to hide.
It’s challenging but the difficulty curve seemed fair in the stages I’ve gotten through.
I’m not yet all the way through it but enemy selection has been decent with some interesting behaviors. I can’t confirm this, but sources say there are 15 levels.
I’m still working on completing the game but it doesn’t seem to be especially long with 15 levels (or so I’ve read). There’s plenty of room for replay though, chasing high scores and finding the VIPs.
Yeah, it’s fairly different but there are some similarities!
Thanks for the info, Tidegear (AM)! I’m still on the fence for this one.
Give yourself a pat of the back for that awesome review. What did Deagle make of the game?
I really liked the demo. If this game had come out during a slower time, I would have surely bought it. But with so many games coming out between now and December, I’ll wait.
good review. If I ever really crave a $10 game, I know where to go.
Soneone put Pacman on a Google map and called it a game. I hated the demo.
Looks a very interesting game. I will download the demo the next time i turn my PS3 on.
Sounds like a fun game. At the very least people should buy it to support this kind of indie-stuff.
Any multiplayer? The review didn’t mention it, so I doubt it, but Id like to see the option.
I actually did because you told me to! I’m not sure if he’s played it yet.
Well it’s not indie by definition, for sure, being that it’s made by Sony. It’s indie-like in style though.
No, unfortunately. A multiplayer add-on would be cool! It could work.
Great review. Too bad I don’t have a PS3.
I’m really looking forward to flower.