Why The Last of Us Opening is so Powerful

[@HotDogTimeMachine385]

TLOU's opening is still some of the best intros to a story I've seen. It's so well done. The 15 minutes perfectly introduce the backstory and the characters, everything you need. By the end of the 15 minutes you completely understand and feel like Joel. And then it goes into the godly soundtrack as the credits roll mixed with news reports. You're in his shoes the moment you really start the game. A+ beginning to a story!

[@Jared-cm2wv]

On the flipside, you also have my experience. I borrowed my brother's copy, didn't pay attention to the cover art, and didn't know anything about Ellie. All I knew is that it was about a man and a girl going through a zombie-ish apocalypse. "Oh, the girl's his daughter" was what I took away from Sarah's introduction. Instead of tension building up to see *how* Sarah would die, I was completely caught off guard because I didn't think she *could* die (at least, not that early on)

[@iamdjared]

That was my experience too. I knew nothing about the story, and was shocked.

[@TheSunnyOne]

I remember the first time playing this game, my partner at the time had to get up and leave the room at Sarah's death, while I just sat in silence and didn't touch the controller for a good 30 minutes. Genuinely one of the best cold openings to a game I've ever played.

[@xdelbarrio]

honestly I cant watch this opening without tearing up, even now, just the half opacity video with no sound of Joel desperately trying to save Sarah is enough for me, its such a well realized moment, the desperation, the realization and the heartbreak of a father all just felt real and hit so hard because of the very effective yet quick introduction

[@charlotterosewood4170]

This opening is so intense the first time through and on subsequent playthroughs, so tragic still because you know what's going to happen to this character that means so much to a still somewhat innocent Joel but 20 years later he's become so cold after losing that person that's so important to him. It really is one of the best openings that gaming has ever seen both on the first, and any future runs. Amazing video as always

[@msf2399]

An argument could be made that this also sets you up to never fully trust anyone; even though Tommy saves you, he’s *almost* too late with the QTE & he’s too late for the *important* save against the soldier. Similarly, in setting up Joel’s callousness towards anyone not “his,” it means anyone he recognizes is someone he may have hurt in the past and/or someone who might know they’ll need to be manipulative, playing to Joel’s interests, if they want him to help them. Going forward, you as the player never feel like you can fully trust anyone (except Ellie,) by dint of both the world & shoes you’re walking in.

[@bepkororoti8019]

I wish they still had Bruce Straley working on part two, I'd have liked for him to have had input, maybe it wouldn't have been so exhausting and depressing

[@hyperdeath84]

I think the difference is that TLOU2 feels unbalanced into being more relentlessly bleak than the first. It isn’t darker, it just never feels like it comes up for air. The joke book Ellie brings out at key moments is a genius touch as it humanises both characters with a fairly simple device. There is some of that with Abby and Lev but there isn’t enough quiet time in their part of the story to have those small, yet crucial moments of levity. I do like TLOU2 but the first game gives me a broader and more satisfying range of emotions than 2 does, and that’s what makes the first a masterpiece and the second a good but depressing game - for me anyway.

[@SnowWhite-fg3sc]

Great episode. In a market flooded with video game analysis videos and retrospectives from every Tom, Dick, and Harry with a mic, your channel absolutely stands out. Keep at it, man!

[@MontyZander]

Thanks!

[@MacabreStorytelling]

Bruh is criminally underrated

[@bepkororoti8019]

I can't even listen to the intro soundtrack without breaking into tears, what an epic, until this day

[@hunterofcomedy]

So even knowing where the scene was going from the beginning (through inference and no spoilers), I still cried when Sarah died. It was the first time a video EVER made me cry. I'd felt sad or upset or happy or concerned from games past, but that moment completely broke me. I felt tears running down my cheek before I knew what was happening. It comes down to masterful writing, spectacular acting, and everything else you pointed out that truly made this game a Masterpiece. For me at least. Also, did you know that the actress who played Sarah did such a great job in her death scene that while filming the motion-capture, the entire crew needed a few minutes after the first take to compose themselves? They had to do another shoot, but everyone, from the actors to the staff, to the director, needed time to process and recover. Sarah's actor only did the scene two or three times, but each time it broke the crew. She even felt a little bad but the director could only praise her and told her not to worry about it and keep doing what she was doing. I believe the actress was around Sarah's age when filming and to have that level of talent so early in her career is amazing!

[@Dayli94]

I found your channel through the Forgotten City video and subscribed within the first 10 minutes. Your content has never dissappointed since. You're doing really great work, its highly appreciated!

[@MediHD-]

Please do this for the whole game man this video was amazing and super captivating, I could be biased because of my love for TLOU series tho 🤣

[@iamdjared]

When I played this years ago, the moment Sarah is watching the TV report and the explosions happen on the screen and then we see it through the window, I knew I was experiencing a very different story.

[@Funnylittleman]

I was in uniquely perfect situation to play this game. I played video games as a kid but fell out of it around 2003. I got back into it in 2015 and one of the first games I played was this one. My jaw dropped at the opening. I bawled. I didn’t know games could do what this game did. I spent the next week doing nothing but play this game for hours, desperate to see how it played out.

[@christophermcbride2522]

Great video. I was introduced to your channel through your "Lore Dump" episode of "Kingdom Hearts". I don't know if you ever had "Lore Dump" as a pod outside of KZbin, but I downloaded all of the Lore Dump videos and converted them into mp3s so I could listen to them at work. I hope you continue the Kingdom Hearts series, and eventually do games like Silent Hill, FNAF, God of War, Devil May Cry, DOOM, Half-life, Portal, etc

[@MontyZander]

Lore Dump is available on all podcast platforms (Spotify etc) to make it easier! We’re recording Union X this weekend

[@christophermcbride2522]

@@MontyZander oh.... I took the time to add individual thumbnails for each episode haha. I personally like to download podcast episodes and archive them. I don't like streaming apps for podcasts. Also, add "Legacy of Kain" to the list. Lots of lore there.

[@PostMortalForm]

Oooh definitely legacy of kain, please!

[@dadenelson7570]

I've been kinda leery of ever giving this a shot, since I've only ever heard praise, and frankly I'm kinda scared it won't stand up, but this has definitely put some more weight in the "give it a shot" camp, great work. P.S. audibly yelled when you said you guys were recording union x soon, that series of lore dump is so much fun

[@AssClapCowboy]

Bruh it’s 2022, how have you not played this yet. No excuse lol

[@dadenelson7570]

@@AssClapCowboy never wanted to, don't need an excuse, die mad ig

[@AssClapCowboy]

@@dadenelson7570 I forget that taste can’t be taught. Sorry chief

[@dadenelson7570]

@@AssClapCowboy imagine thinking your tastes are the only correct ones

[@lunarsani]

It’s brilliant that after witnessing Joel’s loss, the game starts back up with him gasping himself awake. Subtly telling us how that day has haunted him every night, that the grief of it all is still just as fresh as the minute he lost Sarah. Then we see that damn broken watch. And that’s one of the first things Ellie notes about Joel, “your watch is broken.” Then when he wakes up after her remark, she also notes “you mumble in your sleep.”

[@Xavier-jm3yb]

I personally liked this game alot, i rember playing it a while ago and being scared but also enjoying the plot, when i played the second game, i thought it was alright but felt less scary since it felt like on average difficulty the game was easier and the old stalkers used to be scary since you had to do objectives as you were hunted, but in the second game, the fear of stalkers lessened due to how well equipped i was, still love both games, first one was amazing second one was good

[@nukjohnson151]

Love the vids can't wait for more

[@racefrazier7998]

I was gifted Last of Us remastered in 2015. I didn't know a thing about it, other than my friend saying "Its a zombie shooter. I think you'll like it." On one sleepless work night, dusting off the box, I fired it up thinking to myself "A casual shooter game will clear my mind." I only played the opening, I was crying, didn't sleep. However all day at work I couldn't wait to get back home an play Last of Us. I finished it on Grounded.

[@Toatekaha]

Props to the cameraman for this beautiful opening.

[@exogris]

Again a phenomenal video. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@jakestone_]

Absolutely beautiful work

[@blackslashmail]

I adore your FTM series. I need to reply this game and have my heart ripped out again. 😮‍💨

[@cobrabear6497]

great video

[@Raymando]

Another interesting thing to mention is how you see an explosion in the "real world" right at the same time as the news report, making the threat seem much more real. This is exactly what happens in Chernobyl, and guess what - they're both now making the show lol

[@stangerr0267]

Hey Monty, it's September where is our lore dump you promised

[@ZoeBateman]

TLOU: **has 3 releases** Monty: “Jesus Christ!” Skyrim: “pfft, amateurs”

[@sabinsx]

gd, that's even more sad when you really think about it. :(

[@ИерофейРублёв]

удивительно на сколько всем всё равно на последнего из нас в настоящий момент

[@EvilGeniusIIpi]

Fuck mate, I can’t emotionally handle watching TLOU opening right now… But I’m gonna do it anyway ;)

[@SaberRexZealot]

Yesss. The real BioShock Infinite lol. Bricks and bottles beat quantum mechanics any day.

[@CaptConnoissuer]

Are you planning on releasing a full last of us video essay?

[@MontyZander]

I’m not, no, at least not anytime soon. I don’t think I’d have more to add to the many, many critiques already out for the game at this stage. I am going to do a First Ten Minutes on Part 2 though!

[@thaddeushamlet]

I, am a MAN. I can DO THIS. * hears guitar * * sobs *

[@donjoy33]

Is this the new or old game. I can’t tell…obviously needed a remaster lol

[@AssClapCowboy]

Google

[@lostgirl709]

SPOILER AHEAD Why I don’t like the last of us 2. The things that made the last of us so great, those feelings are gone. I’m all for Ellie’s character development, I hate that they used Joel’s death to drive that development T-T

[@sill3n]

You are better than Razbuten

[@T0xt3r]

Regardless, Ellie is still best girl.

[@vassilihevner5538]

✋ PЯӨMӨƧM

[@SageofStars]

I have to admit, like SOMA, this is one of those games I didn't like as much as I know others did. It's an effective opening, I'll grant you that, but it made me care less about the following events as it felt like arcs I'd seen before in comics and books I'd read before. Worse, I honestly wasn't sure the world deserved/could be saved by about the 1/3rd mark in the game, as so much damage had been done that it felt like, even if you get rid of the infected, I don't think there's enough left to save the human race. And then the ending. Where a good opening can hook you, and I'll admit this one did, a bad ending can sour a lot of the experience. And again, this ending, and as I mentioned SOMA's did that for me. Not as egregiously as the underwater sim, but still. The Fireflies, over the game, prove untrustworthy, and even at the end, you can't really know if they're even half as good as they think they are. Worse, they have lied to you on several occasions in the past, so trusting them now seems like a bad play. But Joel...well he's forced to do some nasty things over the course of the game. And here, it's worse because it's so contrived. Everyone else in the base gets out of your way when you bust into the operating room, because they know, they can't stop you. Save for that one 'doctor' who chooses to force the issue. And of course, Part 2 was...controversial to say the least. I do try and keep my thoughts out of that, and this is a series focusing on the beginning, but knowing what comes after really sours this one. Sarah's death? It's pointless in this story now. It motivates Joel, sure, but it's not necessary to know it anymore going forward, and it just...again, it sours it all. Still, that does not take away from this being well presented and thoughtful in its focus. You did great here, and I hope to see more from you later. I was curious what your big thing would be after Bioshock, and while I'm still wondering, this was a good tidbit to whet the appetite, as it were, for whatever feast comes next.

[@MontyZander]

Next up will be a few Lore Dumps. I’m working on two more critiques that will be out before the years over though!

[@SageofStars]

@@MontyZander Ooh, looking forward to it then. You have been interesting for focusing on the more 'realistic' kind of games, as I have watched stuff from Yiik and EVO, to a 3 hour dissertation on the theme of Legacy in the Sly Cooper games. All good stuff, but you bring something unique to it, talking about influences as well as the game itself...kind of like why I enjoy the Exploring Series for his SCP stuff actually.

[@AssClapCowboy]

Your critiques don’t make any sense whatsoever. And you kinda just sound like another sour gamer who misunderstood TLOU 2 entirely and are now trying to convince yourself this first game didn’t matter at all. Banal and incorrect

[@SageofStars]

@@AssClapCowboy Sarah died for nothing. Her death has no weight now, and can never be brought up again in the canon of this story, as she did not exist to any of the people still alive. That little girl who died in her father's arms has no point after the first 10 mins of Part 2. That said, I ALWAYS thought this game wasn't to my taste, and hell, some of it is childish in that I know they cancelled a Jak and Daxter game(again) to do another new IP. So it had an uphill battle trying to get me to like it, and it failed to do so, though I'll admit that I think both play well, but neither are to my taste. That does not mean I think they shouldn't have been made, it just means I didn't care for them. Now, are the things missing? Sure, you want to get into Part 2, I'm still of the opinion that Abby or Ellie needed to die, preferably both to really show the cost of revenge, which was the central(not only but most influential) theme of the piece.

[@AssClapCowboy]

@@SageofStars Your first paragraph is pure and utter nonsense. How does Joel’s death make Sarah’s meaningless? Literally how? It mirror’s her death almost exactly and places the trauma and loss in the hands of Ellie, where Ellie will undergo the same self destruction and hatred that Joel experienced in the 20 year gap of the first game. Joel’s death is VITAL to Sarah’s. They are literally thematically tied and you are supposed to feel that weight as Ellie instead of Joel for Part II. One of the biggest reasons Pt 2 gets shit is because it’s just so horribly, embarrassingly misunderstood. The themes are identical. Sarah’s death is and always will be vital to Joel and to Ellie.

[@The_Story_Of_Us]

There's very little cynicism in the releases of The Last Of Us. The remaster was wholly necessary due to the intense graphical limitations of the PS3 (the game was literally stuck on 720p on that ancient relic) and now the remake was necessary to bring the full vision behind the game to life and bring it as far into the future as possible. In a game where visual storytelling is the name of the game, to have a remake that greatly improves this storytelling is the whole point of why one would remake a game for artistic reasons. No more limitations, the very real, captured performances of these immensely talented actors is fully translated onto character models that do those performances justice. Often times there are entire emotional beats missing from the animations of the old game that the remake brings through in moments both monumental and subtle, to say nothing of all the scenes that are just enhanced by the more emotive characters. And despite what the hordes of deluded liars would have you believe; the gameplay is much better despite fundamentally being the same as you remember. And to be honest, with a studio that's capable of pumping something like this out, one kind of needs to think twice before assuming that they're doing much of anything out of a sense of corporate, money-grubbing artistic-muffling cynicism... A sentiment one must be deeply critical of considering this is the studio that made The Last Of Us: Part II (a game that no one has ever of sound mind accused of being a cynical corporate product devoid of artistry, no matter how much you may hate it with every fibre of your being). Frankly, it's ironic how people are complaining about and clambering for so called "artistic integrity" while in the same breath spitting on one of the few great industry bastions of artistic integrity... Makes you wonder if that's what it's really about...?

[@TheGCRust]

I always found TLOU a tad overrated, but even my heart's not so hard as to not give props where due...game absolutely lands its opening

[@iamstartower]

cheap emotional blows... watched again and yes... i wouldn't expect less in such situation... soldier just did his job...

[@tnecniw]

Just unfortunate that TLOU2 is just... just so poorly made.

[@b.u.l.1734]

Nah...

[@arthurblacklungmorgan2250]

You're free to dislike TLOU 2's story direction all you want, but you sure as shit can't label the game as "poorly made". That's just nonsense talk.

[@AssClapCowboy]

Wrong but thanks for your manchild tears. Delicious