Review: The Last of Us Escape the Dark - Where is the open world??

[@torbusmaradona5362]

Great video, thank you! I’m glad the algorithm recommended your channel - I subscribed right away. Well-shot, straight to the point, and no unnecessary fluff. Thanks for that! I recently picked up Escape the Dark Castle along with all the expansions. As a TLOU fan, I was really looking forward to this release. But the IP doesn’t seem to be fully integrated (aside from your personal experience 😂). And the price, despite the more extensive game material, is pretty steep - probably due to the expensive license. Even so, this release draws in people who wouldn’t normally play board games. Looking forward to your next video!

[@iammanywolves]

Thanks a lot! Completely agree on all points! Price is high. You can get both the earlier games for the price of TLOUETD. And there is actually not more game content in this game compared to the others. I stacked up all the chapter cards from all 3 games next to each other, and TLOU's stack was the lowest. And not only that, but the cards are also a lot less charming. Most of them are just blah blah blah - combat. In Escape the Dark Castle you have so much variety and so many interesting ideas! You can come across ferocious castle hounds that separate the group and gang up on the weakest player, or a weirdly deformed monster that regenerates after you defeat it if you roll the wrong result... In TLOU, it's all just the same combat. Sometimes you can choose if you want to charge in or bait the enemy and once you can choose how you want to defuse a trap, but that's about it...

[@torbusmaradona5362]

@ Thanks for your response! You bring up great points. I think CASTLE stands out not just for its art style but for its charming writing, which captures that nostalgic ‘80s dark fantasy vibe. The Book of Death even makes dying in this game more entertaining than surviving. That tone is key to its appeal. With SECTOR, the shift to sci-fi felt natural and added depth through improved combat, though I see why some prefer the simplicity of CASTLE. Having both options is fantastic. With TLOU, however, the tone shifts to a grittier realism. If the writing loses its charm and the fantastical elements are replaced, what remains? Is it the risk-and-reward system? The evolving game engine? While these add complexity, they might not be what fans love most about themeborne‘s games. Innovation is tricky. Perhaps themeborne stayed close to their formula due to Sony or Druckmann’s influence - he’s a known fan of their work. If open-world mechanics didn’t work, scrapping them was likely the right decision. As someone in film, I know that less is often more. Personally, I don’t miss the open-world idea, but I understand why some feel disappointed since it was promised. Moving forward, the real challenge is how themeborne can evolve without simply changing settings. I’m excited to see what’s next and glad this TLOU collaboration brings them new fans. Whatever they do, I’ll be watching!

[@iammanywolves]

Yes! Escape the Dark Castle with dimmed lights and the soundtrack playing in the background is such a great experience! The randomness is exciting because you get interesting challenges and challenges bring direct rewards. You fight for an item, and then you get that item as a reward, etc.! Whereas in TLOU not a single chapter card ever gives you an item directly, all the rewards are just: "Remove a threat token" and/or "Search". The rewards are not linked to what happened, so it all feels less exciting and a bit same-y.

[@RafaelTerozi]

The game is broken. If you go just to 3 locations and clear it, you win the game every time.