CC2K 2013 Gaming Awards

Written by: Adam "ManKorn" Korenman, CC2K Video Games Editor

CC2K Game of the Year

If video games could win Oscars, The Last of Us would take home all of them.

The story is incredible, the voice acting is unmatched, and the gameplay is gripping from start to finish. There are few titles that even come close to the level of polish and effort of Naughty Dog’s latest gem.

There is real humanity in the hours of gameplay, something that no game I’ve ever played even touches. Ellie and Joel share in an adventure that is equal parts beautiful and horrifying. They witness the darkness of man and the heartbreak of loss. They grow as people, and it is a very real experience. If you have a child, or a niece or nephew, you will feel something deep and meaningful from playing this game, and that is not a joke. 

A strong shout out has to be given to Troy Baker, the voice behind Joel. Nolan North may have the market cornered on voice acting for now, but Troy is coming up in a big way. He lends real gravitas to the character, and makes the emotion resonate. 

While this year saw sequels to Resident Evil and Dead Space, I still feel that The Last of Us is one of the scariest games of 2013. The infected humans behave in ways no zombie could, and the puzzle of dealing with varying types stayed interesting until the very end. Even the human enemies became terrifying, as their motivation was more base and evil than the hapless and brainless monsters. 

If you have yet to play this game, stop what you are doing and get to it. This is, without a doubt, the best game released for the PS3, and a clear winner for CC2K’s Game of the Year.