GotG Round 3: The Walking Dead - Season One vs. The Last of Us

Ouch.

Gar, as much as I love TWD, I think I have to give this one to TLoU. As a parent, the relationship between Joel and Ellie felt much more honest. Not in terms of the characters, but the writing. Also it's, you know, a game.

I will punch anybody who doesn't vote for The Walking Dead.

THIS IS THE WORST DECISION I HAVE EVER BEEN FORCED TO MAKE IN MY LIFE NOOOO

At the very least, this is a guarantee that at least one of these fucking phenomenal games is getting to the next round. Gonna go with The Last of Us, just because I think the gameplay is more interesting and the character development is done better.

What about someone who doesn't care about game story and prefers a game that can be played?

Oh man, this is like the perfect pairing. Though it admittedly wasn't as hard as I thought it would be -- The Last of Us, done! I really liked TWD, but it isn't even in my top ten for the overall generation (definitely top 15), whereas The Last of Us fits in rather snugly at I think No.5.

They're both also telling somewhat similar stories, and as far as the execution is concerned, I think The Last of Us has some significantly better acting going on with its characters.

Let me take my glasses off first. *Puts on brass knuckles as well.*

Both of these are games that can be played. The Last of Us is a 3rd-person shooter/adventure game and The Walking Dead is a point-and-click adventure game with choice mechanics.

You don't want to know what I'd do to them.

TWD may have had little to no gameplay but the TLoU's gameplay got real boring.

This isn't exactly a battle you're suitably fitted to fighting for, considering that you haven't played The Last of Us. Or at least I assume as such, since I've seen you mention many a time that you don't have a PS3.

This is a horrible pairing. In the end I went with TWD but I really love the story in both games.

This was an extremely difficult choice for me, since I loved both of them. I ended up going with The Last of Us, but it's more of a tie. The presentation is what tipped the scales I suppose

@yummylee:

Ah, but you forget one thing that will no doubt tip the scales in my favor.

yo dawg, Ill fight you... over VIDJA GAMES

@video_game_king: EDIT: MOTHERFUCKIN FUCK YOU GIANT BOMB GODDAMNIT

TAKE 2:

Well, I have ''sombre credits theme that makes you ponder about the journey you've just been on, while also leaves you with a lingering sadness over the fact that it's over''.

So, take that.

I understand. You are left speechless by my brilliance.

Something about that visceral combat really got to me in TLOS, I think its the gotg for me sorry TWD

This is gonna end badly.

This isn't fair :( The Walking Dead's soundtrack is covered in comic sans!

Given that the entirety of your possible enjoyment of TWD is based solely on its story, writing and acting and that TLoU crushes it on every one of those front while also backed by quality gameplay and outstanding production values the choice is extremely easy.

@yummylee:

I see your credits music and raise you something that's even more somber while also being celebratory and uplifting.

The Walking Dead was great, but even with all its well written characters and emotional gut punches it's still amateur hour when compared to The Last of Us.

I haven't played TLOU yet and I feel bad for voting without playing it.

This is a matchup that tears apart communities.. I must vote The Last of US, i really liked the gameplay as well as the story....hell even the multiplayer was really fun. Also Ellie is better than Clementine.

TWD just doesn't compare to The Last of Us. It's already been linked but it deserves an embed:

wow. the battle of the games most overrated in each of the last two years. i found The Last of Us less frustrating than The Walking Dead, so i voted for it, although i think it is a travesty that either game has made it this far.

I wasn't able to beat people down with bricks (cowlicks don't count) in TWD, so TLOU wins.

The Last of Us had one of the best singleplayer experiences this generation and it secretly had some of the best multiplayer as well.

Oh, fuck this poll. Fuck everything about it.

I guess...I'll go with...um...Walking...Last...I...

Walking Dead!

Fuck! Is there anyone we can make this tie and send them both to the next round?

The Last of Us took what I loved in The Walking Dead and mixed it in with Naughty Dog's level of presentation. So it's The Last of Us for me.

This is a harder choice than that gutwrenching moment in TWD. Oh wait, there are several, TWD gets my vote. Love both these games though.

That was not easy...

I'm sure The Last of Us is a hell of a story-based game but the magic of The Walking Dead is the choice mechanic woven throughout the incredible characterizations and writing. The investment and emotional heartbreak that comes from the complete package of The Walking Dead will sit among the pantheon of storytelling in my eyes and it likely will at large.

Also I don't see how mechanically TLOU escapes criticism because from what I know it's not the best playing game in the world either. Better than TWD but if we include the dialogue choices as part of the gameplay, that advantage falls apart to me. They're both great games but except for a few others, nothing trumps The Walking Dead this generation from where I'm standing. *Harumph*

(It sucks because I'm sure TLOU will be up there as well but damn man, The Walking Dead.)

hahahahahah! This is a great matchup. Bravo.

It got be a little repetitive for me after a while, but it was still an incredibly fun month's worth of shanking other players in the neck with a shiv! Also, bandages! I would get so many damn points playing as a medic in that game, it almost rivals how insanely overpowered (and enjoyable) the medic class was in Resistance 2's cooperative campaign.

TWD has a more emotional story. That wins.

Oh shit, TWD's catching up! I guess they both have somewhat of an advantage of each other, too. The Last of Us will still be much fresher in a lot of people's minds I would imagine, but TWD is much more widely accessible and has most likely been played by more people.

Anywhoo, I'm going to continue to refresh this thread, with the only theme that could truly emphasise the incredible awe for such a duel to be undertaken:

The Walking Dead is good. Like, really fucking good.

But not The Last of Us good.

Eh. The Last of Us was okay.

@video_game_king: I sort of assumed if you were running this poll, It'd just be 63 slots that all said "Fragile Dreams" and a final slot that read "I'm a fucking moron".

The Last of Us is the only right answer here.

Walking Dead was a vastly better take on a similar story. Last of Us was presented very well, but I don't think the story had any interesting turns (in fact it was extremely predicable) and the characters weren't very likable like Lee and Clementine ended up being. Not that they weren't likable I guess, but they just didn't have that same depth.

Also the Last of Us was not that fun to play. Very much saw all its tricks within the first couple hours.

When I got to the end of Last of Us I basically said "Okay?". They were kind of just in limbo and things went exactly as I knew they would go hours before. Not that Walking Dead was crazy unpredictable, but I cried at the end of it. It was extremely touching and hit emotional notes Last of Us doesn't come anywhere near. It has a very clear theme to it. It also had more than two characters worth giving a shit about.

Still trying to figure out why Last of Us is held in such high esteem but I guess it is and I just don't see eye to eye with most people on this one.

Actually, it would read more like this:

• Fragile Dreams
• Katawa Shoujo
• Pandora's Tower
• Radiant Historia
• I'm turning myself in to the police

I don't know man... The Last of Us felt like a more complete package considering the gameplay, brilliant writing and graphical presentation but fuck, the way The Walking Dead pulled it off just hit me harder because YOU had to make terrible decisions and live with the consequences. It was more impactful and heartfelt for me.

I suppose I'd vote Radiant Historia, then commit ritual suicide if it lost to the overhyped porn game( Besides, I don't think most visual novels really count as games by even the broadest definition). Yes, I realize that's unnecessarily reductivist. Also, I loathed the girl I was babysitting in PT.

What?! This is too hard, I can't decide so, I ain't voting.

To ReTarDedFisHy, The Last of Us felt more focused on delivering a powerful and compelling narrative that, even though there was only one path, had much more of an impact on him in the end than Walking Dead ever did.