MDA & 8 Kinds of Fun

For this particular exercise, I will be talking about The Last of Us by Naughty Dog. As a player, this game has become one of my favorites given its immersive apocalyptic narrative and all survival mechanics that accompany it.

To elaborate on what makes up its survival mechanics, game designers incorporated resource scarcity, silent movement, crafting, and 1.vs.all – combat. These mechanics, overall, encourage me (as a player) to scavenge for materials needed to craft for essentials. Since the setting in which we find ourselves is very aggressive, we are forced to strategize and survive with limited resources.

Having acknowledged these mechanics, the game creates the dynamics of constant feeling of tension and uncertainty. Every encounter with enemies could be our last and every decision we make could be our doom, this unpredictability keeps the gameplay intense and immersive. And, thus, in terms of aesthetics, we have an experience that blends challenge, story, and raw emotion.