So final Last of Us thoughts:
The game got much better after the first few chapters. On normal difficulty, almost no stealth is mandatory after the first few chapters, so anyone holding out because it's a stealth game should probably play it.
The story is good, even though the ending sucked major balls in my opinion. The setting/landscapes are probably the best part of the game, really makes the game feel like it's telling an epic story. The gunplay is really good I think.
What's not as good as the long stretches of mindless walking and the puzzles. Puzzles are super simple and essentially filler, and a lot of the walking feels like filler too. The stealth, if you choose to do so, isn't great. the game breaks its own rules a few times, particularly with one of the enemies.
Although the gameplay is basically the same, the story in Left Behind is much better, and one of the better stories I ever recall seeing in a game.
Definitely didn't live up to the hype, I think I prefer both Uncharted 2 and 3 over this game, but I'm happy I finally played it.
3.5 Diamonds