What game do you think has an exceptional setting, plot and characters?

Everyone's entitled to their opinion. I'd consider TLOU the 7th gens' Resident Evil 4. Third person, survival horror, escort mission, crafting, infected and both use fine-tuned gameplay mechanics from existing games and are as polished as their hardware allows them.

Isn't there any convention stating that a game really is Game of the generation? If so, I have some few titles in mind up there with The Last of Us.

Not really a convention. But when a game is almost unanimously picked as such by the critics, it usually means something.

Some base it off of review scores, which doesn't make sense, because there are like... at least 10 games (not counting PC) from last gen that got higher review scores. For some reason people get upset if you say Last of Us might be overrated, but what about a turd like GTA IV? It's rated even higher, yet I doubt a thread saying it was "nothing more" than "just" a good game would have so much salt over opinions.

Others base it solely off the amount of awards, which is equally nonsensical. I am sure gems like Oblivion or Bioshock would have gotten way more awards if they released in a time with so many gaming websites and a blog that counts all their tallies.

I don't see why not. It even tops many publications gotgs. To me I'd probably place it behind Dark Souls maybe Demon's Souls too.

One of the best games I have played in my life.
Along with the original starcraft, the burning crusade era WoW, Super Mario World, GTA3, Metal Gear Solid 3, Portal, Call of Duty: modern warfare, Goldeneye, final fantasy tactics, castlevania:sotn.

I think the only game that even comes close last gen was Bioshock:infinite, though I'd say the two are VERY close

I respectfully disagree with the OP. I believe TLOU is the best game I have ever played in my entire career of gaming in my humble opinion. I'm a HUGE 3rd person shooter fan and this game was right up my alley.

TLOU had stealth,run and gun, hand to hand combat, survivor elements , exploration, healthy human enemies, clickers, cannibals, runners, stalkers, bloaters and crafting elements all beautifully woven in to a 3rd person experience.

TLOU's story was the best story I've ever had the pleasure of playing, it constantly pulled on my heart strings sending me in to bouts of excitement, happiness, sadness, anger, like a roller coaster throughout the entire game. I really loved how the game showed how ellie and joel went from being complete strangers barely speaking not knowing each other to becoming so close and not being able to live without each other.

The multiplayer continues to be fun to this day and constantly has people online to play with.

The DLC was very refreshing and I didn't at any point in time feel disgusted after paying full price for the DLC.

NaughtyDog really made a masterpiece in my personal opinion and I can't wait to play TLOU 2 if that ever happens.

I played the game and beat it in two sittings, on hard. I'd say I enjoyed it inmensely, and I found the mechanics fun.

There's enough "variety" so that it doesn't feel like stretching it too much (aside from that water plank thing, which they pulled out way too many times for my taste. More swimming would have been more desirable). For some reason it was a problem, but I also enjoyed mercilessly killing the doctor, although I spared the rest because, well, they weren't aiming a scalpel toward me.

Here's my compressed view on it:

+ Well-developed characters in a post-apocaliptic plot.

+ Fun third person shooter mechanics.

+ Variety.

+ New Game Plus option with unlockable outfits for the characters.

+ It doesn't overstay its welcome.

+ Winter section and its villain were incredible. I love memorable villains.

- Some troubling AI behaviour, especially from Ellie.

- Some minor plot holes.

- Predictable plot.

- Didn't like the multiplayer aspect much.

One of the best games I played in 2013. I disagree with people about this being the best game ever, especially considering that I think Uncharted 2 is superior (Coming from the same developer, I mean), and there's a bunch of games I would put above it, but certainly a memorable journey from the whole selection of games in the seventh gen.

You stupid Nintendo nerd, go back and play Mario for the 4,583,585th time.