Game Review: The Last of Us, Part One

By Skyler Gourley, Staff Writer

The “Last of Us” game was first released on June 14, 2013, as a post-apocalyptic game. This game, to this day, is considered one of the best story-driven games released, with amazing character development and great world-building. The game has been adapted into a popular TV show, with the second season released earlier this year.

This game/show follows two characters named Joel and Ellie traveling across post-apocalyptic America. Twenty years prior to Joel meeting Ellie, a virus started spreading, making people very aggressive. The longer that they are infected, the more they succumb to the infection. This virus also alters your appearance, with fungal matter growing around your head and the rest of your body.  

When Joel first meets Ellie, she is given to Joel by Marleane, tasked to bring her across the country to Salt Lake City, Utah. In Salt Lake City, Marleane and the rest of the FireFlies want to use Ellie to make a cure for this infection because she is the only known immune person to the virus. But to make this cure, they have to kill Ellie because the fungus grows on your brain.  I really love seeing Joel’s and Ellie’s characters develop around each other and the destroyed world around them

As the story progresses, we find out many things about different characters in the series. Tommy, Joel’s brother, was a Firefly member but later left them. I personally love seeing this initial outbreak of the virus and the effect that it has on Joel.

The virus in the game is caused by a fungus called the Cordyceps brain infection, CBI. The CBI virus can be spread by Spores, bites, and flower-based food products. And if infected, will control your body through the brain and attack everyone. 

In “The Last of Us,” there are 5 types of infected. These infected are Runners who are newly infected that are fast; Stalkers who are 2nd stage infected that stalk you until they attack; Clickers 3rd stage infected and use eco location to find you; Bloters who are 4th stage infected, very strong, and throw sacks of spores at you; and Shamblers in the 5th stage of being infected who are also very strong, throw sacks of spores at you, and emit acid. Finally, there is The Rat King, deeply infected, and also has multiple other infected attached to itself. I personally like the fact that there are multiple types of infected, because it shows the effect of the Cordyceps infection on someone over time and makes the games more interesting and challenging.  Having multiple types of infected people in this world trying to attack you makes you have to be more conservative and resourceful.

I really love “The Last of Us” series, and really enjoyed playing parts one and two of the game. I would highly recommend the game/show to anyone who enjoys suspenseful games. 

“When you’re lost in the darkness, look for the light.” – Firefly slogan