Joel, Ellie, Tess, Bill. They're all fantastic characters.
'The Last of Us' came out at a very significant time for me. My dad decided he didn't love my mum anymore and he moved out, leaving behind a wife and three children. Automatically, people made their opinions on the fact that a man had walked out on a family he had chosen to build. But there is always so much more to a story than you are told. Much like 'The Last of Us,' a game where you follow Joel's path onto leaving behind a life that built the tough skin he currently lives in, there is much more to each character than meets the eye.
The first thing that drew me to the game (besides the terrifying infected people and the fact that you can launch Molotov's) was the concept of a father-daughter relationship. Obviously, I love my dad. Dads are awesome. When mine left, I coincidentally became obsessed with 'The Last of Us.' Over the course of the game you will witness the main characters, Joel and Ellie, forming a rather admirable and adorable relationship. Sure, the character of Joel is a little generic; a troubled middle aged man who much prefers to keep his past in the past. But the bond that grows between the two is nothing short of tear-jerking. If you haven't played the game, don't worry, I won't ruin anything for you. All you need to know is 'to the edge of the universe and back' sums up their love rather perfectly.
Not only does this game rip your heart straight from your chest and throw it out of a window, but it also highlights just how badass women can be.
Ellie, the pretty little thing you'll see on the cover of the game, is ruthless, strong and charismatic. At only 14 years of age, she already knows the dangers of a post-apocalyptic world and can handle the pressure just as well as any LAD in England can handle banter. Equipped with a knife and a keen set of skills she progressively acquires from Joel, she destroys anything in her way. She has a mission, and God help you if you get in the way of it. Remember, she has lost people too.
Another female character from the multi-award winning game is Tess. Simply put, Tess takes no s**t. Ruthless and intelligent, Tess knows what she wants and she will fight to the ends of the earth to get it. She wants what everyone in the world of The Last of Us wants - a cure. Normality. Peace. Happiness. To be able to walk outside without the fear of being caught for being out of bounds, without the fear of a clicker ripping into her skin. #justgirlythings, am I right?
The game progresses onto a meeting with the character of Bill. One of the most awesome things about The Last of Us is the way they don't focus on sexuality. Because, let's be honest, does it really matter? The game hints at the idea that Bill is gay, but does it impact on the progression of the game? Of course not! Why would it? Bill is strategic; setting up traps to capture the villains of the game, the horrifically bloodcurdling infected people that lurk around corners and pop out randomly just to make your heart drop straight into your stomach.
Want some POC in your gaming experience? Consider purchasing The Last of Us. Sam and Henry, a pair of brothers who are trying to make as much sense of the apocalypse as everyone else, will join you on your quest for a cure. Another relatable relationship, you begin to fall in love with the lengths the pair go to just to survive.
So, are you new to gaming? Have you been gaming for a while? Do you like really awesome relationships, mesmerising and memorable stories and incredible gameplay? Do you have a soul? Do you want to spend all night weeping into your pillow and wishing you could meet such inspirational characters in real life? I imagine your answer to each question is 'yes.' In which case, go out, buy The Last of Us and say goodbye to any aspect of a social life you once had.
P.S. The thumbnails for this article were taken by me on the PS4 because the game allows you to take and edit photos during gameplay. God, it's so cool.
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