A Fungal Foe: The Cordyceps Inspiration

The game's infected enemies, the grotesque Clickers and Runners, were inspired by a real-world phenomenon. Neil Druckmann, the game's creative director, got the idea from a segment on the BBC documentary Planet Earth (Farca & Ladevèze, 2016). This segment featured the Cordyceps fungus, which controls ants, making them climb to high points before erupting from their bodies to release spores. The Last of Us takes this concept to a horrifying new level, with Cordyceps evolving to infect humans and transform them into monstrous creatures.

Beyond the Apocalypse: A Focus on Characters

While the infected provide a constant threat, Naughty Dog knew the heart of the game lay with its characters. Drawing inspiration from games like Ico (known for its emotional connection between characters) (Kohler, 2013). and films like No Country for Old Men (focusing on well-developed characters in a harsh world) (Salcburger, 2022). the team crafted a powerful narrative centered on the bond between Joel, a hardened smuggler, and Ellie, a teenage girl who may hold the key to a cure. This focus on the human connection amidst the brutality is what truly sets The Last of Us apart from other games.

Blending Genres: Survival Horror with Heart

The Last of Us" goes beyond simply relying on jump scares to create tension. Inspired by games like Resident Evil 4, Naughty Dog has designed a gripping atmosphere and emphasized the need for strategic resource management (FreeckyCake (2020). Players must navigate through a world of limited ammo and crafting supplies, resulting in tough decisions and adding a sense of realism to the struggle for survival.

The Last of Us is a great example of how innovative ideas, strong character development, and storytelling can create an amazing experience. Next time you come across a Clicker, think about its real-world inspiration and the team's commitment to making the game unforgettable.

Interesting Facts about “The Last Of Us”:

• • • The game's opening scene, depicting a normal day before the outbreak, was originally much longer but was cut to create a more impactful contrast (Grossman, 2013).

    • Voice actors Troy Baker (Joel) and Ashley Johnson (Ellie) formed a strong bond during the recording, mirroring the characters' growing relationship (Wallace, 2013)

    •  The iconic sound of the Clickers clicking their echolocation was created using a combination of sounds, including melons being cut in half (Wallace, 2013)

    • Swan Song with a Cut: The Last of Us was originally intended to be a swansong for the PlayStation 3. The game's opening scene, depicting a normal day before the outbreak, was much longer but cut to create a more impactful contrast between the normalcy of life and the brutality of the infected world (Wallace, 2013)

    • The Clicker Click: The iconic clicking sound of the Clickers, used for echolocation, was created using a surprising combination of sounds, including melons being cut in half!

    • Alternate Title: The game almost had a different title! "Uncharted: Territories" was considered before settling on the now-iconic "The Last of Us" (Druckmann, 2018)

    • Hidden Message: The game features a hidden message scrawled on a whiteboard in the University level. It reads, "Druckmann sucks," a playful jab from the programmers directed at the game's creative director, Neil Druckmann (Rodriguez, 2024).

    • Left Behind DLC: The critically acclaimed Left Behind downloadable content (DLC) was originally intended to be part of the main game but was cut due to time constraints (Druckmann, 2018)

    • HBO Adaptation: The Last of Us has found a new life on television! An HBO series adaptation featuring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie (HBO. (n.d.).

References

Druckmann, N. (2018, December 03).   [@Neil_Druckmann]. Intresting [sic] fact: the intro of TLOU was originally much longer. We cut a big chunk to make the reveal of the infected hit harder [Tweet]. Twitter. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/neil_druckmann?lang=en

Farca, G., & Ladevèze, C. (2016, January). The Journey to Nature: The Last of Us as a critical Dystopia. In Proceedings of DiGRA/FDG 2016 Conference. https://dl.digra.org/index.php/dl/article/view/770

FreeckyCake (2020, July 19). What Inspired: The Last of Us. The Geek Getaway [Website]. Retrieved from The Geek Getaway on July 19, 2020.

Grossman, A. (2013, June 14). The Last of Wallace, J. (2013, June 14). The Last of Us: How Naughty Dog built a PS3 swan song. Gamesradar+. Retrieved from https://www.gamesradar.com/the-last-of-us-part-1/ The

HBO. (n.d.). The Last of Us [Television series website]. Retrieved from https://www.hbo.com/the-last-of-us

Kohler, C. (2013). The Obscure Cult Game That’s Secretly Inspiring Everything. https://www.wired.com/2013/09/ico/

Naughty Dog. (2013). The Last of Us [Video game]. Sony Computer Entertainment.

Planet Earth [Television series]. (Producer). [1] British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Rodriguez, U. (May 28, 2024). Sony Allegedly Misquotes The Last of Us Director [Online]Date(n.d.) Retrieved 2024, May 27 https://game8.co/articles/latest/sony-allegedly-misquotes-the-last-of-us-director-in-latest-interview

Salcburger, B. F. (2022). Western or Thriller? Genre Blending in Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men (Doctoral dissertation, Palacky University Olomouc). https://theses.cz/id/4w9qma/Diploma_Thesis_Salcburger_2022.pdf