Summary
When it comes to games that explore what a post-apocalyptic world could look like,The Last of Usis by far one of the most realistic. From the real-life inspiration behind the Cordyceps virus to the ruthlessness of humans trying to survive,The Last of Usis pretty grounded. Post-apocalyptic or zombie-inspired stories can sometimes become over the top, likeDead IslandorDead Rising. Although those games are incredibly fun, the realism ofThe Last of Usis one of its strongest qualities.
Despite the mostly lifelike approach Naughty Dog takes with the series, there was a missed opportunity that could have added another level to realism. The threat of the Cordyceps infection is made clear throughoutThe Last of Us' story, but one oversight keeps the game from feeling as realistic as possible. One major problem in the world ofThe Last of Usis Cordyceps spores.Areas covered with these Cordyceps sporesrequire gas masks in order to avoid infection, but the lack of total body protection in these locations doesn’t exactly make sense.
The Last of Us Could Have Upped Its Realism With More Involved Spore Protection
The reason for the gas masks is simple. If someone breathes in Cordyceps spores, they are utterly doomed. Every corner has the potential for adangerous encounter inThe Last of Us, but the tiny spores that are practically invisible present a terrifying environmental hazard that requires astute attention to detail about one’s surroundings. However, if the spores were such a threat, one would think that a person would need more than just a gas mask to avoid breathing them in.
Technically, the spores would get on people’s clothing. If a spore-like virus similar to the Cordyceps happened in real life, people would need to be decked out in full-blown hazmat suits in these overrun areas.Taking risks inThe Last of Usis an everyday occurrence, and the spores are a perfect example of these constant threats. In the real world, gas masks wouldn’t be effective enough, because people could still breathe stray spores off of either their own clothes or someone else’s clothes, at least theoretically.
Emphasizing the importance of hazmat suits and protecting every inch of a person’s body is one of the few missing pieces to makeThe Last of Usthat much more realistic. The anxiety of keeping one’s suit intact and avoiding any rips or tears would just heighten the constant sense of danger.Plagues in video gamespresent a great source of inspiration due to their unseen nature, and although the Cordyceps is terrifying enough,The Last of Uscould have taken one more step into realism.
The Last of Us Series Still Shines With Its Realistic Features
Despite not making spore-filled air more threatening,The Last of Usis still one of the most lifelike survival stories in gaming. Withhopes forThe Last of Us 3growing, Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic tale will hopefully bring the realism to new heights. It’s also probably unlikely that HBO’s live action adaptation will embrace full-body protection. HBO’s series doesn’t feature spores, so it’s likely that players will just have to suspend disbelief when it comes to walking in a room swimming with spore particles.
Of course,The Last of Usis a game, so it needs to take some liberties to make sense in the parameters of the story. It’s simply unrealistic to constantly put on and take off a hazmat suit when going through a spore-filled room. Although the airborne nature ofthe Cordyceps is frightening,The Last of Usdoes a fantastic job of illustrating the horrors of the infection in more effective ways.
