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muenchjack_00Video Games! I feel many people have a preconceived notion that the entertainment of video games and the rich plot of movies cannot coexist. However, I beg to differ.
Look no further than Naughty Dog's masterpiece "The Last of Us." Never have I seen a video game so rich in subtext that it makes me contemplate decisions I make in life.
Of course, I'm sure many of you have not heard of this game, and that's a shame.
Let's give some background. Our main character, Joel, loses his teenage daughter during the outbreak of a zombie infection. Some 20 years after this incident, he still suffers from that tragic loss. There's quite a void in his life. However, Joel meets Ellie, a fourteen-year-old girl who very well has immunity from the disease. When the opportunity arises, Joel and Ellie must embark on a journey across the country in order to discover whether this cure can be reproduced.
There, that's what the back of the game case would say, but that's not what I'm here for. I'm here to talk with you about Ellie, who holds many secrets herself. Ellie is a character rich with backstory. We learn that she never knew who her parents were and never knew life before the apocalypse. She bolsters a old zombie bite mark on her arm. Why hasn't she turned into a zombie? It's questions like these that leave the gamer guessing. However, we can trace how she got her bite back to a specific moment in the game.
Her and her friend, Riley, sneak into an abandoned mall and explore. They share a nice moment together in a record shop together. They dance atop a glass table. Slowly, they reel each other a bit closer. Close enough to the point where Ellie can't help but unconsciously kiss her friend Riley. It's here that we definitively learn that Ellie is gay.
It was hinted on throughout the game, but this flashback doesn't occur to well into the game. It's like adding another puzzle piece to Ellie's backstory.
However, Ellie and Riley are eventually ambushed by the zombies and bit. Riley forces Ellie to leave as she ultimately sacrifices herself to the zombies. And, as we know, Ellie does not turn from this bite.
I was reading a fanfic on this very moment called "The Sad Start to the Path We Travel On." It recounts this moment, but it presents a much more tragic turn of events. After being bitten, they both agree to just sit there and lose their minds together as they turn into zombies. Ellie shares her feelings for Riley and they patiently wait as the disease consumes them. At some point, Ellie unconsciously pulls out the gun. Her friend begins to turn into a zombie, but she doesn't. Ellie points the gun at Riley and shoots her.
I'm enthralled by this fanfic because it expands on their relationship beyond what the game has to offer. In addition, I feel this ending administers a greater emotional punch as we face a huge dilemma. Will Ellie kill her best friend who she has feelings for? Yes, she does.
Alright, I know that was long. I'm not sure who might be reading this, but I just wanted to give an introduction to the game that I very well might use on my final project. I ALSO URGE YOU TO PLAY THIS GAME IF YOU GET A CHANCE! At least Google it. It's so much deeper and personal than your typical zombie apocalypse scenario.
Oh, and have a great weekend everyone!
Look no further than Naughty Dog's masterpiece "The Last of Us." Never have I seen a video game so rich in subtext that it makes me contemplate decisions I make in life.
Of course, I'm sure many of you have not heard of this game, and that's a shame.
Let's give some background. Our main character, Joel, loses his teenage daughter during the outbreak of a zombie infection. Some 20 years after this incident, he still suffers from that tragic loss. There's quite a void in his life. However, Joel meets Ellie, a fourteen-year-old girl who very well has immunity from the disease. When the opportunity arises, Joel and Ellie must embark on a journey across the country in order to discover whether this cure can be reproduced.
There, that's what the back of the game case would say, but that's not what I'm here for. I'm here to talk with you about Ellie, who holds many secrets herself. Ellie is a character rich with backstory. We learn that she never knew who her parents were and never knew life before the apocalypse. She bolsters a old zombie bite mark on her arm. Why hasn't she turned into a zombie? It's questions like these that leave the gamer guessing. However, we can trace how she got her bite back to a specific moment in the game.
Her and her friend, Riley, sneak into an abandoned mall and explore. They share a nice moment together in a record shop together. They dance atop a glass table. Slowly, they reel each other a bit closer. Close enough to the point where Ellie can't help but unconsciously kiss her friend Riley. It's here that we definitively learn that Ellie is gay.
It was hinted on throughout the game, but this flashback doesn't occur to well into the game. It's like adding another puzzle piece to Ellie's backstory.
However, Ellie and Riley are eventually ambushed by the zombies and bit. Riley forces Ellie to leave as she ultimately sacrifices herself to the zombies. And, as we know, Ellie does not turn from this bite.
I was reading a fanfic on this very moment called "The Sad Start to the Path We Travel On." It recounts this moment, but it presents a much more tragic turn of events. After being bitten, they both agree to just sit there and lose their minds together as they turn into zombies. Ellie shares her feelings for Riley and they patiently wait as the disease consumes them. At some point, Ellie unconsciously pulls out the gun. Her friend begins to turn into a zombie, but she doesn't. Ellie points the gun at Riley and shoots her.
I'm enthralled by this fanfic because it expands on their relationship beyond what the game has to offer. In addition, I feel this ending administers a greater emotional punch as we face a huge dilemma. Will Ellie kill her best friend who she has feelings for? Yes, she does.
Alright, I know that was long. I'm not sure who might be reading this, but I just wanted to give an introduction to the game that I very well might use on my final project. I ALSO URGE YOU TO PLAY THIS GAME IF YOU GET A CHANCE! At least Google it. It's so much deeper and personal than your typical zombie apocalypse scenario.
Oh, and have a great weekend everyone!
