The Last of Us was extremely awaited by fans, who pointed to HBO’s production as one of the biggest series of the year. The fact is that now, in March 2023, it is already possible to say that success has been confirmed. Although the adaptation is not unanimous, the general reception by critics and the public is excellent.
Regarded by many as the best game adaptation ever made, The Last of Us series delivers very faithful content, with scenes practically identical to those of the game, despite also having reserved space for changes that can be considered significant. That’s why we prepared this text to tell you about the big changes between the game and the series.
Focus on the drama / Action left out
While The Last of Us is a game that has a great narrative, which makes its plot remain interesting no matter how cliché and simple it is, the title developed by Naughty Dog also relies heavily on action/tension gameplay elements to deliver a remarkable journey.
In the HBO series, the narrative focus becomes much stronger and the drama gains much more strength, while the action is left out in almost every episode. Many pieces of gameplay from the game were abandoned, with the series focusing only on the drama of certain moments.
less infected
Also fitting with the greater focus that the series gave to the drama of the characters themselves, another difference of the adaptation is having a much smaller presence of infected. While in the game this was a very present element, with the infected constantly transmitting a sense of urgency and tension to the players, in the series this is left aside.
While the main focus is on the development of relationships and character development, HBO’s production preferred to follow a path that gives less prominence to the infected, even removing them from moments that appeared with importance in the game due to the gameplay.
More about Cordyceps
The HBO series ends up showing more about Cordyceps, including a first scene that is completely original from the adaptation. In the first episode, we see a conversation on a TV show with an expert warning everyone about the evolution of fungi. With the dialogue taking place years before the outbreak, the expert warned everyone about exactly what would happen, with the world spiraling out of control due to the pandemic caused by a fungus.
The series also ends up revealing that the fungus spread around the world through flour, something that was not directly said in any game in the franchise, despite the first title developed by Naughty Dog having hinted at this.
Sarah appears longer
The Last of Us puts players in control of Sarah, Joel’s daughter, within the first few minutes of gameplay. After starting the game, we quickly begin to control the main character. In the series, the character ended up gaining more importance and screen time, with the first episode having a great focus on the girl. In this way, the series manages to make the audience connect even more with the character, before the dramatic outcome that occurs at the end of the first episode.
Bill’s share is different
In Naughty Dog’s game, Bill is a survivor who helps Joel and Ellie when they both need a car to continue their journey. In the title, Bill saves Joel’s life and participates in tense gameplay moments, while starring in a series of provocations with Ellie, with both arguing a lot.
In the HBO series, what we actually see is completely different. Bill’s episode focuses on his relationship with Frank, his partner who was already dead in the game. In what is probably the most dramatic episode of the series, we see the development of Bill and Frank’s relationship, with a touching and impactful ending. In the adaptation, Bill is already dead when Joel and Ellie come to him for help.
Story takes place in a different year
In the game, the Cordyceps fundus pandemic takes place in 2013, which is the same year in which the title was first released on the PlayStation 3. Therefore, Joel and Ellie meet and begin their journey 20 years later, in 2033.
In the HBO series, the Cordyceps outbreak takes place in 2003, and Joel meets the girl in 2023, the same year the series was released.
no spores
Spores are quite dangerous in Naughty Dog’s game franchise, being an important element in the titles. With the world devastated by the Cordyceps pandemic, everyone, with the exception of Ellie who is immune, can be infected by breathing in spores of the fungus, which makes it necessary to wear masks in contaminated indoor places. In the HBO series the element was left out, with the production totally ignoring contamination through spores.
Tess’s Ending
Both the series and the game show Tess “sacrificing herself” so that Joel can escape with Ellie. Gaining time for the man to complete the journey that could change the fate of humanity, in the game Tess, when she is already contaminated, stays behind to fight FEDRA soldiers.
In the HBO series, the character is also already infected at the time of her death, but stays behind with the intention of delaying a horde of infected.