The Last of Us SPOILERS - Let's discuss the ending!

[tr1age]

So those of you who played through the Last of Us.

Wow.. what a damn ending!

SPOILERS BY THE WAY.

I couldn't believe they held Joel to the mental state of not being able to lose another daughter no matter what the consequences. It was brilliant. I loved and obviously hated it.

He played his character all the way until the last line and it was beautiful.

The way the characters bonded slowly over a slow paced game was so fucking immersive it was a breath of fresh air over the crazy "MUST GET TO THE NEXT OBJECTIVE GAMES" we are used to. Just like the ending, the pace of the game will either win you over or push you away. But like Alice Madness Returns, I feel we need more games that are paced slower and more to enjoy the story. Shit these games could be turned into movies or short TV series at this point. I wanted 10 1 hour+ episodes of The Last of Us to see it all unfold since I don't own a PS3.

The scripts were perfected. The small characters build ups. I was on the verge of tear so many times in that game and in that intro I was gushing.

Obviously I think a lot of the way Joel reacted as well has to do with the brazen attitude the woman took with him and not letting them have a proper goodbye. Which obviously helps fuel those who think Joel SHOULD save her an excuse to kill many innocent freedom fighters.

A great quote from a writer at Forbes:

That said, all of this is morally ambiguous for a reason. You’re supposed to struggle with the morality of the scenario, and honestly, I’m still struggling with it, which is the reason for this post. Depending on how you see this situation, it might reveal something about your own philosophical and moral positions that you weren’t even aware of before.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertc...-with-the-difficult-ending-of-the-last-of-us/

So what did you think?

Man that one WORD from Ellie at the end. "Ok" so fucking poignant.

 

[ChaoticHero4182]

Wow, just googled the ending, didn't really ever plan on playing it anyway (no ps3) and I got chills just from reading what happened. So many choices that if it happened to me, I would be dumbfounded at what to do. Save the girl that you risked life and limb for or potentially save 1000s of lives, add in all the other tidbits and I might just have to buy a ps3 just to play this game.

 

[Keleynal]

The Last of Us had the best character driven storyline of any game I've seen. The fact they pulled that off on a backdrop of an infected apocalypse without letting it drag or get lost in the violence is even more amazing.

As far as gameplay goes, I didn't like that Ellie was completely invisible to all enemies. Should would walk straight through or into enemies during stealth portions. I understand they didnt want an NPC blowing your cover, because that is incredibly annoying and potentially game breaking, but since the rest of it felt so realistic it was a little jarring to see.

Bio shock Infinite's Elizabeth did a better job of staying out of the way and actually helping while causing less detached from reality moments. However, Last of Us connected the characters to the player with much more emotion.

It's really nice to see video games being used to tell a story and not just blow stuff up. I'm looking forward to the day that the medium is held in the same esteem as music, art, and movies. The Last of Us is the type of product that can make that happen.

 

[tr1age]

Wow, just googled the ending, didn't really ever plan on playing it anyway (no ps3) and I got chills just from reading what happened. So many choices that if it happened to me, I would be dumbfounded at what to do. Save the girl that you risked life and limb for or potentially save 1000s of lives, add in all the other tidbits and I might just have to buy a ps3 just to play this game.

This game needs to be seen from beginning the end. Just looking at the end is hard to judge because the character development is so subtle throughout this game. Truly a wonderful story!

 

[tr1age]

The Last of Us had the best character driven storyline of any game I've seen. The fact they pulled that off on a backdrop of an infected apocalypse without letting it drag or get lost in the violence is even more amazing.

As far as gameplay goes, I didn't like that Ellie was completely invisible to all enemies. Should would walk straight through or into enemies during stealth portions. I understand they didnt want an NPC blowing your cover, because that is incredibly annoying and potentially game breaking, but since the rest of it felt so realistic it was a little jarring to see.

Bio shock Infinite's Elizabeth did a better job of staying out of the way and actually helping while causing less detached from reality moments. However, Last of Us connected the characters to the player with much more emotion.

It's really nice to see video games being used to tell a story and not just blow stuff up. I'm looking forward to the day that the medium is held in the same esteem as music, art, and movies. The Last of Us is the type of product that can make that happen.

I agree it was semi immersion breaking but a necessary evil with technology as it is and also having Ellie close to you at all times AND helping you as well. If she just stayed back you wouldn't have seen her as such an equal.

 

[Keleynal]

At the end, part of me just wanted to scream Noooo! What are you doing?

Don't get me wrong, I think saving Ellie was the right thing to do, but killing all the doctors and Marian and not even talking to Ellie about the decision he was making for her? Just gut wrenching to watch, worse to be forced to participate in.

It's a very good ending though, as far as being true to character and story. It's nice to have a game with an ending that doesn't leave loose ends while not feeling obligated to say Happily Ever After.

 

[tr1age]

At the end, part of me just wanted to scream Noooo! What are you doing?

Don't get me wrong, I think saving Ellie was the right thing to do, but killing all the doctors and Marian and not even talking to Ellie about the decision he was making for her? Just gut wrenching to watch, worse to be forced to participate in.

It's a very good ending though, as far as being true to character and story. It's nice to have a game with an ending that doesn't leave loose ends while not feeling obligated to say Happily Ever After.

See my gut reaction was what the fuck are you doing as well. I do not think Joel should have saved her and that was NOT what Ellie wanted. But they stuck true to his character not wanting to go through loss again, thus putting the individual needs over that of what COULD BE man kind.

Awesome moment of morals vs ethics.

 

[Baldoraxx]

Amazing! That's all i have to say on the matter

 

[Keleynal]

See my gut reaction was what the fuck are you doing as well. I do not think Joel should have saved her and that was NOT what Ellie wanted. But they stuck true to his character not wanting to go through loss again, thus putting the individual needs over that of what COULD BE man kind.

Awesome moment of morals vs ethics.

Let me clarify, I think Ellie dying so that a cure could be obtained would be a very noble and right thing to do. However, Ellie was not asked her permission to harvest her body, she was just put under. In THAT situation, the right thing to do was to stop the surgery, explain the situation, and then let Ellie make that sacrifice if she chose. Joel did the right thing for the wrong reasons and went too far doing it.

 

[tr1age]

Let me clarify, I think Ellie dying so that a cure could be obtained would be a very noble and right thing to do. However, Ellie was not asked her permission to harvest her body, she was just put under. In THAT situation, the right thing to do was to stop the surgery, explain the situation, and then let Ellie make that sacrifice if she chose. Joel did the right thing for the wrong reasons and went too far doing it.

I think Ellie did get asked though. She even knew she wouldn't survive, I think she eluded to it a few times in their journey. Even at the end she asked if it was true what he said... She was ready, and he was not is what it looked like to me.

 

[Baldoraxx]

I think Ellie did get asked though. She even knew she wouldn't survive, I think she eluded to it a few times in their journey. Even at the end she asked if it was true what he said... She was ready, and he was not is what it looked like to me.

If i remember correctly there was a conversation between Joel and Ellie about this and she said she wanted to save everyone even if she died. Now i could be completely wrong but i'll have to find a source for it to prove it. onward Google!

EDIT: so i couldn't find the conversation but found bits and pieces.

Spoiler

It seems like Marlene says "its what she would want and you know it" to Joel before he kills her

 

[tr1age]

If i remember correctly there was a conversation between Joel and Ellie about this and she said she wanted to save everyone even if she died. Now i could be completely wrong but i'll have to find a source for it to prove it. onward Google!

EDIT: so i couldn't find the conversation but found bits and pieces.

Spoiler

It seems like Marlene says "its what she would want and you know it: to Joel before he kills her

There is also an audio note in game from Marlene.

 

[Keleynal]

There is also an audio note in game from Marlene.

Was that because she had actually had a conversation with Ellie, or is she just telling herself that to justify her position?

A person can say "I would be willing to die to save mankind" in a hypothetical context without thinking about it. That's not enough to justify the surgery in my book. She would need to agree to all the specifics, not just the general concept.

 

[tr1age]

Was that because she had actually had a conversation with Ellie, or is she just telling herself that to justify her position?

A person can say "I would be willing to die to save mankind" in a hypothetical context without thinking about it. That's not enough to justify the surgery in my book. She would need to agree to all the specifics, not just the general concept.

I dunno, I am interpreting it as Ellie was ready to do what had to be done regardless.

 

[Keleynal]

I dunno, I am interpreting it as Ellie was ready to do what had to be done regardless.

Kind of a big deal to go off assumptions.

To me, this is like if I tell a doctor during wellness exams that I prefer to live rather than die. On the way out, a nurse ambushes with with a sedative and puts me under. They then remove both my legs to stop an infection that is life threatening. The doctor insists he did nothing wrong since I had said that I want to live. I would have a huge malpractice suit against him because that decision was not his to make based on general assumptions.

Both Marlene and Joel made decisions on Ellie's behalf. That sacrifice was hers to make, no one else's.

 

[tr1age]

Kind of a big deal to go off assumptions.

To me, this is like if I tell a doctor during wellness exams that I prefer to live rather than die. On the way out, a nurse ambushes with with a sedative and puts me under. They then remove both my legs to stop an infection that is life threatening. The doctor insists he did nothing wrong since I had said that I want to live. I would have a huge malpractice suit against him because that decision was not his to make based on general assumptions.

Both Marlene and Joel made decisions on Ellie's behalf. That sacrifice was hers to make, no one else's.

No where does it say she wasn't told what was going to happen. If anything they infer she knew exactly what she was going under for.

 

[Keleynal]

No where does it say she wasn't told what was going to happen. If anything they infer she knew exactly what she was going under for.

I understand what you are saying, but if there is ANY room for the possibility that she didn't know- ie. I did not hear her say those words precisely, then I err on the side of putting a hold on the procedure and asking the question.

What was the rush? Ellie wasn't dying and the tumor wasn't going anywhere. There was no reason to make assumptions and run it through UNLESS Marlene was worried that Ellie may in fact protest.

 

[tr1age]

I understand what you are saying, but if there is ANY room for the possibility that she didn't know- ie. I did not hear her say those words precisely, then I err on the side of putting a hold on the procedure and asking the question.

What was the rush? Ellie wasn't dying and the tumor wasn't going anywhere. There was no reason to make assumptions and run it through UNLESS Marlene was worried that Ellie may in fact protest.

I think they HAD to rush it like they did to give Joel fuel to do what he did. And Marlene had to be so brazen about him seeing her before the operation.

That being said it was a device IMO. In the whole game leading up we see Ellie would have easily given her life to protect the human race and Joel was never going to agree to it. ESPECIALLY not with the cocktail of moments they made for him at the end.

 

[Keleynal]

I think they HAD to rush it like they did to give Joel fuel to do what he did. And Marlene had to be so brazen about him seeing her before the operation.

That being said it was a device IMO. In the whole game leading up we see Ellie would have easily given her life to protect the human race and Joel was never going to agree to it. ESPECIALLY not with the cocktail of moments they made for him at the end.

I agree that the ending played out very true to character. In that light, it was a very good ending and the only possible outcome. I was just explaining what my moral qualms were.