Summary
The Last of Us Part 1doesn’t shy away from heartbreak and despair, and one player points out a sad detail about Joel Miller that many missed. While it may be a small touch, it speaks volumes to Naughty Dog’s eye for detail and Joel’s overall complex character arc inThe Last of Us.
Fans ofThe Last of Usfranchise are all too familiar with the tragedies that have transpired in Joel Miller and Ellie Williams' lives, greatly shaping them into hardcore survivalists. With the incredible technology that goes into the PlayStation 5, it’s easy to be amazed by fully realizedmotion capture performances and facial recognition.The Last of Us Part 1is an example of animation at its best, as shown by a Reddit user who made a discovery when using Photo Mode.
While usingThe Last of Us Part 1’s Photo Mode feature, u/morantiss captured a shot of Joel expressing sadness due to great loss. The screenshot simply features a depressed Joel, accompanied by the caption, “Joel’s expression changes whenever he thinks about Sarah”. When asked where they got the shot, the user replied by saying that it occurs before players meet Henry. Ellie points out a movie poster, to which Joel responds by saying that it was a “dumb teen movie”. She then asks him who dragged him to go see it. Joel can only respond with, “I don’t know,” but the look on his face makes it very clear who he is thinking of.
The Last of Us Part 1andPart 2are filled to the brim with desolation and devastation, as the players explore a plague-torn world with Joel, Ellie, and others. When it first launched in 2013, the shock of Joel losing his daughter, Sarah, was a surprise to everyone. The moment and its impact transferred dramatically over toThe Last of Us' adaptation for HBO, where both versions of the incident were essentially the exact same. When fans think of the Naughty Dog franchise, the death of Sarah is one of the first things that will likely come to mind, as Joel forever carries that tragedy with him.
Naughty Dog is known for its attention to detail when it comes to developing games. Many of its titles are well-loved and acclaimed by fans and critics, withThe Last of Usseries in particular coming to mind. Whilecriticism struck during the launch ofThe Last of Us Part 2, many found the sequel to be a worthy followup. Regardless, the advanced graphics ofPart 1allow players to see just a bit more emotion from the game’s characters, with this Reddit post highlighting a standout reaction from one of the game’s tragic protagonists.
The Last of Us Part 1is available on PC and PlayStation 5.
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