The highly anticipated adaptation of the beloved video game, The Last of Us, has finally made its way to HBO. While it may be great TV, it lacks the special quality that made the game so memorable. The game's success is in large part due to the unique way it allowed players to connect with the story's two main characters, Joel and Ellie. The show's adaptation attempts to follow the prestige TV rubric, resulting in a tale that misses the mark.
The game's mechanics were successful in using story as scaffolding, building characters with enough context to get players invested emotionally. The show, on the other hand, attempts to explore every nook and cranny, which strains the whole premise. Killing doctors to develop a character, for instance, feels out of place in a post-apocalyptic world. Furthermore, the show lacks the game's immersive element, wherein players had to fight to preserve Joel and Ellie through chapter after chapter, each failure providing a clue to a possible future where both characters endure.
The show may be more accessible, as it's available on every screen with an internet connection, while the game requires players to purchase a PlayStation console. However, accessibility isn't everything, as the game's gauntlet of death made players feel more alive, giving them custody over the story's two main characters.
