Can we talk about the ending of TLOU? (spoilers)

But Naughty Dog's inspiration came from a fungus disease that harms ants-insects-animals.

I actually finished the game a couple of weeks ago, and I think I've had time to think about the ending.

The ending perfectly fits the theme and tone of the game. It was a great way to end it because it managed to hit that morally grey area and spark interesting debates without being too controversial (ME3's endings). It deals with many topics and values and it really takes time to think about it.

From a story point of view, I never saw Joel as the villain. I think Joel made the right choice for the wrong reasons concerning Ellie. I am not sure about this, but it seems that it was 99% sure that Ellie was the key to the cure. Obviously, like many of you pointed out, Joel saved Ellie because of the fact it was his daughter figure, to give himself a reason to exist, etc. However, something I'd like to point out is how a cure can horribly backfire. Assuming Ellie provides a cure, then what? The fireflies, being the sole distributor, might just decide to horde the cure for themselves or sell it at a high price. We see how little they care concerning Ellie as a person, only as a means to an end. Who's to say they won't treat humanity the same?

Furthermore, I know everyone says ''Of course humanity should live'', but think about it. The world of the Last of Us is not the same. How exactly would you distribute a cure? Most humans have been infected. Some have turned to killing their own for survival. Few would actually be eligible to begin treatment. We all see how complex this is in our modern society with lesser outbreaks. I wouldn't bet much on it actually working. If humanity is destined to survive, it will. It all depends if they can adapt and survive in their environment, like they always have.

Finally, who says humanity deserves a cure? We've seen the world of the Last of Us. It's a cruel and despicable place. Humanity has turned in on itself and collapsed. We've been destroying our planet and causing harm to everything and everyone around us. Our society demands that the strong crush the weak, that people suffer to make others thrive. Even in the Last of Us, this is obvious. Remember the quarantine zone at the beginning of the game? Rations constantly being cut without explanation, people dying on the streets without a care in the world. Thieves and hunters would kill you just for a bullet or two. The infection simply made us worse as a species. Is this a species, a world, etc. that's actually worth saving?

Well, that's all my mind can handle, for now. Love this game

"Inspiration". Key word there champ.

But why stop their, at humans? They could have made awesome set-piece and even create emotional moments.

I guessing, time or resource limit.

Because the game devs made it only affect humans. The same reason the ending is lame.

i hope there is a TLOU2

@genius2365: Hence why Bill says it is the humans that scare him due to their unpredictability. It actually is very true that humanities imperfection can make a whole lot of chaos that mere domestic creatures, i also loved how nature quickly takes over everything, animals running free and trees growing everywhere, it really puts that situation out there that perhaps humans are not so important after all

Actually I looked it up and there were supposed to be infected animals but they didn't make it in the game

"Initially there were supposed to be other animals that were infected, specifically elephants. Infected elephants are described as having fungus growing out of its legs and mushrooms in its head. However this design did not make it into the final result"

http://thelastofus.wikia.com/wiki/The_Infected

The ending is absolutely amazing from a thematic point of view and I felt it was executed perfectly. People are shitty and selfish, that's the reality of the world. Just about anyone who had bonded with Ellie like Joel had would choose her over the rest of the world, especially the shitty future world Joel lived in. After endings that gave me mixed feelings (Bioshock Infinite) or downright sucked (Mass Effect 3) in other recent story-driven titles, it was really refreshing to get an ending that felt so perfect.

@mems_1224: That what I thought too. If humans and mankind could hold out long enough. Then eventually the virus causing the infection would eventually die off.

Cool avatar, Clyde. lol

Dude that's the worst possible ending imaginable for TLOU. I honestly think my 6 year old sister could think of a better story. I'm glad TLOU ended the way it did. It was either that or Ellie dying, and I loved Ellie too much to see her die.

Bioshock Infinite's ending was pretty damn amazing too. One of the biggest mindfvcks I've had in gaming.

I think the ending to TLOU is just perfect in keeping with the style of the game. It's a morally ambiguous ending to a game that stresses the fact that people are flawed and will do anything to survive. There's no right or wrong. No good or evil in Joel and Ellie's world, just many shades of grey.

You can interpret it as Joel being a selfish douche who has doomed humanity to extinction for a second chance to love a daughter again or just as easily see it as one man standing up for what's right in a shitty world. Not willing to sacrifice one innocent life to save millions.

The best part is that you can just as easily end the whole thing there on one word... "OK"... or continue on with their story.

:D

You say it was either Ellie dying or the way it ended. BS dude! The ending is whatever the devs choose. They chose the story that Ellie would die or Joel taking her.

By reading responses to my posts I know just how many crazy f'd up gamers in this world. Think about what you are saying you like ending in video games "f'd up crap is what you like, instead of good endings".

I don't want to play another game like TLOU any time soon. Too depressingly believable.