11 Video Games That Taught You Valuable Life Lessons
3. The Last Of Us - Love, Strength And Companionship
Naughty Dog's narrative masterpiece of supreme settings, excellent voice acting and compelling game player close, as though taking the hand of your own little sister through the nightmarish streets of Pittsburgh. The Last of Us' strength to compel lies upon its ability emphasise companionship and love against a backdrop of isolation, loneliness and the will to survive.
As Joel and Ellie wander through Pittsburgh in the hope of salvation the player can't help but become invested in the sheer force of their relationship. A most unlikeliest of bonds are forged in the ruinous city between a burly, bearded man and a ballsy little girl, showing the player how connections and friendships are forged in the strangest places with those we least expect. Looks, appearances and first impressions can be deceiving, and Last of Us reinforces this with incredible poignancy.
The emotional strength of Joel's protection of Ellie is all too heartbreaking to bear at times. After suffering the loss of his daughter, Sarah, Joel's paternal propensity to love, care and connect are essentially transplanted onto Ellie. To suffer a loss is a tragedy, but the last of us teaches that emotional salvation exists beyond the terrible pain and suffering.