HBO’s upcoming series, The Last of Us, records a high Rotten Tomatoes score for a video game adaptation, breaking the curse of bad video game adaptations.
The show is based on a video game of the same name and follows Joel and Ellie’s adventures as they try to survive in a post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested United States. Joel discovers that Ellie is immune to the virus, so he takes it upon himself to take her to scientists who can use her immunity to save the world from the virus.
Rotten Tomatoes has officially announced on their Twitter account that The Last of Us has scored a whopping 100% on their Tomatometer with just 26 reviews. The score later dropped to 96%, but it is still pretty high for a video game adaptation. Check the tweet in question –
Though a few adaptations such as the Sonic franchise have found success, most game adaptations fail to comprise hours of intense gameplay into a few episodes. As a result, players who’re familiar with the game do not enjoy watching the outcome on screen.
Apart from the above-mentioned reasons, it is hard to translate the world of the video game into the big screen, as it looks too over-the-top, violent or unrealistic. Shows such as Assassin’s Creed, Tomb Raider, or Warcraft also failed to replicate the success of their video game counterparts for similar reasons.
The Last of Us tries to take a different route and ignores the timelines from the original game. It weaves Ellie’s backstory into the original narrative rather than keeping it for a separate spin-off or season like in the game.
While video games focus on the concept more than individual characters, it works for players, making it a more interactive experience for them. In contrast, movies or shows are far less interactive in nature, and need to focus more on characters, which is where The Last of Us makes the cut.
Another advantage that The Last of Us has over other video game adaptations is familiarity. Shows featuring zombies have been around for quite some time, so it is easier for people to relate to the series.
Hopefully, The Last of Us will live up to our expectations and be as successful as the original game in its television run.
About The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is an HBO TV series adaptation of the award-winning video game of the same name originally developed by Naughty Dog.
It is set in 2033, as a fungal infestation plagues humans, turning them feral and blind before finally finishing them off. The series follows Joel’s journey to escort an immune 14-year-old Ellie to the Fireflies, who hope to study her to procure a vaccine.
The cast comprises Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, both famed for their roles in Games of Thrones, along with Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, and Nico Parker. The show was renewed for season 2.
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