Towards the end of the PlayStation 3's lifespan, Naughty Dog released a game that changed the gaming world forever. There were plenty of zombie survival horror games before The Last of Us, but the game managed to stand out from the hordes of other zombie games thanks to its addictive combat, breathtaking visuals, and emotional narrative about keeping love alive in a hostile world. It also features a duo consisting of Joel Miller, who is a gruff weapons smuggler that has learned to harden his heart to deal with the ruthlessness of post-apocalyptic society, and Ellie, who is a young but feisty girl who is forced to grow up quickly.
Together, Joel and Ellie make a good though unlikely team, and their emotional story has gripped the hearts of gamers around the world. Following the astronomic success of The Last of Us, plenty of other developers have taken notes, and games featuring the duo seem to have become far more ubiquitous. Although some games have pulled it off well, others have done it a bit more clumsily. With games like Spider-Man 2 on the horizon, it seems like the trend is not going anywhere soon.
The Last of Us' Template
Naughty Dog's The Last of Us is far from the first game to feature a duo as the protagonists. Before Joel and Ellie there was Nathan and Sully, Sonic and Tails, and Ratchet and Clank, to name but a few. However, Joel and Ellie appear to be one of the first examples to pull it off so flawlessly, with Ellie at Joel's side for almost the entirety of the journey. While, in many other games, the companion can end up feeling like a burden who must be protected or who gets stuck in the environment, Ellie feels like an asset that helps Joel out whenever he is in a hairy situation.
After the death of Sarah, who is Joel's daughter, Ellie becomes a surrogate daughter for Joel. He teaches her how to survive in a zombie-infested world, and he shows her how to be competent with a gun. These skills come in handy when Joel is injured, and it is Ellie's turn to look after him. In many ways, it is possible to see Joel as Ellie's mentor and parental figure, and Joel tries to fill this role to the best of his abilities, although he is a flawed man.
The template laid out by The Last of Us, which features a duo consisting of a mentor and a protégé, is not particularly unique, and in many ways, it mirrors Telltale's The Walking Dead which features Clementine and Lee whose relationship is similar to Joel and Ellie's. However, The Last of Us managed to pull it off with such finesse that the format will forever be associated with the game.
The Proliferation of Duos in Gaming
Since The Last of Us, duos in gaming seem to have grown more common, although they have been applied with varying levels of success. Both gamers and developers have realized that it is fun to have a companion around to help with missions, especially if they are also an integral part of the narrative. One of the best duos of recent years can be found in God of War, which takes the template found in The Last of Us and improves on it.
In 2018's God of War, Kratos is accompanied by his son, Atreus. He can be whiny and overly inquisitive at times, but he also comes in handy during battles. There are some parallels between the relationship of Kratos and Atreus and Joel and Ellie, as Kratos serves as Atreus' mentor in the same way that Joel is Ellie's mentor. However, God of War does implement its duo differently, and it results in a pretty satisfying gaming experience. Unlike in The Last of Us where players cannot control Ellie while they are in control of Joel, players can control Atreus and command him to let loose with his bow. By making Atreus more involved in combat, players appreciate him far more, and his absence is much more impactful.
A successful duo can also be found with Asobo Studio's A Plague Tale: Innocence which features Amicia and her little brother, Hugo. Amicia, being the older sibling, is forced to take care of her brother and take on a parental role after the Inquisition pillages her village and forces them to flee. If Amicia leaves Hugo for too long, he cries, and that attracts unwanted attention, so she has to make sure he is always by her side as they seek safety. Like The Last of Us, their journey is filled with ups and downs, but their love helps them to overcome all obstacles.
Are More Duos on the Way?
Gaming has seen plenty of trends, but most trends have a limited lifespan. The duos have been around for a while, and there are games still innovating on the formula, so it may take some time before the trend fades away. Insomniac's Spider-Man 2 trailer shows Peter Parker and Miles Morales, suggesting that the game will feature the two heroes working together quite closely. Gamers could be looking at another duo situation, with Peter acting as Miles' mentor. If that is the case, hopefully, Insomniac can innovate on the formula and come up with new ways for gamers to experience duos.
In the sea of duos, there will still be plenty of solo heroes willing to venture alone. However, the duos of gaming have opened the avenue for heartwarming stories that explore the relationships between humans, and how love can bring out the best and worst in people. While gaming trends have the potential to produce stale games, when a formula is constantly innovated and improved upon, they can also breed quite interesting experiences.
The Last of Us is available on PS3 and PS4.