The Last Of Us Review: An Exciting Character-Driven Achievement For Gaming Fans And Newcomers

"The Last of Us" is a survival story that cares less about how we survive and more about why, but it still manages to pull off gruesome action to match its source material. The series' landscape is sometimes a little less perfect than its counterpart's award-winning graphics, but what it lacks on the skyline, it makes up for in close-up, with harrowing and unique creature designs. In place of traditional zombies, infected bodies in "The Last of Us" bloom like mushrooms, resulting in misshapen, squishy creatures called Clickers. Clicker's largely practical designs are undeniably great, though the biggest threat Joel and Ellie face often aren't monsters, but other people.

Druckmann's story is perhaps best known for its ending, an indelible and deeply convoluted conclusion carried by the same two characters who have brought us thus far. In its final episodes, "The Last of Us" seems to tumble rapidly towards that end, and its brisk pace seems designed to leave viewers little time to process its most traumatic moments. In the end, though, Pascal and Ramsey did a great job that makes it hard to see this chapter of "The Last of Us" going. But the quality that makes us want to stick with them is the same one that makes the ending go off without a hitch - as shocking in live-action as it was on HBO, if a bit more understated.

Breathe a sigh of relief: "The Last of Us" is very, very good.

"The Last of Us" debuts January 15th on HBO and will be available to stream in 4K on HBO Max.