Like them or not, it's hard to deny that The Last Of Us and The Last Of Us 2 are all the rage right now. There is so much that happens in these two games regarding the plots and the characters. Players follow the main protagonists Ellie and her Joel around a post-apocalyptic world, where they must both avoid the Cordyceps Brain Infection (CBI) and fight the infected and other dangerously desperate survivors just like themselves.
These two games have phenomenal character development that allows players to connect with so seamlessly. However, there are occurrences between the first and second The Last Of Us games that players likely don't know about. Let's take a look at them.
10 Five Years Have Passed
The most obvious difference and change seen between both The Last Of Us games is how much older the characters are. This is because it has been around five years in between the two games. Five years is a reasonable amount of time, because it is not too long and it is not too short.
Plus, it makes sense that the second game doesn't pick up immediately after the first one. There also has to be some time for the CBI infection to subside and for a different conflict to unfold.
9 Ellie & Joel Had A Bad Falling Out
The infamous lie Joel tells Ellie in the end of The Last Of Us affects their relationship in unchangeable ways. Ellie is immune to the fungal infection, so people try to capture her to figure out a cure. The problem is, Ellie would have to die in order for doctors to dig into her body. Joel saves Ellie's life without her knowing, and he lies to her about how doctors actually don't need her.
Eventually, Ellie figures out that Joel was lying to her this whole time. As a result, she becomes distant to her adoptive father figure. In fact, The Last Of Us Part II begins with undeniable tension between Ellie and Joel. Their relationship is not the same as it was, as Ellie struggles to forgive Joel while Joel deals with immense guilt and remorse.
8 Ellie & Joel Traveled All Summer To Get To Jackson
Things have certainly changed from when Ellie was in the military quarantine zone. The Last Of Us Part II begins with Ellie and Joel in a settlement in Jackson, Wyoming, where Joel's brother Tommy resides.
It appears to be winter when they are in this settlement. meaning summer occurred in between games and that the two traveled all the way to Jackson throughout the summer. It is also clear that the colder climate helped the CBI infection die down.
7 Jackson Was Abandoned By The Government Or Military
Players can explore Jackson and learn a lot about the place and what happened before the sequel begins. The game seems to start out like this so players can gather a feel for what happened before the sequel began. The setting looks familiar yet different because it is a lot more open compared to the previous game's claustrophobic locations.
In addition, there are leftover ruins full of notes and letters for and from random people that players can read. There are even odd things such as a gun hiding in a bank. It becomes obvious that some of these ruins are leftovers from the military or government installations, meaning that they tried (and eventually failed) to hold out as long as they could.
6 Ellie & Joel Coped By Doing Mundane Tasks
Many players are likely wondering what Ellie and Joel were up to in between games. Well, at the beginning of The Last Of Us Part II, they appear to be taking on different tasks, other than just saving all of society that is.
Ellie does rather strange tasks on the settlement including being a watchwoman. Meanwhile, Joel transitions into becoming a watchman as well. Most times, though, he patrols around Jackson and kills threatening infectious people. There is a lot of reinventing of these characters in between games. These tasks are likely some of their coping mechanisms they figure out.
5 Ellie Met A Friend & A Girlfriend
As close as Joel and Ellie are, Ellie makes new friends in between the games. There are two other teenagers in Jackson that she and Joel are staying at. Their names are Jesse and Dina.
Ellie meets them during her time patrolling around Jackson, making sure infectious people don't come near. Both are around Ellie's age so it is quite easy for them to bond. Ellie actually ends up dating Dina for a hot minute! It's clear that Ellie learns to trust more in between games.
4 The Infection Subsided, But The Seraphites Rose To Power
As mentioned earlier, the fungal infection has almost died out in the years since the first game's ending. However, a new creepy foe in the form of a religious cult that rose to power. The Seraphites relentlessly dominate what's left of civilization, meaning their numbers and influence grew rather quickly in between games.
In fact, the cult took place of the fungal infection in terms of the game's central conflict and antagonist. The fungal infection is still lingering, though, and is not to be underestimated. These really are tough times.
3 Ellie Tries To Forgive Herself Through Revenge
Ellie acts much more distant and independent throughout the second game. After all, she's not the little girl she once was. Ellie's revenge isn't as straightforward as killing his murderer, though, as she tries to forgive herself for not mending her relationship with Joel before he died by avenging him.
It is apparent that she changes immensely from the person she is between the two games, to the point where players notice a shift in the plot itself due to Ellie's personality.
2 Abby Suffered In Her Own Way
In The Last Of Us Part II, players switch from controlling Ellie as the main protagonist to controlling Abby. This is difficult for some because Abby kills Joel, who is a fan favorite. Come on, Abby!
Despite this, the designers made the decision between the games that players have to play from Abby's perspective. Plus, this means that Abby is dealing with her own emotional weight in between the games. Her trauma and need for revenge is part of what motivates her to kill Joel and, later on, struggle with the consequences.
1 The New Theme Reflects A New World
Fans are catching onto how The Last Of Us Part II is thematically more about revenge than survival. This switch occurs in between games. That is to say, The Last Of Us has to end at some point or else the plot becomes too redundant. Therefore, the sequel focuses more on the baggage of the characters and how they deal with the ramifications of the first game.
Specifically, the baggage and emotions within Ellie and Abby. In between games, there is a lot of growth and development for both women. Even though players do not get to see all of the off-screen details, they can feel the subtle and overt changes in the world through the characters' actions and choices.