Is 'The Last of Us' a zombie apocalypse game?

[Takes Two To Tango]

Just curious if you would put this game in the same category or genre as other zombie games.

There is an argument that it isn't a zombie game.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

As someone as played the game several times (and consider it to be one if the Top 3 games of the 2010s) and watched the show once (unfortunately) it checks most of the boxes to qualify as a 'Zombie Apocalypse' game.

The difference is the threat... 'the infected'... are far more dangerous than typical zombies from Romero's '_____ of the Dead' movies.

This video provides a detailed analysis, as to why.

 

[Dizzy]

It’s a stealth game in a post apocalyptic setting. The infected are close enough to zombies though so I’ll say somewhat.

 

[Bornstarch]

Ive never played it, but yes it is

 

[llperez22]

id say yes because it fits the general theme of the genre. Its kind of like when people put the 28 days later franchise in with zombie movies even though they are not actually zombies but people with rabies on steroids.

 

[Madmick]

Zombies aren't always "undead" in the unholy, supernatural sense. They're often presented as infected in some manner. It checks every box that matters.

 

[ObsoleteSoul]

Absolutely. It has all the trappings of a zombie apocalypse. Mindless hordes that infect and/or kill the victim. Ruined civilization. Themes of starting over from a disastrous past. I would say those are the mainstays of a zombie apocalypse, even if they somewhat tweaked the enemy.

 

[method115]

I would say it is.

 

[Dizzy]

I guess I don’t consider a game to be a zombie game when zombies make up like 15% of the encounters.

 

[ObsoleteSoul]

I guess I don’t consider a game to be a zombie game when zombies make up like 15% of the encounters.

That is a good point, and while I dont entirely disagree, I see it as a whole. Gameplay, story, theme. Together, it makes it a zombie apocalypse imo

 

[deadshot138]

I guess I don’t consider a game to be a zombie game when zombies make up like 15% of the encounters.

That's like saying Dying Light isn't a zombie game because you fight humans too. Also 15% iirc is a gross understatement. Unless you're referring to part 2, which the infected seemed to be an afterthought in that one.

 

[Valhoven]

I voted somewhat but could readily change to certainly depending on how the ensuing discussion fleshes out OP's use of 'zombie game'. I'm fine with either, really.

Zombie games are typically either H&S and combat by numbers like World War Z or Rebellion's Zombie Army 4, which is at stark odds with TLoU gameplay but not narrative nor necessarily item economy vis-à-vis weapon/ammo scarcity, item poverty, checkpoint save architecture; or, they're stealth horror like RE and TLoU.

I only lean somewhat here in vote because the former type is more my mental image when I hear gamer talk on anything 'zombie'.

Related, Days Gone is interesting as a same-space title that hybridises both types of zombie game plus RPG-lite elements.

 

[Dizzy]

That's like saying Dying Light isn't a zombie game because you fight humans too. Also 15% iirc is a gross understatement. Unless you're referring to part 2, which the infected seemed to be an afterthought in that one.

The vast majority of the game is played out with humans with some carve outs for infected gameplay (The Outskirts, Bill’s Town, Ish’s sewers mainly). Every major antagonist is a human.

It isn’t, “human are in this game too” it’s “zombies are in this game too.”

 

[GearSolidMetal]

I guess I don’t consider a game to be a zombie game when zombies make up like 15% of the encounters.

'The infected' accounts for roughly half of the encounters of the game. The other half are antagonist human groups.

Other humans are also antagonists in both zombie movies & shows... like 'Day Of The Dead' and 'The Walking Dead.'

 

[Dizzy]

'The infected' accounts for roughly half of the encounters of the game. The other half are antagonist human groups.

Other humans are also antagonists in both zombie movies & shows... like 'Day Of The Dead' and 'The Walking Dead.'

Nah, in fact even after Pittsburgh they basically just make cameos.

The majority of the game does not focus around the infected.

 

[Madmick]

In the base game, if you kill every enemy, Joel and kill 433, Ellie 72.


Looks like 50% of the kills being zombie is a conservative estimate.

 

[Dizzy]

In the base game, if you kill every enemy, Joel and kill 433, Ellie 72.


Looks like 50% of the kills being zombie is a conservative estimate.

I love that I made you spend time doing this lmao.

Infected attack in hordes during encounters, humans are really only to that level when you’re at the final level.

The encounters, which is what I said if you could read correctly, are far more skewed towards humans. If you’re facing waves of infected in short bursts and humans make up more than half the enemies, any level of common sense would lead you to the conclusion that you encounter humans far more frequently.

 

[Madmick]

The video is 3 years old. Took one Google to find.

Such a strange and silly argument taking place, here. The majority of the show The Walking Dead focused on encounters with other humans, or internal strife within the group itself. If that isn't a zombie apocalypse show, I'm not sure what the hell would make the cut. Might as well just pretend the subgenre doesn't exist if that's what we're arguing.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Nah, in fact even after Pittsburgh they basically just make cameos.

The majority of the game does not focus around the infected.

First you said 15% of enemies in TLOU are infected, and now you're just saying 'the majority of the game does not focus on the infected' so you could be referring to a 49% percentage.

Make up your mind.

Regardless of the exact percentage, which I estimate is pretty close to 50/50, the dystopian apocalypse setting is due to the infection outbreak and led to the collapse of society, countries, and probably the drastic lowering of the planet's human population... (Hence the title 'The Last of Us') and the humans left are as much at war with eachother for resources and survival as they are with the infected.

That's why TLOU is a zombie apocalypse game.

 

[Dizzy]

First you said 15% of enemies in TLOU are infected, and now you're just saying 'the majority of the game does not focus on the infected' so you could be referring to a 49% percentage.

Make up your mind.

Regardless of the exact percentage, which I estimate is pretty close to 50/50, the dystopian apocalypse setting is due to the infection outbreak and led to the collapse of society, countries, and probably the drastic lowering of the planet's human population... (Hence the title 'The Last of Us') and the humans left are as much at war with eachother for resources and survival as they are with the infected.

That's why TLOU is a zombie apocalypse game.

I did not. I said 15% of the game’s encounters are infected. Do you know what an encounter is? Doesn’t seem like it.

You can call it 20 if you’d like, point reminds the vast majority of the game deals with humans. Sorry, bud.

Reading comprehension these days smh.