‘The Last of Us’ is an action-adventure video game series that has gained immense popularity over the years. The game’s plot is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a fungal infection has spread, turning humans into creatures known as ‘Clickers’ and ‘fungus zombies.’ These infected beings are a significant threat to the remaining survivors in the game, and the game’s developers have done an excellent job of bringing these creatures to life. This article will delve into the details of these creatures, their characteristics, and the inspiration behind their creation.

‘Clickers’ and fungus zombies are two different types of infected beings in ‘The Last of Us.’ ‘Clickers’ are the most dangerous of the infected, with their ability to track their prey by using echolocation. They are named ‘Clickers’ because of the distinctive clicking sound they make when they sense their prey. They have an incredibly developed sense of hearing, and their eyes are no longer functional, having been replaced by fungal growths.

Fungus zombies, on the other hand, are infected beings that have not yet reached the ‘Clicker’ stage. They are still in the early stages of the infection and have not yet developed the distinctive fungal growths that make ‘Clickers’ so dangerous. However, they are still highly dangerous and should not be underestimated.

The developers of ‘The Last of Us’ drew inspiration from several real-world sources when creating the infected beings in the game. One of the most significant inspirations was the Cordyceps fungus, which is a parasitic fungus that infects insects and other arthropods. When the fungus infects an insect, it takes over its body and begins to manipulate its behavior, causing the insect to climb to a high point before dying and releasing spores into the air, which then infect other insects.

The Cordyceps fungus was the primary inspiration behind the ‘Clickers’ and fungus zombies in ‘The Last of Us.’ The developers took the idea of a parasitic fungus that takes over the host’s body and applied it to humans, creating the terrifying infected beings that players must face in the game.

Another significant inspiration for the infected beings in ‘The Last of Us’ was the concept of zombie movies and TV shows. The developers wanted to create creatures that were both terrifying and familiar to players, and the idea of zombies fit this concept perfectly. However, they did not want to create traditional zombies that were slow-moving and easily avoidable. Instead, they wanted to create infected beings that were fast-moving, deadly, and could adapt to their environment, which is where the Cordyceps fungus came into play.

‘Clickers’ and fungus zombies have several characteristics that make them unique and incredibly dangerous. One of the most significant characteristics of ‘Clickers’ is their ability to track their prey using echolocation. They emit a distinctive clicking sound that bounces off objects and allows them to locate their prey, even if they cannot see them.

Another significant characteristic of ‘Clickers’ is their fungal growths. These growths have completely taken over their faces, replacing their eyes and causing the fungus to grow out of their skulls. This makes them nearly invulnerable to headshots, which is why players must be strategic when facing them.

Fungus zombies, on the other hand, do not have the distinctive fungal growths that ‘Clickers’ have, but they are still incredibly dangerous. They are fast-moving and can overwhelm players in large groups. They are also highly adaptive, able to climb walls and crawl through small spaces to reach their prey.