Susan JessicaAlright, let me tell you something. You know those video games where you get so wrapped up in the story, you forget you’re just holding a controller? Ellie Last of Us? That’s one of those. And let me be real with you—I didn’t just play as Ellie. I became her. The emotional rollercoaster? Hella real. My heart? I basically handed it over to Naughty Dog and said, “Here, do your thing.” Anyway, fast forward to me realizing I got too attached. And I’m not talking about the “oops, my character died” kind of attachment. No, this was next-level.
Who is Ellie Last of Us? Let’s Talk About It
Alright, before I dive in, here’s the scoop on Ellie. She’s not just your run-of-the-mill video game protagonist. Nah. This girl is a survivor. Raised in a world overrun by a fungal apocalypse, she’s tough, clever, and honestly—way smarter than I am on a good day. Born into this hellscape, she’s had to grow up fast.
But don’t get me wrong—she’s not some heartless killer. Ellie’s got a heart, it’s just wrapped in layers of loss, anger, and a lot of sarcasm. Seriously, playing as her was like trying to juggle knives while walking a tightrope. There’s so much emotion packed into her every decision. I’m telling you, if you don’t get teary-eyed watching her grow, you might need to check your pulse.
I Played as Ellie… and Then I Forgot Where I Ended and She Began
The first time I played as Ellie, I didn’t realize it would hit me this hard. Like, who knew a video game could make you feel like you’re personally living through the apocalypse? Ellie Last of Us does that. The world is dark. The stakes? Way too high. And the worst part? You feel everything.
I’ll be honest—by the time I hit the end of the first game, I was practically breathing for Ellie Last of Us. I wasn’t playing Ellie Last of Us—I was living it. The pain, the loss, the choices? Yeah, I started making those decisions like they were my own life.
And listen—those infected? They’re creepy as hell, but the real terror? It’s the emotional stuff. The choices that tear at you. Like, I thought I could handle a zombie apocalypse, but Ellie Last of Us hits you with the real kind of survival—moral survival. Do I make the hard call, or do I try to keep some shred of humanity? Yeah, that hits differently.
The Emotional Rollercoaster (Fasten Your Seatbelt)
By the time I reached the part where Ellie really starts dealing with the weight of loss, I was low-key a wreck. Y’all, this girl has been through some stuff. Her life? Full of heartbreak and anger. And as I played through it, I found myself getting way too emotionally invested in her journey. It was the moments that really got to me—those quiet, small ones—where Ellie’s vulnerabilities shone through.
I mean, seriously—Ellie has dealt with loss that would break anyone, yet she keeps pushing. I couldn’t help but feel that weight, too. The second you get attached to a character, you’re in it for the long haul. And Ellie? She made sure I wasn’t going anywhere. The pain, the rage, the moments of hope? All of it hit me like a freight train.
- Loss: Every time someone close to Ellie Last of Us was taken away, it felt like I lost a friend. And don’t get me started on how much I cried over certain characters. Ellie Last of Us isn’t just about surviving zombies, it’s about surviving emotional wreckage.
- Vengeance: The second I got into Part II, Ellie’s quest for revenge had me second-guessing everything. Do you chase vengeance, or do you let go? Because every time Ellie made a decision based on anger, I could feel my stomach tighten. Fast forward to me shouting “NOOOO” at the screen in disbelief—guilty as charged.
- Hope: I’ll admit it—I’m a sucker for hope. Ellie’s quest, at times, felt pointless. But in those rare moments when she finds something to live for, I felt that too. It was like we both clung to hope with sweaty palms.
Ellie’s Relationships: A Whole Vibe
Alright, let’s talk about the relationships that shape Ellie. I didn’t just play through a game—I lived these connections. They were messy, beautiful, and real. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t just controlling Ellie—I was involved in her friendships, her love life (yep, that too), and even the moments of betrayal. And man, did those hit hard.
- Joel and Ellie: This is the core of the first game. The whole father-daughter dynamic? Yeah, it made me feel things. I watched Joel protect Ellie with everything he had, and the emotional depth between them—chef’s kiss. But Ellie Last of Us, of course, had her own internal struggle. She wasn’t just an innocent child; she was a survivor in a messed-up world. The back-and-forth between trusting and resenting Joel? That’s the stuff that kept me up at night.
- Dina and Ellie: Part II really throws us into Ellie’s world as an adult. Her relationship with Dina was… complicated (to say the least). I found myself rooting for them, even though I knew things would inevitably go south. It was messy, but it was also real.
- Other Survivors: Yeah, there are a ton of other survivors Ellie encounters along the way. Some you root for, others you’d happily push off a cliff (again, chef’s kiss). But each relationship Ellie forms made her feel more human—more real. And when I controlled her, I felt every ounce of loyalty, betrayal, and trust she had with others. The emotional connections? They were my own.
The Problem with Getting Too Attached to a Character Like Ellie
Here’s the kicker—once you get attached to Ellie, it’s over. Seriously, I’m talking about the kind of emotional attachment where you find yourself thinking about Ellie in the shower, wondering if she’s okay. Like, “Yo, Ellie, are you good? What’s the deal with your vengeance quest, girl?”
But here’s the real issue: the emotional toll it takes.
- Empathy Overload: The more I played, the more I felt for Ellie. The decisions weren’t just pixels on a screen; they were weighty. I wasn’t just controlling her actions—I was carrying the weight of her emotions. Which, by the way, feels exhausting after a while.
- Stress Level: 999: Every fight, every sneak attack—it wasn’t just about surviving. It was about Ellie Last of Us surviving. I swear I could feel my pulse racing during some of those stealth sections. It was like I was in that environment, not her. Every close call, every fight, I held my breath with her.
- The Finale: When the end came? I was wrecked. I won’t spoil it for you, but let’s just say the decisions Ellie faces in the final moments made me want to just scream and curl up in a blanket. Because it wasn’t just her journey anymore—it was mine too.
Some Lessons I Learned from Ellie’s Life (And How I’m Trying to Apply Them)
Alright, let’s wrap this up with some stuff Ellie Last of Us taught me along the way. I can’t lie—there were a few key lessons that I’ll probably carry with me forever. Well, at least until I hit the next big emotional game.
- Never Let Go: Ellie’s resilience is honestly unmatched. The girl has been through hell, and yet, she keeps going. Like, if she can keep going after everything she’s been through, maybe I can stop stressing over a bad day at work? Probably.
- Relationships Matter: Seriously. Ellie’s relationships are what grounded her. Joel, Dina, even those fleeting moments with random survivors—those bonds kept her fighting. It made me realize just how important my relationships are too. Maybe I’ll call my mom more often. Or not—baby steps, right?
- Revenge Ain’t All It’s Cracked Up to Be: Ellie’s journey for vengeance in Part II might’ve seemed justified, but by the end, it felt empty. I mean, really empty. I guess the lesson here is that holding onto anger might not be the best long-term strategy… who knew?
Wrapping It Up (With a Whole Lot of Feels)
By the time the credits rolled, I was emotionally drained. I wasn’t just playing as Ellie Last of Us anymore—I was her. The highs, the lows, the anger, the moments of peace? Yeah, I felt them all. And once I was done, it hit me—Ellie Last of Us journey isn’t just about surviving the apocalypse. It’s about surviving the emotional fallout of a broken world.
And if that doesn’t make you rethink how attached you get to video game characters, I don’t know what will.
