It’s almost impossible to make every theme in “The Last of Us” game come to life without the Infected. Seriously. The Infected are what breathe energy into this popular video game.
The Infected are “The Last of Us’” take on the zombies in the “Resident Evil” game series and those in the blockbuster Korean movie “Train to Busan.” Basically, they are humans infected by the Cordyceps brain infection, which is why they have mutated into monstrous forms. Their new forms now are aggressive, attacking any uninfected humans and animals along their way, turning them to be like them as well.
They are among the main types of enemies in “The Last of Us” and “The Last of Us Part II,” the others being non-infected humans. There are various types of Infected in the game. Let’s meet each of them here, starting with the Rat King.
First Stage: Runners
The mildest form of Infected is the Runner. Runners still look a lot like humans, as their infection has just occurred in a day or two. You will see them early in the game, looking a lot like human beings still because the fungus has not taken over their body yet. However, they can turn really irritable and violent, moaning in pain. Their speed, and their molted, pale skin, as well as thinning hair and bloodshot eyes, will make you run for your life.
Runners are still scary, though. As they attack, they will shriek, which is kind of suggesting how they still resist what their new forms are doing. It’s a chilling premise that Ellie Williams vividly expresses in one of the episodes: “If you turn into a monster, is it still you inside?”
Second Stage: Stalkers
As the infection reaches about two weeks up to a year, Runners turn into Stalkers, no pun intended. It’s a slow transition with the being becoming less human-like. Fungi grow out of their bodies, so a part of the face becomes detached. They are also still croaking but intelligent enough to remain silent so they can hide, then suddenly appear to attack victims. There are instances when Stalkers reach a state of dormancy where fungal tendrils emerge, attaching them to the walls before either awakening then attacking, or dying altogether.
Third Stage: Clickers
You have the Runners, then the Stalkers, then the Clickers. It only gets more horrific at this point. This third stage of infection ensues about a year after getting infected. At this point, almost no human feature will be seen. In place of their eyes and faces are blossoming fungus skulls, making them totally blind and only left with a mouth that produces, well, a creepy clicking sound, which Bella Ramsey perfectly imitates. Funny. They use this sound to locate humans they’ll prey on and communicate with the other Infected.
Clickers are among the strongest Infected because of how the fungus has served as armor on their body and their thirst to attack humans. These Infected are difficult to kill, so your best move for now would be to discreetly sneak away without triggering their echolocation skills.
Fourth Stage: Bloaters
The perfect name for this stage, Bloaters are rare and dangerous, ensuing several years after infection. Bloaters look entirely like fungi now, covering their body and acting not just armor, but armor plates, making them really strong and aggressive. They may be slower than the previous stages of Infected, but their sheer size can leave you dead almost all of a sudden. The only way to beat Bloaters is to outrun them or use fire; otherwise, you will die. You’ll also notice their skin has toxin pockets that can infect your skin, so it’s definitely best to stay away from them.
Alternative Fouth Stage: Shamblers
Interestingly, you can encounter this alternative Stage 4 of Infected known as Shamblers. Shamblers are Bloaters when exposed to water. They’re also huge and strong, but their toxic spores look a lot like pus, which they use to fling at you. They appear in groups and are very hard to dissipate.
Fifth Stage: The Rat King
Ah, the royalty of the Infected, the Rat King. Just hearing the thought of rats can make you rush to the bathroom and clean. This fifth stage of the Infected is extremely rare. You won’t encounter them until “The Last of Us II.” They are a hybrid of Stalkers, Clickers, and Bloaters. A Rat King won’t form until over 25 years after getting infected. They are almost impossible to defeat.
But, did you know there’s even a last stage of the Infected? Don’t worry, though, because they are not going to be dangerous anymore. The last stage of Death, that’s right. Yes, the Infected can die. Goodness gracious! Just as there’s balance in nature, there will come a time when the fungus will take over their body and become the reason for their death. When they die, they won’t be able to spread their infection.
You can play “The Last of Us” on Microsoft Windows and PlayStation.
