Set in a world ravaged by a fungal virus, The Last of Us is one of the greatest video games of all time. As Joel, you must survive countless infected whilst traveling across America to save a young girl called Ellie, featuring a powerful and emotional story that blurs the line between morality and connection.
In the post-apocalyptic world you find yourself in, there are many enemies that aren't just disease-riddled maniacs. In the latter stages of the game, you come face to face with David, a leader of a group of survivors that saves Ellie from certain death. Here are 10 things you may have missed about the mysterious antagonist.
10 He Is Voiced And Mo-Capped By Nolan North
One of the most famous voice actors in gaming is without a doubt Nolan North. He's been responsible for voicing countless characters in video games, such as Penguin in the Arkham series and Desmond Miles from Assassin's Creed, however, he is best known for playing explorer Nathan Drake in Uncharted.
Already having worked with Naughty Dog on the Uncharted Series, The Last of Us Director Neil Druckmann wanted him to play the character of David. When you first meet him, he seems like a genuine person who appears to care greatly for Ellie, but as events unfold it is clear he's not the person he appears to be.
9 Ashley Johnson And Nolan North Swapped Motion Capturing During Production
Ellie and David have one of the most intense fights in the entirety of The Last of Us, culminating in a tragic demise for the cannibalistic leader. Nolan North once revealed at a Q&A panel at SacAnime in 2013 that there are certain scenes in the game where he wasn't motion capturing the character at all.
He revealed that Ashley Johnson, the woman behind Ellie, would swap roles with him. At certain points, the two would change mo-capping responsibilities, with North becoming Ellie and Johnson becoming David. When you think about it now, it adds a whole new level to their chemistry, especially as things come to a dramatic conclusion.
8 He Planned To Repopulate With Ellie
Although David is a leader of a group of cannibals, he initially wanted to capture Ellie and begin to repopulate the Earth. In an interview with IGN, the actor behind the character Nolan North said he didn't want to kill her, but rather have children with someone talented in the art of survival, someone like Ellie.
North also stated during a Let's Play for the game that he believed his portrayal of David was that of a "warped father," rather than someone who cared greatly for her, like Joel. David does show affection to Ellie for a while, but when she refuses his advances, he begins to pursue her more aggressively, finally showing his true colors.
7 He Is Ambidextrous
Ellie's fight with David in The Last of Us is a tense game of cat and mouse. Not only can he take a ridiculous amount of pain, he can also use both hands to fire a gun and use his weapons. He fires his revolver with both hands at different times, and his machete is attached on his left side, yet he picks it up with his right hand.
It may only be a small detail, but it certainly helps him against the infected. Before Ellie kills him after their boss fight, he shows time and time again how great a killer he is, and having the ability to use both hands in a fight only highlights how dangerous he is when facing anyone that gets on his bad side.
6 David Is The Only Human In The Game Who Hears You When Crouched
As Ellie, you have many tools at your disposal to help in the fight against many of the game's enemies. One of the most vital mechanics is the ability to remain quiet when crouching. It allows you to sneak up on clickers, avoid dangerous situations, and generally helps you survive in your journey across America.
Unfortunately, David is the only character in The Last of Us that this doesn't work on. When you're sneaking up on him, in your showdown with him on Grounded difficulty, he will notice exactly where you are. It renders the mechanic useless, adding another challenge when trying to kill him.
5 ... And The Only Human You Have A Boss Fight With
You have to kill a lot of types of infected in The Last of Us, and whilst there aren't traditional boss fights, you will have to take down mutations, such as the Bloater in the school gym and the sewers. You face a fair few humans as well, but the only one you'll fight one on one with is David.
As mentioned earlier, it's tricky trying to sneak around the restaurant without him seeing you, and trying to stab him in the neck can take time. He's the most exciting antagonist in the game, and the build-up from when Joel realizes Ellie is gone becomes a tense game of cat and mouse.
4 Joel Never Fights David
Joel has a rough time of it in The Last of Us. The game starts with his daughter Sarah being shot and killed, and then decades later he goes through hell trying to protect Ellie, resulting in him seriously injuring himself. Throughout the whole time you play as him during the Winter stage, you never come into contact with David.
It's probably a good thing, as he'd no doubt kill David with his own hands. He may not be a complete creep to start with, but when Ellie rejects him, he gets very weird. With a show based on the game currently in development, maybe fans will see it happen on the small screen, as it would make for some great television.
3 David Wasn't A Successful Leader
Players end up learning a lot about David from the moment they meet him, and as they spend more time with him, they find out what kind of a weirdo he is. Although he's the leader of the cannibal group, many don't necessarily believe in him anymore. They even contemplate getting rid of him once they deal with Ellie.
RELATED: 10 Hidden Details Everyone Missed In The Last Of Us
Another big telltale sign that his leadership is failing happens when they disobey a direct order not to kill Ellie, instead attempting to murder her and ignoring the fact David wants her alive. It all boils down to the fact his group is sick of his sadistic vices and "hobbies," and after what he planned with Ellie, it's kind of understandable.
2 Davis Was Originally Called "The Cannibal King"
Before the script for The Last of Us was written, the writers had a very different name for David. They knew he was to be the leader of a bunch of cannibals, but until Nolan North came along, he was referred to as "the cannibal king." This would never have been used regardless of North's involvement, but it's still a tongue-in-cheek moniker.
Naughty Dog knew David would be an enemy that encountered Ellie, but North thought it would be good to have him infatuated by her. He was humanized and given a charismatic and warm personality, only for the game to blindside players with the revelation that he loved to eat human flesh. Nice.
1 He Wears Different Color Jackets On PS3 And PS4
The Last of Us may be a grisly adventure set in a bleak world, but it was regarded by many to be the best looking game on PlayStation 3 when it released in 2013. To highlight the power of the PS4, Sony released it once again, except this time it had many new features, like 1080p high definition, and the 'Left Behind' prequel.
Those with a keen eye for detail may have already noticed this one, but in the original version, David's jacket was green in the cutscenes. When The Last of Us Remastered was released on PS4, the jacket was now blue. During gameplay sections, it was always green in both versions, but it's a nice little fact nonetheless.