Eventually, they find themselves detected by another Clicker, but Tess and Joel are able to ward it off by throwing empty bottles and bricks away from them. The Clicker shrieks and pursues the source of the noise while our heroes slip past unscathed.
Finally, they find themselves in a room swarming with Runners, infected individuals who are on the same level as rabid dogs. The infection hasn't completely ruined their bodies, but it has ruined their minds. Joel finds a pipe, and we finally get a glimpse at just how every little thing you find can help. Through the game's crafting system, he can tape scissor blades to the end of the pipe, resulting in a weapon that looks absolutely nasty. That being said, running into this encounter with the intention of going all Patrick Swayze in Road House is a bad, bad idea. You've got a gun, but infected take tons of shots before they go down (and shots to the head are seemingly the only way to efficiently take down Clickers -- if you absolutely must engage them in combat). Stealth is the ideal approach.
Joel can sneak up behind any unsuspecting enemies, grab them, and then either strangle them to death or shiv them in the neck. Shivs can double as lockpicks or crafting tools, so these are best saved for emergencies. Clearing the room without alerting any enemies is extremely difficult, but even if you get their attention, you get to experience the game's combat system, which is incredibly brutal. A hit with the scissor-pipe might rip the upper half of an enemy's head clean off, while a hit without the scissors might obliterate the head completely. There are lots of approaches to use in combat, but every time you play it, it feels like a desperate struggle.
Naughty Dog is not playing around. The Last of Us is easily their darkest and most adult game yet, and it's also looking like it just might be their best, as well. It infects store shelves on June 14. Get your pre-orders in and check back for a full review.