The Last of Us Part II Review: A Dark Masterpiece
"The last of us Part II is a slap in the face in the best way."
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Deep emotional impact
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Well-written narrative
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Breathtaking graphics
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Fine-tuned game mechanics
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Characters are fully developed and credible
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High level of detail in the game and in the options
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Gating prevents more extensive exploration
Publishing a follow-up to a very popular game is daunting and can easily disappoint fans. The last of us part II accomplishes the feat effortlessly.
This sequel extends and perfects the already well-made story. It lives up to the first release and extends the original without going too far, which could alienate fans hoping to get a taste of what they loved the first time.
The last of us places a heavy burden on this entry because the effects of Joel's actions have far-reaching effects and history is not forgotten. Ellie and Joel started a new life in Jackson, Wyoming, but the game lets players know that it is not that easy to continue.
The plot is certainly dark, but it never feels nervous. There is empathy even for your enemies. Obviously, the game contains many unexpected twists that make The Last of Us Part II look emotionally and narratively polished. There are Easter eggs and funny jokes, but that's a story of revenge. It will never be forgotten.
Emotional impact
The Last of Us has been praised for its emotional narrative that shook players, and Naughty Dog's sequel finds a way to expand on that. The last of us Part II is a slap in the face in the best way.
I can't count the number of times I stared at the screen with wide eyes and thought, "No. It can't be right. It can't be that way."
The players in the first game already know and love Ellie, so it's easy to shop around in her story. That said, this is not a happy story. Fans are likely expecting this since Sony described the plot as a quest for revenge. But The last of us part II takes many dark turns. It twists and affects your expectations and therefore your well-being.
I can't count the number of times I stared at the screen with wide eyes and thought, "No. It can't be right. It can't be that way."
And while I thought I knew Ellie, the game felt like meeting an old friend I was separated from. Sure, she is – but she's older and her attitude has evolved from a spunky, tough child to a blunt survivor.
Ellie is still very loyal and fearless, but she has lost the hope she had in the first game. This is probably because the original Ellie was on the way to finding a cure. It is clear that the failure of this mission took part of its optimism and growing up in a post-apocalyptic world, while the excruciating pressure to be a teenager still didn't help.
We see her story and her fear of telling Joel about her first friend. This story is particularly beautiful and I was glad to see that Ellie's feelings were explored with the same sincerity as a heterosexual relationship.
Naughty dog
Their relationship with Joel also deepens as they create a new life after the events of the first game. There is a look back at one of their birthdays, and the time they spend tying is a strong reminder that the family is not just blood relatives.
Still, Ellie is older. She has questions and she was not one who was afraid to question authority. And after the failed vaccine search by her and Joel, it becomes more difficult to see how people turn away from a bite.
Sometimes Ellie is unrecognizable to herself.
The event that causes Ellie to take revenge is even more relieved.
Sometimes our protagonist is unrecognizable for herself. It is painful to watch their journey – to participate actively, but not to be able to change course. Writing does The last of us part II one of the greatest gaming experiences I've ever had. It reminds me of the games my mother, who really didn't understand my fascination with video games, would look over my shoulder to watch. Those who made her stop asking, "Aren't you tired of playing this?" and sit next to me instead. That made her say softly to my stepfather, "It's like a movie."
Similar to the first time The last of us, The narrative will remind players why they love to play and give birth to a new generation of players.
While Ellie is the star, the story goes beyond her. I was involved in the life of characters I would never meet, some dead, some still out there. You will find documents and memorabilia, similar to the one in the last game. But this time the game does better at creating stories that can last the entire duration of the game. A document in an early area is linked to a document in a later level. One person mentioned in a note is the author of another. And when I came across the last note of an invisible character near his body in a room with an infected person, or worse, my heart was broken.
That was teased Part II is darker, but I wasn't prepared.
This also goes beyond Ellie. The world is at war with itself. Different factions are suffering on both sides after the termination of an armistice for which neither party is to blame. There is also the profound moral question of which side is the right one. People who had previously joined the government-sanctioned FEDRA, the countermovement of fireflies, or who chose to respond only for themselves. But it's not just about survival. It's about what society looks like when the remains of human civilization are desperately trying to hold on.
If you kill a human enemy, his friends will cry out for them. They each have names. Their allies will be devastated to bump into their dead bodies, and not because that means they are in danger themselves. It's a heartbreaking but realistic detail that lights up the game and leaves you with a pit of the stomach.
Way of playing
If you add so many elements to the game, you have to open the map. While not really an open-world game, some levels are large and complex, and definitely worth exploring.
When it comes to game mechanics, it doesn't fix what isn't broken.
I was happy to come across Easter eggs, to unravel a story by leaving notes and clues behind, or to find a particularly practical way to pick up the equipment by bothering.
There are also small moments that trigger cutscenes and appear completely optional. Some parts were just cute, others added a deep emotional layer. I highly recommend reviewing everything and I will probably go to another degree myself.
Naughty dog
Still, The last of us part II is a linear game, and gating – which prevents you from going back to a previous area – removes any illusion that this could be a real sandpit title.
When it comes to game mechanics, it doesn't fix what isn't broken. It works much like the first game, but refines the fight. Stealth is getting smarter, there are new enemies and there are skill trees in which you can invest resources depending on your preferred fighting style. I found it easy to jump in again and appreciated the new elements.
Pictures and details
The visuals of The last of us part II are just great. The details of the surroundings and the objects are absolutely phenomenal. I played on a PlayStation 4 base with HDR turned on and was convinced that I wasn't playing in 4K. It really looks so good. Textures look exceptionally detailed and landscapes look incredible. This is particularly important because a lot of time is spent outdoors.
The character details could be even more impressive. There is a small part where Ellie looks in the mirror and makes different faces, and it is not a cut scene. The animations look so good that it feels like the developers are showing off.
Of course, it would be inappropriate not to mention the crisis in this game. Naughty Dog has received criticism of his practice of putting his team in stressful hours to end this and other games. It's an absolute shame that everyone would work under these conditions, and they're the unsung heroes who made this game as good as it is.
They contain so many subtleties that have to be explored. The options menu allows you to customize the difficulty of things like enemy health or the number of resources you find.
More importantly, players can change the controls to make them more accessible in several ways. Changes can be made visually to make reading subtitles easier or to display important details. There's also a text-to-speech option and motion sickness settings. Players can even change the guitar playing or operate a boat. These options are also highlighted by on-screen notifications, and other accessibility features are announced at the start. It's a great move that I hope to see in more titles.
Do all these details The last of us part II an incredibly powerful game.
Our opinion
The last part II is a tour de force, in which the best parts of the original are brought into their best forms. History will stagger you, and there are some unexpected twists and turns that you will invest consistently. The level of detail and quality in creating and creating stories in the world is at the top of their class.
Is there a better alternative?
There's nothing like The Last of Us Part II, let alone a better alternative. The gameplay and combat are not unique, but the story that revolves around these elements is unique. This is also the reason why people chose the first game so strongly.
How long it will take?
The campaign lasts between 30 and 40 hours and reaches it easily if you want to explore and find everything that is available. If you just want to get through the story, 30 hours are closer to accuracy, but even narrative players will benefit from additional exploration.
But should you?
Yes absolutely. The Last of Us Part II will go down as a classic game that people will talk about for years, much like the first iteration. The fact that this title extends what worked well so much makes it much easier to justify adding it to your library.
Editor's recommendations