You quite honestly are not ready for everything this game is about to throw at you. Image via Naughty Dog, Sony Interactive Entertainment The Last of Us was a baby game for babies.” It's why co-director Kurt Margenau told Wired that, in The Last of Us: Part II, “Real life is the bar. It's not just the vast leap forward in technological innovations that Naughty Dog and Sony Interactive Entertainment have been able to take advantage of seven years later, they've also embraced a gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, at-times blood-chilling narrative that truly earns the Mature rating in every sense of the word. This sequel surpasses even that award-winning title in every way. Now that decade has certainly seen some gems 2013's original The Last of Us being among them.
In my opinion, it's already the best game of the year halfway through 2020 and should be in the conversation for the best game of the last decade. The Last of Us: Part II is an absolute lock for a Game of the Year nomination.
From the incredible, soul-crushing story from Neil Druckmann and co-writer Halley Wegryn Gross, to the detailed and lifelike character designs and animations, the crisp and customizable combat system, the variety and real-world feel of jaw-droppingly gorgeous settings, the awards-worthy voice / motion-capture performances across the board, the pared down yet haunting musical score, and the informative and at times infuriating sound design. Everything else about The Last of Us: Part II is superlative. The Naughty Dog sequel's shortcomings are purely subjective: Some pacing issues with the ever-unpredictable narrative, the illusion of choice in what is a very purposeful and morality-driven story, enemies who aren't quite as smart as they were touted to be, and, a personal nitpick, the lack of a HUD, compass, or mapping system, which frustrated my desire to 100% every area. However, if you can mentally handle everything the game throws at you, TLOU2 is the perfect swansong for the PlayStation 4.The Last of Us: Part II is as close as you can get to a perfect game. But as technically and mechanically appealing as the game is, it is also a harrowing game that deals with uncomfortable topics and depicts brutal acts of violence. Everything from animation to visual details has been created with so much painstaking detail that you’ll probably spend hours just clicking pictures in the game’s many beautiful vistas.
TLOU 2 is a PS4 game, but can very well pass for a next-gen game. You’ll need to use a combination of stealth and all-out aggression to survive this brutal game world. Enemies will charge at you and flank you downeven while you’re in cover, while certain infected can kill you in just one hit.
Scrap found through the game will allow players to upgrade their arsenal to inflict maximum damage, reduce weapon sway, or reduce reload time.And you will definitely need all the help you can get, as the world in TLOU 2 is extremely bleak and dangerous. Scavenging plays an important role in this game as you’ll be able to accumulate resources that will in turn allow you to improve Ellie’s skillset, such as crafting items faster or improving her overall health. TLOU2 is largely a linear game – much like its predecessor – but each level is massive, allowing players to thoroughly explore it for resources.