The Last of Us Part 2 Review - IGN

But with The Last of Us Part 2, developer Naughty Dog rises to that challenge with not only a complex, profound story that gives it a reason ... TheLastofUs2TheLastofUsPart2ReviewThebestofus.LoadingBy JonathonDornbushUpdated:Oct22,20208:30pmPosted:Jun12,20207:01amTheLastofUsisoneoftherarebelovedgamesofthepastdecadethatnotonlydidn’tdemandasequel,butactivelyseemedtoresisttheideaofone.Itsstoryislargelypoignantbecauseofhowself-containeditis:notknowingwhathappenedbetweenJoelandEllieafterhisfateful,finaldecisionburnedamarkintothebrainsofmanywhoplayedit,andthatopen-endedquestionhaslingeredforyears.ButwithTheLastofUsPart2,developerNaughtyDogrisestothatchallengewithnotonlyacomplex,profoundstorythatgivesitareasontoexist,butalsodeepandsatisfyingevolutionstotheoriginal’sthird-personaction/stealthgameplay.Ican’ttellyoumuchaboutsomeofPart2’sbestaspects,butnotbecauseIdon’twantto–I’mburstingtotalkwithanyoneaboutallthemoving,uplifting,andheart-wrenchingmomentsthathavebeenreplayinginmymindfordayssinceIfirstbeatthisadventure.ButdoingsowouldstripawaylayersoftheactofplayingthroughPart2yourself,soI’llspeakaboutitsstoryinlargelygeneralterms.LoadingOneofPart2’sbiggestachievementsishowitknowinglyhandlestheweightedexpectationsthatasequeltooneofthemostheraldedgamestoriesofalltimewillinevitablycarrywithfans.Itstartsoutseeminglysimple,takingplaceaboutfouryearsaftertheendoftheoriginalandsettinganolder,angrier,butstill-immuneEllieonaquestforrevengethatalsohonesinonthecyclesofviolencethatcanplaguehumanityasmuchasanyinfection.Itknowinglyleansintothetropesofthegenre,suchasguiltbyassociationandtheinevitableescalationofmatchinganeyeforaneyeandatoothforatooth.Butthoseclichesareoftensubverted,playingintotheexpansiveandnot-so-straightforwardpathahead.Ellie’sjourneygrowsintosomethingmuchmoreambitious.“Fromthere,Ellie’sjourneygrowsintosomethingmuchmoreambitious.Part2deftlyhandlesawaronthestreetsofpost-zombie-apocalypseSeattle,anexpansivenewcastofcharacters,andsomegut-punchpayoffstothelingeringemotionsTheLastofUs’powerfulendingleftmestirringoverforthelastsevenyears.TheLastofUsPart2’sstoryishandledasmasterfullyasitwasintheoriginal. ShouldIPlayTheLastofUsBeforePart2? I’mgoingtotalkabouttheeventsoftheoriginalTheLastofUsabitgoingforward,soifyouhaven’tplayedityetpleasebailoutandgodothatimmediately.Notonlybecauseit’sstillanoutstandinggame,butplayingthroughtheoriginalbeforePart2–especiallyrelativelysoonbefore–willmakeitsbigmomentsresonatesomuchmore.Part2doesn’tnecessarilyrelyonyourabilitytorecallspecificeventsandconversations,butitdidplayoffthelingeringemotionsI’vefeltsinceplayingtheoriginal.Loading OneofthemostimpactfulwaysPart2hearkensbacktoTheLastofUsishowitasksyoutoidentifyandempathizewithitscharacters,evenwhenyoualmostcertainlywon’talwaysagreewiththeiractions.Inamediumoftendefinedbygivingusthepowertochoosewhathappens,TheLastofUsandPart2concernthemselvesmorewithfullyrealizedcharacters,askingustotakethemastheyare.NaughtyDog’scharactersareindelible,whichmakesforincrediblypowerfulandchallengingmomentswhenyou’reputinEllie'sshoesandaskedtoactoutherwhimsyourself.LoadingPart2ispepperedwithbrutal,tragic,andpoignantmomentsthathitharderbecauseyoutakepartinthem,likeitornot.EvenifIdisagreedwithanaction,Ididn’thaveachoiceinthematter.Iwasaskedtoexecutethoseactionsorwatchthemhappenwithoutachancetointercede,andtounderstandthereasoningbehindthemfromtheirperspective.ThisdancebetweeninteractivityandanunalterablestorymadeforamuchmoreaffectingexperiencethanifI’dwatcheditallunfoldinamovie. PreorderTheLastofUsPart2 SeeitatBestBuy SeeitatAmazon SeeitatGameStop IAmNotAlone,DearLonelinessAttheheartofitallisEllieandherrelationships.ElliehashadtimetobothfindherselfintheJackson,WyomingsettlementsheandherflawedfatherfigureJoelcallhomeandtoreflectontheformativemomentsofherchildhood.UncoveringwhatsheknowsandwhereshestandswithJoelandhisbrotherTommy,is,atdifferenttimespainful,amusing,andcathartic,butalwaysinwaysthataretruetowhatIknewofthesecharacters.ActorsTroyBakerandAshleyJohnsononceagainbringsomuchheartandhonestyintheirperformancesasJoelandEllie,respectively.Ellieis,withoutadoubt,theprotagonistofPart2,andJohnsonbringsnuancetoeveryfacetofEllie’scharacter.Watchinghergrowupandwrestlewithherpastwhilestilllearningwhosheisasa19-year-old(withalltheusualdesiresandshortfalls19-year-oldsgenerallypossess)isrivetingateverystep.ShedeliverssomeofthemosthumanmomentsthatPart2servesup.TheLastofUsPart2ReviewScreenshots26ImagesBakerisnolessfantasticasJoel,eventhoughEllieisinthemoreprominentplayablerole.HoweveryoumayfeelaboutJoel’sdecisionsintheoriginal,Bakersellsthewearinessofamanwhohastakenmanylivestosavehisownandmadequestionablemoraldecisionsoutoflove.Seeinghimreckonwithasurrogatedaughterwhobothcaresforhimandyetkeepshimatarm’slengthisdevastatingtowatch.Takingacuefrom2014’sprequelexpansion,TheLastofUs:LeftBehind,Part2allowedmetoliveinmomentsbetweenJoelandEllie,whichofferedupaquietreflectionofwhytheyviewtheworldtheydo.Evenwhenshedoeshorriblethings,hermotivationsarejustaslegitimateasJoel'sorEllie's.“Part2alsointroducesagreatcastofsupportingcharacters.ShannonWoodwardisinstantlycharmingasDina,bringingajoyandkindnesstoaworldwhereit’sotherwisesotoughtofind.Woodwardshinesinthesmallermoments—ajokingjabatElliehereoranamusingasideabouttheirJacksonhomestead,there—offeringsomuchdimensiontothecharacter.It’salsoimportanttohighlight,inspoiler-freeterms,theincredibleperformancebyLauraBailey(knownforherrolesasMaryJanefromMarvel’sSpider-ManandKaitDiazfromGears5,amongnumerousothers)asanewcharacter.LikesomanyofTheLastofUs’characters,callinghergoodorevilwouldbereductive–weseeheratherbestandmostrelatableaswellasherworst.It’satestamenttoTheLastofUsPart2’sscriptbyNeilDruckmannandHalleyGrossandBailey’sperformancethatevenwhenshedoeshorriblethings,hermotivationsarejustaslegitimateandarguablynobleasJoel’sorEllie’s.Ittakesadefthandtowritecharacterslikethis;thoseIwantedthebestforeveniftheyweredoingdespicablethings.SomeofthechoicesthecharactersmadeinPart2delightedme,othersfrustratedme,butIalwayswantedthemtobebetter,andstronger,andseethegoodnessinthemselves.Inthisregard,theyfeltincrediblyhuman.EveryIGNNaughtyDogGameReview28ImagesThewayNaughtyDogusesthelarger,community-basedconflictbetweenthewarringgroupsinSeattlealsohelpedavoidthefatiguethatsetinwiththelatteractsofUncharted4.Eventhoughittookmeabout25hourstocomplete(10hourslongerthantheoriginal),Part2neverdraggedorfeltpaddedoutthankstothelargecastandNaughtyDog’seffortstogiveeachofthemthescreentimeandstoryarctheydeserve.Bringingsomanyperspectivestotheforefrontbeautifullyillustratesthelargerideasandconflictsinthisworld. IWouldLiketoRageThoseconflictsplayoutwithsomeveryfamiliarstealth,action,andpuzzlesequences.Thatsaid,oneofthebiggestcritiquesofthefirstgameisthatitscombatandpuzzlesegmentsweren’tdeepenoughtoavoidrepetitionoverits15hours,andPart2hastakenmajorstepstoremedythatandaddvarietytogameplay–someofwhichseemobviousinhindsight.Forexample,it’ssillytothinkthataddingajumpbuttonin2020couldfeelsofresh,butitmostdefinitelyprovestobekeytoPart2’smanyenthrallingcombatencounters.EllieisfarmorenimblethanJoel,abletojump,swing,andclimboverandunderthingstomorecarefullyavoidorstalkenemies.Thatnotonlymademyoptionsfeelexponentiallymorevaried,butalsoallowedtheleveldesignaroundtheseencounterstobemoreopenanddiverseateverystep.Fromundergroundcavernstodilapidatedofficeandapartmentbuildingstothelush,overgrownstreetsofaSeattlebeingreclaimedbynature,Part2’sstealthcombatiseasytounderstandbutconsistentlyexcitingtotryandmasterwitheverynewfight.Partofthatcomesfromthescopeofitsbattlefields:theytakeplaceinareaslikemulti-tieredshoppingmallsorfragmentedskyscrapersthatofferwhatfeellikenaturallycomplexpuzzleboxes.Therewasalwaysplentyofroom,bothliterallyandmechanically,tosneakaroundandpickoffenemiesonebyone,goingunsblazing,or(asusuallyhappenedforme)plantobestealthybutgetcaughtandscrambletonarrowlyescapedanger.Ellie’sabilitytojump,goprone,dodge,andevenrunawayfromcombatnotonlytakesadvantageoftheselargespaces,butalsoenablesthatimprovisationwithinthem,pushingyoutoadapttoanysituationormeetaquickdeath.Enemiesdon’tjuststicktosetpatterns;they’rereactivetotheenvironmentaroundthem.LoadingWhilegivingeveryhumanenemyanameandtheabilitytocommunicatewitheachothermoreeffectivelywhilesearchingforyouseemssomewhatsuperfluousatfirst,thepracticalapplicationofitwasalwaysclearafterI’dkilledanenemyortwoinanygivenfight.TheWashingtonLiberationFrontenemies,seeingafriendorlovedonedeadontheground,wouldimmediatelyswitchuptheirsearchpattern,takingnoteofrecentlydownedenemiesandpossibleescaperoutesthekillercouldhavetakenfromthatspot.Simplyhearingmyenemiesverballyworkthroughtheirplans,ratherthanjustgoingabouttheirpatrolroutes,instilledsomuchmoretensionintoeveryfight.Learningtheinsandoutsofeachfactionaddedanotherinterestinglayertocombat.“Thentherearethedifferencesbetweenthefactions–learningtheinsandoutsofeachaddedanotherinterestinglayertocombat.TheSeraphites,battlingwithbowsandarrows,useawhistlingsystemtocommunicate,whiletheWLFmembersaremorevocalandtransparent,butcarryalotmorefirepower.AndtheInfected…well,theyhaven’tsuddenlystartedtalking,buttheirmobmentalityismorethreateningthanever.NewenemiesliketheShamblerthrownoxioussporebombsthatcutoffpotentialescaperoutesorobscureotherenemies.ThereturningbutmoreprevalentStalkersareevenscarierthanbefore,pullingoffamoveDraxwouldbejealousofbymakingthemselvesinvisibletoEllie’sreturningradar-likeListenability.They’llusethatsilencetosneakupbehindyou,andwhenoneattacks,itoftenmeansmoreareontheway.Fightswiththem,andamixtureofthemanyotherInfectedenemieswithdifferentabilitiestotakeintoaccount,ledtoseveralencountersthatrivaledthebestsurvival-horrorexperiencesoutthere.LoadingThisisalltosayenemiesfeelvastlymoreintelligentandvariedinthissequel,andthelittledetailsmakeallthedifferenceincombat:whenalerted,enemieswillcheckeveryinchofamap,includingundercarsandaroundeachbitofcover,andtheirincreasedresponsivenesstochangesintheenvironmentmeantIcouldrarelysitstillorrelyonjustoneweapon.Ilovedthatincentivetonotonlyshakeupmystrategybutalsobecomemorefamiliarwithanygivenareaasquicklyaspossible.Isometimesfoundmyselfchoosingtobestealthyandnon-lethaljusttosavemyselffromwatchingabrutalblow.“Andyes,despitealloftheaddednuance,Part2hassomeofthemostbluntlybrutalcombatanimationsI’veseeninanygame,andit’sneverplayedtoacartoonishdegreethewaysomethinglikeMortalKombatdoes.Itfitsthematicallywiththetone,Ellie’srevenge-mindedfocus,andtheviolencethoseinpowerwillusetocontrolthispost-pandemicsociety,butthatdoesn’tmaketheimpactanylessgruesome,andoccasionallyhardtostomach.ThemostfrequentkillIwitnessedwasEllie’sstealthtakedown:agrab,stab,andslow,clumsyfalltothegroundforeveryenemyIusediton.Shotgunsarepowerfulandscary—justasElliecanbeknockeddown,sotoocananenemy.Choosingtofight–tographicallycutintoanenemy’sthroatorblastthemagainstthewallwithashotgun–istoughtostomachinPart2,intentionallyso.AndwhileitcertainlyreflectstherealityofEllie’sworld,anditsenemiesreflectthatcharacterbehaviorbackatyouinpowerfulways,Ididsometimesfindmyselfchoosingtobestealthyandnon-lethaljusttosavemyselffromwatchingabrutalblow.Avoidingcombatentirelyisoftenpossible,butit’srarelyeasygivenhowmobileandperceptiveenemiesare.Ioftenhadtosacrificeatleasttwoorthreeenemiesperencounter–especiallywhenenemydogswhocantrackEllie’sscentarethrownintothemix. AsaDogLoverInTheLastofUsPart2,dogsareamajorthreatbecausetheycansniffyououtevenwhenEllie’swell-hiddenfromhumans.Youcandistractthemwiththrowablebottlesorbricks,butifyoudon’tkeepmovingthey’llinevitablypickyourscentbackup.Asadogowner,IfoundithorrifyingtobeconfrontedwithasituationinwhichIhavetokilladog(asopposedtoahumanwho’smadeaconsciousdecisiontofightyoutothedeath).No,they’renotreal,butNaughtyDoghasdoneanamazingjobofanimatingtheirnamesakesinlifelikeways.Whileyoucan’tfeedtreatstoorplayfetchwiththedogsinthemiddleofbattle,ifit’sjusttoomuchtohavetosubdueone,Isuggestsprintingawayforyourlife.Dogscanpickupyourscent,ifyou’refarenoughawaytheybecomedisinterestedinyouuntiltheyeventuallyambleclosertoyouonthemap.Heightsareyourfriendaswellbecause,unlikeAirBud,there’ssomethingintheLastofUsrulebookaboutdogsnotbeingallowedtoclimbladders.IoftenusedthosetechniquestoavoidwatchingElliedosomethingInevercould. Part2’sexpansiveenvironmentsaren’tjusttheretobesandboxesofdeath,though.Theartfullydetailedandrealizedlocationstelllayersofstory,fromthemacro-destructionofacertaincitydistrictdowntothepostersandcalendarshungonabandonedapartmentwalls.SomeoftheoriginalLastofUs’mostinterestingbitsofbackstorywerefoundinscatterednotesanddiarypages,andthejumpindetailforPart2astoundedme.Itseemsasthougheveryroomhasastorytotell,everyofficehasahistory,everystoreshowsaplaceorgroupofpeoplefrozenintime.IspentmoretimethanI’dcaretoadmitstudyingabandonedD&Dgamesinapartments,listeningtoancillaryconversations,andtryingtoreaddeterioratingbookcovers.WhetherIfoundequipmentandcraftingmaterialsornot,thethoughtfulintentineachoneoftheseobjectsandinteractionsmadeexploringfeelvaluableregardless.Ineveroncehadtograbafloatingpalettetoserveasaraftforsomeonewhocouldn’tswim.“EvenbetteristhatIneveroncehadtonavigatetheseareasbygrabbingafloatingpalettetoserveasaraftforsomeonewhocouldn’tswim,liketheoriginalsooftenaskedustodo.Part2’senvironmentalpuzzlesneverfeelasmindlessasthat–theyhavealotmorecontextualchallengesthatmakesmartuseofEllie’sjourneythroughskyscrapers,residentialneighborhoods,sewers,plains,andmore.FromfiguringouthowtoanglearopetoswingfromoneofficetoanotherlockedroomtonavigatingaperilousseriesoftripwiresusingEllie’snewmobilitytomanymoreeverydaytasksthattakeonnewtensioninapost-apocalypsesetting,Part2makesmuchbetteruseofitsenvironmenttoofferunique,consistentlyengagingpuzzlesandplatformingroutes.AndthosecleverdesignsaredressedwithsomeofthemostbeautifulenvironmentsI’veseenfromthePlayStation4/PlayStation4Progeneration.EveryIGNPlayStationFirst-PartyExclusiveReview239ImagesAndwhilePart2isnotanopen-worldgame,itdoesincludeanopen-worldareathatlearnslessonsfromUncharted4andLostLegacy’sattemptsatthesamedesignidea,thistimetomuchbettereffect.Whilethosegamespresentedareasofopen,explorablewildernesses,theyoftendidn’thavemuchtofindthere,makingexplorationfeelsomewhataimless.InPart2,though,adilapidateddistrictofSeattleoffersyearsoflosthistory,amixtureofeventsfrozenintimebythepandemicandthosewhohavetriedtosurviveheresince.Itsscopeandscalewon’tchallengeRockstar’sopen-worldgamesanytimesoon,butitshakesupthepacinginaneededwayandisthoughtfullyusedbyNaughtyDogtonotonlyexplainPart2’ssettingatlarge,butalsoallowforanumberofwelcome,discoverablecharactermoments.Itsscopeandscalewon’tchallengeRockstar’sopen-worldgamesanytimesoon,butitshakesupthepacinginaneededway.“Butevenoutsideofthatarea,Jackson,otherpartsofSeattle,andmorearegorgeousandmemorablelocations.TheWyomingcountrysideislovely,too,whetheritbemountainscoveredinbrightsnoworfieldsofwheatshiningintheeveningsunset.Andsure,thePacificNorthwestisasrainyasyouwouldexpect,butNaughtyDoghastakenthegloomofgreycloudsandgreybuildingsandcraftedsomethingominous,beautiful,andhaunting.Lushvegetationgrowsoverdilapidatedstorefrontsandhomesinthesuburbswhilethesmashed,loomingskyscrapersofthecityformnew,mesmerizingstonemonuments.SevenyearsandanewgenerationhasallowedNaughtyDogtocreatelocationsthat,whileverymuchliketheruinedvestigesofcivilizationintheoriginal,aresomuchmorerichlydetailed,withmoredistinctandvariedinteriors,strikingoutdoorlighting,andinventivenewlocationsthatplaytoSeattle’sseasidesetting.EveryModernIGN10/10andWheretoPlayThem29ImagesEvocativeaudiodesign,backedbythemovingscoreofreturningcomposerGustavoSantaolalla,playsabigroleaswell.Itallcomesdowntothelittledetails:characteristicallyfortheregion,theoppressivethumpofrainmaskstheterrifyingnoisesoftheinfectedthatlurkoutside;theslamofdebristhatblocksadoorwayandthequietcreakingofanalternativeexit;theslighthumofasilencedpistolversustheharrowingboomofashotgun;andvocalperformancesfromthegutturalscreamsoftheClickerstothemutteredself-reflectionfromEllieasshekillsanenemy. ImpressiveAccessibilityNaughtyDoghasintroduceddozensofnewaccessibilityoptionsforTheLastofUsPart2,whichgofarbeyondjustfullcontrolcustomizationandtextfontsizechanges.Avarietyofvisual,audio,motionsickness,andcontrolsettingscanbetweaked(checkoutthefulloptionshere),andsomecanevenbeturnedoffandononceactivatedwithsimpleandsmartlyintegratedswipesoftheDualShock4’stouchpad.AssomeonewhodoesnotnecessarilyneedtheseoptionstoplayIcan’tspeaktotheirefficacy,butthey’reimpressivelyextensiveonpaperandtheireaseofuseandcustomizabilityiscertainlyonalevelIhaven’tseenfromSonybefore.IhopethisisasignofthingstocomeaswemoveintothePlayStation5generation. VerdictTheLastofUsPart2isamasterpieceworthyofitspredecessor.Takingstridesforwardinnearlyeveryway,Elliestepsintothespotlightandcarriesthesequelinamannerthatfeelsliketheculminationofeverythingthat’smadeNaughtyDog’sblockbusterstorytellingsomemorablesincetheoriginalUnchartedonthePlayStation3.Itdeliversalayered,emotionallyshatteringstoryontopofstealthandactiongameplaythatimprovesthefirstgame’smechanicswhileintegratingabitmoreofUncharted’sgreatermobilityandaction.ButwhilePart2isathrillingadventure,itstillmakestimeforastunning,nuancedexplorationofthestrengthandfragilityofthehumanspirit.ThePlayStation4hasoneofitsbestexclusivesinoneofthegeneration’sbestgames.Ifyoubuysomethingthroughthispost,IGNmaygetashareofthesale.Formore,learnmore.InThisArticleTheLastofUsPartIINaughtyDogJun19,2020RatingESRB:MaturePlatformsPlayStation4WishlistTheLastofUsPart2Review10EDITORS'CHOICEReviewscoringmasterpieceTheLastofUsPart2isamasterpiecethatevolvesthegameplay,cinematicstorytelling,andrichworlddesignoftheoriginalinnearlyeveryway.JonathonDornbushLoadingMoreReviewsbyJonathonDornbush9RollerdromeReview9RatchetandClank:RiftApartReview9Marvel'sSpider-ManRemasteredReviewJohnWick4-TeaserTrailerCheckouttheteasertrailerforJohnWick4,theupcomingmoviestarringKeanuReeves.JohnWick4arrivesintheatersonMarch24,2023.Biomutant-OfficialPS5andXboxSeriesX/SLaunchTrailerBiomutantisnowavailableonPlayStation5andXboxSeriesX|S,withthenewversionfeaturingHDRsupport,fasterloadingtimes,andrunningatupto60FPS.CheckoutthereleasetrailerforanotherlookattheactionRPG.IfyoualreadyownBiomutantonPS4orXboxOneyoucanupgradeforfreeandtransferyouroldsavefilesandachievements.LoadingWeissSchwarz:LearnHowToPlayasWePlaywithhololive&TokyoRevengersDeck-Let’sPlayLoungePercyJacksonandtheOlympians-OfficialTeaserTrailerCheckouttheteasertrailerforPercyJacksonandtheOlympians,anupcominglive-actionDisney+seriesstarringWalkerScobell(IGNRecommends26magoNvidiaOfficiallyAnnouncestheRTX4090and4080DesktopGPUs26mago-UsingtheAdaLovelacearchitecture.TaylorLyles2332magoFBIInvestigatingAllegedRockstarHacker32mago-DozensofGTA6videoswereleakedlastweek.GTA6RyanDinsdale1643magoIronManGameAnnouncedbyEAMotive43mago-JARVIS,preparemysuit...IronManMattPurslow421hagoAvatarDirectorJamesCameronSays‘YouHaveToSeeItinaTheater’1hago-JamesCameronsaysyouhavetoseeAvatarinatheater.AvatarRyanLeston6917hagoNvidiaGTC2022:HowtoWatchRTX40SeriesReveal17hago-ReadyforthenewRTX40seriesGPUstoday?JacobKienlen5721hago54BestReviewedGamesof2022(SoFar)21hago-Theyear's54best-reviewedgamesatIGN(sofar).AsDuskFallsJordanSirani71423hagoReturntoMonkeyIslandReview23hago-Newerandwiser.ReturntoMonkeyIslandRyanMcCaffrey2381dagoHouseoftheDragon-Episode5Review1dago-It’saweddingdayinWesteros;whatcouldpossiblygowrong?HouseoftheDragonHelenO'Hara417