Game Title: THE LAST OF US: PART II
Platform: Playstation 4
Genre: Action
Release Date: June 19, 2020 Physical and Digital
Game Rating:
Reviewer Game Rating Scale:
5/5 – Absolutely love it!
4/5 – Enjoyable and worth the time
3/5 – Has issues but still fun to play
2/5 – Not awful but not very fun
1/5 – Not worth the time
When developer Naughty Dog released The Last of Us on Playstation 3 way back in 2013, nobody anticipated the impact it would have on the gaming industry. The game follows Joel (voiced by Troy Baker) and Ellie (voiced by Ashley Johnson) on a cross-country trip in a post-apocalyptic America ravaged by a zombie-like disease called “Cordyceps.” The Last of Us resonated with players and critics alike garnering multiple Game of the Year awards from several publications to the Academy of Interactive Arts and led to multiple games being influenced by its blend of gameplay and storytelling.
Now, seven years later, expectations are obviously high. The Last of Us Part I ended on a beautiful note that didn’t warrant an expansion. So, coming into THE LAST OF US: PART II, I was apprehensive and unsure that writer and story director Neil Druckmann, who co-wrote the first game, could deliver a sequel game that could live up to its predecessor. After spending almost 30 hours with THE LAST OF US: PART II,the question of if this sequel lives up to its hype or crushes under its lofty ambitions can finally be answered.
THE LAST OF US: PART II, Story: 2/5
It’s hard to get into the plot of PART II without going into spoilers so apologies if this comes across as vague.
The story takes place four years after the events of the first installment and, unlike its predecessor where players controlled the character Joel for most of the game, this sequel has gamers playing as Ellie and Abby (voiced by Laura Bailey), a newcomer to the series. The two characters cross paths and, after a traumatic incident, Ellie starts a bloodthirsty hunt for revenge against Abby. The bulk of the story is told over the course of three days in the city of Seattle as she scours the land trying to find Abby. Unlike the first game’s story which is straightforward in its events yet complex with the themes and moral ambiguity of its characters, this sequel takes a reverse approach.
The story is told non-linearly utilizing flashbacks in order to fill the players in on the backstory of key events that unfold. For the first half of the game you play as Ellie and then, around the half-way mark, the game makes a switch and you play as Abby at the beginning of the three days in Seattle. This can lead to a bit of a cerebral experience as you navigate environments as one character then again as another. You’re trying to piece together the timeline of certain events that have passed, and which ones are currently happening off-screen.
This nonlinearity comes at the cost of pacing. Outside the incident that kicks off Ellie’s quest for revenge, very few events of note happen within the first several hours of the game. Around the time things start getting interesting, the game decides to cut to a flashback sequence. This formula is repeated throughout the entire process of playing THE LAST OF US: PART II. Admittedly, these flashbacks are beautiful and poignant, especially the one that follows Joel and Ellie in a museum stands out, but they often deflate the tension due to popping in at inopportune times.
Then there’s Abby. When the game decides to switch to her, it comes when Ellie’s story is nearing its climax. This decision, while it does give a lingering sense of dread due to knowing what’s to come, kills the momentum the game has built for all those hours up to this point. Couple this with the fact that Abby’s story also has a slow start, you have a game with a story that feels too long and drawn out.
It doesn’t help that the writing is as subtle as a subway train. The theme of THE LAST OF US: PART II, is revenge and how it’s a vicious cycle that takes away our humanity leading to horrible violence. While this could take us to an interesting plot, PART II brings nothing new to this idea; which, in itself, wouldn’t be bad; however, the execution acts as though it’s making a more profound statement than it really needs to be. This dramatization becomes most apparent in the final hours of the game. Again, no spoilers, but the game sets itself up for a conclusion but then goes on and on to the point its message begins to feel muddled and confused. The result is an ending that felt overtly bleak and cruel, something I don’t think the writers intended.
The new characters introduced here are fine for the most part, the standout being Ellie’s girlfriend Dina (voiced by Shannon Woodward) who joins her on her journey, but they’re not fleshed out and don’t really serve a purpose. They are there as plot devices to propel the story forward. I was disappointed that Joel had a much smaller role this time around but Baker’s voice acting and motion-capture work for the character are incredible. He makes every second count in his limited screen time. Both Johnson and Bailey give great performances as well elevating their characters, but it’s not enough to save the script.
Gameplay: 3/5
THE LAST OF US: PART II, is a video game first and foremost. So, how is the gameplay? For the most part, it’s pretty great; however, it wears out its welcome in the last few hours.
Those who’ve played the first game will feel right at home because the gameplay is virtually identical. It’s largely broken up into two styles; exploration and stealth-action with a mix of survival horror thrown in.
In non-combat sections, you explore open areas by scouring every nook and cranny for supplies. These items can be anything from ammo for your guns to materials that can be used to craft weapons like arrows, Molotov cocktails, health kits or to upgrade your current weapons making them more durable and deadlier against foes.
These supplies are limited so you have to strategize on how you want to use them. If you use them to make first-aid kits, you could end up in a sticky situation with several foes wishing you had used those supplies to make a bomb. Or you’ve spent all your items crafting weapons and wind up on death’s door with no way to heal. You must constantly think on your feet.
Next are the combat sections. This is where the real meat of the game lies. In every scenario, you’re free to go about any way you want. Stealth is the best way to go about situations, but it requires patience and learning enemy patterns in addition to the layout of the environment.
You’ll encounter two types of enemies: infected and humans. Humans are the most straightforward. They patrol areas and are smarter than infected because they can spot you from a distance. You’ll need to use cover as much as you can when sneaking around. Humans are easier to take out and are easier to shake off if you get spotted but you shouldn’t try and take them on headfirst because they become deadly accurate if you’re running straight at them.
The infected— there are multiple types and they all can be extremely deadly depending on the number and mix of them. Clickers are blind but can easily hear you if you move too quickly. They can kill you instantly if they get a hold of you. Runners are the most common and travel in packs. If they get alerted to your presence, they sprint towards you and are incredibly hard to get away from. Introduced in PART II are “Shamblers” who are big and slow but able to throw acidic projectiles to block your path then they will take most of your ammo to kill.
While it’s possible to get through the game guns blazing, it will be incredibly difficult because of limited ammo. Sooner or later, you’ll find yourself pinned down with no supplies and having to restart the encounter. Stealth is the most encouraged way and you’ll need to memorize layouts and enemy patterns to get through some of the tougher areas. Silently moving through tall grass, diving behind cover while slowly taking out each enemy one by one is the most satisfying feeling you’ll get in the game.
PART II never strikes a proper balance between exploration and combat to sustain itself over the 25+ hours it’ll take for you to beat it. The gameplay peaks early with a hugely impressive sequence in downtown Seattle that’s open-ended with multi-leveled buildings for you to explore and possibly encounter enemies in. This area is the biggest one in the entire game and with multiple paths you can take to get through it it’s easily the most memorable part of the game. No other part of the game matches this sequence. Despite how massive the game looks at first, you’re pretty much encouraged to walk in a straight line to your next destination as you begin to figure out the game’s pattern. Exploration, combat, exploration, combat. It becomes easier to figure out when you’re safe from enemies which makes you lose the tension the game is trying so hard to give you.
Since the gameplay does little to mix it up the game starts to grow stale by the end. When it’s fun it’s fun and there are some cool boss fights that happen sporadically but given the seven years that has passed since the first and how other Naughty Dog franchises introduce new mechanics in new entries to keep the experiences fresh it’s hard not to long for something with some more depth.
Presentation Rating: 4/5
This will be the easiest to talk about because this game is gorgeous. It is without a doubt one of the most visually stunning games the Playstation 4 has to offer.
Character models are highly impressive. You’re able to see the pores of the skin because the motion capture manages to get every minor facet of their faces. The clothes don’t appear painted on type textures; instead they look like actual individual pieces the characters are wearing. The way your character gradually gets covered in water, dirt, and blood, depending on what you do, is a subtle touch; one that I truly appreciate because it adds a nice bit of realism.
This level of detail is present everywhere. The way grass gets pushed aside as you walk through it, the way the environment reflects in puddles and glass windows, or how your flashlight casts realistic shadows over everything. The buildings you enter look like a frozen snapshot of a time long abandoned with decorations and photos of people before the zombie outbreak. It leads to a melancholic tone that is ever present despite whatever bumps the story has.
The sound design is perfect too. Every gunshot sounds powerful and realistically echoes throughout the area. Melee weapons give a sickening crunch when you bring them down on an enemy, and nothing gets you on edge when you enter a building and hear the faint sounds of an infected coming down the hallway. This is all set to composer’s Gustavo Santaolalla’s beautiful score that combines fingerstyle guitar for the quieter moments with loud bombastic orchestra for the more intense action sequences.
All this runs smoothly for the most part. I played this game on the Playstation 4 Pro and everything ran consistently at 30 frames per second at 1440p. There were some weird graphical glitches in the latter part of the game. Textures would pop-in several seconds too late, the frame rate started to dip at random, and one weird moment happened where a character model froze during a cutscene which caused the audio to go out of sync. I would say these issues could pertain to my specific copy of the game, but I had a friend who was also playing PART II at the time I played the game. She experienced similar issues during the same level of the game as I did. Still, these are minor blemishes on what is one of the most beautiful-looking games I’ve played this year.
Final Thoughts:
It’s difficult to recommend THE LAST OF US: PART II but it’s also a game you can’t completely ignore. Despite my gripes with the gameplay, I had a fun time while playing. There is plenty of replay value. Beating the game unlocks a new game+ mode which lets you play through the game with all your upgrades although it comes with harder enemy encounters to balance it out. There are also ‘unlockables’ to be had like concept art and a character model viewer.
It’s THE LAST OF US: PART II’s story that hinders the experience for me. As someone who is heavily invested in these characters, and this world since the first game, I can’t help being slightly disappointed, sometimes infuriated, at the direction this sequel decides to go. If you’re a fan, I say this game is worth playing but you should probably wait for a price drop because it’s hard justifying the full $60 entry price for it. I can see myself revisiting this game someday in the future but I’m not itching to replay it immediately like I did the original.
Final Rating: 3/5
For More On THE LAST OF US: PART II Visit:
Official Website: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/the-last-of-us-part-ii-ps4/
All Photos: © Sony Interactive Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.
Dustin Kogler
Latest posts by Dustin Kogler (Posts)
- Movie Review: Cleopatra Entertainment’s Lion-Girl – Sex, Gore, and Samurais - December 12, 2023
- Movie Review: Cinedigm’s The Outwaters – Found Footage Horror Will Shock You - February 1, 2023
- Movie Review: Blumhouse’s The Deep House – Aquatic Ghost Flick Hits Murky Waters - November 5, 2021
- Movie Review: Glass House Distribution’s Cerebrum – Forgettable Sci-Fi Flick - April 27, 2021
Follow Us!