CRISP. Gaming: The Last of Us Part 2 Review, Playstation 4

A global pandemic, ravaging millions across the globe.

Unspeakable acts of hatred, violence – but also compassion – between people.

The strength of the spirit in the face of bigotry and tribalism at its height.

It’s rare that a single piece of entertainment proves such a relevant subject for a specific moment in time, but the explosion of column inches, dissections and glowing praise currently surrounding it highlights just how impactful The Last of Us: Part II is likely to be for years to come.

The Last of Us: Part II not only serves as a technically incredible achievement firmly cementing Naughty Dog as the best studio working right now, but it also offers a masterfully woven and brutally uncompromising revenge tale that stays with the player long after their harrowing journey reaches its conclusion.

Without straying into hyperbole, it’s a once-in-a-generation game that simply must be experienced.

 

 

Story

Launching in 2013 on the Playstation 3, The Last of Us is frequently lauded alongside clear inspirations like Cormac McCarthy’s The Road for its bleak depiction of a post-apocalyptic world decimated by an unknown airborne virus.

Delivering a slower, grounded and often more visceral experience than the adventures of Nathan Drake, it told the story of Joel – a man wracked with the loss of his daughter – and the unlikely relationship that blossoms between him and a hard-nosed, wisecracking 14-year old girl named Ellie who holds the key to something far greater.

The tale of Joel and Ellie was seemingly at a divisive conclusion by its close – setting forums ablaze with theories and interpretations of the motives behind Joel’s increasingly violent deeds, to protect the child he has come to love as his own.

This sequel not only tackles the original’s ambiguous end head-on – justifying its existence immediately for those doubting the need of a sequel – but thoroughly explores motivations, choices, and the impact of a cycle of escalating violence throughout its surprisingly long 20+ hour playtime.

The writing duo of Halley Gross and Neil Druckmann (the latter also serving as Creative Director) have crafted a story which often insists on taking the narrative path less travelled, defying expectations and ratcheting up tension between protagonists (or perceived antagonists) with the deft skill of a polished HBO series, but also allowing ebbs and flows for natural relationships and pacing to breathe at times.

A focus is a developing relationship between Ellie – now in her late teens – and Dina, a rebellious individual who has definitely taken a shine to her within their relatively safe and secluded alcove of Jackson, Wyoming.

The time these characters spend together, incidental exchanges exploring a dilapidated record store or barrelling through a clicker-infested homestead that truly elevates your attachment to these rounded and relatable characters…which only draws you in more as the stakes are raised.

 

 

Gameplay

It’s essential to realise that this storyline is told within a fantastic world, beautiful and organic semi-open environments immediately give a relative sense of freedom to The Last Of Us II’s opening hours over the original.

Choosing where to go, navigating with a rudimentary travel map and selecting which order to pick off riveting side content only serves to expand the scope of the richly developed plot.

Evolving once again on Uncharted’s core DNA, a dynamic mixture of crafting, stealth and combat persist – close quarters, gritty and frequently erring on the ultraviolent side when things escalate.

Every area is its own sandbox of multiple ways to engage – or avoid – the enemy, as the original’s victims of the Cordyceps fungus are still present, alongside other survivors on occasion.

Difficulty spikes and a lack of clarity on direction in some scripted sections do make the occasional skirmish frustrating, but frequent auto-saves and the chance to try out a new strategy keeps things from becoming stale – gaining confidence in the control scheme and unlocking perks also gives a meaningful sense of progression.

The sheer variety of ways to tackle the keenly crafted encounters – gathering scare resources dotted around, improvising with bottles and bricks – punctuated by incredibly precise and responsive gunplay, means the fluid and incredibly natural animations rarely get in the way of traversal or confrontations.

Puzzles are tied into the environments seamlessly, clever and practical solutions with a minimum of handholding are the norm and provide a welcome break from a frequently tense atmosphere.

 

 

Graphics

A ravaged Seattle acts as the backdrop for much of the game, environments lavished with an unparalleled level of detail, all the more engaging to thoroughly explore every nook and cranny of shops, homes and buildings for rewarding items and lore.

A particular high note are the seamless transitions between cut-scene and gameplay – multiple moments saw the controller buttons untouched as jaw-dropping vistas or stunningly directed set-piece became interactive – the weaving together of story and action plays a huge part in what elevates TLoS above standard third-person shooting fare.

Characters move and behave so naturally – or unnaturally in the case of the infected – that you find yourself swinging the camera to capture a grimace of anger or look of fear on Ellie’s face as you act as your own director through unscripted sequences of action.

 

 

Audio

Gustavo Santaolalla returns to craft a hauntingly beautiful and melancholy score, complemented by the unique work of Mac Quayle.

Anyone familiar with the latter’s low-fi accompaniments to the show ‘Mr. Robot’ will find familiarity as a dynamic soundscape punctuates heart-pounding stealth missions through enemy territory, fading away during a rare moment of solace in a safe zone.

The audio does deserve a shout-out as popping on a pair of headphones takes the survival horror to another level – the fidelity of the audio enables you to hear every footstep, distant inane conversation or chirp of a cricket, as well as tell with pinpoint accuracy whether clickers are in the next room or further down a corridor – it genuinely does enhance the ability to navigate the dense environments.

However, for those who need it the ‘Listen Mode’ is still present and correct to give an outline of enemies through walls and floors…although this still feels a bit like a ‘gamey’ disconnect from the otherwise immersive, largely HUD-free experience through the levels.

It just makes the prospect of where 3D audio might take things to the next level on Playstation 5 all the more exciting.

Music does play a large part in TLoS II, with Ellie often taking time to play her guitar – fully utilising the Dualshock 4’s trackpad – and regale with some haunting covers of her own. Won’t spoil the songs, but they often act as another emotionally resonant point through the game.

 

 

Verdict

The challenge in reviewing a game of this stature is the sheer eagerness to mention standout moments or story beats – of which there are many – an unfortunate situation was the leaking of some of these plot points before launch.

The fact that these being out in the wild have done little to dampen excitement and enjoyment of the continuation of Ellie and Joel’s story speaks volumes to just how much these beloved characters needed to return – and Naughty Dog has done a sterling effort in continuing down the path set in motion by the events of the first game and iterating, improving and in many cases blazing past expectations from a sequel.

Eerily realistic lighting and depictions of lush verdant forests and sterile buildings alike make the graphics some of the best seen this generation (further improved with a resolution bump to 1440p on a PS4 Pro), wrapped around a drum-tight combat framework filled with variety and which rewards improvisation, The Last of Us: Part II represents a landmark for interactive storytelling – delivering one of the most gut-wrenching, emotionally engaging and thought-provoking stories yet told in gaming.

A fitting coda for the Playstation 4, this game is a triumph on all fronts.

Review code supplied by publisher.