Before we begin - this review will not contain ANY spoilers or revealing details for "The Last of Us Part II".
I enjoy Survival Horror and Action Adventure games, and it's those genres I see next to Fighting Games as my go to preferences whenever I choose a new title to play. When the original Resident Evil (aka Biohazard in Japan) came out for the Playstation in 1996, I was immediately hooked - drawn to the story and the fact the in this kind of game, going in guns a'blazing won't work and you needed to plan things through in order to progress through the game. It coined the term "Survival Horror" and started a genre that would soon see other games follow - including the Silent Hill series, EA's Dead Space Trilogy, and of course Naughty Dog's critically acclaimed Survival Adventure darling - The Last Of Us.
Thanks to Playstation Asia, I was able to get a review copy for "The Last Of Us Part II" - the long awaited sequel and follow-up which, at the time of this write-up, is NOW AVAILABLE exclusively for the Playstation 4. In a time when eyes are set towards the "Future of Gaming" with the Playstation 5, TLOU 2 proves there's plenty more greatness in the PS4 - pushing the envelope even further to deliver one of the most technologically impressive games ever made. It's a work of art and a love letter to fans of the original and video games - but before we dive further we should recap some of the original game (especially for those who haven't played it and YOU SHOULD especially since "The Last Of Us Remastered" is readily available in the PS4).
Released in 2013 for the Playstation 3, The Last Of Us was not your typical Survival Horror flare - it was more than that and offered an emotional narrative that made you care about the characters and the journey they undertook in a world ravaged by a mysterious Cordyceps virus that turns its victims into cannibalistic creatures. Set in a post-apocalyptic United States, you follow protagonists Joel and Ellie as they travel from a quarantine zone in Boston to a facility in Utah - run by a militia group known as the Fireflies where a possible cure to the pandemic awaits. Ellie - who is bitten yet immune to the virus, is the breakthrough the Fireflies are looking for. However the experiences she and Joel go through their journey change them - especially Joel - who cannot let Ellie die and decides to save her, damning humanity's possible chance for a cure yet making a moral choice to save the girl who has become like a second daughter to him.
Seven years after the release of the first game, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Naughty Dog, and director Neil Druckmann reunite to release the long awaited follow-up in "The Last Of Us Part II" - a game that is even more emotional, creative, and full of themes that will leave you either conflicted and divided. Set five years after the events of the first game, players once again take control of Ellie - who is now 19 years old and adjusting to the new life she and Joel have taken up to in Wyoming, Jackson - living in a community lead by Joel's younger brother Tommy.
Learning how to play the guitar, going on missions to scavenge for supplies and find survivors, and weed off any Infected that may cross their territory - Ellie adjusts to life with a thriving community as a young teenager. However that idealistic peace is shattered when an unexpected event happens, leading her to a personal quest for justice and answers in a world that still remains as unpredictable and dangerous as ever.
Released at a time where the real world is experiencing a pandemic and trying times of its own, The Last Of Us Part II is a fictional tale - yet serves as a reflection of many things and social issues that we as a society can relate to. The story features a character who is openly gay yet is a headstrong figure who goes through entirely relatable experiences and stressors - not to mention a world ravaged by an outbreak that has turned most of society into infected creatures and dividing everyone else into survivalists who have their own morals and ethics. It feels like an episode of AMC's The Walking Dead, very similar in setup and a very harsh world where everyone does anything to survive. It's this kind of storytelling that makes Naughty Dog one of the masters of bringing an entirely interactive and gripping story to life. The game has been delayed numerous times due to work put on it and has faced a lot of issues - one being a notorious leak that has been well documented. However, it should still be the experience of playing this game that makes you see the power of video game storytelling - there's still a great deal to witness and see for yourselves before deciding how you feel about it.
Gameplay and mechanics wise, much of what was featured in the first game returns in "The Last Of Us Part II" - including "Listen Mode" which gives players heightened senses and awareness to plan out how to take on enemies. It's all about survival and planning, conserving your ammo and using items wisely to traverse through hostile environments filled with relentless human adversaries or the Infected. Stealth is also key in taking down enemies that are sensitive to sound - most notably "Clickers" who use echolocation to find its victims. There's also a skill tree to upgrade and improve abilities, and the crafting system also makes a return to help players replenish their ammo and health supply, as well as making bombs, smoke grenades, and molotov cocktails. TLOU 2 expands things by including more expansive environments you can explore, and a prone position allowing Ellie to crawl and hide from enemy sight.
Overall, The Last Of Us Part II is a work of art, and undeniably another gaming masterpiece made by a team of developers that have committed themselves to telling a story. While some may find it divisive due to certain things, it should be your own experience after playing the whole game that decides how you feel about it - especially if have invested and played the first game's story. In my case that's exactly why I am a fan of video games overall - they explore all kinds of themes and are will to push boundaries, both visually and narrative wise, and so far the results here are pretty good. As the PS4 prepares to pass the torch, this is one of those titles that prove there's still plenty of life left in the system before moving on to the next generation.
Rating - 5/5
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