This The Last of Us Part 2 review was originally published in July 2020 and contains spoilers…
It has been an entire month since The Last of Us Part 2 hit shelves after seven long years of anticipation. And while plenty of outstanding titles were released in the interim, the follow-up to 2013’s post-apocalyptic triumph packs a powerful punch of heartbreak, violence, depression and love unlike anything before it.
Disappointingly, the final months of build up were mired by plot leaks and the hysterical and misplaced ‘fan’ reaction that followed (more on that later). Ultimately, however, this did little to dampen the game’s immediate and breathtaking impact. I haven’t stopped thinking about The Last of Us Part II since I finished it, and I know for sure that I’m not alone in that. I’ve never played a video game so raw and unbridled in its portrayal of misery and revenge. But no matter how ugly its central themes are, make no mistake – this is a spectacle from start to finish.
The Last of Us Part 2 review: Graphics
The Last of Us Part 2 could very well be the best looking game ever released on console. The level of detail here is exquisite. I was instantly drawn to the motion capture and facial animations, which felt life-like and as if I were watching a film. And the sheer scale of the collapsing Seattle – now reclaimed by nature – was a sight to behold. Even the dreary interiors of this world’s buildings served only to immerse the player further in the cold and callous environment these characters inhabit.
As you play, you’ll notice gruesome touches that embed the brutality of the tribal violence on display. When Ellie slowly strangles an enemy, they’ll visibly struggle and gasp for air before falling limp and lifeless. If she stabs someone in the neck, a squirt of blood will eject from the wound and settle on the ground as she removes her blade. After gunning down adversaries, huge pools of blood will form on the floor. These leave haunting footprints behind if you walk through them. And get ready for the chunks of body and brain splattered up the walls and on the ceiling should you use explosives. It’s not pretty. This stuff is anything but quick and painless.
There are plenty of gorgeous views to take in. Particularly when you observe distant objectives and entire cities, towns, villages and buildings from afar. You’ll bask in deep orange sunsets. Endure harsh, bright white snowstorms. And go to war in seemingly never-ending rainfall that mirrors the grey and murky morality of the story. Every moment of this game’s 25-30 hours is packed full of impressive graphical and environmental feats that tie a neat bow around the PS4’s seven-year run.
The Last of Us Part 2 review: Gameplay
The gameplay and core mechanics of The Last of Us Part 2 are largely unchanged from the first. I was a bit disappointed with this at various points during my playthrough. But that’s not to say it isn’t a fantastic experience with plenty of action-adventure fun to be had. It’s essentially a more refined version of the original – and that game played beautifully. However, as with Part I, there were some plodding moments with slightly repetitive and linear enemy encounters. Towards the end, I was starting to tire slightly of the rinse and repeat stealth/butcher-the-enemy combo. Although the tightness of this refined formula was addictive enough for me to see it through and I was left with an appetite for more.
As you progress, you upgrade weapons, craft items, unlock new skills and enhance existing ones in familiar fashion. By the time you approach the game’s climax, you’ll find yourself as a near-unstoppable killing machine. Powerful guns and kit will be at your disposal and you’ll have abilities akin to an elite soldier.
Unforgiving brutality
The most satisfaction undoubtedly comes from the long distance bow shots, running and gunning with the pump action shotgun and sneakily dispatching enemies with Ellie’s pocket knife. There are also instances of insane brutality – one such moment occurred early on for me. I was fleeing across a low rooftop and spotted someone shooting me from street level. So I ran over to the edge of the roof and shot him in the arm with the rifle. He fell to the ground screaming while gripping his mangled stump. I put him out of his misery as the rest of his battalion called out his name in horror.
The unforgivingly graphic combat is accompanied by the overarching sense of dread that’s present throughout The Last of Us Part 2. Whether I was creeping around trying to avoid detection or engaging in fast-paced firefights, I went into every section of this game with a pit in my stomach. These tense and savage encounters will stick with you long after you set your controller down.
The Last of Us Part 2 review: Story
*WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW*
While perhaps the most controversial aspect of The Last of Us Part 2, I found its story to be as gripping and tragic as it was polarising. Obviously, much of the anger directed at this narrative stems from the developers’ decision to kill off Joel early on. While horribly sad and unreservedly grim, I felt it was an entirely plausible conclusion to his life of moral ambiguity. His terrible actions at the end of the first game (no matter how justified he may or may not have been) came back to bite him.
No doubt many of the game’s detractors were dismayed by the switch from Ellie as the lead protagonist and playable character to Abby – Joel’s killer. This took me back to 2001. Back then, I was forced to play as Raiden in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. And while that creative decision frustrated me greatly back then, I found this to be a much more meaningful switch. It enhanced the plot and was essential to the telling of this multi-layered story full of different character motivations, actions and experiences.
A tale of revenge
This is a tale of revenge – plain and simple. There isn’t much in the way of new lore and fresh information about the cordyceps fungus is scarce. The sole purpose of this narrative is to teach you the pointlessness of killing. Nothing is achieved from these quests for ‘justice’ – it’s all just a repeating cycle of murder and abject sadness. In such a dark and dangerous world, why risk everything you have – family, friends, comfort and safety – for a momentary release of hate and resentment? However you were wronged, exacting cruel revenge isn’t the solution and only causes more unknowable suffering for those left behind.
The Last of Us Part II explores difficult themes and defies auidence desires and expectations so it can tell a unique and meaningful story. It knows what you want and does the opposite. There were plenty of opportunities for the narrative to take the easy route. But it actively chooses the bumpy and obstacle-filled path instead. In an age of pandering and manic fandoms, this is a work of fiction that stands apart. It raises the bar to an entirely new level for video games. And I’m quietly holding out hope for Part III. If Naughty Dog feels there are more stories to tell in this world, I’m all for it.
Verdict
The gameplay isn’t as revolutionary as it perhaps could have been. And the early dalliances with an open-world left me wondering how that sort of adventure might have panned out. But the title’s core mechanics are refined to such a degree that I’d be remiss to say it isn’t sublime. This, in addition to The Last of Us Part 2‘s incredible graphical achievements and brutally impactful story, make it a once-in-a-generation epic. Games like this don’t come along often, and we’ll be talking about it for years to come.
Final Score: 10/10
Version played: PS4
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