Seven years after the first road trip of Joel and Ellie, it's time for The Last of Us 2. Brace yourself for an exciting adventure, without concessions, and which we consider to be a beautiful glimpse of the future of action / adventure genre, focused on storytelling.
Here's 10 tips to help you start your adventure in the best possible way.
The Last of Us 2 for everyone
60 settings spread in a dedicated menu will allow players with disabilities to find the right fit and enjoy TLOU 2 in the best possible conditions. These settings are also available for those who don't want to bother to find their way around. There are ways to make the experience a lot easier (at the risk of spoiling it), if you're just there for the story.
A violent journey
The Last of Us first of the name already offered a particularly violent and realistic trip, but for this Part 2, Naughty Dog didn't mess about . Be warned, The Last of Us 2 is not for the faint-hearted: the shot enemies die in agony, you can slit throats and more. Keep in mind that the facial animation are also quite realistic.
In short, we advise you not to play in front of children and to respect the PG rating.
Difficulty
If you've already played The Last of Us, we strongly recommend that you play in hard mode. The game is quite easy in normal difficulty, and there are so many checkpoints that even if you fail repeatedly, you shouldn't be frustrated.
In addition, the hard mode allows you to take full advantage of all the subtleties of gameplay, by putting more emphasis on the survival side and the use of less orthodox tools such as traps and more.
Don't be afraid to use logic
The Last of Us 2 is a very realistic game, and sometimes, you just have to use logic to get out of a problem. For example: the door of a store is closed, and video games codes have gotten you used to thinking you'd come back later. However, that's not the case here. If you want to enter, just break the window next to the door, but keep in mind that the noise caused by the break-in attracts local wildlife.
It's a whole state of mind that you have to get into and it's a big part of the pleasure of playing The Last of Us 2
Visual markers
A bit like above: TLOU 2 doesn't take the players by the hand and won't paint in fluorescent yellow the edges that can be climbed. It will be up to you to experiment and see what you can and can't do.
Once again, we feel that the developers have played with the usual video game codes and limitations to stick as close to reality as possible. This sometimes makes the path a bit harder to follow, but it plays a huge part in the immersion process.
Useful NPCs
Whether in combat, during exploration or puzzle phases, the characters who accompany you very regularly drop useful information to help you progress
You can also listen to the enemies, as units communicate with each other. This will allow you to know what state of mind they are in (if you are spotted or hunted for example)
Exploration is essential
Take the time to explore your surroundings: there are tons of side quests, weapons and very useful items, such as the Training Manuals that unlock additional skills. Keep in mind that thorough exploration will be awarded.
We recommend that you empty each arena in order to loot everything after a battle.
Quick craft
As soon as you have the necessary components, make health kits. It take time to craft them and you are likely to get surrounded if you're not ready.
Generally speaking, anything that involves crafting consumables should be done in the quiet moments of the adventure as a kind of preparation phase for the next assault.
Running out of bullets? See if you can upgrade your melee weapon or make traps. Always keep an eye on what resources you have and what you don't have, so that you can adapt to every situation.
Study your ennemy
Each enemy faction has unique units that you'll need to identify and study in order to find the best ways to defeat them with the least amount of resources.
The goal is to take down enemies in an optimized and orderly manner to save as many resources as possible.
Don't be ashamed to run away
When things get out of hand, it's best to flee and wait in a safer spot before resuming combat: being static is never a good idea in The Last of Us 2.
Ellie's movements has been extended in a nice way and you'll have to make the most of it. That's also why a good analysis of the arenas you're fighting in is important, as it allows you to know the different exits for when a fight is getting ugly.
Original content by Bastien "Lloyd" Dubosq-Luyer.
In The Last Of Us Part II, Naughty Dog have built on Ellie's story to deliver a truly compelling sequel. Here's our spoiler-free take.
