(^1) TLOU2 is filled with realism,
but gamey resources still litter
the environments. Scrap is your
best friend, allowing you to
show your guns some love.
(^2) Even in the upgrade menus
The Last Of Us 2’s lighting is
incredible. Ellie actually
physically turns a lamp on,
shining a light on the surface
where she’s working.
(^3) It’s not a matter of whether
you should upgrade, but when
you can do it. Upgrades give you
bigger magazines, higher
damage, zoomier zooms, and
more. You’ll want it all.
(^4) As the camera zooms in on
the workbench Ellie dismantles
and places the gun on the table.
When you upgrade, she actually
makes modifications. There’s a
wonderful physicality to it.
055
THE LAST OF US PART II
Fans speculated – thanks to the
mood and not much sign of Joel in
the trailers – that she’d be avenging
her father figure, but our day with
Naughty Dog has us fearing for her
romantic interest instead.
“Obviously Ellie experiences this
deep trauma, it has an impact on
her that’s going to affect how she
engages with the world,” says Gross.
“That’s going to affect her tone as
we sort of descend through that.
That being said, Ellie is driven by
love. It’s love that sends her on this
mission for justice. It’s love that she
feels for Joel, for Dina – these
moments that buoy her.”
MERCILESS IN SEATTLE
The second part of our demo takes
place in an overgrown suburb of
Seattle, under the control of a group
called the Washington Liberation
Front. They’re not infected with
the fungus, but they’re still a
frightening prospect. They’re well-
armed, well-organised, and have
dogs who can follow Ellie’s scent
to even the most out-of-the-way
hiding place. Thus, Naughty Dog
proves our greatest love can easily
become our greatest weakness.
We’re looking for Tommy, Joel’s
brother, and have to make our way
through an obstacle course of
abandoned houses and enemy
patrols to reach him. Like the cult
we’ve seen in earlier trailers, it’s a
reminder that in the world of The
Last Of Us Part II, humans can be
just as frightening as the monsters.
“As you saw in the early part of
the demo, clearing out Clickers,
clearing out infected is routine –
granted, there are stakes and there’s
a danger to it – but that’s a familiar
thing,” says Gross. “What you find
unfamiliar is the other, is people
who have different values than
yourself, is the unknown. It’s easy
for us to lean into tribalism,
Ellie’s not so tough that taking on
the infected feels unchallenging.
WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND
Shots fired: how the workshops can change your life
1
4
3
2
vip2019
(vip2019)
#1