I love The Last of Us and I can’t wait to see its successor on stage at E3 2018 next month. Long-haired director Neil Druckmann confirmed at PlayStation Experience late last year that we would get our first glimpse of gameplay during Sony’s press conference, and a select few have already seen the demo behind closed doors. Apparently it’s incredible – but I do have some niggling concerns about Naughty Dog’s next game.
If you’d asked me before God of War whether I had any worries at all about The Last of Us: Part II, I’d have laughed in your face. The developer’s on a hot streak right now, and even its worst game in recent years – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception – is better than practically all other blockbusters of the time. I thought I was done with Uncharted after the excellent A Thief’s End, but fancy expansion The Lost Legacy ended up being one of my favourites in the series.
But I genuinely believe that it has to evolve its formula – especially in the wake of Kratos’ ridiculously good revival. There were many things that impressed me about God of War, but I think the one that sticks out several weeks after writing my review is how much of a video game it is. That’s a weird conclusion to make about a video game, I agree – but what I think God of War does particularly well is balance moment-to-moment interactivity with quality storytelling.
I’ve always thought The Last of Us is greater than Uncharted because its gameplay matches its narrative much better. Nathan Drake is a likeable, relatable everyman – but he’s also a mass murderer. This discussion has been done to death, but if you compare to The Last of Us, the brutality makes sense in that world and fits Joel’s character. Heck, even the environmental story-telling works because you can imagine characters like Ellie scavenging for supplies.
But here’s the thing: God of War is better at being a video game than any modern Naughty Dog title, and it does it without sacrificing anything in the storytelling stakes. My point here is that The Last of Us: Part II can’t rest on the formula of Naughty Dog's past releases; it needs to be more interactive and better designed than any of the studio’s recent games. I’m obviously not expecting treasure chests and rune puzzles in every room, but positioning wooden planks simply isn’t going to cut it anymore.
The bar has been raised, and I want to see Naughty Dog acknowledge that at E3 2018. I have very few concerns about the storytelling; there’s a worry that the sequel may be too violent based on its Paris Games Week trailer, but I think the developer will find the right balance. My concern here is that after years of the same format, the studio may have forgotten how to make a game. And God of War proved to me that it’s possible to have the best of both worlds; you can have the emotionally resonant storyline and interactivity every 30 seconds or so.
I sincerely hope that Naughty Dog is ahead of the curve on this. The developer has been consistently exceeding expectations since 2009, so I certainly have no reason to doubt it. And let’s face it: there’s been an element of one-upmanship between Sony’s studios for a long time now, so I’m sure Naughty Dog’s ready to pick up the baton and blow our minds. But I want this E3 2018 demo to reassure me; God of War’s changed everything, and I hope The Last of Us: Part II pushes in that direction, too.
What are you hoping to see from The Last of Us: Part II at E3 2018? Do you just want story and spectacle, or do you want to know how the game will be structured? Run away from the clicking sounds in the comments section below.
Comments 52
Tend to agree, I'm sure The Last of Us: Part II could still get away with rehashing the gameplay of the first game, but it would be a bit disappointing if it didn't build upon it and make it even more involved like God of War.
That said, I'm sure Naughty Dog's up to speed. The kind of studio that's always pushing for bigger and better with every game it makes, as the article alludes.
No worries whatsoever. Neil's last 3 games were Uncharted 2, The Last Of Us and Uncharted 4 - 3 of the best games ever made in my opinion. I have all faith in the world that he's going to deliver yet another masterpiece.
Really nathan is a mass murderer.i dont think so.so is master chief.gears of war series.zelda series.word up son
I think by UC4, one could really see a tried and tested ND formula so I do hope they'll mix it up. I have concerns about TLOU2, mainly because the first game was, from a story and ending point of view, near perfect in my eyes.
@ShogunRok I don't really mind if it doesn't evolve it personally. The first one was such a solid survival horror game that I wouldn't mind if it were just more of the same. That said, any improvements they do make will be much appreciated!
I have total faith in Naughty Dog. That's all I will say on this topic.
I always thought that The Last of Us was a lot better in the ''gameplay'' aspect than Uncharted, how weird that may sound. Both games have their shooting, but while Uncharted is known for its big scripted set pieces, The Last of Us had a (simple) survival, loot, upgrade system in place. I'd like to see them expand on that if possible.
But if Lost Legacy is anything to go by, it shows that they're willing to expand their scopes (literally in a sense lol).
I don't want an open world, I don't even need a Metroidvania, but I'd like to see them expanding on the concept of tackling each chapter as you see fit. Include more options and possibilities to get to the end of each chapter, if that makes any sense!
Definitely agree with how gameplay needs to be balanced with and fit the story. The "gamey" bit of a game is sometimes neglected in the industry and feels like a painting-by-numbers exercise. Naughty Dog weren't particularly good at balancing the gameplay and story in the Uncharted games. I liked them because of the great characters and the spectacle of the set pieces. On the other hand - and perhaps this is an unpopular opinion - I felt the moment to moment gunplay was a little dull. Additionally, the disconnect between the story and Nate being a "good guy" was at its widest in parts of Uncharted 4.
The Last of Us did a good job and I felt that the gameplay genuinely complimented the story and vice versa. I have faith that the Last of Us 2 will be a great game. If it's little more than a rehash of the first (but with even more violence) would people be disappointed?
I have confidence on naughty dog, uncharted 4 successfully improve the series gameplay and I'm sure tlou 2 will do the same.
I think semi open world design like gow is okay as long as there's something to be gained from exploring it, like loot, exp or lore/story. I just realized the reason I don't like lost legacy semi open world level is because it's just a busy works, there's nothing to be gained from it besides useless trinket.
In the other hand, I greatly enjoyed uncharted 4 semi open world level because it's still (wide) linear, not lost legacy "here's a map, now go wherever you like with no reward", I'm always moving forward on uncharted 4 semi open world map.
If tlou2 will take more open world design, it needs to reward player for exploring it.
Come on now. Call it what it is. Ludonarrative dissonance.
There I said it. Now don’t we all feel smarter?
Well said, @get2sammyb
Naughty Dog doesn't tend to like innovation very much when it comes to their gameplay. I really don't think it's gonna change much from the first TLoU. Uncharted has barely changed at all since the first one, aside from simply refining what was already there.
It's certainly not gonna be the next God of War IMO, that's for sure. I doubt those standards will be met, let alone surpassed, for a while.
I expect a good game in TLoU, regardless of playing GoW. I don't think GoW really even enters the picture, the hardest part is going to be to just top the original. Sure, game play and graphics can and will be better, but the opening 15 minutes of TLoU sets up the entire game. And as a father I almost couldn't make it through the first 15 minutes b/c it was scaring the bejueebus out of me, and that's what you take with you through the rest of the game. It's not just another post-apocalyptic game like Enslaved or Horizon, you are living through Day 1 of the apocalypse, and I'm not sure how they can come close to that again. Or the ending. (And now I'm thinking a video game taking place during Operation Enduring Victory could be very cool.)
So I'm hoping they can somehow improve upon on it, without changing things up too much, but surpassing the original is going to be their hardest task, not keeping up with GoW or TR or Horizon.
And probably also not mimicking The Walking Dead tv shows is going to be difficult. I've never watch a single episode of any of those, I don't like zombies, but the show had only been on a couple of years when the game first released, now it's been on a lot longer, and probably gained a larger following. There can't be too much that show hasn't thought of with humans surviving in a post apocalyptic world. But again, I haven't watched it, and won't so I don't have to worry about it.
The game will be good enough, but I don't see it surpassing the original.
I wouldn't be surprised if naughty dog delay the last of us by a few months after seeing god of war. The bar has been raised and naughty dog are always pushung boundaries so let's hope they try and match gow and take it a step further. What a great year for gaming!
@KirbyTheVampire "Uncharted has barely changed at all since the first one"
Not sure how you meant that, but I hated the first game, it was little more than a tech demo and lasted about 7 chapters too long. I think it was 14 chapters and only the first few and last few were worth playing. The 2nd game is one of my favorites, and as you said since then they've barely changed, though U:LL added a little more but it has been the same game since 2. 1 though, I tell everyone to just watch the cut scenes on YT and skip playing it.
I can't imagine there ever being another jump in games like U1 to U2. And on the same hardware at that. Though sometimes first games are little more than tech demos, Dark Cloud 1 was meh but DC2 was really good, but 2nd games after meh first game tech demos rarely get as good as U2.
@ShogunRok
Let’s not forget the last of us was a PS3 title and therefore built on that architecture. The possibilities on the PS4 are far greater. And they always seem like a team to try and push boundaries with whatever system they have worked on.
@playstation1995 I think the issue is that, in Uncharted, there's a massive disconnect between the gameplay, where you're gunning down lots of bad guys, and the cutscenes, where Nathan doesn't want to harm anyone at all. It's a relatively minor criticism, but it is valid.
"but he’s also a mass murderer."
It had been disputed to death because HE'S NOT A MURDERER! 🙄
There's nothing to worry about. The game will do well on Reputation alone. Even if a metacritic averages it at around 80% it will still still millions. I'll be playing this game. I think the real worry is that it has some flaws that holds it back from being a masterpiece and having perfect scores.
Probably the only "masterpiece" that didn't do anything for me. I just got bored from beginning to end. And I got very few memories of it, I only remember giraffes at some point in the game.
Sony Santa Monica are the new crown jewel within Worldwide studios. Hopefully this spurs Naughty Dog on to even greater heights.
@viciousarcanum
How so? Seems to fit the definition well enough. He sneaks up on people that don't even know he's there and snaps necks or throws them off cliffs or buildings.
He's clearly had time to think about it beforehand, thus premeditated. It's not lawful and he kills them.
@viciousarcanum Right!? Don't people see it was all an accident? He didn't mean to kill all those people!
@Octane
That's true, he just got a bit carried away, the treasure told him to do it.
I've never viewed Drake as a mass murderer, since he's never killed anyone who wasn't trying to kill him first.
I also have no concerns over the (potential) level of violence in The Last Of Us Part 2. They have a story to tell, and I'm happy for them to tell it however they see fit.
I'll also be perfectly happy if TLOU2 plays in identical fashion to the first game, since it worked so well for the purposes of the story being told.
That pic of older Ellie always reminds me of Gollum.
Added a video in.
Wow some of these comments are just insane.
If it hadnt been for ND we certainly wouldnt have the current GOW (word up son).
TLOU2 will be amazing ND are known for going quiet and slamming out a game that breaks all boundaries (thinking of U2 Among Thieves nothing beats the first 20 mins of that game not even TLOU IMHO)
Now back on topic do I think TLOU2 will surpass its predecessor..... YES
My reasons behind this are simple ND have been watching how with anticipation with HZD and GOW faired and they will know that they have to not only raise the bar but send it up to the stratosphere to prove that they are sony's biggest and best software house and I dont blame them for trying to prove this point, its not like they will be worried if xbone has anything to compete with them as well it doesnt.
I loved TLOU and was gripped from the very first chapter right through to the end of the game it was brilliant however this game is widely regarded as ND's best game and in some eyes it cant be surpassed.
We need to wait until E3 and the gameplay reveal to understand if TLOU2 will manage to beat the unbeatable bar or break the fourth wall of gaming but I do feel ND are capable of this and hope it does happen.
I have faith in Naughty Dog they will push the envelope in story telling and graphics.
I don't want to say "horde wave encounters" are dead...but they definately don't belong in every game anymore. It would be hard to change uncharted from that now.
I think that is what made the last of us and the soulsbourne series stick out in a good way. They made every enemy dangerous but meaningful. Don't just throw 30 people at me from verying directions. Give me 5-10 enemies in strategic locations that I can encounter in my own way. I want to feel like every encounter was life or death and that I accomplished something.
Thats just my two cents (games like days gone are the exception where they are built with hordes in mind and it makes sense)
The Last of Us has a great gameplay, imo. I also understand that it's always great to innovate, but I'm not sure if this is the best for a series like The Last of Us. I don't see the problem with linear gameplay, in fact, it should be considered a breath of fresh air nowadays with so many open-world games out there.
Naughty Dog could make something different, no doubt about that, they're really talented and one of the best gaming studios without a doubt, but they should do this for a new IP.
@rjejr They definitely massively improved on the first one, which was a steaming pile of garbage, but the core gameplay mechanics of running around, shooting people, climbing, and solving puzzles haven't really changed. Pretty much all they've added is a few sequences with vehicles, swinging on a rope, and pushing around boxes.
To be clear, I'm not asking for a reinvention. I want The Last of Us to be a The Last of Us game. My point is that God of War showed you can have interesting puzzles and interactions every few seconds; The Last of Us (and Uncharted) can be quite dry when you're not in combat or solving a big set-piece puzzle.
There needs to be more to do during "down time" than moving planks of wood around or just walking. God of War keeps the story moving while still giving you lots of little things to do along the way.
@get2sammyb
you are asking for them to reinvent the wheel
Tend to disagree. I love both games, but just because GOW raises the bar in one direction doesn’t mean TLOU2 has to mimic that concept. No need for all games to go in the same direction, they all have their own charm in one way or the other.
I liked the calm sections of TLOU. Just take a breath, have small talk with NPCs, and to actually check out the environment a bit.
I think I'm pushing more for the story because the story is what really intrigued me into wanting to know the rest, yes I hope that the game play runs smooth and that theirs not ran times you drop through the world or get stuck on a piece of wood AMD have to completely restart your game mad hope that you didn't loose your save, but either then that I really hope they have stuck to that gruesome part that The Last Of Us is that's what made me love the game and I am really glad that they went on and made a second one, I can't wait to know the rest of the story and get to kick some butt with Ellie.
Most people 'wanted' God of War to be different though, from the previous games. Whereas most people would be happy if 'The Last of Us: Part II' is similar to the first game. So it doesn't have to live up to the same expectation of innovation and newness as God of War did.
Maybe I'm odd, but the amazing thing about the Last of Us was the storyline, narrative, characters, and environments. The actual gameplay is far from amazing to me, there are better stealth-action games out there. The most important thing is that they nail the storyline and such. If they can improve the gameplay and make it less clunky, i.e. more like Uncharted, that would be great of-course.
To be fair, GoW was heavily inspired by Uncharted and especially the Last of Us, and evolved the gameplay system. It's certainly possible that Naughty Dog didn't evolve their formula (they'll probably don't have time to start doing it now), but they'll have to now with whatever comes after TLOU2.
@KirbyTheVampire "Pretty much all they've added is a few sequences with vehicles, swinging on a rope, and pushing around boxes."
The first game was pretty much a tech demo of the base game play mechanics, which never really change, but what really mattered to me was adding the characters. Chloe in the 2nd made the game for me, which is also why U:LL is my 2nd favorite. And the villain in 2 was great as well. 3 spent too much time w/ their younger selves which I didn't like, the game only really begins for me halfway through when Elena shows up. If they rearranged the fist 4 games in chronological order - I have no idea what's in the Vita game - like they did w/ Beyond 2 Souls I think it could be a better game. Though we might wonder where his brother was in all that time in between. And we wold learn how he go this name pretty early on. But I like things chronologically.
Including U:LL would be kind of weird b/c you would a have 10 hour game after 90% of U4 but right before the denouement when they show their daughter, which would be really weird. And the first game would be really slow after all of that early Drake as a boy back story, but maybe they could cut out a chapter or 3 or 5. Even they must realize after making 2, 3 and 4 that 1 does not flow well.
I do think the puzzles in U:LL, the 3D models and giant statues and shadows, were nice new addition to the usual puzzles. Same game, but I thought that advanced. And chapter 4 being open.
But TLoU2 is probably going to be different, unless Ellie adopts a small child she needs to keep alive. Maybe a puppy. Or it's going to be the same. I'm expecting an 8 or 9, keeping my expectations in check.
They've called it 'The Last Of Us Part II' for a reason - it's going to be the Godfather Part II of video games
Or at the very least, The Hangover Part II
For crying out loud "this game has plenty to prove" ffs. There are gamers who'll preorder this have without seeing a single trailer. Has any mario, zelda ever had something to prove? No they haven't the fanbase buys it anyway. The only way we I'm not playing this game if it's crap and many like myself are willing to bet our houses on it being a success.
Sick of seeing these articles about it. I bet infinity war was judged now its made a billion in 11 days. Screw you, you know it alls
@ESC4PE_TH3_F4LL Watch the language please.
yeah neil has my faith
"even its worst game in recent years – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception{...}" wait right there. it`s not Uncharted 3, it`s Uncharted 4.
By the way, I totally agree with you, ND needs to show a new experience not just a clone of last game. Look at Uncharted series, you can see evolution right?! that`s what I'm talking about.
PSX trailer (actually it`s not a trailer, it`s a cutscene with story spoiler) shows nothing about gameplay. we know the story would be great, we are talking about gameplay here! if Joel is gonna die I promise you it would be a big mess in gameplay. (literally, I want to see 2,3 main man character in the game, like first one.)
I am worried about the future of this game. looks too risky to continue it with past characters.
I must be out of touch because, as amazing as GoW is, I don't feel that it's a patch on TLoU, particularly where story telling and characters are concerned.
GoW is unbelievable and in many ways a big step up for the series but the story telling, acting and cast of characters just don't compare to TLOU (nor Uncharted for that matter).
The idea that Naughty Dog have anything to prove is bonkers to me, I think a lot of this is just hype and excitement around a new release.
Having finished GOW I am moving on to new things and haven't really thought about it too much over the last few days (Straight into Castlevania on NES and Shadow of the Colossus). I literally couldn't stop thinking about TLOU for weeks after finishing it and jumped back in for another play through immediately after finishing it.
GOW is one hell of an achievement, I loved it but honestly, it doesn't compare to Naughty Dogs titles in my opinion.
@playstation1995 yeah almost every games out there a mass murder simulator. Even Mario. What a weak point to point out.
Have tried many times to love ND games but I find them just average, dunno why. Played Uncharted 2 for about 4 or 5 hours and got bored, played UC3 when it came to ps plus and gave up after the 3rd or 4th time fighting that same giant dude with the QTEs. Got about half way thru Last of Us then just ended up watching the rest of the story on YouTube. They make gorgeous games that are very impressive technically and graphically but I just don't find them very fun at all. I doubt TLoU2 will move the needle for me but we shall see
@Th3solution Nope i feel stupid now because i dont know what it means. 😋
This has to be a trigger article acting like TLoU has been done to death. I’ve beat and enjoyed the new GoW but believe it is rated so highly due to a lack of competition. If this exact game was released toward the peak of the PS3s popularity I believe it would have got 8s at best. If TLoU2 copies and pastes the level of gameplay, story, and characters without changing formulas and gameplay styles it will still be better than a majority of its competitors.
I don't want a video-gamey The Last of Us II like this last God of War. There are plenty of games out there that do that already. I want a narrative, character driven story like the first game. I already care about Ellie and Joel and the choices made in the first game.
@LieutenantFatman if they see him they shoot on sight, no questions asked.
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