Did you think The Last of Us: Part II looked good in last night’s gameplay reveal trailer? Well, the new gameplay details Naughty Dog just shared during an E3 2018 panel may just blow your mind. There’s a helluva lot to get through here, so forgive us the hastily compiled summary and let’s get into it, because there’s a whole load of hype here.
One really nice touch mentioned in the panel is that enemy AI will refer to each other by name, which should really help sell the illusion that these are real people you’re up against. As illustrated during the latest demo, the gameplay is much more emergent than ever before, allowing for a breadth of creative solutions to almost any scenario.
Stealth, in particular, has been overhauled, allowing you to squeeze beneath vehicles and through tight spaces. You’ll no longer be automatically hidden in grass; if you’re body’s peeking out then there’s a greater chance you’ll be spotted, so it all depends on the density of the foliage. The developer’s also talking up the release’s greater sense of verticality.
It’s the AI that sounds truly impressive, though: they’ll pass messages to each other as conflicts escalate, meaning that bad news will gradually (and naturally) proliferate through encampments. They’ll be better at seeking you out, too, and they’ll work together in an organic manner to flush you out. And this is just the humans: there’ll be more infected varieties, too.
Of course, you’ll have a richer palette of abilities in order to deal with the constant threats. Ellie can now jump, but she also has more options when prone. Not only that but a new evade mechanic has been integrated into the combat. Oh, and the animation system has been completely overhauled to ensure everything feels more realistic.
Impressed? You should be. This is sounding like Naughty Dog’s biggest and most ambitious game ever, and while it’s very much an iteration on what it’s done before, we reckon it’s placing its attention in the most important areas. If last night’s demo didn’t already make it abundantly clear: this is going to be nothing short of incredible.
[source youtube.com]
Comments 30
Maaaan, I can't wait to see how Factions turns out!
@DLB3 Yeah, sorry. Fixed, thanks for spotting.
I was hoping to see the infected in the demo. I assume they are keeping that close to the vest until we get closer to the release date. Graphically the demo did look great. It sounds like those who complained about the first game’s lack of interesting gameplay (not me) have been heard.
Day 1 for me looking at pre ordering soon along with Spiderman and Resident Evil 2 remake I don't pre order but these 3 games I will be. Spyro Trilogy I'll get for Christmas when on cheap
I was hoping to play through the first just before the 2nd releases. But currently so hyped I may be playing tonight as well
1 question though? where is joel?
(i love ellie btw)
@jdv95 They did mention Joel on the panel. He's out there somewhere apparently.
@get2sammyb oh ok! so he will most likely make a suprise appearance at some point but not in a big role.
i though he was dead in this game
I watched the beginning of the demo again earlier when the guy is talking about Joel and it sounds like he's in charge of the little settlement camp thing they've got going on, or at least a part of it.
I want to know where they are in the opening of the trailer? I'm assuming Tommy's but not sure.
@jdv95 I think he'll have a bigger role, they're just not ready to reveal it yet.
@Splat Yeah, you're spot on. Ellie's been leading a relatively normal life since the events of the first game. Well, as "normal" as you can have in a camp at the end of the world.
This game looks incredible, no doubt about it, but they didn't even flash a year at the end of the demo, which means this game could be 2020. I can't be too incensed because they seem to have learned their lesson, but yeeesh, they jumped the gun on the announcement.
… I feel weird. Visually, it's amazing. Gameplay wise, it's everything a sequel is supposed to be. More of the same, and then some.
And yet … I couldn't help but having a continuous 'been there, done that' feeling as I watched the trailer. Which is exactly the opposite I felt when I saw RE2make. While made with the same engine as RE VII, it felt like an entirely new game, something totally fresh.
I'm sure TLoU2's gonna be a very good game, but it won't rock my world like the first one.
Why does no one care or asks about Joel? XD
@AFCC i did !
but they did mention him at the panel.
@jdv95 poor Joel! Everyone is like 'Elie Elie Elie' who cares about that brat kid x)
"Enemy AI will refer to each other by name" is one of the coolest feature of the game, it's about time enemy ai got upgrade in games, also the graphics are insane
@AFCC I think the "your old man etc" line show that he's still alive.
@AFCC well tbh ellie was always the most popular character in the first game. especially after the left behind dlc.
Isn't that Joel at 5:10 just hanging there?
I think we're getting at least 3 playable characters in this. Ellie, Joel and the woman from the PGW trailer.
That big guy with the Axe(or whatever its called he was holding) was freaking me out Reminded me of the Chainsaw man in RE4 LOOKS AMAZING
You've got two chics necking and you're all asking for some grizzly old fella?! Just joking, I like Joel, too. I'm sure he'll be in this, no doubt.
Anyway, that part of the vid where Ellie is hiding under the truck and is ready to shoot the lady looking for her. You know it's coming but it's still nasty how ruthless it was. I love it.
@wiiware If they kill him they HAVE TO show it!
@jdv95 I understand it but I loved that little vilain nuance that Joel had! Also... Troy Baker
@AFCC oh don't get me wrong i would also have loved it if we could play him again.
as much as i love ellie,i hope that joel get's a big role aswell.
After watching the e3 gameplay trailer multiple times i was starting to think it may have all just been CG due to how realistic every single motion was. Nothing ever seemed like a repeated animation. It was all so dynamic and life like.
Im blown away. This is going to be incredible.
@AFCC He is living on an isolated island, building a robot army to conquer the world.
Joel;
Hes a useful man who would fix a broken porch
Unfortunately couldnt afford a Porsche
And not as hard as Kratos of the Norse
But can jockey a Horse
And likes Brown Sauce
Like Fireflies to a torch
He approaches tall ledges full force
Got dog poo on his hands off Elles boots and now is full of remorse
I liked the gameplay party's with Ellie more to be fair. 😉
Definitely, this is the most realistic and graphically awesome looking naughty dog game. I always wanted this level of enemy AI in games.
Definitely happy they improved certain gameplay elements, though I still loved the first game.
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