REVIEW: The Last of Us: Part II is a brutal and remarkable experience on PS4

After some delays and problems with leaking information from the game, finally the continuation of the story of Joel e Ellie — two characters marked by the terror and devastation that the pandemic of a virus of fungal origin caused to the world — have a more than deserved sequel. 

A Sony provided a digital copy of tests of The Last Of Us Part II for the PlayStation 4 at showmetech and, after more than 20 hours of immersion in an immersive story and refined gameplay, we bring you a complete spoiler-free review of the game.

Thirst for revenge

Before everything The Last Of Us Part II It's a story about revenge. Unlike the first game that mixed moments of hope and perseverance with terrifying and desperate passages, its successor focuses on revenge and the maxim of “taking justice into your own hands”, as well as all the nuance of feelings and consequences that this word and your actions can charge.

In terms of narrative, the story of The Last Of Us Part II is worthy of a successful movie script or first-class literary work. Each passage is put together in a surprising way, making all the different sequences of events that make up the game come together like a well-sewn patchwork quilt and form a painting that you get emotional when you can observe it complete.

All the characters — even the ones with the shortest part of the story — are well-developed and just as “human” as real people. The player will get deeply involved with each of the characters and this is perhaps the biggest asset of the game: messing with the player's emotion, since it will be difficult to deal with a whirlwind of feelings in unexpected situations.

Not necessarily just with Ellie, but all the characters have such different facets that it's not surprising if the player isn't able to root for a specific character to survive, or be able to complete their quest. They all have their strengths and flaws, and a devastated and oppressive world forces them to the limits of their humanity.

While in the first game the zombies created by the infection of Cordyceps had a greater prominence and the player had to fight to survive the encounters with these creatures, in The Last Of Us Part II they are just a well-crafted backdrop that creates the context for the whole story. You will encounter zombies and other types of ferocious creatures, but they are not your true enemy. Maybe, in the end, you yourself will be your worst nightmare.

Doing what needs to be done in The Last of Us: Part II

This time around, not only is the story bigger and denser, but Joel and Ellie's world feels a lot bigger (and more dangerous, too). Plot development remains entirely linear, but now the world is more “open” for the player to explore. Each piece of document or lost item found is a parallel story that makes this reality so immersive and this world a book waiting to be read.

Since their resources are limited (even in the game's "moderate" mode), every unavoidable combat situation forces the player to investigate their surroundings. It's recommended to check every shop, every house and any corner you can sneak around to find items and craft the arsenal of equipment you'll need for battles (whether they're with zombies or humans).

Furthermore, the world of The Last Of Us Part II It's not only more stunning to look at, but it also looks more alive than ever. Grass reacts to characters' movements, walls can be destroyed by some types of enemies, and every corner can hide an item or a new story to discover. The seamless transition from cutscene to gameplay increases player immersion and only makes the game world more realistic and vibrant.

Anyone who has had the opportunity to play the first game will feel right at home with the weapon system, component manufacturing and skill acquisition. All the main mechanics remain the same, but in The Last Of Us Part II they are more refined. Weapons have more realistic mechanics and enemy behavior is more unpredictable than ever before.

The player will need to face three main types of enemies: the zombies, the military of the WLF (Washington Liberation Front) and the clan hunters Scars. Each type of opponent has different attack patterns and behaviors when alone or in a pack. In this way, the game moves towards a more realistic approach to combat. 

It is not possible to simply attack enemies directly. A few shots or arrows are enough to knock them back and leave them vulnerable to attacks. Therefore, more than ever, it is highly recommended that the player invest in a more stealthy approach and think of strategies to get rid of dangers. However, never forget that running away is also a very valid option, depending on the situation you find yourself in.

Despite being few moments, the player will have some encounters with more powerful enemies (similar to boss fights) in which you will need to come up with a good strategy to use your resources and the environment in your favor to get out alive. Puzzles are also making their return, and there will be quite a few sequences in which you'll have to think of ways to cross areas that seem blocked.

Whether it's the refined combat or even the puzzle sequences, all of these elements are present in The Last Of Us Part II in the right measure. Nothing seems exaggerated. Each encounter with enemies occurs at the right moment in the plot and each puzzle solving shows you that the world is not just a background in the game, but another enemy you have to deal with.

Keep on surviving, above all

Invariably the player will reach the end of the story of The Last of Us: Part II with his emotional structure completely shaken. In the same way that the game marks the characters in a deep way, the player will come out of this roller coaster of emotions with a heavy heart, as if he had lived an experience with real people.

The Last Of Us Part II it may be a story where revenge plays a prominent role, but it is a story of survival, above all. The characters are fighting all the time, whether against zombies, humans, the world or even themselves and their feelings. Fighting to conquer the external and internal terrors that devastated society and revealed the most cruel and brutal aspect of humanity.

“The Last of Us: Part II is an unprecedented storytelling experience in the gaming world. A journey that blends story and gameplay in a sublime and profound way.”

Maybe some cutscene sequences (short or long) that mix with moments when the player needs to interact with other characters or elements of the environment may seem exaggerated - or even unnecessary - when looking at the general panorama of the game, but we can't simply discard them. Each narrative element of The Last of Us: Part II it has its due importance and meaning and, like an opera, if you change a note or remove an instrument, the entire composition is destroyed.

After more than 20 hours of exploration, shooting, escapes and a whirlwind of emotions, we can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that The Last of Us: Part II is an unprecedented storytelling experience in the gaming world. A journey that unites history and gameplay in a sublime and profound way.

Video review

Check out the special video review about the game below:

The game will be released on June 19th, and is available for pre-order at Showmetech store and Americans.