The Last Of Us 2

johnny_ultimate · 04-12-2016 2:01pm

The Last of Us seemed to me like an attempt to build a coherent and thematically appropriate narrative around the Uncharted formula. Obviously mechanically there's significant differences (and generally The Last of Us is more satisfying to play), but in terms of the broad 'setpieces - combat - story - light platforming / puzzling' approach they're undoubtedly of the same genesis.

It goes without saying that it resulted in a much less dissonant experience. It was a game where combat, stealth and violence suited the world and characters in a way Nathan Drake's lighthearted killing sprees have never done. The Last of Us didn't entirely escape the confines of the formula and indeed wider AAA trends either, though. There were several particularly trigger happy sections - the sniper rifle at the top of the abandoned house stands out - that were unimaginative and IMO damaging to the overall pace and tone of the game. The general repetitiveness of the puzzle solving and navigation is also something that needs to be addressed - even a few extra assets to disguise the limited purview of the puzzles would go some way towards that.

There's this inherent conflict between being a narrative heavy game and a AAA action game, and while The Last of Us arguably comes closest to actively addressing that (along with the likes of Spec Ops: The Line) it doesn't quite manage to fully escape it either.

Pickpocket · 04-12-2016 2:07pm

Druckmann said that whereas the first game was about the love between Joel and Ellie, the sequel will be about the hate.

Very interesting. I really wanted them to focus on entirely different characters but I'm now completely sold on this new direction.

Joel as antagonist? Wow.

Kirby · 04-12-2016 6:27pm

dreamers75 wrote: »

1st one is easily the most over rated game of all time.

Story is good but the actual gameplay is awful.

I hope they improve that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3y3QoFnqZc

Kirby · 04-12-2016 6:29pm

Pac1Man wrote: »

The surgeon's child will come back and kill Joel.

Cant happen. You had the option to leave the surgeon alive so....

Encrypted Pigeon · 04-12-2016 6:35pm

Kirby wrote: »

....

What?

I stood there like a spare wally for a good minute wondering what to do with him. My patience eventually expired with him as I couldn't get past.

Felt bad about the whole scene, feel worse now.

Evade · 04-12-2016 6:39pm

Encrypted Pigeon wrote: »

What?
I stood there like a spare wally for a good minute wondering what to do with him. My patience eventually expired with him as I couldn't get past.
Felt bad about the whole scene, feel worse now.

You have to shoot the surgeon the other two can live. Even if you barely graze his toe with a bullet he falls over dead like he was shot in the chest.

Encrypted Pigeon · 04-12-2016 6:45pm

Ah OK, still, there was something about that whole scene

that left a bitter after taste. Didn't feel right shooting at the surgeons despite what they were up to with experimentation and what not. Just wanted to grab Ellie and get the fug out of there.

Osmosis Jones · 04-12-2016 6:52pm

I'm really not confident in this at all, I don't think they ended the first game with any intentions of continuing the story of Joel and Ellie and they're now cobbling together whatever works. Really wish they just left them alone and explored more of this universe, the gameplay was always quite good but without a good story it's not worth playing.

Pickpocket · 04-12-2016 6:58pm

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

I'm really not confident in this at all, I don't think they ended the first game with any intentions of continuing the story of Joel and Ellie and they're now cobbling together whatever works.

Druckmann said they'd be toying around with various ideas for 5 years and had given up because nothing felt right. But then they hit upon a story idea worth developing. I've no reason to doubt him. ND don't cobble things together.

Pac1Man · 04-12-2016 7:58pm

Kirby wrote: »

Cant happen. You had the option to leave the surgeon alive so....

Huh? The kid could have already been born.

My comment was tongue in cheek though.

Mickeroo · 04-12-2016 9:28pm

Pickpocket wrote: »

Druckmann said they'd be toying around with various ideas for 5 years and had given up because nothing felt right. But then they hit upon a story idea worth developing. I've no reason to doubt him. ND don't cobble things together.

That could just mean they were offered more money :pac:

Zero-Cool · 04-12-2016 10:29pm

Druckman said on twitter they used a hand model for the guitar playing and first time using hand scanning tech, very impressive looking.

kunst nugget · 04-12-2016 11:49pm

Looking forward to this more than the other big sequel announced this year - RDR2. Really beautiful trailer.

Penn · 05-12-2016 7:56am

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

I'm really not confident in this at all, I don't think they ended the first game with any intentions of continuing the story of Joel and Ellie and they're now cobbling together whatever works. Really wish they just left them alone and explored more of this universe, the gameplay was always quite good but without a good story it's not worth playing.

The easy thing would have been to start afresh with new characters. You're not tied to the previous characters and story and can just do whatever you want with them. You could have it happening at any time period after the outbreak too.

By going back to Joel and Ellie, they risk exactly what you and others have been complaining about. They risk the implication that they're just using Joel & Ellie because they're popular and safe. They risk annoying people who may not like a new direction the characters take. They risk annoying people by prolonging the story of these characters which so many felt ended in the right way and doesn't need to be revisited.

But they're doing it anyway, and ultimately they're the ones best placed to make that decision and to know they're doing it for the right reasons, and because they feel the right story is there to warrant it.

gimli2112 · 05-12-2016 9:08am

On my first play through I was terrified (like literally) that Ellie wasn't going to make it. Can't do it again.

RasTa · 05-12-2016 9:26am

Some detail leaving the bloodstain

Fox Hound · 05-12-2016 11:20am

So Happy This is happening!! Best Game I Have ever played gets a Sequel!!

Retr0gamer · 05-12-2016 11:26am

Kirby wrote: »

Cant happen. You had the option to leave the surgeon alive so....

Pretty sure you've no choice. The game won't continue otherwise.

GavRedKing · 05-12-2016 7:11pm

I charged in blasting anything that moved without a second thought on my first play through.

Further down the line, I think I left it play out a bit and I was sure I couldnt get out of the room unless I killed them.

Encrypted Pigeon · 05-12-2016 9:31pm

Im sure some of you have already checked out the trailer song, but I'll put it here anyway for those who haven't, cracking song.

Shawn James & The Shapeshifters - Through The Valley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtHubsyGD8w

Kirby · 05-12-2016 11:44pm

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Pretty sure you've no choice. The game won't continue otherwise.

GavRedKing wrote: »

I charged in blasting anything that moved without a second thought on my first play through.

Further down the line, I think I left it play out a bit and I was sure I couldnt get out of the room unless I killed them.

As has been mentioned, the guy standing over the table with scalpel has to die but you can leave everyone else in the room alive.

Pickpocket · 06-12-2016 12:39am

One thing I'd be slightly concerned about is Ellie's melee and hand to hand combat. It wouldn't be realistic for her to be able to take on guys like Joel did. In the first game she was quite erratic and stabby so I'd be hoping for something more robust this time. Obviously she'll be a few years older but she still looks rather petit. I really enjoyed the physicality of the combat so I hope they find a way of maintaining that.

Evade · 06-12-2016 2:45am

Pickpocket wrote: »

One thing I'd be slightly concerned about is Ellie's melee and hand to hand combat. It wouldn't be realistic for her to be able to take on guys like Joel did. In the first game she was quite erratic and stabby so I'd be hoping for something more robust this time. Obviously she'll be a few years older but she still looks rather petit. I really enjoyed the physicality of the combat so I hope they find a way of maintaining that.

Jumping on their backs and stabbing them in the neck repeatedly worked well enough for her in the last game.

I hope they don't give her super powers.

Pickpocket · 06-12-2016 8:49am

Evade wrote: »

Jumping on their backs and stabbing them in the neck repeatedly worked well enough for her in the last game.

I hope they don't give her super powers.

They'll have to find the right balance.

bigphil2 · 06-12-2016 12:17pm

RasTa wrote: »

I think Joel is dead or will be killed off earlyish as he doesn't seem to have aged much although looks like maybe 8 or 9 years have passed.

Certainly expecting somethign dark, Is he(druckman) going down the Godfather route with the part II

I see they have female enemies but what about transgender?

https://abload.de/img/skrmbillede2016-12-036ea8m.png

i think Joel is Dead and Ellie is on the warpath for his killers and he will appear in her thoughts and possibly in flashbacks..

gimli2112 · 06-12-2016 12:18pm

this speculation is upsetting
Joel's not dead

Fox Hound · 06-12-2016 12:19pm

M!Ck^ wrote: »

http://screenrant.com/last-of-us-2-announcement-soon/

How wrong was this LOL

SolvableKnave · 06-12-2016 2:21pm

Encrypted Pigeon wrote: »

Im sure some of you have already checked out the trailer song, but I'll put it here anyway for those who haven't, cracking song.

Shawn James & The Shapeshifters - Through The Valley

It's a great track. For some reason when watching the reveal trailer, it reminded of When I Go by MacKenzie Dewolfe Howe from the Road to Paloma Soundtrack.

Penn · 07-12-2016 11:28am

Encrypted Pigeon wrote: »

Im sure some of you have already checked out the trailer song, but I'll put it here anyway for those who haven't, cracking song.

Shawn James & The Shapeshifters - Through The Valley

I have Ellie's version as an mp3 on my phone.

As good as the original might be, Ellie's version is the only version I want to hear.

On another note, I think people are reading too much into the trailer, including whether or not Joel looks older etc. It's entirely possible that that particular scene won't even be in the final game and was just something they did to announce the game and give an indication about the general story, the fact it's Joel and Ellie again and that Ellie is older, more badass etc.

I wouldn't take any of it as gospel or look for minor details etc. It'll likely be changed.

Pickpocket · 07-12-2016 12:44pm

Penn wrote: »

I think people are reading too much into the trailer, including whether or not Joel looks older etc. It's entirely possible that that particular scene won't even be in the final game and was just something they did to announce the game and give an indication about the general story

Exactly. As soon as I saw Eliie singing I thought to myself that it's likely only a promotional video.

kunst nugget · 07-12-2016 12:50pm

Pickpocket wrote: »

Exactly. As soon as I saw Eliie singing I thought to myself that it's likely only a promotional video.

It's actually going to be a Rock Band/TLOU hybrid. You kill your enemies by playing folk songs properly.

Penn · 07-12-2016 1:18pm

kunst nugget wrote: »

It's actually going to be a Rock Band/TLOU hybrid. You kill your enemies by playing folk songs properly.

Can't be worse than the Metal Gear Solid 3 pachinko machines

"There's room for only one Boss... and one Snake..."
HIT THE LEVER!

kunst nugget · 07-12-2016 1:21pm

Penn wrote: »

Can't be worse than the Metal Gear Solid 3 pachinko machines

"There's room for only one Boss... and one Snake..."
HIT THE LEVER!

Just wait until you get to the level where you have to kill the clickers with flamenco and castanets…

J Mysterio · 07-12-2016 1:44pm

Kirby wrote: »

As has been mentioned, the guy standing over the table with scalpel has to die but you can leave everyone else in the room alive.

Pretty sure I killed them all. A lot.

ItsHoggie · 07-12-2016 4:21pm

Penn · 07-12-2016 4:29pm

The cast did a live read of some of the scenes in the game with an orchestra a few years ago. One of the scenes was a new scene set after the game, where Joel (Troy Baker) brought a guitar into Ellie's room, sang Future Days by Pearl Jam, and gave the guitar to Ellie.

I don't think it was ever filmed though, so there's no footage of it.

Full synopsis of the scene under One Night Live
http://thelastofus.wikia.com/wiki/Joel

Zero-Cool · 07-12-2016 4:34pm

Seriously, if ye haven't watched TLOU One Night Live, definitely give it a go, brilliant watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAhT9gbmOtw

Evade · 07-12-2016 7:25pm

Penn wrote: »

On another note, I think people are reading too much into the trailer, including whether or not Joel looks older etc.

I read it's set five years after the first one so Joel might not look much different going from late forties to early fifties.

Zero-Cool · 07-12-2016 9:43pm

The panel from PSX

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK1n32PTgzo

Zero-Cool · 07-12-2016 10:42pm

And for any Ellie cosplayers

https://twitter.com/Neil_Druckmann/status/806592126976856064

ItsHoggie · 08-12-2016 12:31am

Zero-Cool wrote: »

And for any Ellie cosplayers

https://twitter.com/Neil_Druckmann/status/806592126976856064

I've love to be one of those dudes who looks into every detail for some sort of clues but I honestly don't have the attention span for it :pac: but anybody think that tattoo has a meaning? Besides the obvious.

Like black/white kinda like a ying yang symbol (good/bad), first game was about Love this one will be about Hate.

Osmosis Jones · 08-12-2016 12:35am

ItsHoggie wrote: »

I've love to be one of those dudes who looks into every detail for some sort of clues but I honestly don't have the attention span for it :pac: but anybody think that tattoo has a meaning? Besides the obvious.

Like black/white kinda like a ying yang symbol (good/bad), first game was about Love this one will be about Hate.

I'd like to know where someone gets a perfect tattoo 25 years into a zombie apocalypse.

Also anyone cosplaying as Ellie will just look like a dirty person in normal clothes.

YouSavedMyLife · 08-12-2016 12:57am

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

I'd like to know where someone gets a perfect tattoo 25 years into a zombie apocalypse.

Civilization rebuilds. Look at the place where Joel's brother settled down, looks like a pretty normal town. Plus we know they have access to electricity, plus maybe a member of the town was an artist with all his gear?

J Mysterio · 08-12-2016 1:49am

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

Also anyone cosplaying as Ellie will just look like a dirty person in normal clothes.

:pac:

Osmosis Jones · 08-12-2016 2:51am

YouSavedMyLife wrote: »

Civilization rebuilds. Look at the place where Joel's brother settled down, looks like a pretty normal town. Plus we know they have access to electricity, plus maybe a member of the town was an artist with all his gear?

Yeah I get that, it just seems super low priority to have a tattoo artist :pac:

Penn · 08-12-2016 11:26am

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

Yeah I get that, it just seems super low priority to have a tattoo artist :pac:

I'm more surprised Ellie's arm is exposed considering that's where her bitemark is. Surely it'd raise a lot of questions with people that she was bitten and survived.

kunst nugget · 08-12-2016 11:31am

Penn wrote: »

I'm more surprised Ellie's arm is exposed considering that's where her bitemark is. Surely it'd raise a lot of questions with people that she was bitten and survived.

Handy reason for her to get a tattoo to cover it up.

gimli2112 · 08-12-2016 11:32am

kunst nugget wrote: »

Handy reason for her to get a tattoo to cover it up.

She was bitten on her right arm
It's so sad I know this without having to look it up

kunst nugget · 08-12-2016 11:34am

gimli2112 wrote: »

She was bitten on her right arm
It's so sad I know this without having to look it up

Eh, em… people would be so distracted by the tattoo on her left arm that they wouldn't look at her right arm?

Evade · 08-12-2016 11:40am

kunst nugget wrote: »

Eh, em… people would be so distracted by the tattoo on her left arm that they wouldn't look at her right arm?

The tattoo is on the same arm as the bite. The butterfly part of the design might be on top of the bite to try cover it up.

The Last Of Us 2

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