Summary
- Roguelike games are tough for newcomers to grasp due to their challenging gameplay and lack of instructions, which can be overwhelming and off-putting.
- The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered addresses this issue by providing a beginner-friendly No Return mode that gradually introduces mechanics and tutorials, easing newcomers into the genre.
- The pacing and clear explanations in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's No Return mode make it an excellent option for players new to roguelike games, ensuring an enjoyable and accessible experience.
Taking its name from the 1980 game that popularized this particular style of gameplay, the roguelike genre is constantly evolving, but the same general premise has remained consistent for decades. Players are thrown into a "dungeon," where they'll fight enemies, upgrade gear, and keep on progressing until their untimely death. This is where the roguelike genre really stands out, as upon death, players are kicked all the way back to the start of the game, losing most of their weapons and upgrades. Though every roguelike game adds its own unique wrinkles, they all abide by this core concept, and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is no different.
A bit of a controversial remaster - with the original game releasing less than four years ago - The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered does bring its fair share of new content to the game, and its roguelike No Return mode is certainly the biggest and best offering. With 10 playable characters, 20 maps, and a decent variety of encounters, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's No Return mode is good value for money, and roguelike newcomers can enjoy every second of it.
The Last of Us Part 2's No Return Mode Is Tailor-Made for Roguelike Newcomers
The Roguelike Genre Can Be Unforgiving
By its very nature, the roguelike genre can be incredibly tough to break into for newcomers, especially those who don't really know what they're signing up for. Upon booting up a roguelike for the first time, players are usually thrust right into the action, and if they're not prepared for the onslaught of The Last of Us 2 enemies, they'll likely die pretty quickly. That can leave a pretty rough first impression on a newcomer.
This is all made ten times worse when the game doesn't provide specific instructions on what the player needs to do, how certain mechanics work, or even how the general structure of the genre works. Those newcomers who aren't put off instantly by their first death might give it another try, but if a roguelike doesn't explain itself well, then the overwhelming amount of information that players need to process during an average roguelike run might end up forcing them away regardless.
The Last of Us Part 2's No Return Eases Newcomers In
Thankfully, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered features one of the best beginner roguelike modes around, and it all comes down to the pacing of its progression. When starting The Last of Us Part 2's No Return mode, players are given just two playable characters to choose from. As they play through their first few encounters, players will be given some on-screen text tutorials that directly explain each and every mechanic in this roguelike mode, from encounter types and modifier to upgrade paths and challenges. But rather than bombard the player all at once with these tutorials, No Return paces them out fairly evenly, introducing these mechanics gradually over the course of about an hour of gameplay.
The more players progress through The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's No Return mode, the more they'll unlock, and for every new unlock there's always an accompanying tutorial message to briefly explain the new feature. While roguelike veterans can just skip these tutorials instantly and move right along, roguelike newcomers are sure to greatly appreciate not only the clear explainers, but also the gradual pace at which the game unfolds.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 90%
- Released
- January 19, 2024
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- The Last of Us
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
