It's hard to talk about some of the greatest games of this generation without mentioning the absolute masterpiece that is The Last Of Us. The story of Joel and Ellie is masterfully told in every way, and it was clear that such an amazing title demanded a sequel, otherwise the fans would've been sent into an uproar.
This sequel was finally delivered by Naughty Dog this year in the form of The Last Of Us Part 2, which was released to a rather mixed reception. Critics and fans have wildly different opinions on this sequel, but there's no denying the fact that The Last Of Us Part 2 is a technical masterpiece that has shown just what the modern age of gaming is capable of doing.
Updated on July 31, 2022, by Ritwik Mitra: The Last of Us series features a duology of two games that took over the gaming world by storm when they were released. While the reception to The Last of Us Part 2 has been pretty divided, the first game was hailed as a masterpiece that players absolutely loved. Both titles are great in their own right, but there are certain aspects where one game overshadows the other. Keeping this in mind, here's an in-depth comparison of both games and where each title excels.
20 The Last Of Us Part 2: Great Attention To Detail
The Last of Us Part 2 shows just how far motion capture technology and graphical fidelity have come in modern times. The game looks absolutely gorgeous, with the amazing facial expressions of the characters making everything seem all the more real.
It also helps that the attention to detail for every environment is also incredible. Full-blown stories are present in the background of every area, and it's the player's choice whether they wish to check out these finer details for themselves or not.
19 The Last Of Us: The Evolution Of Joel And Ellie's Relationship
Joel and Ellie are two of the most likable video game characters of all time. A big part of why they have such an allure of their own is the amazing character development of them both and how it ties into their dynamic.
Joel is a jaded individual who finds it scary to get close to Ellie after what happened to his daughter. Meanwhile, Ellie is just looking for someone to rely on after the fate of the world was put on her shoulders. The way these two people get over their own personal demons and form an everlasting bond makes for a great time indeed.
18 The Last Of Us Part 2: Brilliantly Conveys The Brutality Of Combat
Combat has always been a strength of both games in the series. However, The Last of Us Part 2 stepped it up quite a bit when it came to conveying the brutality of fighting other humans.
Each enemy has their name, and other foes react emotionally to the death of their comrades. All of this combines to make combat way more intense, brutal, and conflicting than ever before, which is perfect for the themes that The Last of Us Part 2 wishes to convey.
17 The Last Of Us: Excellent DLC
The Last of Us was a brilliant game in its own right, but Naughty Dog didn't just stop there. They also released the Left Behind DLC for the game, which did a great job elaborating on what Ellie did when Joel was wounded, while also exploring her backstory.
The DLC is quite heartwarming and cements why Ellie is such a beloved character. Left Behind is a piece of the story that is almost critical to enjoying the overall experience of playing The Last of Us.
16 The Last Of Us Part 2: Stealth Gameplay Is Highly Immersive
It's only a given that technical advancements would lead to a game's sequel being better than its predecessor in terms of pure gameplay. However, the strides that The Last of Us Part 2 has taken should definitely be commended.
Stealth gameplay is a huge part of The Last of Us, and the sequel expands upon this even more. Players can go completely prone and slowly whittle down enemy groups as each member gets increasingly horrified by the shadows that haunt them.
15 The Last Of Us: Horror Elements
The second game focused too much on the theme of hate to make the zombies much of a threat. This meant the horror aspects were toned down in favor of the brutality of human nature. The first game was better in this regard as the zombies were made to be a force.
It also had the benefit of introducing these monsters, meaning players weren’t prepared to face them based on previous experience. The game also laid out environments where facing the hardest kinds of zombies could mean instant death, making these moments filled with tension.
14 The Last Of Us Part 2: Realistic Graphics
The passage of time obviously contributed to The Last of Us Part 2 being higher in terms of quality here, but the realism certainly was a thing of its own. The first game didn’t stand out among other games of its generation, which wasn’t the case with the sequel.
The Last of Us Part 2 is remarkable in making things out to be realistic, as character models not only look lifelike but also interact with one another this way. This is what enabled the gritty environment to come across that way.
13 The Last Of Us: Soundtrack
There’s a terrible beauty in exploring the world in the first The Last of Us, as the music that accompanies these moments truly sets the stage for heartstrings to be pulled. The second game had flashes of brilliance in this area but not the seamless nature of the first.
The original game didn’t take the soundtrack to high-octane levels, instead focusing on the dystopian world and how being in such a place would sound. Of course, the melancholic sequences have the right track playing in the background to capture the right emotional gut punch.
12 The Last Of Us Part 2: Better Villain
There was no one villain in The Last of Us, with several characters appearing infrequently to antagonize the characters. However, the second game had the theme of hate down so well that the lines between who the villain is supposed to become blurred.
Both Ellie and Abby can be considered the antagonist if viewed from each other’s point of view. This makes the villain aspect twofold for the game since there’s no real hero and only the choice of the player over who they want to favor.
11 The Last Of Us: Originality
The concept of the series was presented in the first game, and the second only built upon this. Things like the characters working together, the sequences where players have to navigate them during emotional moments, and the overall setting were introduced here.
The Last of Us Part 2 wouldn’t have felt as special had it been a different game, so it has the first game to thank for carrying forward this goodwill. Original aspects in gaming are what made The Last of Us stand out, and it remains this way even after the second title’s release.