Summary
- Endgame content in video games is often tailored to the genre, with open-world RPGs offering side quests and linear games incorporating mini-games or DLC.
- Resident Evil games have a popular mini-game called The Mercenaries, where players kill hordes of enemies to earn points and rewards.
- The Last of Us franchise, known for its serious and narrative-driven gameplay, has yet to focus on endgame content, but a mode like The Mercenaries could add replayability to the series and further highlight its stellar combat.
After the main story of a game concludes, developers often include endgame activities to keep players engaged even after their playthrough ends. The form of endgame often depends on the title's genre, like open-world RPGs going with side quests that are playable in tandem with the main story or unlocked only when the central plot quests are complete. More linear games often go with a mini-game of some sort, possibly in the form of a DLC. When it comes to more action-focused shooter games like Resident Evil, the mini-games often involve players killing hordes of enemies in different stages, increasing their points and rewards as they progress.
Call of Duty and Resident Evil follow the arcade formula with a zombie mode in Call of Duty and The Mercenaries in Resident Evil, where players have to survive hordes of zombies, albeit with different mechanics in the two franchises. The Last of Us is a series that has yet to focus on post-game content since The Last of Us' Factions multiplayer mode in 2013. In light of this absence, perhaps Naughty Dog could implement a game mode similar to The Mercenaries in Resident Evil.
Mercenaries Could Add Some Spice to The Last of Us
The Last of Us follows the story of Joel, Ellie, and Abby as they struggle to survive the post-apocalyptic world they've been thrown in, all while building normal relationships amongst the chaos. The gameplay reflects the game's tone of realism with a focus on survival and stealth mechanics, as most stages of the game are impossible to complete with a gun-blazing approach, unlike other post-apocalyptic games. This serious disposition is the primary reason Naughty Dog has been hesitant to include other forms of gameplay in the franchise since Factions. On the other hand, although Resident Evil has a similarly strong emphasis on resource management and strategic gameplay, it has always embraced a more campy and action-packed experience.
Players come up against various types of creatures, including zombies, mutants, and bio-organic weapons in Resident Evil games, and this fast-paced gameplay has led to multiple arcade mini-games in the Resident Evi l iterations, from co-op Raid Mode to wacky Tofu Survivor and the beloved Mercenaries Mode. While Tofu Survivor won't exactly fit into The Last of Us' serious theme, a mode similar to The Mercenaries might have a place in the franchise. The Mercenaries has been a recurring mini-game since Resident Evil 3, and fans have had a place for it in their hearts since its introduction. Mercenary mode involves players using characters from the main game - either heroes or villains - and killing hordes of enemies to earn as many points as possible within a time limit.
In the recent Resident Evil 4 Remake, after killing a certain amount of enemies, a goal would spawn, and gamers could progress to the next level. The various characters available have different traits and playstyles, and unlocking them may involve reaching a certain rank with a previously unlocked character. Similarly to The Mercenaries mode, a hypothetical mini-game in The Last of Us could involve players using different in-game characters to survive against a horde of inflected for a certain amount of time. A character like Tommy, who is not playable in the main story, could have skills centered around his sniping abilities. The brawny Abby could power up her strength, putting her into a frenzy mode and allowing her to perform barehanded takedowns faster.
The yet-to-be-titled multiplayer game Naughty Dog has been working on could be an ideal home for a mode like the Mercenaries mode from Resident Evil. However, a Mercenaries-style could fit into a singleplayer The Last of Us game just as easily, serving as an enjoyable bonus mode for fans of the series.