Spoilers ahead for The Last of Us Part 2
Despite being a single-player narrative game, The Last of Us Part 2 has continued to show just how much post-launch content can still be added to the apocalyptic tale. The Last of Us Part 2 is now five years old, and in that time, Naughty Dog has made a new and improved version specifically for the PS5: The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered.
Since The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's launch, game modes like No Return have been included, adding to the longevity of the game after players finish the story. Now, a brand-new mode is being added. Naughty Dog recently revealed Chronological mode for The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. In this mode, players can experience Ellie and Abby's stories in chronological order instead of swapping back and forth. Not only will this make certain plot connections clearer, but it could also finally put a long-running controversy to rest: Abby's divisive role in the story.
Five Years Ago, Naughty Dog Took its Biggest Storytelling Risk Yet With The Last of Us Part 2
Five years ago, The Last of Us Part 2 was released, and with it, a bold and risky tale of revenge and its ultimate consequences.
Five Years Later, Abby Continues to Be a Controversial Addition to The Last of Us Part 2
Joel's Shocking End
The first hours of The Last of Us Part 2 pull the rug out from under players by killing off Joel. Golf club in hand, Abby beats Joel to death as Ellie watches on in horror. Joel's death still upsets many players, but even more so, Abby is the second playable character. After watching Abby kill Joel, players are forced to spend half of the game as her, and this didn't sit right with some fans at launch. To this day, Abby's role in the story can be a controversial topic, and Chronological mode can hopefully curb some of that initial negative feedback.
Of course, without Joel's death, the rest of the story and its ultimate lesson of the pitfalls of revenge can't be told, but for those who don't enjoy Abby's parts, Chronological mode allows them to spend their time with Ellie instead. The Last of Us Part 2's story is notoriously grueling, and for those who want to revisit it in a way that frames Abby more clearly as the villain, then Chronological mode may be an exciting addition to The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered.
Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann recently stepped away from the live-action HBO adaptation of The Last of Us.
Chronological Mode Can Still Benefit Those Who Enjoy The Last of Us Part 2 in Its Original State
The back-and-forth storytelling of The Last of Us Part 2 is an important tool to drive home the message that Abby and Ellie are two sides of the same coin, with neither side truly being bad nor good. The Last of Us Part 2 is constantly caught up in a world of moral gray areas, and the split narrative further showcases that.
However, for those who have already played through the game and what a more in-depth look into each side and how they continue to nearly overlap, Chronological mode intends to do just that. The official announcement on the PlayStation blog post states, "You’ll see just how close they come to running into each other, how their actions impact each other, and more." The first chapter of The Last of Us is known for its storytelling, and Chronological mode could help players break down each milestone in the second chapter, which could also alleviate criticisms of the story's pacing.
Naughty Dog's next project is Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
Naughty Dog Continues to Surprise
Between Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's Chronological mode, Naughty Dog has revealed a lot of secrets since Part 2 was released. It will be fascinating to see if the developer has even more surprise content in the pipeline for The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered this year, but only time will tell.
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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
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
