The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is a wierd mix. On one hand, it’s a very good excuse to revisit Digital Trends’ 2020 Game of the Year choice. On the opposite, it’s a weird bundle stuffed with tone-deaf bonus modes that water down the bottom sport’s personal message on cyclical violence. Considering that it’s not as a lot of a “remaster” as its title implies, I wouldn’t blame most gamers for skipping it.
There is, nevertheless, one good motive to verify the bundle out. The new launch comprises an intensive commentary monitor that includes the sport’s forged, inventive director Neil Druckmann, and others. It’s a number of hours value of perception that performs over practically each single cinematic within the journey, and it typically offers some illuminating info on the venture. It’ll provide help to higher perceive the nuances of particular scenes and the way actors approached their characters.
What’s most fascinating, although, is how a lot the commentary reveals about Naughty Dog’s authentic concepts for the venture. The Last of Us Part 2 was nearly a really totally different sport, from its forged to its closely reworked ending. If you’re not seeking to spend cash on an inessential rerelease, listed below are a few of the juiciest tidbits we present in the complete commentary monitor.
This article comprises spoilers for The Last of Us Part 2.
Seattle was constructed because of Infamous: Second Son
Sucker Punch
While there are a number of story particulars to unpack, essentially the most stunning truth is a little bit of behind-the-scenes trivia. Commentary reveals that the model of Seattle that Naughty Dog created for the sport was truly primarily based on Infamous: Second Son, one other Sony sport set within the metropolis. The crew confirms that developer Sucker Punch gave Naughty Dog entry to its Seattle map when it began growth. From there, Naughty Dog started snipping out sections that it might flip into centered ranges. Obviously, the postapocalyptic model of the town in The Last of Us Part 2 may be very totally different from what’s in Infamous, however the bones of the latter constructed the previous.
Abby nearly had a distinct voice
Naughty Dog
Voice actress Laura Bailey has a alternative position in The Last of Us Part 2, bringing Abby to life. It’s arduous to think about anybody else within the position right this moment, however there was nearly a actuality the place she wasn’t within the sport. Druckmann confirms throughout one snippet that the staff didn’t wish to forged Laura Bailey for the position initially. Naturally, that call modified and she or he was chosen for the position ultimately, however there’s an alternate timeline the place another person has the honors of voicing Abby.
The golf membership scene nearly seemed very totally different
Naughty Dog
The total commentary monitor by means of the scene the place Joel meets his premature demise on the enterprise finish of a golf membership is value listening to for just a few causes. Not solely does it present some uncooked reactions from the forged, however the staff reveals two methods it was nearly very totally different. One’s simply an modifying choice. The model within the remaining sport occurs over the course of 1 steady shot. It’s an efficient trick that we nearly missed out on, as an early model had a number of cuts. Also notable is that Druckmann and firm tweaked when Ellie arrives through the scene. An authentic draft had her getting into the room after Joel was already useless, nevertheless it was modified to ensure Ellie received there in time to witness the brutal killing and be extra correctly motivated by it.
It was nearly 5 days as an alternative of three
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The Last of Us Part 2 includes a memorable construction, as we spend three days in Seattle taking part in as Ellie after which rewind and play those self same three days from Abby’s perspective. Commentary reveals that the sport was nearly for much longer, chronicling 5 days as an alternative. The further time would come with a day the place Ellie travels to Scar Island and digs into the tradition of its inhabitants. That part was finally minimize as a result of Naughty Dog felt it didn’t shift Ellie’s journey. Considering how lengthy the ultimate sport already is, chopping again a few days looks like the proper name ultimately.
We nearly had Ghost Joel
Naughty Dog
The crew discusses a number of concepts that by no means made the minimize over the hours of commentary, however there’s one which’ll make you say, “Thank God that was cut.” The staff confirms that the unique thought was to have a ghost model of Joel that popped up often to speak to Ellie. Presumably, that was constructed as a method to hold the favored character within the sport after his dying. Thankfully, Druckmann acknowledged that the concept was “too campy” and left it on the chopping room flooring.
The authentic ending was radically totally different
Naughty Dog
The greatest revelation within the commentary monitor issues the sport’s ending, which was nearly solely totally different. For one, an authentic draft would see Lev dying along with Yarra. That element was modified after the staff noticed the early chemistry behind Lev and Abby’s actors. Even extra stunning, although, is that Abby was additionally alleged to die initially. Ellie would full her revenge quest within the authentic script, efficiently drowning Abby as an alternative of stopping on the final second. Those two modifications will possible change the course of The Last of Us Part 3, so it’s a fairly main swerve.
Ellie’s ending was nearly very totally different, too — particularly when it got here to the destiny of her hand. In the ultimate model, Abby chomps a few of Ellie’s fingers off of their remaining encounter. While Ellie was at all times going to finish the sport maimed, the tactic by which that occurred was nearly totally different. One draft merely had a guardian of a random NPC that Ellie killed assault her in a city close to the tip. It would have been an sudden act of violence that confirmed how deep the violence cycle had unfold.
Other modifications had been extra delicate. The present sport ends with Ellie returning dwelling after her struggle with Abby to search out Dina has moved out. An authentic model of the ending had Ellie returning to a very empty dwelling, however Naughty Dog frightened that gamers would assume one thing horrible occurred to Dina within the course of. Then there’s the very remaining flashback, the place Ellie and Joel tentatively reconcile. The authentic imaginative and prescient for the scene had the 2 hugging, however the staff finally felt just like the characters weren’t fairly there but. The lack of a bodily reconciliation would rob Ellie of only a bit extra closure, additional fueling her trauma over Joel’s dying. All of this is able to have made the ending really feel solely totally different, however Naughty Dog’s justifications for the modifications make sense when trying on the remaining product. We can no less than relaxation straightforward understanding that we didn’t have to fulfill ghost Joel.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is offered now on PlayStation 5.
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