The Last of Us Part II: Naughty Dog Goes Back to the Future (and Maybe Loses the Plot)
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Naughty Dog's gone and added a chronological mode to *The Last of Us Part II*, which sounds about as sensible as putting pineapple on pizza, and they've thrown in some *Uncharted* cosplay for good measure... because why not?
Right, so Naughty Dog's been tinkering again, and this time they've decided to mess with the very fabric of *The Last of Us Part II*. According to a recent announcement (and I'm quoting here), they've released a new mode that lets you play through the game's story in *chronological* order. I'm not kidding.
Now, I reckon most of us who've wrestled with that game know that its brilliance lies in its non-linear storytelling. Ellie and Abby's narratives weave and crash against each other like waves on a particularly grim, fungal-ridden beach. It’s a carefully constructed emotional rollercoaster, designed to punch you right in the feels…repeatedly.
But Naughty Dog, bless their cotton socks, apparently wondered, "What if we threw all that out the window?" Their own words state that the non-linear structure is "very intentional and core," but, fair dinkum, they *had* to know what it would be like chronologically. Like they needed to ask! It’s a bit like asking what happens if you put pineapple on a pizza… some things are just better left unasked (and undone, frankly).
According to them, this new mode will give players “even deeper insight” into the narrative. You'll see how Ellie being gifted a guitar leads to her learning to play (revolutionary, I know!). You’ll witness the “fascinating parallels” between Ellie and Abby's journeys in Seattle. I mean, yeah, fair enough...but at what cost? This is a bit like saying you'll gain a deeper understanding of a magic trick by watching it backwards. You might see *how* it’s done, but you lose the wonder, mate. You just do.
And the PlayStation marketing spiel? They practically apologize, admitting that the story is “meticulously put together” and gently suggest that newbies *don't* try this at home. Sounds ominous, doesn't it?
But wait, there's more! As if that wasn't enough chaotic energy, this update *also* lets Joel and Tommy dress up as Nathan Drake and Sully from *Uncharted*. Because nothing says "grief and trauma" quite like cosplaying as a wisecracking treasure hunter, eh? I can only imagine Ellie running around in a desert killing clickers with her Nathan Drake skin on.
Naughty Dog calls it “a fascinating new way to enjoy this chapter.” I call it…an experiment. A weird, slightly terrifying experiment. And I can't help but be a little bit excited to see how it all unfolds, even if it ends up a glorious, batshittedly unhinged mess. Maybe that’s the point. Maybe they’re trying to break the game to see what new, exciting thing comes from the depths. Or maybe, just maybe, they should focus on their rumored *Akira*-inspired space game. Just a thought.
Tags: The Last of Us, Naughty Dog, Gaming News, Storytelling, PlayStation
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun