Top 10 Things to Remember Before Playing The Last of Us 2

The opening level of “The Last of Us” is now one of gaming’s most infamous. 20 years before the game’s events, Joel loses his daughter Sarah. It’s entirely heartbreaking. But it sets the mood for the game as well as Joel’s character arc with Ellie. Sarah’s death was felt intensely during every argument between the two or every time Joel guarded his feelings from Ellie. Given that the sequel will follow a more adult Ellie 5 years later, it will be interesting to see if the strained father/daughter dynamic is still intact. Trailers have made the pair seem a bit estranged, though there are plenty of reasons as to why that could be.

“The Last of Us” is packed with plenty of shocking moments, though not many were more alarming than the deaths of Sam and Henry. Players encountered these brothers in Pittsburgh and spent more time with them than other characters. But when an infected Sam was put down by Henry, the elder brother took his life out of grief. It was an important wake up call for players that happiness in this world is all too brief. It’s also a message for Part II. Death and sorrow wait around every corner, so you might want to be careful about which characters you get attached to.

To combat the rapidly spreading infection, the Federal Disaster Response Agency and US military set up quarantine zones in many major cities. Over the course of time, many of these areas fell to infected or citizen uprisings. And with the oppressive military at constant war with the radical Fireflies, Joel’s quarantine zone in Boston didn’t seem much safer than the outside world. These problematic homes are some of the only links to former society. It’s unclear if we’ll see any still under government control in the sequel. It’s set only five years later, so it’s likely. But we also wouldn’t be surprised if their complete failure pointed towards humanity slipping further and further from what it once was.

Bill is by far the most hostile friendly to accompany players in “The Last of Us.” He’s rude, sets traps, and lives alone so as not to get attached to others. But he’s also one of the only characters to make it out alive. So we can’t help but wonder if his philosophy is right. Is it safer to be alone in this world? Is it better living a bitter, solitary existence? Trailers for Part II have focused on various communities, though it’s always possible we’ll see someone like him again. With his apparent survival, we could also see him pop up in the sequel. But with his way of life, that seems unlikely.

Similar to how Sam and Henry should warn players about getting attached in Part II, this character should warn about trusting anyone. With Joel injured, Ellie meets David, a seemingly kind man who helps her fight off a horde of infected. But he’s soon revealed to be the leader of a cannibalistic group after he kidnaps Ellie. Her escape is one of the most traumatic events in a long list of terrible experiences. His community was far from the only aggressive group of humans players came across. However, his soft-spoken deception made the villainous reveal feel all the more personal. We all better be on our toes in Part II.

“The Last of Us” ends with Joel and Ellie returning to Tommy’s commune in Jackson, Wyoming and it’s the opening setting for the sequel. While there is a shootout here in the first game, it’s the only community that isn’t completely ravaged by the player or some other force. Trailers have shown that they’ve grown substantially during the five-year-gap. With work to be done and relationships formed, it may be the closest thing Ellie has had to a home. However, a press demo last year featured Ellie rescuing a captured Tommy from a xenophobic and militaristic group in Seattle. But it’s unclear if the commune falls or if something happens to Tommy’s wife. Just remember what we said about getting attached.

While Ellie only mentions Riley in the main game, she plays a critical role in the “Left Behind” DLC as well as the tie-in comic, “American Dreams.” Riley is Ellie’s best friend/love interest who joins the Fireflies only to get bitten with Ellie. It’s the tragic event that causes Ellie to realize she’s immune to the infection’s symptoms. As she’s fairly young, we can assume Riley is the first person that Ellie develops real feelings for. Part II will introduce a more prominent love interest, Dina. But will she be the first person Ellie allows herself to have feelings for since Riley’s demise? And will Riley’s fate impact how Ellie chooses to move forward with Dina?

The Cordyceps Brain Infection differentiates itself from other zombie viruses by showcasing naturally progressive stages. Stage 1 Runners are produced incredibly quickly after being bitten or inhaling spores. Stage 2, or Stalkers, happens after a week of infection with the fungus beginning to grow on the outside of the host’s head. The game’s main infected enemy, Stage 3 Clickers, are produced after a year of exposure. They’ve developed echolocation due to the fungus completely blinding them. Years must pass before the infected reach Stage 4. Bloaters have fungal plates growing over their entire body, which act as armor. We’ll likely see all these Stages in Part II, but the new Shambler shows environmental factors can also play a part in the infection’s progression.

The game’s explosive finale ends with Joel killing a group of Fireflies and their leader Marlene in order to save Ellie. Marlene’s numbers were dwindling beforehand. And although she was their leader, it’s unlikely that these were the last remaining members. Before Sam and Henry’s deaths, they were on their way to join the Fireflies. With people still willing to fight for their cause, it wouldn’t be surprising if the group showed back up in the sequel. If they know what Joel did, they might come looking for revenge. Or they might hunt down Ellie to continue their search for a cure.

Joel’s decision to kill the Fireflies and lie to Ellie about the possibility of a cure is one of the most fascinating and morally gray endings in modern games. It’s also the one element guaranteed to impact the plot of Part II the most. The estranged dynamic between Ellie and Joel in the trailers could point towards Ellie knowing the truth. Or we could see her learn over the course of the game. Co-directors Kurt Margenau and Anthony Newman stated Ellie’s tattoo is meant to cover up her bite mark, so she definitely doesn’t want people to know she’s immune. Joel and Ellie’s relationship is what carries “The Last of Us.” And we can’t wait to see how Joel’s lie has put that at risk.