The Last of Us Part II had been the hot topic for half the community, courtesy of a surprise update from Naughty Dog. A new “chronological mode” of sorts allows players to go straight down the timeline of both Ellie and Abby’s stories, totally against what the original intention of the game was: non-linear narrative. And yes, it comes as a free update; no need for microtransactions or remasters, just a new way to revisit one of the mainstreamly divisive games of recent memory.
No leaks, no leads, just a sudden release; that chill atmosphere still defines Naughty Dog. From that point on, the player can enable an option to go through all events in the actual timeline of the game. Gone are the days of perspective hopping; day one is day one all the way through to the bitter end of trauma. Some fans believe @isaiahgamer65 it will be pretty interesting seeing the story felt differently straight through, others like @DanMcG96 view it as, “nah one playthrough was enough thanks.”
The vibes of the reactions across Twitter would reverberate mixed. The hype @Zer01neDev puts behind this is almost unparalleled by the sarcastic lament @thatbluenumber has about the story, “Nothing can save that game from itself.” A typical TLOU2 discourse indeed. Some players @theInfamousIan, however: it “should’ve been in the original,” whereas @CosmicGirlWorld is opening up comparisons to Alan Wake’s narrative structure.
The crazy bit is that almost everyone says they’re gonna replay because of this update. @fokalizer stated, besides liking the flow of the original, there’s a curiosity to try it out. @Azwilko1997 commented along those lines, “I haven’t bought the remaster yet, but this might just push me over the edge.” Meanwhile, @HydroRayz maintains, “Am I cooked for wanting to get back in on this when it drops?” The answer is: probably! But hey, count me in anyway.
The update clearly speaks to a set of questions for the whole realm of game storytelling. @rodas_teran views that chronologically might fix pacing by putting the slower parts upfront; @MeliMor2001 is rather convinced that the non-linear structure was the crux to the experience, and that the chronological version is “doesn’t work at all.” That is to say, from all indications, Naughty Dog is clearly betting there is a big enough audience willing to see how the sausage gets made timeline-wise to justify paying for the development effort.
Certainly not a throwaway patch. Naughty Dog still supporting TLOU2 years later means they’re not done with that universe. With the rumors about Factions 2 @MobAllMight couldn’t resist dropping, it feels as though Sony favorite studio is looking at the long haul. I mean, you can either love or hate Part II, and I think you have to concede unto this commitment of vision.
