There are many zombie survival games on the market right now, but it’s hard to beat The Last of Us. It came out years ago, but even still, it never fails to get a positive reaction from the gaming community. Everyone is stoked about the sequel, The Last of Us Part 2. It’s picking up a couple of years later after the original.
Joel and Ellie are much more mature now, even hardened by the trials and tribulations of the zombie apocalypse they’ve had to endure. They have come out on the other side changed, and it doesn’t seem like things are going to be any easier for them in this sequel. The enemies in this upcoming installment — which is set to release in February of next year — seem much more difficult. Their AI has significantly been improved by the developers at Naughty Dog. There are also new threats — such as Wolves.
That doesn’t mean Naughty Dog is just going to leave you hanging, though. Apparently this time around, Ellie will receive a lot of help from the companions she meets along the way through her journey. According to co-director Anthony Newman, spending time with allies and being alone will be pretty balanced.
That’s important to hear because walking around the zombie-ridden lands with just Ellie or Joel can seem very lonesome. You sometimes need an ally to converse with, but even more importantly to receive help from. The allies in this game won’t just be sitting ducks when the crap hits the fan. No. They will — in fact — have their very own intricate melee system. It will come in handy when multiple threats approach your position. Allies will also be able to perform stealth kills, which should even the playing field a bit in terms of the more difficult enemy AI.
Like most allies do in video games, they’ll be able to heal your character if you get downed in action. Thus, you’ll have more than one chance to get through difficult sections. This is great to see. There are just some aspects in The Last of Us that take a bit of getting used to. At least with an ally, you’ll have a better shot at having success.
The Last of Us Part 2 is shaping up to be just as good — if not better — than the original. The combat system seems more in-depth, as do the environments you’ll get to explore. It certainly has a great shot at living up to the hype.
