Naughty Dog is known for their glorified storytelling and their masterful execution in gameplay, and their reputation is only met as their hit game, The Last of Us, released in 2013 finally released their long-awaited sequel.
Returning to post-apocalyptic America in a grueling, desolate landscape, players take on the role of 19-year-old Ellie as she struggles to survive in a waning, unforgiving North America. Fuelled by rage and spurred on by a greater vengeance, twenty-five years after the Cordyceps Brain Infection, players are set against new antagonists, and will need to make their own decisions.
Game and media critics have that have been graced by Naughty Dog to get their hands on the coveted sequel are filled with praise for The Last of Us Part 2.
“The Last of Us Part 2 is a masterpiece worthy of its predecessor. Taking strides forward in nearly every way, Ellie steps into the spotlight and carries the sequel in a manner that feels like the culmination of everything that’s made Naughty Dog’s blockbuster storytelling so memorable,” Jonathan Dornbush said in his review for IGN, “one of Part 2’s biggest achievements is how it knowingly handles the weighted expectations that a sequel to one of the most heralded game stories of all time will inevitably carry with fans.”
Other game critics are just as eager to match Dornbush’s enthusiasm for the game, chomping at the bit to positively uplift Naughty Dog’s reputation. Josh Harmon for EGM was quick to say that “Whether or not you consider The Last of Us Part II to be a worthwhile continuation of Joel and Ellie’s story, there’s no doubt that Naughty Dog has crafted a sequel that’s every bit as ambitious and well-considered as the original, with quite possibly the best stealth-action gameplay realized to date.”
Even international audiences are jumping on the bandwagon as the response to Naughty Dog’s recent release is sung with overwhelming glory. “Naughty Dog has given the PlayStation 4 a phenomenal swan song. The gameplay may be more of the same, but the amazing story and incredibly detailed world make up for that big time! The Last of Us Part II comes close to perfection. A must-have, beyond doubt,” Door Lennard Verhage said for PSX-Sense.
Dubbed as a true treasure and heralded as a triumph for the ages, the reviews for The Last of Us Part 2 overflow with rich accolades. The ovation in which the game is subject to is deserved as its complex plots entangle captive audiences and draw players back into the universe that’s been dangled above our heads for five years.