Review of The Last of Us 2: the best thing that happened to the PlayStation 4 (no spoilers)

Making a big-budget, super-violent video game about the ill effects of violence is a bold move. It is rather difficult to convey the necessary shades and subtext when the photorealistic world is full of virtual remains of killed opponents, and the clothes of the main character have long taken on a crimson color due to the blood of other people. However, The Last of Us Part II has overcome all these difficulties and is sure to become a PS4 flagship of sorts.

If the original 2013 game was at heart a story of undeniable parental care and the sacrifices we are willing to make for our children, the equally powerful and chic sequel shows the reverse side of the coin, talks about hatred and asks the question: if revenge is achieved at any cost, what will eventually happen to those who decide to pay it?

It's almost impossible to delve into the details of the game without tripping over some spoiler. Therefore, let's limit ourselves to the fact that Ellie will encounter something monstrous in the introduction. Then, as if by a click, her worldview will change. And so begins a 25-hour dive into the heart of darkness (rain-swept Seattle), reminiscent by every inch of the creations of Joseph Conrad (the book "Heart of Darkness") and Francis Coppola (the film "Apocalypse Now", based on Conrad's book).

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cluthe difference is that you are a direct participant in what is happening. The victims of Ellie's murderous odyssey fall from your hands (with which you control her hands). The developer from Naughty Dog uses all sorts of mechanics to make the player feel the blood on their hands. These mechanics and tricks differ in scale: for example, ordinary opponents address each other by name, which certainly strengthens their humanity; or more disturbing gimmicks that are reminiscent of genre-defining moments from games like Bioshock and SpecOps: The Line.

Combat in The Last of Us Part II is beyond brutal. So far away that sometimes you will catch yourself thinking that this or that death is actually groundless. Director Neil Druckman will argue (and he will be right) that this level of realism is important for the player to fully understand the consequences of their actions, while most deaths can be avoided due to the stealth mechanic.

The game camera often lingers on blood trails, creating a voyeuristic feel. And despite significant improvements to stealth elements, the large clusters of opponents that Ellie must pass by often makebloodshed is inevitable. In fact, some of the battles of the last two hours of the story would have been more suitable for Uncharted, another series from the same studio.

Battles are only half the story. The actual storytelling in The Last of Us Part II is exceptional, building on and improving on the techniques learned and applied in the original game, and subsequently honed in the great DLC. Probably the most memorable moments of this expansion were those in which nothing really happened. Likewise, the sequel shines much brighter at more mundane moments: when Ellie, chatting with her companions, makes her way through the wreckage of our civilization; or in the often delightful flashback sequences used to reveal characters and their motives rather than expel the flesh of adversaries.

Naughty Dog plays with mood masterfully, but despite the intensity it generates (and the fact that much of the sequel feels like a full-length horror film), one of the most memorable levels is the initial introduction to Seattle and the incredible experience of exploring vast territories, which came largely from experimenting with Madagascar in the world of Uncharted 4.

None of this would be plausible—or even possible—without the world-building, animation, and performance excellence that has long made Naughty Dog one of the game industry's leading developers. Earlier this year, there were disturbing reports of labor code violations at Naughty Dog's headquarters, but whether they're true or not, this obsession with every pixel is more fascinating than repulsive.

Just as the original The Last of Us became something of a watermark for previous generation consoles, the sequel will remain one of the most memorable moments of the PlayStation 4 era.

In fact, Last of Us Part II may even surpass its predecessor. Despite the obvious lack of what was new to us in the original game, instead the sequel tries to flirt with us through the characters and their backstories. And while things may feel a bit erratic towards the end, The Last of Us 2 will eventually pack an emotional punch that you'll feel even after the end credits roll.