The Last of Us 2 Interesting Details in The Lost Levels, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Gameplay, Development, and More
by T Santhosh
Updated Jan 25, 2024
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered
"The Last of Us Part II Remastered" is an upgraded version of the original 2020 game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. This third-person action-adventure survival horror video game is designed for the PlayStation 5, bringing various improvements to visuals and technology. Released on January 19, 2024, the remastered edition offers players a more polished and enhanced gaming experience.
One of the key features of the remastered version includes new modes and additional content. Developer commentaries are another noteworthy addition, providing insights into the making of the game. This feature allows players to gain a deeper understanding of the choices and challenges faced by the development team, offering a unique perspective on the creative journey behind "The Last of Us Part II Remastered." In addition to gameplay enhancements, the remastered edition focuses on improving accessibility options. The developers have expanded accessibility features, making the game more inclusive and enjoyable for a wider audience.
The Last of Us 2 Interesting Details in The Lost Levels
In The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, the Lost Levels offer a fascinating peek into the game's development process. These levels, initially unfinished and shared by Naughty Dog's Neil Druckman, showcase early ideas and concepts that didn't make it into the final game. With the addition of developer commentary, players gain a deeper understanding of the creative decisions behind the scenes. It's like a backstage pass, revealing cut story moments and gameplay elements that almost made it, providing a unique and insightful perspective into the world of AAA game development.
Carnival Memories with Ellie
In The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's Lost Levels, players get a glimpse into Ellie's past during a party in Jackson. One notable scene involves Ellie winning JJ's toy at a carnival game where she plays a milk bottle game. This mini-game not only showcases the throwables mechanic used for explosives but also highlights a lighter side of Ellie's life before her vengeful quest.
Clicker-Inspired Childhood Games
Another interesting detail in the Lost Levels is a scrapped game where Ellie pretends to be a Clicker, playing with a group of kids in Jackson. This twisted version of Marco Polo emphasizes the child-like innocence amidst a brutal world. Although this game didn't make it to the final version, it illustrates the impact of growing up with Clickers on the games played in the relatively safe environment of Jackson.
Cat, Ellie's Past Connection
Cat, Ellie's ex-girlfriend, makes an appearance in the Lost Levels, offering a glimpse into Ellie's history in Jackson. Cat, the artist who designed Ellie's tattoo, is seen doing face painting. Despite their disconnected post-breakup relationship, this inclusion provides insights into Ellie's past and her connections within the community.
Echoes of PTSD
Ellie's persistent PTSD is highlighted in the Lost Levels, specifically in the Seattle Sewers. As players traverse through the sewer tunnels, Ellie encounters a dead Clicker, and its face transforms into Joel's. This haunting visual emphasizes Ellie's struggle to overcome the traumatic events of Joel's death, showcasing the toll her quest for revenge takes on her mental and emotional well-being.
Joel's Coat: A Silent Reminder
In the third Lost Level, titled "The Hunt," players witness Ellie wearing Joel's coat. This detail, not present in the main game, serves as a poignant reminder of Joel's absence and the impact of his death on Ellie. Despite their strained relationship, Ellie cannot let go of Joel, and this small but significant detail adds emotional depth to the narrative.
Symbolic Boar Hunt
The final Lost Level involves Ellie embarking on a boar hunt, referencing her journal entry. This sadistic hunt brings up Ellie's PTSD, as the boar's screams trigger memories of Joel's screams during his brutal death. The hunt becomes a symbolic representation of Ellie's unhealed wounds, emphasizing that the peace she seeks with Dina is elusive, and the presence of Joel's killer continues to haunt her.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Gameplay
"The Last of Us Part II Remastered" offers an engaging gameplay experience similar to its original release on the PlayStation 4. In this action-adventure game with survival horror elements, players navigate a post-apocalyptic world from a third-person perspective. The remastered version, designed for the PlayStation 5, brings a visual upgrade with improved graphics, featuring native 4K output in Fidelity Mode and 1440p upscaled to 4K in Performance Mode for compatible displays. The game also introduces an unlocked framerate option for displays supporting Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), enhancing overall visual fidelity with increased texture resolution, improved shadow quality, animation sampling rate, and more.
Leveraging the advanced capabilities of the PlayStation 5, the remastered edition boasts improved loading times and takes advantage of the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers integrated into the DualSense wireless controller. Accessibility options have been expanded, offering features like descriptive audio and a speech-to-vibration feature, allowing players to feel character speech and cadence through the controller. Additionally, the game introduces new modes, including the challenging No Return mode with roguelike elements, featuring randomized encounters and multiple playable characters. Another mode, Guitar Free Play, lets players enjoy the standalone version of the guitar minigame, offering various instruments and customization options.
Ready to level up your knowledge of games? Fresherslive's games article is the perfect place to start. Get insights, tips, and reviews in a simple and easy-to-understand format and check out all the trending games.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Development
"The Last of Us Part II Remastered" underwent development by the talented team at Naughty Dog, a renowned game development studio. The remastered edition was officially announced on November 17, 2023, with Naughty Dog revealing it as an exclusive title for the PlayStation 5, building anticipation among fans. The release date was set for January 19, 2024, and pre-orders started on December 5 of the same year.
Notably, two retail editions were offered to players: the Standard Edition containing the base game and a special W.L.F. Edition. The latter included a SteelBook display case, four enamel pins, a Washington Liberation Front patch, and a set of 47 Society of Champions trading cards, featuring eight limited edition holographic cards. Additionally, Naughty Dog showcased a thoughtful approach to player transition, allowing owners of the original PS4 version of "The Last of Us Part II" to digitally download the remastered game on a PS5 for just $10 USD.
This move aimed to ensure a smooth upgrade for existing players, even enabling the import of their save files onto the remastered version. However, physical copy owners needed a PS5 with an optical drive, and they were required to insert their PS4 disc into the PS5 for downloading or playing the remastered version.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Trailer
The Last of Us 2 Interesting Details in The Lost Levels - FAQs
The Lost Levels offer insights into the game's development, showcasing cut scenes and concepts with developer commentary.
Ellie's Carnival Adventure shows a lighter side of her life before her vengeful quest, featuring a mini-game with JJ's toy at a carnival in Jackson.
Cat, Ellie's ex-girlfriend and tattoo artist, appears in the Lost Levels, offering insights into Ellie's history and connections in Jackson.
Ellie's persistent PTSD is emphasized in the Lost Levels, with a haunting visual in the Seattle Sewers linking a dead Clicker's face to Joel's, showcasing the toll of her quest for revenge.
In the Lost Levels' third segment titled "The Hunt," Ellie wearing Joel's coat serves as a poignant reminder of Joel's absence, adding emotional depth to the narrative and emphasizing the impact of his death on Ellie.