Naughty Dog’sThe Last of Usis one of those games that truly nail each and every aspect of storytelling; from the character’s motives and psychology, to the causality of things and how every event can have an impact on people. This deep approach makes bothThe Last of UsandThe Last of Us Part 2very intense games, and not just because of what happens in the story, but also how alive and dangerous the world feels. All these things combined make for a unique experience that immerses the players in a violent world full of stunning landscapes, where survival is paramount, and so is one’s humanity or the loss of it.
The events ofThe Last of Ustell the story of an emotionally stunted man who lost too much to allow himself to care and feel once again. All the while, a young girl who wants to see the world and escape her own reality because she’s too mature for her age. Joel and Ellie find each other and grow together on their journey, where they have to build trust and understand themselves. This carries over intoThe Last of Us 2’s prologue, before the story takes a very dark turn. This is important because what glues together the first and the second game is this complex mix; the wayThe Last of Us Part 2ends is enough to warrant a third chapter in the series, which could come much sooner than some might think.
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Why The Last of Us Part 3 Should Come Before The Last of Us' Remake
Work onThe Last of Usbegan in 2009, back when Naughty Dog had just releasedUncharted 2: Among Thieves, and was about to start development onUncharted 3: Drake’s Deception.The Last of Uswas eventually released in 2013 for PS3, and it was soon praised as a great game that offered a lot in terms of gameplay, soundtrack, narrative, and even the way it depicts female characters. Overall, Naughty Dog’s action-adventure survival horror was and still is considered one of the best video games ever made, and rightfully so.
Of course, the graphics and world-building inThe Last of Uswere considered to be innovative back then. However, consoles have evolved and come a long way since 2013, with each new platform being an upgrade compared to its predecessor. This means thatThe Last of Usis a very different game fromThe Last of Us Part 2, not because the story and characters are, but because there has been a new peak of performance and graphics.
Maybe this is the reason why a remake forThe Last of Uson PS5seems so plausible, and there are several reports claiming its in the works, so that same critically acclaimed game could be experienced fresh. The upgrade from the PS4 is outstanding because the PS5 is a powerhouse, which has lightning-fast loading times, incredible performance, and graphics, making it the perfect environment to reboot a franchise or release remakes. However, it could also be the perfect platform to launchThe Last of Us Part 3.
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The Last of Us Part 3: the Evolution of Consoles and the Game’s Story
With the first game on PS3, and the second on PS4, it would only make sense for Naughty Dog to releaseThe Last of Us Part 3for PS5, providing fans of the series with a far deeper sense of progression than just that of the story. Experiencing the trilogy across three different consoles, each more powerful than the previous one, could provide a very unique experience. What the PS5 has to offer shouldn’t go towards a remake ofThe Last of UsbeforePart 3is ever released.
With the Dual Sense controllers and thehaptic feedback, playingThe Last of Us Part 3on the PS5 could be an even more intense experience. There’s always a sense of dread in bothThe Last of UsandThe Last of Us Part 2because they are, at their very core, horror games that are meant to make players feel uneasy about what could happen. Combining Naughty Dog’s great work on sound design forThe Last of Uswith the immersive setting and haptic feedback would make a new game in the series all the more compelling to play.
Furthermore, as far as the story is concerned,The Last of Us Part 2ends Ellie’s arc in a very bitter and sad way. After losing Joel, and then Dina and her baby because of her own desire for revenge, Ellie did end up with way less than when the game started. She lost her family, her father figure, the support she had, and even two fingers — all because she couldn’t get out of a vicious cycle of violence, loss, and thirst for revenge.
One ofThe Last of Us Part 2’s last scenessees Ellie trying to play guitar, but the instrument is out of tune, and so is she. It was Joel who taught her how to play, and she now has to learn to live her own life, and live with the choices she made, no matter where they led her over time. But Dina and JJ are still out there, and so is Tommy.
The Last of Us Part 3could pick up where the second game left things, but this time making Ellie’s journey about something more meaningful, sort of mirroringTommy’s journey, and in a way Joel’s too. There could also be room to continue the story of Abby and Lev, who in the end left for Catalina Island where the Fireflies are, meaning thatThe Last of Us Part 2’s deuteragonist’s arc could come full circle inPart 3.
Regardless, it’s worth noting that Neil Druckmann confirmed that he wrote the outline for whatthe story ofThe Last of Us Part 3would be, and he would love to tell it with a new game. As such, no matter the direction the story will take, but what matters is that because of all these reasonsThe Last of Us Part 3could be much nearer than anticipated.
The Last of Us Part 2is available on PlayStation 4.
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