Sony's Press Conference at E3 this year started off swinging with showing off perhaps the most anticipated PS4 title of the moment: The Last of Us 2. With a clear focus on Ellie, the female main character of the first installment, The Last of Us franchise has set itself up for a new succes with their second title.
Watch the official trailer for yourself here.
A new experience, a familiar feeling
Most noteworthy about the featured trailer at Sony's Press Conference was the absence of Joel, the father figure to Ellie and main character of the original. Instead, the trailer focused on Ellie, present at a dance party, in the arms of what appears to be her girlfriend. As they make out, Ellie notices people watching them. Her girlfriend, in a response, tells her that people could only be terrified of her. Then the scene changes into a dark, stealthy gameplay section involving killing, nearly escaping death and some frightening scenery. At the end of the gameplay sequence, Ellie and her girlfriend confirm Ellie's status as being someone that people are terrified of.
These atmospheric, stealthy gameplay sections at first glance are very reminiscent of The Last of Us, which might be a good thing since it partly made the entry so iconic for modern gaming. Another reoccuring theme is the exchange between gameplay and cutscene, which was apparent in the gameplay trailer and further confirms similarities between The Last of Us Part 2 and its prequel. The graphics are as pretty as expected, developer Naughty Dog seems to live up to its own standards so far. The atmosphere, fog, effects and textures all look gorgeous so far.
The gameplay components haven't changed much, the visuals are as stunning as ever, and the story seems to highlight Ellie in this installment. The hype and love of the gaming community for this franchise already seem to be pushing the momentum of The Last of Us Part II forward, and rightfully so, because if it's anything like the prequel, The Last of Us Part II will treat us to another unforgettable adventure.
