Summary
Despite being one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed video game franchises of all time,The Last of Usisn’t without its fair share of controversies. FromThe Last of Us Part 2’s major early character death, to the lack of a Factions mode in the sequel, to a full-price PS5 remake of the first game, to said remake’s atrocious PC port,The Last of Ushas had no shortage of newsworthy issues. But while therecent cancelation ofThe Last of Usmultiplayer gamedefinitely does help, it seems as thoughThe Last of Usas a franchise is making the right moves at the minute, withThe Last of Us Part 2 Remasteredbeing a step in the right direction.
Unlike itsPart 1predecessor,The Last of Us Part 2 Remasteredwill only be $10 for those who already own the game, and its slew of new content more than justifies that price tag. But while its Lost Levels with developer commentary sound incredibly insightful, and its guitar freeplay mode looks fun, it’sThe Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return roguelike modethat’s really drawing fans back in. However, it may want to borrow a lesson fromThe Last of Us: Left Behindif it’s truly as good as Naughty Dog is teasing.
The Last of Us 2’s No Return Mode Should Take a Page Out of Left Behind’s Playbook
The Last of Us 2’s No Return Mode Looks Feature-Complete
ThoughGod of War Ragnarok’s incredibly impressive Valhalla DLCmay have taken the wind out of its sails a little,The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return mode looks like the perfect reason for fans to jump back into Naughty Dog’s grim post-apocalyptic world. Being a roguelike mode, No Return will see players work their way through a set number of levels, each one taking place in an iconicLast of Uslocale that’s been procedurally generated to some degree. As players progress through the gauntlet, they’ll unlock new permanent upgrades for their characters, but if they die before completing the loop, it’s game over.
Upon its initial reveal, many fans were excited aboutThe Last of Us Part 2’s No Return mode, but following some press previews from a few weeks ago, that excitement has grown quite a bit. From the sounds of those recent press previews,The Last of Us Part 2’s No Return mode is much more substantial than Naughty Dog first let on. With10 playable characters to unlockand play as, each with their own unique weapons and abilities, a complex skill tree system, multiple mission and arena types, and six bosses to fight,The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return mode sounds like the real deal.
The Last of Us 2’s No Return Mode Should Be a Standalone Expansion
WhenThe Last of Us: Left Behindoriginally launched back in 2014, it released as DLC for the first game.Left Behindwas then included in the 2014 remaster, but in 2015, it was released as a standalone expansion, meaning that players who didn’t ownThe Last of Usor its remaster could playLeft Behindby itself. It’s a little odd to make a story DLC that directly ties into the events of the game’s second act a standalone expansion a year after its release, but it was a solid way to entice newcomers to the series, giving them a taste ofThe Last of Us' gameplay, story, and characters for just $10.
This standalone approach would make much more sense forThe Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return mode. A roguelike mode that’s completely separate from the game’s main story, a No Return standalone expansion would be the perfect jumping-on point for anyone who’s still on the fence about getting intoThe Last of Usbecause of its gameplay, especially if it only cost $10 on its own.
The Last of Us Part 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closur
