The Last of Us Part II is the kind of game that divides living rooms and lights up comment sections. Developed by Naughty Dog and released exclusively for PlayStation 4 on June 19, 2020, this game dropped into our lives like a brick through a window loud, emotional, and impossible to ignore. As a long-time gamer who pre-ordered the collector’s edition (yes, the one with the Ellie statue), I’m here to give you the honest, deep, slightly emotional breakdown of what this game gets right, wrong, and what it makes you feel—which is a lot, trust me.
Who Made This Monster?
Naughty Dog, the legendary studio behind Uncharted and the original The Last of Us, isn’t new to emotional storytelling or jaw-dropping gameplay. With Neil Druckmann at the helm as creative director and co-writer (alongside Halley Gross), the team crafted a sequel that aimed higher, hit harder, and took way bigger risks than anyone expected.
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Platforms & Versions
Originally a PS4 exclusive, the game is fully playable on PS5 with enhancements like better loading times and a 60 FPS patch. There’s also a remastered version (yes, another one) for PS5, released in 2024, featuring improved textures, lighting, and even a new roguelike survival mode called “No Return.” This game just won’t die—and honestly, I’m okay with that.
Gameplay: Brutal and Brilliant
If you thought the first game’s combat was tight, Part II takes that and slaps 10 layers of polish on it. The stealth is tense, the melee combat is crunchy (in a good way), and enemy AI will flank, communicate, and even mourn fallen comrades. It’s immersive, horrifying, and honestly genius-level AI scripting. Rope physics? Yes. Jumping and going prone? Finally. Guitar-playing? Surprisingly addictive.
Story: No Spoilers, Just Real Talk
The story picks up years after Joel and Ellie’s escape from Salt Lake City. Ellie is older, tougher, and battling demons—both literal and emotional. The game then pulls the rug out from under you narratively in ways I can’t spoil (because I’m not a monster). But let’s just say this: it’s not afraid to break your heart, then stomp on it.
Abby’s introduction is divisive, sure. But by the end, you’ve probably experienced Stockholm Syndrome because the game forces you to understand her. It’s about revenge, grief, empathy, and cycles of violence. As Game Informer said: “This is one of the boldest stories ever told in the medium.” And they’re not wrong.
PS5 Fans & Collectors
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Audio & Atmosphere
The sound design is pure nightmare fuel in the best way. Clickers still haunt my dreams. Gustavo Santaolalla’s soundtrack returns with moody, sparse guitar strums that feel like musical therapy. The voice acting, especially by Ashley Johnson (Ellie) and Laura Bailey (Abby), is near-flawless. There’s a reason Bailey won Best Performance at The Game Awards 2020.
Controversy? Oh, You Bet.
There was a lot of noise around this game. Leaks spoiled major plot points. Some fans hated where the story went. Some applauded it. Some review-bombed it on Metacritic within hours of release (because of course they did). And yet, critics stood by it. It currently holds a 93 on Metacritic from critics and swept major award shows with over 300 Game of the Year awards. Love it or rage-quit it, this game made waves.
Awards and Legacy
Part II became the most awarded video game of all time, dethroning titles like The Witcher 3 and God of War. It took home Best Game at The Game Awards 2020, the BAFTA Game of the Year, and pretty much every other golden trophy you can imagine. It also set a new bar for what emotional storytelling can look like in AAA gaming.
Final Verdict
The Last of Us Part II isn’t a game you play casually—it’s a game that happens to you. It’s cinematic, painful, violent, beautiful, and unapologetically bold. It asks you to feel things you didn’t sign up for. And that’s kind of the point. It’s not just a sequel—it’s an experience.
Final Score: 10/10 (even if it made me cry into a controller)
Whether you praise it, hate it, or still don’t know how to feel about it… one thing’s for sure: you’ll remember it. And in the end, maybe that’s what a masterpiece is supposed to do.
