‘The Last of Us Part 2’ gameplay, plot, release date: Game tackles effects of ‘systemic trauma’ amid a culture of violence, co-writer says

One of the reasons why “The Last of Us Part 2” and its predecessor stands out from other action-adventure video game title is its gameplay plot. Naughty Dog can be expected to carry over that aspect of the franchise in the upcoming sequel.

As Ellie becomes the main protagonist and playable character in “The Last of Us Part 2,” writers are aiming to also highlight how she was impacted by the events from the first game. She might now be a better fighter, but her character development goes beyond that.

‘The Last of Us Part 2’ plot zooms in on violence and trauma’s impact on Ellie

“The Last of Us Part 2” co-writer Halley Gross discussed this aspect of the gameplay in an interview with the PlayStation Magazine UK. “Ultimately, this is a story about the cycle of violence, right?” Gross said (via RespawnFirst). “But beyond that, it’s a conversation about the effects systemic trauma can have on your soul.”

Video game fans who have finished the first game know well how deeply traumatic Ellie’s experiences have been. Her personality and how she approaches everyday life and combats will reflect how those stories changed her.

However, Gross reminds fans that the main character of “The Last of Us Part 2” is not just about the dark stories and experiences. While Ellie understands she has to respond to the violent world she is living in, Gross reiterates that the character is “driven by love” and that the hope of finding justice is not lost to her as well as her love for Joel and romantic interest named Dina.

‘The Last of Us Part 2’ release date, gameplay

The past few months have been both good and bad for fans eagerly waiting for “The Last of Us Part 2.” It was announced that the sequel will be shipped without multiplayer and online gameplay as Naughty Dog focused on the single-player campaign. But developers promised that the plot and gameplay elements in this title is so far the biggest project they have worked on.

The first announced release date for “The Last of Us Part 2” was in February 2020, which was received well by fans. But after a few weeks, Naughty Dog has taken that back and revealed their decision to delay the game until May 29 next year.