‘The Last of Us Part 2’ release date: The sequel’s combat will be emotionally taxing

Voice actress Ashley Johnson previously hinted that “The Last of Us Part 2” will be emotionally draining. This isn’t surprising given what Naughty Dog has done with the first game.

But it’s not just the engrossing narrative of “The Last of Us Part 2” that will take a toll on a player’s heart. Combat has been rigged to produce guilt that is rare among games.

In titles like “Skyrim” or “The Witcher,” killing an enemy will have no impact on its companions other than saying that a threat is lurking nearby. “The Last of Us Part 2” is completely different, IGN reported.

The Last of Us Part 2’s enemies have been created to produce guilt

After killing an enemy and someone discovers the body, the AI will wail in aguish and call out their lover or friend’s name before intensifying their hunt for whoever is responsible. Those who have played the “The Last of Us Part 2” demo know all too well the guilt that this produces as these enemies aren’t just there to be an obstacle to a player’s progress. It’s been designed to create emotional stress in a situation that’s already tense enough, PlayStation.Blog wrote.

And that’s not even counting the fact that you have to kill dogs to survive in the game. These canines are one of the most challenging aspects of “The Last of Us Part 2” as they can sniff out your trail and lead the rest of the scavengers right on your path. There are various means to hide your scent, adding more depth to the sequel’s combat.

The Last of Us Part 2 receives massive praise from multiple publications

On top of all of these, the main narrative of “The Last of Us Part 2” will also be emotionally draining as creative director Neil Druckmann said that its main theme is vengeance. Johnson also said that shooting the game has been one of the most taxing things she has done, physically and emotionally.

The best part is the demo that’s been revealed barely scratch the surface of “The Last of Us Part 2.” Multiple publications that managed to get their hands on the sequel all have positive things to say about the game. From its graphics and immersive combat to the performance of Johnson and Troy Baker, almost all of them are praising Naughty Dog for this incredible project. And on Feb. 21, 2020, the rest of the gaming world will be able to experience this dark journey too.