The Last of Us Part II

Naughty Dog announces a documentary about the making of The Last Of Us 2

Naughty Dog announces a documentary about the creation of The Last Of Us 2, following the style of the documentary they previously made for the franchise’s first installment.

More and more studies are encouraged to make documentaries about the development process of their games. This is good news because it allows us to have documented how it was to make the games, not just the final version. With its lights and shadows, game development has generally been idealized, and it is good to have a realistic perspective that shows things as they are. In addition to having a series of documents that help preserve a specific time and place, beyond the memories of the specific members who worked at that time in the studio.

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That’s why it’s good news that Naughty Dogs has announced that they have made a documentary about The Last of Us Part 2. Called Grounded II, sequel to Grounded, a documentary about the development of the first The Last of Us, it was a documentary that began filming in 2016, but was abandoned when the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Now all the footage that was left behind has been recovered and, with new material, a documentary has been made to explain the game’s creation process, as experienced from within.

To know what to expect, we can take a look at Grounded. The documentary about the development of The Last of Us released in 2014 narrated over eighty-five minutes the development and the “unique philosophy”, in the words of those responsible for it, of the first installment of the saga. Therefore, we can expect something similar for this sequel.

Thanks to the trailer of just over two minutes that they have released, we already know some specific things about Grounded II. Focusing on all aspects of development, it seems that they will not leave any aspect or any development topic untouched. Including the crucial aspect of crunch. But if the trailer and the experience of Grounded serve for something, it is that we should not expect a fierce criticism of it either. Although it is always possible that, as they said in the past, Naughty Dogs have radically changed their company policy regarding crunch.

Grounded II will premiere on January 19th for free on Youtube. The date is not accidental, as it will be released on the same day as the launch of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, a new native version for PlayStation 5 that will include technical improvements and new content. A golden opportunity to try the game, if you are interested and haven’t played it yet.

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5 things we DIDN’T see at E3 2019

Did E3 give you enough to slake your thirst, or were you hoping to see more?

And so, another E3 has come to pass. With it came a lot of games we weren’t expecting to see. However, there were a bunch of things we were hoping to see but they never graced the stage.

Here are the things we sadly didn’t get to see at E3 2019 that we will hopefully hear more about soon.

Halo Infinite gameplay

At E3 2018, Halo fans went nuts when Halo Infinite was announced.

This year, we were dying to see gameplay for the new game, or at least hear some new cool details. What we got was this:

Sure, it’s kinda cool. However, we don’t want to see a trailer that’s basically a cut scene we will try to skip through on subsequent playthroughs. Why can’t we see Master Chief in action? Why can’t we see new weapons or changes in combat mechanics? Why can’t we hear about what’s coming to online?

We’re happy that we got SOMETHING, but this was hardly worth the year we had to wait.

Anything about the PlayStation 5

So what did Sony bring to E3?

Although Hideo Kojima gave us a new trailer for Death Stranding a few weeks ago, and we got a few new PlayStation 5 details in the months leading up to E3, Sony was notably absent this year.

If Sony would have shown up with just a few details about the PS5, we would have been thrilled. We didn’t even need much; they could have just given us a better idea of when it would be released and potential new features. But no, Sony instead left E3 in the hands of Microsoft and Nintendo.

To be fair, Nintendo kinda killed it at E3 this year. Although, there was one game that we tragically heard nothing about…

Metroid Prime 4

Two years ago at E3 2017, we first saw the announcement trailer for Metroid Prime 4, and we were elated.

However, at the beginning of the year, we got some unfortunate news. The game was going to be delayed.

After already waiting so long to see Samus’s next adventure, it was a kick in the teeth to learn that we were going to have to wait even longer. However, since that announcement was made about five months ago, we were hoping that by now we would get some sort of update on the game. Sadly, we heard nothing.

We’re hoping that Samus isn’t doomed to forever be trapped in the Brinstar Depths, but our hopes of actually playing this game are quickly dwindling.

To be fair, we already know a LOT about The Last of Us Part II. We got a cool reveal trailer two years ago, and we got more than 10 minutes of gameplay footage last year. However, we are still worried about the release date.

At first, we were optimistic that we would finally get to see what Joel and Ellie have been up to by the end of 2019, but that is looking further and further from the truth.

Death Stranding has a concrete release date of Nov. 6, 2019, and we simply cannot see Sony releasing two games with such massive hype that close together. I mean we are probably going to buy both at launch anyway, but it isn’t a smart move to let two console exclusives compete with each other for sales.

This suggests that The Last of Us Part II will just have to wait until early 2020. However, now we aren’t sure of that either because Cyberpunk 2077 is set to be released in April of 2020. Sure, Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t a PS4 exclusive, but we can’t imagine Sony wanting to compete against that title either. Do you really want to go toe-to-toe with Keanu Reeves?

We didn’t think so.

Elder Scrolls VI

At E3 2018, Bethesda released this 36-second announcement trailer for the next Elder Scrolls game… and it definitively was the most hyped announcement of that year.

One year later, we were hoping to get something more than a glorified JPEG, but we instead got a trailer for Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr:

What do we think of that trailer?

We got nothing for Elder Scrolls VI. We didn’t get a release date, we didn’t get a new trailer, and we didn’t even get an official title!

Honestly, if Bethesda didn’t show us Doom: Eternal, they might as well not have come at all.

Doom Eternal looks gory, disgusting, and incredible

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It was still a pretty awesome E3

At the end of the day, we still got some awesome announcements at E3 2019. Come on people, we got a trailer for a new Zelda game. What more could you ask for?

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild gets a sequel

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What games were you hoping to see at E3 this year? Were you satisfied with the lineup, or were you hoping that this would finally be the year for Half Life 3? Let us know in the comments below.

Here’s everything we know about The Last of Us 2

Details are slowly trickling in about the follow-up to Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic survival masterpiece, including an incredible new trailer showcased at E3. Here’s what we know so far about The Last of Us 2’s story, gameplay, and other rumors. If you still haven’t played the first game, be warned: spoilers are incoming.

The Last of Us 2 is set five years after the somewhat ambiguous ending of the first game. After finally reaching a research facility run by the Fireflies in Utah, Ellie was quickly whisked away. Marlene, the leader of the Fireflies, informed Joel that in order to find a cure for the infection, they would have to operate on Ellie’s brain, killing her in the process. Forced to choose between saving Ellie and curing the infection, Joel chose Ellie. He massacred his way through the Fireflies facility before finally reaching Ellie just as she was about to undergo the operation that would kill her. When Ellie finally wakes up from her drug-induced coma, Joel lies about what happened, telling her that the Fireflies had found other test subjects besides her and that they were still unable to find a cure.

The game ends with Joel and Ellie returning to the settlement run by Joel’s brother, Tommy. When Ellie once again asks Joel if what he told her is the truth, he doubles down on his lie, and the credits roll.

Several years later, Ellie is now a teenager. Joel will be taking a backseat this time around; Naughty Dog has confirmed that players will be taking control of Ellie in this installment. Joel will still have a large presence in this game, but what exactly that presence will be remains a mystery. In the game’s first trailer, we only see his silhouette, which led some to speculate that Joel is dead, and only remains as a figment of Ellie’s imagination. Though Joel certainly isn’t getting any younger, the latest E3 trailer seems to refute this. New character Jesse approaches Ellie at a party at Tommy’s settlement, remarking that her “old man,” presumably Joel, called him out for slacking while making his rounds. He also mentions that Joel always seems to take a greater interest when Ellie is on patrol with them.

This certainly sounds like the Joel we know and love, but also of note is the way Ellie reacts to this remark. She definitely doesn’t seem happy that Joel is butting in, which could mean several things. Though Ellie and Joel grew closer over the events of the first game, it ended with them somewhat at odds with each other. Just based on the way Ellie seems to resent Joel’s overprotectiveness, it doesn’t seem like that’s changed much in the five years between the two games. However, is this just Ellie going through a rebellious teenager phase, or did she find out at some point that Joel lied to her?

5 best games to play while waiting for The Last of Us 2

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Whatever the reason, Ellie has grown up quite a bit since the last time we saw her. The new gameplay trailer shows her fighting off enemies with the same brutal combat style introduced in the first game. Melee combat, improvised weapons, and stealth are all returning in a big way in this new game, and combat overall seems much more fluid than in the first entry. Ellie transitions seamlessly between running, hiding, and fighting, and at one point we see her quickly crafting an explosive arrow mid-fight to get the upper hand on her opponents.

So, who exactly are these opponents? Details have been sparse on them so far, but Naughty Dog has revealed that they are a pseudo-religious cult known as the Seraphites. Their goal is to wipe out sin as they see it, though what “sin” they’re attempting to wipe out remains unclear. The cult members all seem to share a similar appearance. Male members of the cult shave their heads, while women have the same braided hairstyle. Looking closely will also reveal that the cultists all have Glasgow Smiles, the same kind of scars that gave The Joker his distinctive grin in “The Dark Knight.” In addition, all members also seem to wear similar long, brown duster coats.

Aside from what they look like, we know that the Seraphites aren’t very nice people. They seem to kill in a particular ritualistic style that involves hanging and disemboweling their enemies, and will “clip the wings” of their targets by brutally breaking their limbs with a hammer. New characters Yara and Lev are a brother and sister duo who were formerly members of the Seraphites. Though it’s still unclear how their story intersects with that of Joel and Ellie, it seems likely that we’ll learn more about this vicious cult through them.

Aside from the Seraphites, we can also see graffiti of the Fireflies logo on a signpost in the game’s first trailer. This is the only hint we’ve seen that they might be returning in the second game. Joel’s rampage at the end of the first game left the group without any clear leadership, so it seems likely that if they do reappear, they’ll be out for revenge. If this is the case, between the Fireflies and the Seraphites, Joel and Ellie will certainly have their hands full.

Several new characters are also being introduced this time around. In addition to Yara and Lev, we’ve also met an unnamed woman voiced by Naughty Dog veteran Laura Bailey. Naughty Dog loyalists will recognize her from her role as mercenary Nadine Ross in Uncharted 4, and it seems like she’s bringing the same intensity to this mysterious new character. We’re also going to meet a few new residents of Tommy’s settlement. Shannon Woodward, who fans of HBO’s “Westworld” will know as park technician Elsie Hughes, plays Jesse’s ex-girlfriend Dina. She takes a starring role in the latest trailer, sharing a kiss with Ellie during a dance at the party. It’s unclear whether their relationship will develop into something more serious than a somewhat tipsy kiss.

One final important detail that Naughty Dog has revealed: whereas the first game was about love, this game is going to be about hate. From what we’ve seen so far, this game is going to have a much, much darker tone than the original. Between Ellie’s colder and more ruthless outlook and the brutal executions perpetrated by both her and the Seraphites, this game promises to be an extremely intense ride, and it seems like Naughty Dog won’t be pulling any punches this time around. Though no official release date has been revealed yet, Naughty Dog has been revealing a steady stream of new content since announcing the game, and we’re excited to see what else lies in store for Joel and Ellie.

5 best games to play while waiting for The Last of Us 2

The Last of Us 2 is coming. Naughty Dog has been dropping tantalizing hints for months now, and with a slick new trailer that dropped at E3 (below), anticipation for the sequel to their post-apocalyptic survival masterpiece is at an all-time high. However, Naughty Dog has yet to confirm an official release date, and if you’ve already replayed the original game, waiting might seem impossible. Fear not, because we’ve got you covered with five games you can play in the meantime to scratch that itch.

5. Fallout 4

One of the most memorable aspects of The Last of Us was the setting. Exploring the ruins of once-bustling American cities, now destroyed and slowly being retaken by nature, made for some unexpectedly poignant moments. Fallout 4 does an excellent job at recapturing that feeling. You can customize your own character and explore the vast wastelands of post-apocalyptic Massachusetts. The ruins of Boston also provided the backdrop for the first few chapters of The Last of Us, and you can actually visit some of the same locations, such as the State House, in both games.

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4. Uncharted 4

Though the gameplay and overall tone is decidedly different, Uncharted 4 shares a large part of its creative team with The Last of Us. Naughty Dog guru and award-winning writer Neil Druckmann created the story for both games. This means that fans of the rich narrative in The Last of Us will find that same style of intricate storytelling here. This time around, Nathan Drake comes out of retirement to help his brother hunt down a fabled pirate treasure, an adventure that spans from windswept Scottish highlands to lush tropical island jungles. Joel’s voice and motion capture actor, Troy Baker, also returns in the role of Nate’s brother Sam. The graphics also look extremely similar to what we’ve seen so far from trailers for The Last of Us 2. This means that Uncharted 4 might be a good glimpse into what the characters and environments of The Last of Us 2 might look like.

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3. Telltale’s The Walking Dead

Story-wise, this game feels like the long lost twin of The Last of Us. When you actually put both games on paper, their narratives are remarkably similar. Players control Lee Everett, a former university professor and escaped convict, as he rescues and cares for a young girl named Clementine. The two are forced to rely on each other as the world crumbles to the zombie apocalypse. Sounds familiar, right? If you’re looking for the same intense combat that The Last of Us offers, though, look elsewhere. Though not reliant on combat, this narrative-based game serves up the same stark moral choices players were confronted with in The Last of Us, and players will find out exactly how far they’re willing to go to survive in the post-apocalypse.

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2. Bioshock Infinite

Troy Baker playing a grizzled, world-weary protagonist with a tragic backstory? Check. A young girl with the potential to save the world? Check. The pair being forced into a reluctant partnership that eventually develops into a much more meaningful relationship? Check. Bioshock Infinite almost feels like an alternate universe version of The Last of Us, which seems fitting considering Elizabeth’s ability to open portals into alternate realities. One of the most interesting aspects of Bioshock is seeing a different take on a very similar relationship, and will leave you thinking about how differently the story of The Last of Us could have played out. Gameplay wise, Bioshock is more of a combat-heavy shooter, and should appeal to the more action-oriented fans of The Last of Us.

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1. Tomb Raider

If you only have to pick one game to satisfy your cravings for The Last of Us, look no further. When playing Tomb Raider, it becomes quickly apparent how similar the two games are in terms of actual gameplay. Tomb Raider puts players in control of Lara Croft at the beginning of her adventuring career. Shipwrecked on a mysterious island, she finds herself fighting for her life against ruthless cultists and other, more sinister forces. Players will find themselves scavenging for weapon upgrades, sneaking past deadly enemies, hunting for food, and pulling off brutal melee kills. Playing as Lara almost feels like getting an early taste of what it will be like to take control of Ellie in The Last of Us 2.

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We don’t know yet when The Last of Us 2 will be released, and it could end up being a long wait. Now that you’re armed with these five titles to satisfy your cravings, that wait won’t feel quite so long.

Here’s everything we know about The Last of Us 2

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Did we see the next generation of consoles on show at E3?

For this year’s E3 bingo I went against all of my best instincts and filled in one of my squares with a PS5 teaser. Sony had been on record as saying they’d be having a relatively quiet E3, but I just couldn’t help myself. Predictably, the teaser never came, and a promising line that included Big Super Smash Bros. expo, Fortnite on the Switch, and Fallout 76 being a prequel was blocked off.

We never got an explicit teaser of Sony’s next-generation console, but maybe, just maybe, we were teased by games that we will see on the next versions of PlayStations and Xboxes. We’ve had some breathtaking gameplay action to drool over for games that still don’t have potential release dates. Are these games going to come out on the next generation of consoles from Microsoft and Sony?

Let’s have a look at some of the games we’ve seen at this year’s E3 that might find a home on as yet unconfirmed hardware:

Next-gen console games at this year’s E3?

1. The Last of Us Part 2

The follow up to Naughty Dog’s impressive post-apocalyptic outing will be back, but we don’t know when. The sequel got an 11-minute showcase in a temporary cinema to show off its impressive chops. The demo included a cutscene filled with teenage hormones and some fiercely brutal gameplay action. We’ve been told that the screenshots came from a PS4 Pro, but it seems strange that Sony isn’t shouting from the rooftops about how good the game looks on their current top of the line console. This could well end up being a launch title for the PS5.

Bethesda’s biggest announcements from E3

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2. Halo Infinite

The Halo Infinite showcase that Microsoft used to kick-start its expo that this year’s E3 was more of a technology demonstration than a trailer for a particular game. In an accompanying blog post, entitled “Our Journey Begins,” 343 Industries makes it quite clear that the 6^th Halo game chronicling Master Chief’s adventures is still only in early production. Furthermore, the new tech 343 is showcasing with the trailer is the new Slipspace Engine. The Slipspace Engine is allowing 343 to show a huge step up on anything the Halo series has offered before so there is a good chance that it could be a much more powerful Xbox that is running when Master Chief finally pulls his helmet on again.

3. Death Stranding

Death Stranding, from Kojima Productions, is one of those games that keeps showing us more as teaser after teaser comes out, but always offers more questions than it does answers. Hideo Kojima himself wrote a lengthy blog post about the development of Death Stranding, but didn’t mention a release date. This has led a lot of fans speculating about whether Death Stranding will end up being a launch title for the PS5. We wouldn’t be surprised as it looks very very good indeed.

Oh yeah, if you can figure out what the hell is going on it all of the Death Stranding teasers, we’d love to hear your take. Hit us up in the comments.

4. Cyberpunk 2077

CD Projekt RED, the developers behind the amazing Witcher 3, has been promising a futuristic follow-up RPG game for some time now. At E3 we got a whole host of info about Cyberpunk 2077, but no release date. We know that the main protagonist will be V, players will be able to completely customize V to their own tastes, and that the game will be a First Person RPG. We don’t know when it’ll come out but with CD Projekt RED saying stuff like “Our technology is ready to interface with future generations.” It could be a safe bet that we’ll be seeing V take to the mean streets of 2077 on the PS5.

Xbox at E3: 2018

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5. Elder Scrolls VI

This one is a given, but we’re excited about it here so we’re adding it anyway. In essence, Bethesda simply announced that they were making a game that they were definitely going to make anyway and added nothing more. The teaser gave away next to nothing and will have fanboys combing over it for years until we get another morsel of information about the latest game in one of the best RPG franchises ever. What Bethesda did say, however, is that they’ll be launching a brand new franchise, Starfield, before they bring us Elder Scrolls VI. The teaser for Starfield had even less to offer than the Elder Scrolls teaser though so we probably won’t be seeing that for a while either.