The Last of Us Part II

TLoU2 cover faded

Playstation 4

(released June 2020)

Games Designer – Single Player Story

The Last of Us Part II – Extended Contribution Showreel – 10:05

Eastbrook Elementary
The Seraphites
The Gate
Jackson – Prologue

– Eastbrook Elementary –

Seattle Day 1: Getting revenge on the first of Abby’s crew; Jordan. Escaping the school stronghold with buddy character “Dina” in the first combat against the human faction, the “WLF”. Tutorial for human combat, flanking, grass combat vs humans, and prone combat. Scripter Alex Stewart

Rope cutting set piece

Leverages existing mechanics to create unique set piece
Utilised item pickup proximity UI for reaching glass shard

First human combat

Tutorial for flanking
Layout promoting flanking for both player and enemies
Combat with buddy “Dina”

Buddy gestures and animation setup

Scripted buddy search/explore behaviour and animations
Unique setup for buddy ‘look-out’ behaviour, driving pacing and navigation

Tutorial for grass combat vs humans

Set up of enemy vignettes
Enemy patrol routes for encouraging safe kills
Breadcrumbing player through the environment with enemy positions

Soft tutorial for prone combat and hiding spaces

Layout supporting high chance of enemy ‘pull out’ mechanic

Showcasing enemy AI awareness of missing partners

Scripted searches for easy kill locations that promote enemy ‘check ins’ for partner

‘Eastbrook Elementary’ playthrough video – 17:10

– The Seraphites –

Seattle Day 2: Leaving the theatre alone and heading to the hospital to find Nora. The deserted streets host multiple optional spaces (infected combat, rope puzzle, safe puzzle and a workbench ambush set piece) and a puzzle subverting the traditional use of a dumpster. Introducing the new infected type “Stalkers” as well as the new human faction the “Seraphites”, also known as the “Scars”. Scripter Alex Stewart

This level was used as the demo for the “Press Preview” a month before release. Here are a few press impressions:
Eurogamer – Everything we learned Playing The Last of Us Part 2 Demo
Kinda Funny Games – Greg Miller’s The Last of Us Part II Preview – PS I Love You XOXO
GamingBible – The Last of Us Part 2 Hands-on Preview (Spoiler Free) – Ellie vs Seattle & The Infected
Gamespot: The Last of Us 2 Preview: Brutal and Ruthless

Introduction of new human enemy ‘Scars’

Introduction of ‘pulling out an arrow’ mechanic
Showcasing of Scar stealth behaviour in foliage
Plant arrangement to promote prone combat
Animation overlays and gesture setup for performance of first Scar encounter

Introduction of new Infected enemy ‘Stalkers’

Layout to showcase ‘hide and seek’, ambush and flanking behaviours
First chance introduction of ‘Trapped infected’ embedded in walls

Optional Infected combat

Risk/reward entrance requiring breaking of glass to alert infected
Reward note links with workbench ambush
Aoife Wilson from ‘Eurogamer’ talking about her experience with the optional infected combat

Workbench Ambush set piece

Subverting expectation of workbench menu
Greg Miller from ‘Kinda Funny Games’ discussing his experience of the workbench ambush

Physics dumpster puzzle

Subverting expectation of standard ‘push and pull’ object
Emphasising narrative beat of being alone by trying to solve ‘buddy gate’ mechanic that traditionally requires a partner to operate

Optional rope puzzle

Environmental storytelling foreshadowing the Scars
- Story of couple hiding from Scars and needing medication that links to later diorama
Multiple solutions
Mark Foster from ‘GamingBible’ discussing his experience of one of his favourite things in the preview demo; the optional rope puzzle

Safe puzzle

Instigator for improved ‘locked safe puzzles’ across the game
- Calendar puzzle was the original prototype for new puzzle type
New puzzle encourages player to engage with environment over UI hunting
Article discussing the safe puzzles – Kotaku – I Love Cracking Safes In The Last Of Us Part 2
Greg Miller from ‘Kinda Funny Games’ discussing the calendar puzzle during his playthrough of the preview

Opening streets after leaving theatre

Multiple optional spaces
Military checkpoint secret
Deserted streets to promote the narrative beat of being alone after leaving Dina at the theatre

‘The Seraphites’ playthrough video – 1:00:32

– The Gate –

Start of Seattle Day 1: Riding through the overgrown outskirts of Seattle and finding the abandoned freeway that leads to the city. Scaling the Quarantine Zone wall to then solve the game’s first rope puzzle to open the gate. Scripter Mark Burroughs

Rope puzzle

First puzzle using the throwable rope mechanic
Utilises maximum length restriction as puzzle problem
Buddy hint system using opt-in dialogue from Dina
Additional optional secret rope puzzle using same rope
Reminder of breakable windows

Traversal puzzle

Scaling the Seattle Quarantine Zone wall
Multiple solutions/routes to goal
Foreshadowing breakable windows for later rope puzzle

Buddy interactions with environment

Animation set up for physical touching of game world
Passive gestures for hinting at traversal solution

Horse navigation with buddy ‘Dina’

Navmesh implementation supports buddy navigation when player isn’t riding

‘The Gate’ playthrough video – 21:50

– Jackson Prologue –

Opening of the game: Riding to Jackson as Joel, alongside buddy character “Tommy”. Establishing the setting and theming of the ‘The Last of Us Part II’ world. Scripter Banun Idris

First gameplay section in the game

Introduction of horse controls/movement
Buddy character “Tommy” driving pacing

Reveal of Jackson settlement

Establishing first goal
Cresting hill for vista of town

Introduction of location, setting and theme

Layout showing dilapidation of post apocalyptic world
Scripting of animals to show evidence of nature reclaiming the land
Establishing fortified town

‘Jackson – Prologue’ playthrough video – 14:24