THE LAST OF US PART II: Naughty Dog Is Trying To Create The "Most Complex, Nuanced Character" In Gaming
The first game in in the franchise already introduced several complex characters, but now one of the writers for The Last of Us Part II says Naughty Dog hopes to take things to the next level for the sequel.
The original The Last of Us certainly drew a lot of praise from fans and critics for various elements such as gameplay, but one thing nearly every player loved was the rich and interesting characters they met throughout the game, particularly our protagonists Joel and Ellie.
And while we are still months away from the release of The Last of Us Part II, fans are already expecting to get another intriguing look at these two characters as well as any new faces we encounter over the course of the story. Of course, that means fans will have to wait until the game's launch to see if it lives up to expectations, but thanks to some new comments from co-writer Halley Gross, it seems making complex and interesting characters was once again a priority of the developers.
"This is the longest job I’ve ever had in my life," Gross said in the latest issue PlayStation Official Magazine (via Wccftech). "Every day I’m working, I get the opportunity to work with designers, and animators, and sound guys and character artists, and we’re all working toward a vision about how do you make the most complex, nuanced character in a video game?"
Although the Westworld writer doesn't name a specific character, it seems safe to assume that she is referring to Ellie, who has been the focus of nearly every trailer for Part II.
Speaking of Ellie, later in the interview Gross explained why the folks at Naughty Dog have put her through so much trauma, stating that they want to "challenge" her and see "to see who she can become when she grows up in such a hostile environment."
In other words, don't expect things to get easier for the hardened survivor, as Gross made it clear that the writers are "not going to coddle her" in the forthcoming sequel.
The Last of Us Part II is currently scheduled to launch exclusively on the PlayStation 4 on February 21, 2020 and will see Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker return to reprise their respective roles.