‘The Final of Us Half II’ Can Now Rob You of Its Most Brutal Second

Season two of The Final of Us ended on “the” moment. The second when a narrative you thought was one factor really turns into one other. It’s a second lifted straight from the video game The Final of Us Half II, however now the sport is letting gamers eliminate it, and we’re very curious about the timing.

Tuesday, Naughty Dog announced that it’s releasing a brand new replace to the remastered version of The Final of Us Half II. The replace will enable followers to play the sport chronologically, which drastically shifts the timing and intentions of the unique recreation. “Those that have already performed will know its story is instructed non-linearly, as Ellie and Abby’s motivations, realizations, and emotional stakes unfold throughout myriad flashbacks and present-day storylines,” the announcement reads. “Whereas this construction may be very intentional and core to how our studio wished Half II’s themes and narrative beats to impression gamers, we at all times questioned what it will be wish to expertise this story chronologically. And now lastly, we are able to reply that query.”

However did the query must be answered? And is the very fact it’s being answered so quickly after the TV present based mostly on the sport was met with criticism for following the sport a coincidence? It certain doesn’t look like it. It, actually, seems like a option to doubtlessly undercut the intentions of the sport, which we admit were pointedly unpleasant, but in a very good way.

For many who might not know the context right here, The Final of Us Half II (and the TV adaptation thus far) begins with a girl named Abby killing Joel, one of many primary characters within the first recreation. Within the recreation, you then play primarily as Ellie, Joel’s nearly daughter, who goes on to hunt Abby. However, as soon as the 2 lastly meet once more, the sport flips again in time, and also you’re compelled to play as Abby. It’s an uncomfortable moment to grow to be the villain, however as the sport strikes alongside, that battle turns into the purpose. We begin to see Abby as much less of a villain and extra of a hero.

It’s what The Final of Us Half II is all about. Making the participant query themselves and others. Forcing us to cope with our personal empathy. It’s additionally what the TV present goes for too, albeit in a barely extra drawn-out means since we’ll have to attend two years for brand spanking new episodes. A chronological model of the story would possibly nonetheless have that in there, nevertheless it gained’t land in such a direct, gut-punch means.

“By the brand new Chronological mode, we consider gamers will acquire even deeper perception into Half II’s narrative,” the corporate says. “Gamers will have the ability to see how Ellie being gifted a guitar flows so neatly into her studying to play, for instance, whereas the journey via Seattle will showcase the fascinating parallels between Ellie and Abby’s crisscrossing journeys. You’ll see simply how shut they arrive into operating into one another, how their actions impression one another, and extra.”

Which, actually, as a fan of the sport, sounds form of enjoyable. It’s only a completely different viewpoint on the story. Possibly the reply right here is to solely make this mode accessible after you beat the sport the unique means, one thing that doesn’t appear to be in place however is really useful. “Whereas we after all advocate gamers nonetheless new to the sport to play via Half II’s story as was initially developed, the group’s onerous work has paid off with an enchanting new option to get pleasure from this chapter,” Naughty Canine says.

Do you suppose this new mode is in any means a solution to points with the TV present? Does it trouble you it exists? Or are you excited to really give it a shot and see what new issues you possibly can study? Tell us beneath.

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