The 2018 E3 Expo may be over, but we’re still digging through all the huge announcements and trailers that dropped during the big show… like the first Gameplay Trailer for The Last of Us Part II.
Developer Naughty Dog has previously shown that the world of The Last of Us Part II can be a harsh place, and this bleakness is still very much present in the 12-minute Gameplay Trailer, but there’s also a bit of hope as Ellie is shown living something of a normal life in Jackson (and possibly even falling in love with a young woman named Dina). Oh, and the developer also squashed the “Joel is dead” rumors with a quick bit of dialogue at the beginning of the trailer.
Director Neil Druckmann talked a bit about what fans can expect to see in the trailer (and the full game) at the PlayStation Blog:
In The Last of Us Part II, Ellie is now 19 and has found a semblance of peace and normality living in Jackson. She’s had a chance to be a teenager and forge lasting relationships. When that peace is disrupted by a violent act, Ellie is thrust into a brutal journey of retribution, fueled by a need to bring those that have wronged her to justice, pushing her to her very limits.
From the way Ellie plays to the way she navigates through this hostile world, you’re going to feel her physical, emotional, and mental state expressed through every facet of gameplay. We’ve completely overhauled our engine, developed new combat mechanics, created a new analog stealth system, and revamped our animation system to fully express Ellie’s desperation, resourcefulness, and unique agility.
We’re also upping the stakes and tension of the world. Our environments are broader, more complex, and more detailed–bringing unprecedented realism, verticality, and player choice to the world of The Last of Us. The human enemies you’ll encounter are now more threatening and capable, using sophisticated communication and environmental awareness to create intense, more dynamic stealth and head-on combat encounters.
The Last of Us Part II is currently in development exclusively for the PS4, but a release date has yet to be announced.
