Summary
It’s probably still several years away, butThe Last of Us Part 3is coming. Of course, simply knowing that Naughty Dog has plans for a third entry in its flagship series doesn’t give much insight as to what the game will be like, asThe Last of Us 3’s premiseand general narrative could go in any number of directions. But it will probably stick to at least some of the conventions established by its two predecessors.
The Last of Us 2took major leaps away from the first game, both in terms of storytelling and gameplay. Looking at the latter, combat saw the greatest punch-up, especially stealth combat, which is considerably more expressive and multifaceted than anything the first game offered. Exploration and survival-horror mechanics from the first game are mostly unchanged inPart 2, but the sequel still does quite a bit to build upon them, as levels are generally more open-ended and facilitate flexible approaches to enemy encounters. Nowhere is this commitment to open-ended design more apparent than in one early-game area, whichThe Last of Us 3should seek to replicate to some degree.
The Last of Us 3 Should Double-Down On Part 2’s ‘Open-World’ Section
The Last of Us 2’s Seattle Sandbox Is One of Its Biggest Highlights
The Last of Us Part 2is definitely not an open-world game. It is broken up into distinct chapters and players are set along a predetermined path with virtually no opportunities for sequence-breaking. This is why an early Seattle mission, where Ellie and Dina get to traverse a wide-open chunk of the city on horseback, stands out so much.
This early-game area is littered with optional side objectives, resources to collect, and secrets to uncover. For the first and only time in the game, players are given a map that will be updated as they explore new points of interest, only a few of which are mandatory.The Last of Us 2rewards those who engage with this open area, as there are a number of valuable items to find, including a pump-action shotgun. Narratively, players can gain more insight into Ellie and Dina’s relationship, as exploring certain areas leads to specific character interactions and dialog. All in all, it’s a great use of interactivity and open-ended game design, which services both the gameplay and the story.
The map players get during this section elevates its sense of immersion, as it’s a physical map in the game’s world, updated by the characters themselves.
How The Last of Us 3 Could Integrate Similar Open-World Areas
Fans may be surprised to learn thatThe Last of Us 2was almost an open-world gamefrom start to finish, but Naughty Dog decided against this early in development. Ultimately, this decision was probably for the best, as an open-world formula wouldn’t really work for a game with such a traditional, linear narrative; open-world exploration could easily demolish its narrative pacing and tension. The same would likely be the case forThe Last of Us 3.
At the same time, additional, isolated open-world sections akin to the one found inThe Last of Us 2could be a great addition. Instead of just one sandbox area, perhapsThe Last of Us 3could have several, allowing Naughty Dog to flex its open-ended level design abilities in a number of different environments.The Last of Us 2was initially inspired byBloodborne, so incorporating some of FromSoftware’s interconnected level design, implementing features like shortcuts and loops, could further enhance these sorts of areas. It shouldn’t be open-world, but upping the sandbox influence from a pinch to a handful could help makeThe Last of Us 3a great evolution of its predecessor.
The Last of Us Part 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closur
