The Last of Us Part II Writer Talks About the Game’s Violence
Since the very first teaser trailer for The Last of Us Part II, the portrayal of violence has been a reoccurring conversation. Some were very vocal about the fact that it seemed like the level of violence within the game was excessive and that Naughty Dog was simply adding it into the game without a purpose. As it turns out, and what’s been made more clear as of late, is that the violence ties in with other themes within the game.
Yes, the violence we’ve seen in trailers so far can be tied in with the game’s themes of revenge and hate. In a recent interview with Official PlayStation Magazine, the December 2019 issue, co-writer Halley Gross talked about the controversy. According to her, this violence attempts to make players uncomfortable with their own actions. As such, it becomes a lot more impactful as opposed to random.
Here’s what Halley Gross had to say on the impact of violence within the game. “On the one hand we want to develop empathy, but we also want to raise the stakes for Ellie. So, every time you’re experiencing these setups, you have to engage with what would have been a typical NPC. But now, you’ve shot him, and his friend keeps screaming his name, and you have to carry the impact of your violence with you.” She continued. “Ultimately, this is a story about the cycle of violence, right? But beyond that, it’s a conversation about the effects systemic trauma can have on your soul.”
We recently learned that The Last of Us Part II has been delayed from its original release date on February 21, 2020 and will instead launch on May 29, 2020 exclusively for the PS4. What do you think about the level of violence within the game? Are you bothered by it or do you feel that the developers have given enough reasons for its presence? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and don’t forget to keep it locked for updates!