The last of us has played host to some of gaming’s most interesting protagonists, and the third entry should repeat that trend. Both The The last of us titles have followed Ellie’s journey through a contaminated world, but the story has been told from multiple different perspectives. Each game has put players in control of different characters, and while some character choices have proved controversial, the different protagonists have served as an interesting way to tell this story.
The end of The last of us 2 saw Ellie standing alone after her quest for revenge, and that may be where the third picks it up. A third game hasn’t been officially revealed yet, but Naughty Dog will likely want to continue the story at some point. While the next game could put players back in Ellie’s shoes, it could be more interesting if players took control of a new set of characters. Allowing players to experience this world from new perspectives makes each game feel truly unique, and it can do wonders for the story.
The Last of Us 1 and 2 with different characters
The last of us 1 put players in control of a smuggler named Joel who lived for some time in a post-apocalyptic United States. Players witnessed the heartbreaking death of his daughter at the start of the infection to understand how it changed him. After that, he spends much of his time traversing the Boston quarantine zone, smuggling goods and doing his best to survive. Everything changes when he is tasked with smuggling a teenage girl named Ellie to a group of survivors known as the Fireflies.
The last of us 2 covers the aftermath of Joel’s decision to rescue Ellie at the end of the first. This time, the player took control of Ellie and a brand new character named Abby. Ellie hunts Abby for revenge, while Abby goes on her own mission to save her friends. It was a different kind of story than the first, and had some heavy themes in the story. Players had to be immersed in the conflict from both sides and it showed the brutality of this post-apocalyptic world.
There was some transference between the two The last of us titles like Ellie served as the main catalyst behind the events of the first, but she became the center of attention in the second. Both games told dark stories in their own special way. It helped players see this world from multiple perspectives and expanded it with brand new sets of characters. The series is also one of the few video game series that gives players an in-depth look at both sides of a conflict.
Different characters offer new perspectives
The first The last of us game lets players witness the journey of a man who has lost a lot but finds purpose in Ellie, and the second game shows them how far a person would go to avenge those they love. They are completely unique stories that complement each other well, and different perspectives just added to that.
When players control different people, they see the world from different eyes. Joel reacts to the world very differently than Ellie, and Abby brought in a whole new set of characters and dynamics that the other two characters didn’t have. This further builds the world with intriguing characters, and also lets players see it differently depending on who they are. It makes the world of The last of us feel more elaborated as each game brings a whole new feeling.
The different main characters also change the gameplay in their respective games. Joel was an older man and as such the combat mechanics were built in a way that players would feel like it. Ellie was much more agile since she was younger, and the second game allowed for more mobility as a result. Abby was bulkier than Ellie, and she felt the same way with her powerful melee attacks. Each character also praised different arsenals of weapons that made combat scenarios feel different.
Brand new protagonists can do a lot for a series, and The last of us shows that it really contributed to the story Naughty Dog wants to tell. Each character felt unique, players really connected with them. The final third entry in the series should really follow this model and give players control over another new character. This can be a character created especially for part 3, or a former side character.
The last of us 2 didn’t leave many notable characters alive at the end, but there are still plenty of Naughty Dog to choose from. Players can take control of characters such as Lev, Dina, Tommy or even Dina’s child after a significant time jump. Whatever choice Naughty Dog makes, a brand new protagonist could do a lot for the series and give players an even better look at this post-apocalyptic world; at least as long as the story is on par with the best of Naughty Dog.
The last of us part 1 is now available on PlayStation 5.
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