Summary
One of the biggest strengths ofThe Last of Usfranchise is its compelling cast of characters. While they may not be the most pleasant video game characters of all time, it’s that visceral realism that makesThe Last of Us' charactersso complex and fascinating. Arguably, none ofThe Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s core cast of characters are good people, with practically everyone committing at least one truly atrocious deed, but it’s how these deeds are contextualized that makesThe Last of Usseries such an impressive work of storytelling.
With the recent release ofThe Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, fans can experience that excellent storytelling all over again and see all of their favorite characters one more time. And it’s not justThe Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s story mode in which players can interact with their favorite characters, with a total of 10 appearing as playable characters in the game’s roguelike mode, No Return. But while these characters are all fun to play as, they’re not quite as unique as they may first seem on paper.
The Last of Us Part 2’s No Return Characters Aren’t as Deep as They First Seem
Having 10 Playable Characters is a Big Boon for The Last of Us Part 2
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return mode allows players to unlock and play as a total of 10 characters of varying levels of iconicity. All the classic playable characters are there, likeEllie, Joel, and Abby, along with fan-favorite new additions like Tommy, Dina, Jesse, and Lev, and then Manny, Mel, and Yara join the roster for good measure. Having a total of 10 playable characters packed into an additional mode is pretty impressive, and it’s certainly a boon for theLast of Us Part 2 Remastered, especially when their unique traits are factored in.
On paper, what Naughty Dog has done with eachLast of Us Part 2No Return character is excellent. Each of No Return’s 10 playable characters has a unique starting loadout, a unique playstyle, and a unique set of traits. These traits range from positive modifiers like immediate access to specific crafting recipes and increased max health, to negative modifiers like the inability to dodge. In theory, these unique traits, paired with the RNG nature ofNo Return’s roguelike structure, pave the way for an almost endlessly replayable game filled with variation, but that’s not quite how it feels in practice.
The Last of Us No Return’s Characters Feel Shallow in the Long Run
While each ofThe Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return characterscertainly feels fresh and exciting the moment they’re first unlocked, that feeling of originality and variety quickly wears away over the course of a No Return run. The big issue is that while each character starts with a unique set of gear and abilities, they can practically unlock all the same stuff anyway.
Though RNG is definitely a factor, it’s more than possible to attain the same loadout playing as both Ellie and Dina, with every long weapon, handgun, crafting recipe, and upgrade path technically being available to both characters throughout a run. And the same is mostly true for the rest of the roster. Though there are certain characters that gain sole access to custom weapons, gear, recipes, and upgrades, most ofThe Last of Us Part 2No Return’s loadoutcan be shared across the board.
Another point of note is that while some characters have been given one or two unique attack animations and voicelines, general animations across the board are the same for every character, with “heavy” characters takingAbby’sLast of Us 2animations, and “light” characters taking Ellie’s. This isn’t too noticeable, but it does end up making the cast feel a bit too similar.
