A fan ofThe Last of Us 2has posted new images of a detail on Ellie’s shoes that highlights the lengths that developer Naughty Dog went to to create a game world that felt truly lived in. Fans of the narrative-heavy PlayStation title have found all sorts ofinteresting details inThe Last of Us 2since the game’s release, but this might be one of the most impressive ones yet.
A follow-up to 2013’s somber, story-focusedThe Last of Us, developer Naughty Dog’sThe Last of Us 2let players take control of Ellie and new character Abby as they face new threats in what’s left of post-apocalyptic Seattle. WhileThe Last of Us 2received near-universal praise from critics, fan response to the sequel was decidedly mixed. The introduction of new protagonist Abby, combined with a visceral dislike for the sequel’s reframing of elements ofThe Last of Us Part 1’s ending, led some disgruntled players to review bombThe Last of Us 2before the game was even released.
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In a post on r/thelastofus, a Reddit user shared a series of screenshots that illustrate just how dedicated developer Naughty Dog was to creating a world that felt vividly, and depressingly, lifelike. In the 2 screenshots posted to the thread, players can see the soles of Ellie’s shoes worn nearly bare by her journeys throughCordyceps-infested Seattle. It is such a small detail that most players of the game are unlikely to ever notice it, but it serves as a perfect example of the staggering attention to detail that is present throughout every inch ofThe Last of Us 2.
One of the commenters responding to the scuffed shoes in the screenshots cited them as an example of the sorts of small touches by Naughty Dog that makefans loveThe Last of Us 2. While the inclusion of wear and tear on Ellie’s sneakers is undoubtedly impressive, with the original poster stating that they looked remarkably similar to their own pair of worn-down shoes they’d been wearing for years, one user noted that it would be even more realistic if the black band was peeling off. Another user quipped that, since Ellie’s shoes are Converse, “They have no traction to begin with.”
Modeling the loss of traction on Ellie’s shoes may seem like an odd use of development time at first glance, but it serves as a subtle bit of visual storytelling that helps makeThe Last of Us 2feel more grounded in the real world. This sort of well-crafted world building helpedThe Last of Usbecome one of the most admired franchises in gaming, and is hopefully carried over to the small screen whenThe Last of Uspremieres on HBOin 2023.
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
