A major new update for The Last of Us Part II Remastered allows players to experience the game’s narrative in chronological order, offering a fresh take on the original story structure. Unlike the original, where players alternate between playing as Ellie and Abby during separate timelines, this new update lets you jump between both characters’ perspectives in a linear sequence.
This change will undoubtedly shift the way the game’s complex emotional moments resonate.
For those familiar with the game, this alteration has the potential to dramatically change your connection to Abby, who was initially portrayed as a villain for much of the story. Players might now gain a deeper understanding of her motivations as they unfold alongside Ellie’s, shifting the emotional weight of the narrative. The controversial narrative decisions that players once faced about Abby’s role might now be perceived differently, especially since players will now witness her actions in a more linear fashion.
One of the most significant moments in the game, a heart-wrenching interaction between Ellie and Joel before his death, will now be placed right at the beginning. Originally, this scene held massive emotional impact due to its placement later in the game, but its early appearance raises the question: will it still hold the same weight?
Jonathan Dornbush, editorial manager at Naughty Dog, noted in the PlayStation Blog post about the update that this new experience was something they had always wondered about. “While the original non-linear structure was core to the game’s themes, this new chronological mode offers players a deeper dive into how these characters’ journeys intertwine,” he writes. “By experiencing the story in this way, players will gain new insights into how Ellie’s musical journey with the guitar parallels her emotional growth, and see just how close she and Abby came to encountering each other at various points.”
The update is now live on both PlayStation and PC, and includes bug fixes, performance improvements, and some fun new skins for Joel and Tommy in the game’s No Return mode. Joel will be rocking Nathan Drake’s look from Uncharted, while Tommy gets a Sam Drake outfit.
For those who prefer the original structure, this new mode is completely optional. If you’re new to the game, Naughty Dog still recommends experiencing the story as it was originally intended before diving into this new mode. Nevertheless, the option is there for players seeking a new way to experience this acclaimed story. Whether or not the chronological mode holds the same impact is yet to be seen, but it definitely offers a fresh perspective on the events of The Last of Us Part II.