Naughty Dog's highly anticipated sequel The Last of Us Part II is finally almost here. As the release date has drawn closer, Sony has been showcasing the most important aspects of the game. First, it released a video featuring the creative team discussing the story. Now, co-director and writer Neil Druckmann and his team have come together for a behind-the-scenes featurette that covers gameplay.

While some gameplay elements were already known (like the importance of going prone when dealing with a horde of enemies), Naughty Dog also revealed some pieces of gameplay that will have a greater impact on the overall story.

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Several members of the studio emphasized how important it is to align the players with Ellie and the difficult decisions she has to make throughout the game. This occurs in part through the story, but it also goes hand-in-hand with gameplay. Players will need to survive while dealing with enemies. Ellie is much smaller than Joel, the protagonist of the first game, and enemies are usually larger than her. To compensate, Naughty Dog designed Ellie to be much more nimble.

Ellie shooting enemies with a bow and arrow in The Last of Us Part II

Ellie can now jump and climb to higher vantage points. As Druckmann states, this allows combat scenarios to be more vertical, as Ellie can use elevation as a strategic advantage. She can also go prone and hide underneath vehicles. Though these gameplay elements are simple, it gives the player variety when choosing how to take out enemies. Of course, the enemy AI will be much more clever about searching for Ellie than in the previous game. Her ability to dodge gives the player the option to escape an overwhelming situation.

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The video doesn't just elaborate on the gameplay players already knew about. Since Ellie is so nimble, Naughty Dog was able to expand on its level design, and environments are more open than those of the first game. Co-director Anthony Newman states the team didn't want levels to feel like a series of combat encounters and rooms to explore. Instead, it wanted each area to feel like a real environment. Because the levels are now so much grander, Newman believes there are entire scripted sequences and combat encounters that many players won't experience on their first playthrough. However, this should add an element of discovery for those who choose to explore deeper.

The sequel will further place significance on the decisions of the player through crafting. Much like in the first game, Ellie will be able to collect various materials to craft health packs and explosives, as well as new types of ammo. But it'll be crucial how players choose to upgrade her.

In The Last of Us, Joel could find supplements that could be used to upgrade things like health and crafting speed. For the sequel, Ellie will have various skill trees, but there won't be enough materials in the game to fully upgrade each one. Players will have to decide how they want to use their resources. Naughty Dog wants to ensure that these choices will have long-lasting effects on the gameplay, and forcing players to make difficult decisions fit in well with the game's themes and characters, who are constantly faced with insurmountable struggles.

KEEP READING: The Last Of Us II’s World Will Be So Big That Players May Miss Story Moments