Ever since the game's second teaser trailer back in 2017, some spectators have criticized The Last of Us Part II for its brutal and graphic violence. Of course, this isn't surprising given the original game, but as video game graphics have improved since 2013, so has the realism of characters being shot, stabbed and slashed to pieces. This was made even more clear in the recent State of Play, which showed eight minutes of uninterrupted gameplay footage showcasing all of the ways Ellie will be able to kill those in the way of her survival.
Of course, the discussion of violence in video games is nothing new. And while study after study has concluded that games do not in fact lead gamers to commit violent acts, those who find the visual of a woman grabbing her throat as blood spews out of it upsetting aren't wrong. However, those who criticize this still unreleased game for its violence based on the footage we've seen so far are missing the point: the game isn't disturbing because it can be; it's disturbing because it needs to be.
The Last of Us Part II has already been described as a game about hate by its creators, something that sets it apart from its predecessor, which was about the love between Joel and Ellie. In this game, a grown-up Ellie is on a mission for revenge in a dangerous world where her life is constantly under threat from the Infected and other enemies. To survive, Ellie has to fight, which often means striking before she can be struck and shooting before she can be shot. In all of the gameplay footage we've seen so far, Ellie kills like it is second nature to her because it is. To her, this has become an unfortunate fact of life.
But just because it's necessary doesn't mean the game should let the player off the hook for their part in it. That's where the realistic (even when they're quick and in the background) death sequences come in. After watching Ellie pull her blade out of the woman's throat, seeing her realistically react and struggle for her life in her last moments before dying gives a brief glimpse at the humanity of an NPC who just threatened the protagonist's life. It reminds players of an uncomfortable truth: this character was just as human as Ellie with the same desire to survive.
Certainly the game's violence isn't suitable for everyone, but calling it irresponsible is missing the point. The graphic and upsetting nature forces players to contend with the consequences of their in-game actions in a way that wasn't really possible in the days of pixelated blood or early 3D polygonal models. Creative director Neil Druckmann has said as much, noting back in 2018 that it was Naughty Dog's intention to make players feel repulsed by some of their actions and that this is "the most honest way to tell this story" about the cycle of violence.
Druckmann also said that the team prefers to describe the game as "engaging" rather than "fun," separating the serious and brutal nature of The Last of Us from the frivolity or mindlessness often associated with "fun" games. Players may not agree with Ellie's actions (or what they have to do while controlling Ellie), and that's the point.
The Last of Us Part II is clearly going to be a difficult game, and not just from a gameplay perspective. Players should expect to sometimes have trouble getting through sections of the game, questioning why they're doing what they're doing and feeling morally conflicted at times. They should be disgusted by moments where blood gushes from a wound or uncomfortable while hearing someone gasp for air after you have shot them. The game will be violent and disturbing. It might make players feel like they're facing a moral dilemma. But anything else would be inauthentic and trivialize the story being told. The discomfort people feel when watching or playing The Last of Us Part II isn't a fault of the game: it's essential.
Developed by Naughty Dog, The Last of Us Part II will be released for PlayStation 4 on June 19.