The Last of Us 3 Cannot Afford to Do the Same Mistake Again Despite What Neil Druckmann Believes (& It’s Not Killing a Major Character)

SUMMARY

• The fans were not on board with the idea of pushing Abby as a pivotal character in The Last of Us Part 2.
• Naughty Dog took a gamble by introducing a new character and make the players like them.
• The Last of Us Part 3 could be the final part of the franchise.

The Last of Us is arguably the greatest story ever told in a video game and the game developers of Naughty Dog gave the franchise the respect it deserved by making a sequel filled with great controversy. It is no secret that Part 2 is not well-received, especially with how the writers treated certain characters and the direction of the story, and this should be avoided for the inevitable sequel.

Director Neil Druckmann has a lot of loose ends to tie up before wrapping the story. Image Credit: Naughty Dog

The controversial sequel had a rocky start; however, no level of criticism dampened its chances of winning countless accolades and with enough time, some fans were won over. The developers took a risk and did not land what they anticipated which should be taken as a warning to not repeat the same mistake in Part 3.

The Last of Us Part 3 Could Redeem the Franchise by Learning From Its Mistakes

Despite not having outright confirmed the project’s existence, director Neil Druckmann shared a lengthy message while celebrating the fourth anniversary of The Last of Us Part 2, and Druckmann heavily implied that the studio could be working on the sequel sooner rather than later. From a business perspective, it would make sense to make another game given the tremendous success of the first two stories and the ambiguous ending hinted at the possibility.

For all its faults, the controversial sequel is still highly revered and some fans came around Abby and her deeds. The gaming community was taken aback after major story spoilers were leaked online months before the release, and it revealed the death of Joel, arguably the most beloved video game character despite all his flaws. Dual protagonists severely strained the storytelling and pacing of The Last of Us Part 2. It would make sense for Naughty Dog to craft a much bigger and grander story than Part 1 but the execution was atrocious.

The gaming community hardened after Joel’s death and not everyone was willing to partake in the story Druckmann wanted to tell. Some fans found other issues that pushed them beyond their limits such as animal violence and the themes of violence and never-ending cycle of rage. Revenge is the focal point of the controversial sequel, and the game developers of Naughty Dog wanted to offer the most immersive experience by dialing up the gore and dismemberment features.

The Last of Us Part 2 featured cutting-edge technology, but these advancements were shrouded by the messy storytelling and the conflicted morals of the players. Ellie naturally pursued Abby and her friends to Seattle seeking justice and overcoming great obstacles and challenges to exact her vengeance. Abby is also a victim of circumstances; unfortunately, fans cannot come to terms with her after she came out of nowhere, and the writers expected the players to connect immediately with her after killing Joel making a potent mix for a disaster.

The Last of Us Part 3 Does Not Need Multiple Protagonist to Tell a Great Story

All characters have seen their share of grief and pain in The Last of Us franchise. Image Credit: Naughty Dog

Ellie went on a darker path in Part 2 prompting her to do unforgivable things in her blind revenge quest. From killing Infected to human threats from the WLF and Seraphites, no one was safe in Ellie’s path to hunt down Abby until she realized this was not what Joel would have wanted for her. Some fans are optimistic to see Ellie return to her older self as she recovers from the emotional trauma she endured and redeem herself in Part 3.

Introducing another protagonist and having them match the talent of the previous leads was daunting. Laura Bailey gave it her all for her portrayal as Abby Anderson and was on the receiving end of all the hate which was uncalled for. Abby is not a good person and is no different than Joel and Ellie; however, fans were given a bad first impression of the character.

Naughty Dog will celebrate Outbreak Day, an annual celebration of The Last of Us, and the gaming community is convinced new content will be shared. Druckmann could reveal Part 3 on The Last of Us Day with a brief teaser; however, it is still a viable option.

Regardless of the ambitious scope and scale, it will all fall flat if the execution is poorly done. Part 2 could be charged to experience and a wake-up call for Naughty Dog to repeat the same mistake for Part 3. It is unlikely that the sequel will have one protagonist given the level of care to Abby.

Do you think Naughty Dog should still use dual protagonists in The Last of Us Part 3? Let us know in the comments section below!

Written by Rouvin Josef Quirimit

Articles Published: 1031

Piqued by his interest in superheroes during the early days of Marvel movies, Rouvin fell in a rabbit hole of pop culture. His passion for movies led to video games and he fell in love with God of War, The Last of Us, Uncharted, Red Dead Redemption, and more great single-player games that paved the way for his career as a gaming writer.