An observant The Last of Us Part 2 player noticed a very subtle difference in the encounters with Scars between Ellie and Abby. Relating to the way the Seraphites whistle at one another, this tiny difference provides insight via details native to Naughty Dog.
During Last of Us 2, players will come across a new human enemy known as Scars. The group's true name is the Seraphites, a primitive cult that doesn't believe in the use of technology or most modern advancements due to following a prophet's brutal ideals. They get their nickname as the Scars due to the scars on their cheeks, meant to be an acknowledgment of humankind's imperfections. While the Scars are the main antagonists to the Wolves and Abby, Ellie will also come across the hostile group and must fight through them as well. However, a small difference relating to their whistle signals was pointed out by a fan and highlights an interesting piece of perspective in character design.
Both the Wolves and the Scars are new enemies to Ellie during her quest in The Last of Us 2, but to Abby, the Seraphites are a group she and the rest of the Wolves have been battling with her entire life. The two have been at war with one another since a few years after the outbreak in 2013 as they both try to take control of Seattle. So it would make sense for Abby to be familiar with their tactics, such as the whistles they use to signal one another, especially during combat.
One player pointed out a small but significant difference between the subtitles when the Scars are whistling. When playing as Ellie, the subtitles will say something simple like "**Strange Whistle**" or "**High Pitched Whistle**," but when playing as Abby and these whistles are heard, the subtitles become more descript, such as "**Calling Whistle**," "**Receiving Whistle**," or "**Danger Whistle**."
This is a small bit of insight into Abby's training and interaction with the Seraphites throughout the years. Abby knows what the whistles mean while Ellie, who is encountering the group for the first time, isn't familiar with the whistles and therefore doesn't know what they mean.
The Last of Us Part 2 released in July 2020 and fans are still finding small breadcrumbs left by Naughty Dog pointing to the studio's attention to detail, even in the smallest of areas, just like this one that provides insight to Abby's history with her enemies and what she's done to combat them.
The Last of Us 2 is available on the PS4.
Source: GamesRadar
