When putting together The Last of Us Part 2, Naughty Dog expended no shortage of details. Tiny details within the game are still being uncovered by fans, from story-changing items to atmospheric mechanics. Even the smallest of details cannot be ignored, as they all play a part in the game's realism and quality of life.
While The Last of Us 2's violent narrative has bred hot debates since it released, none can deny the expert details that went into the realistic rope mechanics and facial movements. Seattle residents are also noting the layers of accuracy shown in the game's chapters, from heavy rainfall to the city's layout. Whether its the game's level of physics or hidden objects that give a hint at the game's ending, no detail should be overlooked, and many of these can be observed while playing as Ellie.
Ellie's Breathing System
As opposed to Abby's more direct approach, Ellie's character, like much of the game, is based around stealth. And while it obviously isn't necessary to the game for developers to program it into Ellie's physics, her breathing mechanic is just another aspect to TLOU2 that makes it all the more realistic. As sound designer Beau Anthony Jimenez from Naughty Dog says on Twitter about the company: "the sky is [the] limit," and describes the incredible design that went into Ellie's breathing.
Ellie's breathing takes into account many lifelike triggers. For example, if she's injured, a breathing variant will sometimes trigger. Increased and exhausted heart rate will also have an effect on Ellie's breathing sounds, as will nearby enemies. If an enemy is visible or within earshot, Ellie will transition to closed-mouth breathing, even when sprinting.
Ellie Got Her Wish
One of the most (and only) heartwarming scenes of TLOU2 is Ellie's 15th birthday. Joel takes her on a fun adventure through a museum with dinosaurs that impresses his pseudo daughter but also surprises Ellie with one of her favorite subjects: outer space. Like the rest of The Last of Us and Part 2, much lore and backstory can be found in conversations while traveling with a companion. A very touching and important detail can be overlooked during Ellie's birthday chapter, partially due to the non-linearity of it.
During this scene, one conversation the player can come across while traversing the abandoned museum is Ellie saying she wanted to become an astronaut, but no, this isn't the only dream that Joel fulfilled for her. Joel embarrassingly responds that he used to dream of being a singer. But no matter how much Ellie begs and begs, he won't sing for her. That is until the opening scene of TLOU2 when Joel is giving Ellie her very first guitar. As long as she promises not to laugh, Joel sings her his rendition of "Future Days" by Pearl Jam.
Water Stream Animation
Again, Naughty Dog spared no detail in The Last of Us 2's creation. Seattle, much like the real city, experiences heavy rainfall throughout the first two acts of the game. The downpour sometimes causes streams of water to break from surfaces, and in many other games, that would be the end of the animation, but not for TLOU2. If Ellie stands directly underneath it, it will trigger an animation that causes her to flinch and duck in discomfort.
Sam's Robot
Ellie's bedroom seen at the beginning of Part 2 features several Easter eggs. This is the first moment in the game where a dusty model of a PS3 with vintage games lying next to it, but a handful of items from the game's predecessor can also be found with a keen enough eye. One of the more somber objects is Sam's toy robot. Joel and Ellie were temporary companions of Henry and his younger brother Sam, who wanted to keep a robot he had found. Henry didn't allow for them to keep any trivial objects that might weigh them down, but Ellie had snuck it out and given it to Sam shortly before his tragic end.
The Dusty Theater
The dust in the theater is another intricate detail employed by the massive development team and Naughty Dog that seemingly serves no other purpose than the realism it adds to the nearly-abandoned version of Seattle. The theater Ellie and Dina find solace in is one of the most beautiful—and accurate—locations in the game. A number of road cases and even a door to the scene shop can be found on the stage.
But despite its beauty, it's been abandoned for quite some time, as the dust that has settled on every surface would show. Interestingly enough, however, not only with footprints be left behind in it, but Ellie can also drag her body across the floor, removing the dust.
Dina's Bracelet
This is perhaps the most important of the small details throughout The Last of Us Part 2. Dina can be seen wearing a leather bracelet with a silver hamsa in flashbacks of earlier moments, such as Ellie and Dina dancing together. Then, throughout the first act of Seattle, Ellie can be seen wearing the bracelet, suggesting that Dina had romantically gifted it to her at some point.
Their relationship shows some of the only happy moments in the game, but the ending had initially turned it sour when Ellie returns to the empty farmhouse, Dina and J.J. nowhere to be found. While this originally implied that Ellie had missed out on the happy relationship by again chasing after Abby, fans began noticing Ellie wearing the bracelet while she plays Joel's gifted guitar, completely changing the implication of the final scene.
The theory holds credence because Ellie is not wearing the bracelet in Santa Barbara. The idea here is that Ellie must have already met up with Dina and J.J. and was returned the bracelet in their reuniting. This could also possibly imply that they are living back in Jackson, a note that can be found in the farmhouse also suggests. While this is just a fan theory, director Neil Druckmann has been known to state that all The Last of Us games are about love, making this ambiguously suggested ending fall in line with his outlook of the series.
The Last of Us Part 2Â is out now for PS4.
