Summary
The Last of Us Part 1needed to spend quite a bit of time exploring the Infected, not only in lore but also as an enemy faction. This is done gradually throughout the beginning of the game andthe tension of Infected encounters inThe Last of Usnever truly dissipates because every level where a handful of runners or clickers need to be dealt with is suspenseful. Clickers are always a constant threat and shift the dynamic of gameplay drastically compared to when only a few runners need to be handled, and that threat is extrapolated when bloaters are debuted.
Unfortunately, though, because of how excellent the portrayal of the Infected is inThe Last of Us Part 1the human enemy factions arguably suffer; thankfully,The Last of Us Part 2more than makes up for that.The Last of Us Part 2 Remasteredis only the latest reminder of how well-conceived and well-designed the WLF, Seraphites, and Rattlers are, each with their own tactics to be aware of in combat or stealth. The Seraphites are particularly intriguing due to their unique role as a cult and it may be difficult to surpass how iconic they are with any new enemy factions in aLast of Us Part 3.
Why The Last of Us’ Seraphites are Its Best Human Enemy Faction
FEDRA, WLFs, and Others are Too Cut-and-Paste in The Last of Us
Stripped bare of its association with Abby, the WLF isn’t all that interesting. Lore-wise they don’t have much to distinguish themselves from any other highly armed militia groups that are probably rampant in other states, and their resemblance to FEDRA isn’t hard to see, either.
In gameplay, the only element that makes them halfway distinct is the fact that they have scent-sniffing hounds who can track the player to their whereabouts. Unfortunately, what these soldier-filled factions lack is a true sense of identity. It’s far too easy to peg them as a colorless militia and already know everything one needs to about them.
Of course, individuals within such a militia group can be interesting,Abby and her close company inThe Last of Us Part 2included, but from a wider stance it is difficult to say what else about the WLFs or any other comparable organization is authentic. It’s important to have a faction that is well-armed so that they can pose a threat in gameplay, but being well-armed doesn’t make them more interesting from a design perspective.
That’s why, whenthe Seraphites (or Scars) are introduced inThe Last of Us Part 2, they debut as a horrifying presence and their perceived shortage of armaments actually makes them more intimidating in a way.
The Last of Us Part 2’s Scars Make for a Faction with Humanity (or Lack Thereof)
How Seraphites communicate is a huge proponent of what makes them dreadful. Scars whistle to one another and remain hidden, wielding bows and firing arrows quickly and silently at the player.
There arelarger brute Scars in the enemy factionwho haul their weight over to the player and swing sledgehammers around, but for the most part they stick to stealth and flank in ways that soldiers do not. Scars aren’t always incredibly difficult, but in stealth they pose an advantage by turning players into prey.
Likewise, the fact that the Seraphites are all part of a cult makes them far more intriguing from a narrative perspective, especially when Abby gets to learn about their motives and who they worship when she meetsThe Last of Us Part 2’s Lev and Yara. The Rattlers are an incredibly dynamic group with wholly awful motivations, too—despite how little time they have to develop inThe Last of Us Part 2’s third act—and it will be exciting to see howThe Last of Usiterates on all of its established factions when aPart 3inevitably arrives.
The Last Of Us Part II Remastered
WHERE TO PLAY
EXPERIENCE ELLIE AND ABBY’S EMOTIONAL JOURNEYS, REMASTERED FOR PS5 Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closure.
