Uncharted dev Naughty Dog unveils “The Last of Us”

By Adam Rosenberg Published December 12, 2011

Sony flat-out told us all that last night’s Spike Video Game Awards would be home to the reveal of a new PlayStation 3 exclusive game called The Last of Us. That happened. No gameplay was shown in the reveal trailer, but it’s clear that Uncharted developer Naughty Dog is bringing its A-game to this one.

The Last of Us appears to follow a man and woman — possibly father and daughter — through an environment overrun by some sort of fast-moving zombie-like creatures. Previous hints about the game on its official website suggested that the story’s big threat involves the same kind of mind-controlling fungus that creates zombie ants in real life, in the jungles of South America. Our brief look at one of the game’s baddies in the trailer certainly supports that, with mushroom-like growths protruding from its head.

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There’s not a lot about the game beyond that to be gathered from the trailer in any concrete sort of way. The presence of two apparent protagonists certainly suggests that we can look forward to some sort of co-op element within the game, but it’s all just speculation until we see some actual gameplay.

Gaming/Movies Editor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

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Gaming

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered: best weapons and upgrades for No Return

Tommy crouches in grass in The Last of Us 2 Remastered

No Return is The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's intriguing new roguelike mode, which tasks you with enduring various challenging encounters on a path to a final boss -- all while having only a single life. Once you die, your run is over, and you'll be forced to start over with a brand-new run without anything you collected previously. And with so much at stake, it's important to know which weapons and upgrades to prioritize throughout each of your runs to improve your chances of survival. Here are our picks for the best weapons and upgrades in No Return.
Any fully-kitted weapon
Look, let's get something out of the way -- if you're playing No Return and get an opportunity to pick up a fully-kitted weapon, either from the Trading Post or as a reward for a Dead Drop, absolutely make this a core part of your arsenal. These weapons can make your run drastically easier when used against the right foes at the right time. Cherish them.
Double Barrel Shotgun
The Double Barrel Shotgun shows up fairly frequently in the Trading Post and is among the simplest but most effective weapons to keep on you. Its high burst damage can be a lifesaver if you're getting overwhelmed, and it can greatly assist in taking out larger enemies like Bloaters and Seraphite brutes.

Its best upgrade for the Double Barrel Shotgun is Damage, as the power boost can make a big difference, particularly against bosses. However, since that extra damage isn't likely to make a huge difference against standard foes early on, go for Reload Speed as your first upgrade.

Gaming

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered: how to unlock everything in No Return mode

Yara in The Last of Us 2 Remastered

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered has a new No Return mode that brings the roguelike genre into Naughty Dog's postapocalyptic franchise for the first time, and with it comes a bevy of unlockable characters, skins, and more that dedicated players are certain to want to unlock for use in-game. Here's how to unlock everything in No Return.
Characters

Ellie - Unlocked automatically.
Dina - Complete 2 encounters with Ellie.
Jesse - Complete 3 encounters with Dina.
Tommy - Complete 3 encounters with Jesse.
Joel - Complete 4 encounters with Tommy.
Abby - Unlocked automatically.
Lev - Complete 2 encounters with Abby.
Yara - Complete 3 encounters with Lev.
Mel - Complete 3 encounters with Yara.
Manny - Complete 4 encounters with Mel.

Gaming

How to access Lost Levels in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

Lev draws a bow in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered officially brings the popular Naughty Dog game to PlayStation 5 with a number of enhancements, including visual upgrades, a new roguelike mode, and a variety of fresh features that returning players may be interested in checking out. Among these new features are Lost Levels, which showcase early versions of areas that were ultimately cut from the game. There are three of these unique levels you can explore, including Jackson Dance, Seattle Sewers, and The Hunt — and they're all accessible right away, meaning you won't need to beat the main game to explore them. When you're ready to dive into The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's Lost Levels, we'll tell you where to find them below.
How to access Lost Levels

The Lost Levels can be selected by booting up the game and loading up the main menu. At the bottom of the list of options will be a section titled Making Of. Click this to reveal the Lost Levels on the following page. From here, you can choose between the following bonus levels: