
The dogs symbolize what many characters cannot see within each other - the presence of both good and bad. However, they learn that this is not the only side to Alice, and after Alice warms up to them, she demonstrates just how friendly she can be. Yara and Lev, who are Seraphites that end up befriending Abby, see the vicious side of Alice first. However, when there are Seraphites around, Alice suddenly becomes a vicious monster ready to rend any flesh she finds. Alice is extremely friendly, and though the chances to play fetch with her are few, they are always fun.


This is seen most clearly with Alice, a dog belonging to the WLF. Within The Last Of Us 2, dogs demonstrate that a single being can contain both yin and yang, good and evil, and kindness and cruelty. Eliminating dogs makes things easier, but WLF members will react with shock and call out their furry friend by name when they find the dead body. Abby is part of the Washington Liberation Front, which is shortened to WLF and pronounced as "wolves." The WLF roams around with vicious dogs, and when Ellie crosses paths with them, she must either kill the dogs or risk being sniffed out and mauled. The presence of dogs in The Last of Us 2 is conspicuously prominent, although this should perhaps be expected of a game from a studio called Naughty Dog. RELATED: How The Last of Us 2's Abby and Ellie Are Two Sides of the Same Coin It is only when one sees things from both Abby and Ellie's points of view that the bigger picture becomes clearer. Abby and Ellie's lives are intertwined, and while they have both lived through the same events, they have walked away from them with wildly different perspectives. This serves as a light distraction from The Last of Us 2's seriousness, but it also acts as a symbol reminding players that there are two sides to every story. Although players may have begun cheering for Ellie, after their adventure with Abby, it becomes obvious that while Ellie may be a hero to some, she is the villain in Abby's life.ĭuring Abby's segment of the game, she collects coins. During this time, there is an opportunity to understand her motivations, and while one may not agree with her actions, it becomes much easier to empathize with her. However, about halfway through the game, there is a sudden shift in perspective, and players get to spend several hours with Abby. It is hard to not resent her, and it is even harder to not root Ellie on as she hunts her down. The Last of Us 2's Abby is initially presented as a stranger that betrays Joel's kindness and brutally murders him. In reality, people tend to have a good side as well as a dark shadow that must be tamed. Juxtaposed with a story that blurs the lines between right and wrong, the collectible trading cards become a lighthearted reminder that societies of neatly separated good people and bad people are only possible in the fictional world of superheroes and villains. Although Abby kills someone who Ellie loves, in her pursuit of revenge, Ellie ends up killing innocent folks. Daniela Star and Candelabra are labeled as heroes.Įllie's mission seems righteous at first, but when players are given insight into Abby's side of the story, things do not seem so black and white any longer. For instance, some, like Chessmaster, Oozer, and Laurent Foucault are labeled as villains, while Dr. They can be organized into neat categories thanks to the labels on them. Along the way, Ellie collects trading cards featuring fictional characters with superpowers. For the first half of the game, players take control of Ellie who, along with Dina, travel to Seattle to seek Abby and the Washington Liberation Front and exact revenge. The game centers on Ellie and Abby, two women who believe they have scores to settle with each other.

Scavenging for collectibles often leads to resources or points of interest that players might have otherwise missed and, more importantly, they help to convey some of The Last of Us 2's main themes.

They are hidden a little off the beaten path, encouraging players to explore the densely detailed environments. Fortunately, the collectibles of The Last of Us 2 are well implemented. Too many times, games cram in too many collectibles or require an incredible amount of effort from players with little to no rewards. Collectibles in video games can be a hit-or-miss feature.
