The Last of Us Must Bring Back This Crucial Crafted Item

The crafting system in The Last of Us Part 2 introduced the clever ability to use everyday materials for building various tools. However, the addition of silencers in the sequel should be considered a pivotal element in future installments of The Last of Us games. The resources available for gathering have evolved throughout the series, potentially enhancing the crafting system for players' convenience and strategic thinking. In The Last of Us Part 2, players were able to craft pistol silencers using just a rag and a canister. Although these makeshift silencers may not be functional in reality, they play a vital role in the fictitious fungal post-apocalyptic world by allowing players to use firearms without alerting nearby enemies. Stealth is a core aspect of gameplay in The Last of Us, and the introduction of silencers provided an aggressive stealth option, contrasting the defensive use of shivs. As a result, considering the confirmed multiplayer mode for The Last of Us and the rumored development of The Last of Us Part 3, silencers should become a permanent feature of the series.

Silencers Balance Offense with Stealth for The Last of Us Multiplayer

The Last of Us is renowned for its captivating single-player campaigns and narrative-driven stories. It also incorporated an online multiplayer mode where two teams of players competed against each other. Unlike traditional player versus player (PvP) modes, The Last of Us emphasized stealth and strategy rather than action-packed gunplay commonly found in first-person shooter (FPS) games. Naughty Dog, the game's developer, successfully balanced these elements in the multiplayer mode called Factions. However, when developing The Last of Us Part 2, Naughty Dog decided to abandon their initial plan of creating "Factions 2" and instead focused on developing a separate standalone multiplayer game.

One possible reason for this change could be the alterations made to the player's weapons and crafting system. The inclusion of silencers, alongside other gameplay options, allowed players to take a more aggressive approach while still maintaining stealth. In the multiplayer game of The Last of Us Part 2, the introduction of new weapons could provide players with additional offensive choices, thereby striking a balance between stealth and the intensity of PvP combat. Especially, the implementation of silencers could significantly impact the game by encouraging players who prefer using firearms to engage more directly, leading to diverse strategies and tactics within both defensive and offensive gameplay approaches.

Silencers Could Expand The Last of Us Part 3's Combat

Speculating on how The Last of Us Part 3 can learn from its predecessors to enhance gameplay, it is likely that silencers will make a return in the new game, alongside other craftable resources. Similar to other items, crafting a silencer only requires two components. However, its limited durability, lasting for only a few gunshots, ensures that it cannot be excessively exploited. As seen in The Last of Us Part 2, new combat mechanics such as hiding under cars were introduced, suggesting that The Last of Us Part 3 could revamp its game design and combat mechanics with silencers in mind.

One potential improvement would be to expand the range of weapons that can be equipped with silencers. In The Last of Us Part 2, silencers were primarily limited to a few pistols, with the exception of the silenced submachine gun as Ellie's final weapon. The Last of Us Part 3 could provide the opportunity to broaden this selection and include other firearms. For instance, despite making brief appearances in both games, The Last of Us Part 3 could introduce obtainable sniper rifles, promoting larger level designs, long-range combat, and most importantly, giving silencers a greater purpose beyond pistols.

The Last of Us Part 2 is available now for PS4.