The Last of Us: The Resident Evil Element That Would Enhance the Game
The Last of Us, a game centered around zombies, could benefit from incorporating a feature from Resident Evil, adding an exciting twist to its gameplay
Highlights
Endgame content in video games is often tailored to the genre, with open-world RPGs offering side quests and linear games incorporating mini-games or DLC.
The Resident Evil games feature a well-loved mini-game called The Mercenaries. In this game, players are tasked with eliminating large groups of enemies in order to earn points and receive rewards.
While The Last of Us franchise is renowned for its immersive and story-driven gameplay, it has not yet explored endgame content. Introducing a mode similar to The Mercenaries could enhance the series' replayability and showcase its exceptional combat mechanics.
Developers often include endgame activities in games to maintain player engagement after completing the main story. The type of endgame content varies depending on the genre of the game. Open-world RPGs typically feature side quests that can be played alongside the main story or unlocked only after completing the main quests. On the other hand, more linear games often incorporate mini-games or DLCs. In action-focused shooter games like Resident Evil, mini-games often involve killing hordes of enemies in different stages, allowing players to earn points and rewards as they progress.
Games like Call of Duty and Resident Evil follow the arcade formula by including a zombie mode in Call of Duty and The Mercenaries in Resident Evil. These modes require players to survive waves of zombies, but with different mechanics in each franchise. However, The Last of Us series has yet to focus on post-game content since introducing The Last of Us' Factions multiplayer mode in 2013. Given this absence, it may be beneficial for Naughty Dog to consider implementing a game mode similar to The Mercenaries found in Resident Evil.
Mercenaries Could Add Some Spice to The Last of Us
The Last of Us tells the tale of Joel, Ellie, and Abby as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world, striving to survive while also forming meaningful relationships amidst the chaos. The game's realistic tone is reflected in its gameplay, which prioritizes survival and stealth mechanics. Unlike other post-apocalyptic games, a guns-blazing approach is seldom effective in completing most stages. Naughty Dog has been reluctant to introduce alternative gameplay styles in the franchise since Factions, as this serious demeanor is its defining characteristic. On the contrary, Resident Evil places significant emphasis on resource management and strategic gameplay, while embracing a more comical and action-packed experience.
Resident Evil games feature a variety of adversaries, including zombies, mutants, and bio-organic weapons. The fast-paced nature of this gameplay has given rise to numerous arcade mini-games within the franchise. From cooperative Raid Mode to zany Tofu Survivor and the beloved Mercenaries Mode, these additional modes serve as a testament to Resident Evil's diverse gameplay. While Tofu Survivor may not be well-suited for The Last of Us' somber theme, a mode resembling The Mercenaries may find a place within the franchise. The Mercenaries has been a recurring mini-game since Resident Evil 3, and it has garnered a dedicated following among fans. In this mode, players utilize characters from the main game, whether they be heroes or villains, to eliminate waves of enemies and accumulate as many points as possible within a predetermined time frame.
In the recent remake of Resident Evil 4, players could advance to the next level by eliminating a certain number of enemies and obtaining a new objective. Each available character in the game has unique traits and playstyles, and unlocking additional characters may require achieving a specific rank with a previously unlocked character. Similarly, in a hypothetical mini-game within The Last of Us, players could utilize different in-game characters to survive against a horde of infected for a set duration. For instance, a non-playable character like Tommy could possess specialized sniping abilities, while the powerful Abby could enhance her strength and perform faster barehanded takedowns in a frenzy mode.
The multiplayer game Naughty Dog is currently developing, which has yet to be titled, could be an excellent platform for a mode similar to Resident Evil's Mercenaries mode. However, a Mercenaries-style mode could also be seamlessly integrated into a singleplayer version of The Last of Us, serving as an enjoyable bonus mode for fans of the series.
