A hidden detail in The Last of Us: Part 2 reveals that aquatic life is still thriving in the franchise's post-apocalyptic world. Naughty Dog's action series sees humanity ravaged by a fungal infection, allowing nature to reclaim the Earth and create a lush setting for gamers to explore. Naught Dog managed to fit plenty of details into The Last of Us 2, creating a truly immersive post-apocalyptic experience.
The Last of Us: Part 2 follows the first game's story while building upon its mechanics and world. PlayStation 4 hardware allowed Naughty Dog to create an almost photorealistic version of the franchise's lush post-apocalyptic setting, which focuses on flora and green hues rather than nuclear fallout or barren deserts. The Last of Us 2's character models, animations and artificial intelligence create an incredibly immersive experience as players delve into Ellie's brutal quest for revenge. Small details sprinkled throughout the game also help add personality to both the world of The Last of Us and its cast of characters. For example, a small Last of Us 2 detail involving Abby shows a playful side of the otherwise stern and aggressive deuteragonist.
Modder and Twitter user Speclizer recently discovered a hidden The Last of Us: Part 2 detail that shows aquatic life thriving after the fall of humanity. While humans may be reduced to living in small quarantine zones, Speclizer discovered a small pond where a large group of tadpoles can be found swimming around without a worry. While most players will miss the tiny detail, it makes the game's world feel much more alive for those that do discover it. The Last of Us: Part 2 also features other marine life, namely a spotted seal encountered by Abby and Owen, that suggests aquatic life is thriving without humanity's interference.
PlayStation 4 hardware let Naughty Dog fill The Last of Us: Part 2 with detail, and the upcoming Last of Us PS5 remake will no doubt make the original title equally immersive. The recently-announced remake will rebuild the franchise's first installment from the ground up, maintaining the classic story while adding modernized gameplay and breathtakingly realistic graphics. While the original release of The Last of Us was impressive for 2013, the PlayStation 5 version will no doubt impress with hidden details like The Last of Us: Part 2's tadpole pond.
The Last of Us: Part 2 manages to create a truly believable version of a post-apocalyptic America ravaged by a fungal infection. A major theme of the series is that nature can truly thrive without humanity's interference, and the sequel's hidden tadpole detail is a perfect way to illustrate that concept. While The Last of Us may portray the final years of humanity, aquatic life on Earth will live on unbothered by the fungal apocalypse.
The Last of Us: Part 2 is available on PlayStation 4.
Source: Speclizer/Twitter