Can You Play New Game Plus Twice in The Last of Us? The Definitive Guide
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Yes, you absolutely can play New Game Plus (NG+) twice in The Last of Us. In fact, you can continue the NG+ cycle multiple times, as long as you finish the campaign in each playthrough. This allows you to experience the game with your previously acquired upgrades, weapons, and skills, adding a fresh layer of strategy and enjoyment to each successive run. Let’s delve deeper into how this works and address some frequently asked questions.
Understanding New Game Plus in The Last of Us
New Game Plus is a feature unlocked after completing the main story of The Last of Us (both Part I and Part II). It allows you to replay the game from the beginning while carrying over certain progress from your previous playthrough. This includes weapon upgrades, player skills, and collected resources, offering a distinct advantage from the start.
This feature enhances replayability, allowing players to experiment with different playstyles and difficulty levels without having to grind through the initial stages of the game to reacquire essential upgrades. Furthermore, it offers an opportunity to revisit the narrative with a greater understanding of the story, character motivations, and world lore.
How Many Times Can You Play New Game Plus?
The great thing about The Last of Us is that there’s no limit to how many times you can play New Game Plus. After finishing your first NG+ playthrough, you can use that save file to start another NG+ run, and so on. This means you can theoretically play NG+, NG++, NG+++, and beyond. Each time, you’ll retain your previous upgrades and skills, creating a potentially overpowered character as you progress through the cycles. This is a design choice to enable players to fully enjoy the gameplay and experiment with various strategies.
Benefits of Playing New Game Plus Multiple Times
There are several compelling reasons to embark on multiple NG+ playthroughs:
- Enhanced Challenge: While the initial NG+ might feel easier due to your accumulated upgrades, subsequent runs on higher difficulties can still provide a significant challenge, testing your skills and resource management abilities.
- Mastering Combat: The game’s combat system offers a rich variety of approaches. Multiple NG+ runs give you the freedom to perfect your stealth tactics, hone your gunplay, or master melee combat, leading to a more complete understanding of the game’s mechanics.
- Completionist’s Dream: If you missed collectibles or upgrades during your initial playthrough, NG+ provides an excellent opportunity to find everything without starting from scratch.
- Story Re-engagement: The emotional depth and intricate narrative of The Last of Us are worth revisiting. With each playthrough, you may notice new details and appreciate the story from a different perspective.
- Experimenting with Difficulty Levels: NG+ is a great way to experience the game on higher difficulty levels with the advantage of your existing upgrades.
- Unlocking Trophies: Some trophies might require specific actions or playthroughs on particular difficulties. NG+ makes these achievements more accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about New Game Plus in The Last of Us:
1. What exactly carries over in New Game Plus?
In The Last of Us New Game Plus, you typically carry over:
- Weapon Upgrades: All upgrades you’ve unlocked for your weapons.
- Player Skills: All skill upgrades you’ve purchased.
- Supplements and Parts: Unused supplements and parts used for upgrades.
- Collectibles: Discovery of all collectibles from a previous save are logged. However, in some versions, you may have to recollect them to receive in-game rewards/abilities/buffs associated with them.
2. Can I change the difficulty level in New Game Plus?
Yes, you can typically change the difficulty level at the start of a New Game Plus playthrough. However, in some versions, the difficulty selection is limited to the highest difficulty you completed your previous game on or lower.
3. Does New Game Plus make the game easier?
Initially, New Game Plus can feel easier due to your existing upgrades. However, you can increase the difficulty to maintain a challenge. Ultimately, the game difficulty will depend on your choices.
4. Can I skip cutscenes in New Game Plus?
Yes, most versions of The Last of Us allow you to skip cutscenes in New Game Plus, which can speed up your playthrough if you’re primarily focused on gameplay.
5. Do enemies get stronger in subsequent New Game Plus runs?
In some games, enemies do become stronger in each successive New Game Plus run. However, in The Last of Us, the enemy difficulty generally remains the same. The challenge comes from your chosen difficulty level.
6. Are there any new items or content exclusive to New Game Plus?
While there aren’t usually entirely new areas, New Game Plus may unlock new character models, game modifiers or other bonuses.
7. Can I find all collectibles in New Game Plus?
Yes, New Game Plus provides an excellent opportunity to find any collectibles you missed during your initial playthrough. The game often tracks which collectibles you’ve found, making it easier to locate missing ones.
8. Can I still earn trophies in New Game Plus?
Absolutely! You can still earn trophies in New Game Plus, including those related to difficulty levels, collectibles, and combat challenges.
9. What happens if I start a new game instead of New Game Plus?
Starting a new game will erase your previous progress, forcing you to start from scratch without any upgrades or skills.
10. Is New Game Plus available in both The Last of Us Part I and Part II?
Yes, New Game Plus is available in both The Last of Us Part I and Part II, offering similar benefits in each game.
11. Does Infinite Ammo work in New Game Plus?
Yes, after beating the game, you can unlock infinite ammo to use in your New Game Plus run. This can make the game significantly easier. It’s worth noting, however, that infinite ammo and crafting may not be available on the hardest difficulty, such as Grounded.
12. Can I backtrack to previous areas in The Last of Us 2?
Yes, The Last of Us Part II allows you to replay chapters, making it easier to backtrack for collectibles and missed opportunities.
13. Can I use cheat codes in New Game Plus?
Cheat codes or game modifiers are usually unlocked after completing the game once, making them available for use in New Game Plus.
14. What’s the hardest difficulty level in The Last of Us?
The hardest difficulty level is typically Grounded Mode, which significantly reduces resources, increases enemy damage, and removes features like listen mode. Playing Grounded in New Game Plus with your existing upgrades can still be a challenging experience.
15. Where can I learn more about game design and mechanics?
For more in-depth knowledge about game design, mechanics, and the educational aspects of gaming, explore the resources at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. You can also learn more from GamesLearningSociety.org by looking at their various publications.
Final Thoughts
Playing New Game Plus multiple times in The Last of Us is a fantastic way to extend your enjoyment of the game, refine your skills, and delve deeper into its rich narrative and gameplay mechanics. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer, New Game Plus offers a rewarding and engaging experience that keeps you coming back for more.