Is New Game Plus in The Last of Us Worth Playing? A Deep Dive
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Absolutely. New Game Plus (NG+) in The Last of Us (both Part I and Part II) is unequivocally worth playing for a multitude of reasons. It breathes new life into an already masterful game, offering a vastly different experience while retaining the core narrative brilliance. Whether you’re a seasoned survivor seeking a tougher challenge or a curious newcomer wanting to explore the game’s intricacies without the initial grind, NG+ delivers. It’s a fantastic way to re-experience a beloved title with a fresh perspective.
The Allure of New Game Plus: Why Bother Replaying?
The brilliance of The Last of Us lies not just in its compelling story and captivating characters but also in its meticulously crafted world and challenging gameplay. New Game Plus amplifies these elements, providing a compelling reason to dive back into the post-apocalyptic landscape.
Enhanced Challenge and Accessibility
One of the most significant benefits of NG+ is its ability to customize the challenge. For veterans who found the initial playthrough too easy, NG+ offers the perfect opportunity to tackle the game on Grounded mode or with Permadeath enabled. Conversely, if you struggled with resource management or enemy encounters in your first playthrough, NG+ allows you to carry over your upgraded weapons, skills, and tool levels, making subsequent playthroughs smoother and more enjoyable.
Strategic Depth and Exploration
The ability to retain your upgrades fundamentally changes the way you approach combat and exploration. You can experiment with different playstyles, fully upgrading weapons you might have neglected in your first run. Suddenly, that neglected hunting pistol becomes a devastating tool in Ellie’s arsenal, and the shotgun can be further tweaked into an absolute beast. This encourages strategic experimentation and a deeper understanding of the game’s mechanics.
Trophy Hunting and Completionism
For completionists, New Game Plus is almost essential. In The Last of Us Part II, certain trophies, like “For Emergencies Only”, are much easier to achieve with the upgrades carried over from your initial playthrough. You can focus on collecting remaining artifacts, trading cards, and workbench locations, without the added pressure of constantly scavenging for resources.
Narrative Re-Engagement
Beyond the gameplay enhancements, NG+ provides a fantastic opportunity to re-engage with the story. Knowing the narrative arc allows you to appreciate the subtle nuances of the characters’ interactions and the world-building. You’ll notice details you might have missed the first time around, deepening your connection to the story and characters. Additionally, having some of the most difficult tasks out of the way allows one to fully appreciate the cut scenes.
Refining Your Skills
You get an opportunity to refine your skills. When you play the same game twice, you might be more willing to try new strategies or tactics. This can only serve to improve your gaming prowess.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About New Game Plus in The Last of Us
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to address common concerns and clarify the intricacies of New Game Plus in The Last of Us:
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What exactly carries over into New Game Plus in The Last of Us?
In New Game Plus, you typically retain your weapon upgrades, player upgrades (skills), tool levels, and collectibles (like trading cards and artifacts) from your previous playthrough.
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Do I keep all my weapons in New Game Plus?
Unfortunately, no. You don’t start NG+ with all the weapons in your inventory. You will, however, find them throughout the game as you did in the original playthrough, but with all of your previously unlocked weapon upgrades still intact.
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Can I change the difficulty level in New Game Plus?
Generally, you can only play NG+ on the same difficulty or higher than the one you completed your previous playthrough on. This prevents players from easily breezing through NG+ on a lower difficulty after conquering a challenging one.
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Does New Game Plus increase the game’s difficulty?
New Game Plus does not inherently increase the base difficulty. However, it allows you to play on higher difficulty settings, like Grounded, which offers a significantly more challenging experience than the standard difficulties.
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Does starting New Game Plus overwrite my previous save file?
No, New Game Plus creates a new save file. Your original completed save remains intact, allowing you to switch between playthroughs at any time. Always ensure you manually save your progress to avoid any potential data loss.
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Is it possible to fully upgrade everything in a single playthrough of The Last of Us?
It’s unlikely to fully upgrade everything in a single playthrough, due to the limited amount of scrap and supplements. However, NG+ provides the opportunity to gather the remaining resources and max out all your desired upgrades.
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What happens to collectibles in New Game Plus? Do they respawn?
No, collectibles do not respawn in New Game Plus. This means that if you’ve already collected an artifact or trading card, it will remain collected in your NG+ playthrough. This is helpful for players that want to find the remaining items.
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Is New Game Plus worth it for trophy hunters?
Absolutely. NG+ is crucial for unlocking certain trophies, particularly in The Last of Us Part II, where specific upgrades and skills are required to complete certain challenges or unlock specific trophies.
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Can I skip cutscenes in New Game Plus?
Whether or not you can skip cutscenes depends on the specific game version and platform. Some versions allow you to skip cutscenes after your first playthrough, while others do not.
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Does New Game Plus affect the story or ending of the game?
No, New Game Plus does not alter the core story or ending of The Last of Us. It’s a replay of the same narrative with enhanced gameplay options and progression.
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How does New Game Plus work with Grounded mode?
New Game Plus makes Grounded mode slightly less punishing by allowing you to carry over weapon and player upgrades. However, the core challenges of Grounded mode, such as severely limited resources, disabled Listen Mode, and deadlier enemies, remain in place.
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Are there any exclusive items or content in New Game Plus?
While there aren’t typically exclusive items in the traditional sense, having your upgrades from the start can unlock entirely new gameplay experiences.
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How many times can I start a New Game Plus playthrough?
You can start a New Game Plus playthrough as many times as you like, as long as you’re using a completed save file as your starting point.
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I am new to gaming, is starting the game with New Game Plus a good idea?
While nothing is stopping you from starting your adventure with New Game Plus, the general consensus is that it is better to begin with a normal game. This will allow the player to properly be introduced to the game mechanics.
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Is New Game Plus worth it if I didn’t enjoy my first playthrough?
If you disliked the core narrative or gameplay mechanics of The Last of Us, New Game Plus might not fundamentally change your opinion. However, if your frustration stemmed from resource scarcity or difficulty, NG+ could offer a more enjoyable and accessible experience.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, New Game Plus in The Last of Us is a worthwhile investment for both veterans and newcomers alike. It provides a customizable challenge, enhances strategic depth, aids in trophy hunting, and allows for a deeper narrative re-engagement. Whether you’re striving for ultimate survival on Grounded mode or simply want to experience the story with a more powerful arsenal, New Game Plus offers a compelling reason to return to the world of The Last of Us.
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