Dodging is Key in The Last of Us Part 2, Especially in No Return Mode

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As a gamer immersed in The Last of Us Part 2, I can’t emphasize enough the crucial role that dodging plays. It’s not just about evading enemy attacks; it’s a strategic move that lets me strike first, then swiftly retreat, often leaving my foes off-balance and vulnerable. This tactic gives me the advantage, allowing me to wear down enemies or even switch to a firearm when they’re recovering. What makes dodging even more compelling is that Ellie and Abby each have unique animations and combat styles associated with their dodges, adding another layer of depth to the gameplay experience.

Ellie is always carrying a switchblade, making her adept at silently taking out clickers without needing a shiv or melee weapon. However, she can’t use the switchblade to escape grapples. On the other hand, Abby relies more on shivs and melee combat. This difference in playstyles creates exciting gameplay during Ellie and Abby’s individual chapters. The way the animations are distributed among the 12 characters in “The Last of Us Part 2” roguelike mode, No Return, is influenced by their unique builds and equipment. Additionally, the importance of dodging is emphasized particularly through Tommy, Joel, and Bill in No Return.

Tommy, Joel, and Bill All Have an Arm Tied Behind Their Backs in The Last of Us Part 2’s No Return

Each character in No Return boasts an individual approach to gameplay, equipment setup, skills, and advancement paths that sets Mel apart from Manny significantly. Notably, characters utilize either Ellie’s or Abby’s movements, with the exception of Tommy, Joel, and now Bill, who lack a dodge mechanism – a feature shared by all other characters except these three.

It seems likely that the creators chose to make these characters difficult to control, perhaps because they are widely popular and the developers aimed to surprise us by presenting them as challenging. This tactic appears to have been used in Marvel Rivals, where Spider-Man was made particularly tough to handle.

When characters lack the ability to dodge, they are limited in their usual strategies when choosing between Tommy, Joel, or Bill. For instance, a character without dodging can’t set a trap mine and swiftly move away to evade an impending explosion. Similarly, they can’t engage in close combat with strikes exchanged, as they will still get hit, even if they possess the “Sturdier Against Melee” effect that reduces the number of grappling moves from enemies.

Tommy’s personalized hunting rifle serves as an effective substitute for evasion in situations where players keep their distance, like in Capture. However, it’s important to note that Tommy isn’t particularly versatile. Earning high encounter scores can be challenging without a diverse skill set, and the Marksman upgrade path primarily boosts the bolt-action rifle’s performance, with very little ammo conservation during gameplay.

In the game “The Last of Us Part 1,” Joel’s improved melee weapon, upgraded shiv, and custom revolver make him quite effective in both Assault and Hunted encounters against infected. It might seem fitting that Joel doesn’t dodge since he can’t in this version of the game, but it’s crucial to understand that any melee encounter in “The Last of Us Part 2” can be extremely dangerous if players fail to dodge individual strikes, as they could quickly find themselves overpowered.

In the game, Bill initially relies on his trusty machete, but he can’t get a shotgun until the players collect Dead Drops. This means that Bill, like Marlene who encourages risky moves, encourages the players to gather Dead Drops whenever they appear, as they will receive double the rewards when they pick them up at the theater hideout during gameplay sessions. In previous installments, a shotgun was an essential weapon for Bill.

On Grounded in No Return, bricks, bottles, stun bombs, pipe bombs, and trap mines are essential.

Despite not having the dodge ability, Bill is on par with Tommy or Joel from No Return, and Yara might even surpass them in terms of poor running potential due to her partner who can interfere with any bonus score plans players may have. This suggests that Part 2’s gameplay can be effectively mastered without the dodge move, but it’s intentionally more challenging since characters like these are at a disadvantage without it.

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2025-05-01 14:34