If you are reading these lines in all likelihood you are among the lucky ones who have a copy of The Last Of Us: Part II in your hands; so let's not get lost in preambles and let's start by describing one of the most important activities in the game: exploration. Much of this exploratory activity is obviously aimed at the search for materials, and implies the possibility of using various kinds of wit. As you certainly know, there are no fixed rules in looting, but some generic advice can always help.
At some point in the story Ellie, Dina (and Shimmer, their mount) will find themselves in one of the larger sections of the game map, with complete freedom to roam. You can scrape together key elements in every building: collectibles, documents with testimonies and more. You will know for sure that you have found everything there is to take in a specific area from the mark that Ellie will draw on the map with the marker.
In every corner
In The Last of Us Part II, exploration literally means look in every corner. Go off the beaten track often it will lead to more than just the accumulation of materials, medicine or ammunition. Be sure to interact with letters and objects scattered everywhere to get the most out of the story.
Safes: It sounds trivial but it's not
Safes are something you will come across often and the combination that opens them is almost always nearby. Look for letters in a safe place that sometimes provide the code or a hint of where to find it. Check the room itself for answers or missing pieces of the sequence. In case of problems finding the combination, know that the safes they can also be broken into. With a little patience (and very loud headphone volume), you will be able to hear a slight change in the click noise of the selector once you hit the correct number. It could save you time in the long run once the skill is honed.
Survival courses
Entire courses of skill are locked inside training manuals that you will find scattered throughout the game world as you travel. Gaining access to these manuals will provide you with improvements in the character's basic skills. Exploration in The Last of Us Part II is also key to making Ellie as lethal as possible.
Each trade has its tools
While weapon upgrade parts and basic items may seem easy to find, you will never have enough items to fully upgrade Ellie's equipment in a single run. Focus on emphasizing what your preferred play style will be when using resources. Also, don't be afraid to set aside weapon scraps for future upgrades: Weapon workbenches are found with sufficient regularity.
Intelligence = survival
Exploring is fine for resources but you can't carry many items just to accumulate them. In The Last of Us Part II exploration will have a greater chance of success if you simultaneously use the objects found to create tools (or even medicines) that you can use as needed, through the appropriate slots. This way you can always have an inventory full of useful items and always have space to collect basic items.
Who breaks (does not) pay
Don't be afraid to break all the glass you come across. As long as there are no enemies around to hear you, of course. Vending machines usually contain food that can regenerate part of the health bar, and some windows can lead to areas not otherwise accessible. You can break glass by throwing something through it, shooting or smashing it. Try to observe everything. If you're looking for collectibles, don't ignore the wooden planks and cork walls - someone may have pinned a valuable collectible among other documents.
Nothing is always there where you thought you would (re) find it
Some important items / objects may appear in different positions in different games. Occasionally even collectibles may appear in slightly different positions. This is one more reason not to leave drawers closed or areas unexplored.
A chance for everyone
When playing for the first time, don't worry about collecting everything at once. The Last of Us Part II has a great chapter selection system that tells you how many collectibles you have left behind, so completists can always retrace their steps later. Also, it is good to know that there are no difficulty-based trophies, but you will have to repeat at least part of the game to fully upgrade your character. Charges for completists!
So, considering that we are on day-one, we have taken away too much time. Plunge joypad in hand and let us know your exploration experiences in Seattle of this highly anticipated The Last of Us Part II.
If you are still undecided, be sure to read our Marco Fazzini's review of this latest Naughty Dog masterpiece.
► The Last of Us: Part II is an Adventure-Action-Horror-Survival game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 4, the video game was released on 19/06/2020
The Last of Us: Part II is a game to own at all costs: we decided to evaluate it with a 98%, if you are interested in learning more you can read the Review of The Last of Us: Part II
