Naughty Dog is giving players a new way to play in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered with No Return, a roguelike twist on the game's already challenging combat sequences. With the danger of other humans and the inhuman Infected and Clickers amplified by randomization, it is set to be a wild ride for anyone that is unprepared.
That said, there is still some degree of control that is left in the player's hands. A run in No Return can take place under varying difficulties, either increasing the challenge or making things easier in the long run. Making the right choice can ensure a better experience, depending on your preferences.
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All Difficulty Options in No Return
When choosing to start a new run in the No Return mode of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, players will be asked to choose the difficulty level that suits their mood. This will determine the level of challenge that awaits in the upcoming encounters, as well as a score modifier for those chasing a place on the leaderboards.
Here is the full breakdown of all the difficulty options that are available:
Very Light
As the name suggests, this is No Return at its most forgiving. There will be less emphasis on combat, with enemies being more easily handled and weaker, and plenty of resources to make crafting more straightforward as well. The caveat will be that the score modifier is not in effect, so what you see is what you get.
Light
Moving on, the Light difficulty is less challenging than Moderate, with more resources to be found and enemies less aggressive. This step up will implement a score multiplier of 1.20x.
Moderate
The default and most balanced difficulty setting in the mode, Moderate difficulty, provides a good challenge in combat and stealth, with limited resources to test players' mettle in exchange for a score multiplier of 1.50x. This is also a good way to ease into things for players returning after a long time away from the franchise.
Hard
Need more of a challenge in an already dangerous world? Choose Hard difficulty for a tough time, where resources become very limited and your foes more aggressive. That 1.80x multiplier will definitely see those scores get higher and higher.
Survivor
Those on another level can choose to go the Survivor route, which brings a multiplier of 2.00x. This is an intense and demanding challenge, where resources are extremely scarce and enemies deadly no matter who you are going up against.
Grounded
Lastly, for the most hardened players out there, Grounded difficulty is where the fun is. Touted as the most challenging and realistic experience, the 2.50x multiplier will tweak Listen mode, the HUD, and other gameplay elements in ways that lessen the advantage of the player. This is not for the faint-hearted and a true reflection of the skill of players who can succeed.
Custom
As for those who prefer to have their own fun, Custom difficulty allows for change to a variety of gameplay elements, such as the frequency of mods, Gambits, and more. Various factions and modes can be turned off or on, and it makes for a bespoke adventure in the roguelike mode that will cater to all kinds of preferences.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 90%
- Released
- January 19, 2024
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- The Last of Us
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
