The Last of Us: Part II vs. Days Gone

I’ve spent the better part of this summer working on my backlog. In doing so, I’ve tackled both Days Gone and The Last of Us: Part II, in that order. I was thrilled to experience the former on my beefy PC in its full glory. However, I was too curious to wait on a port for the latter so I got right into it after finishing up Days Gone. There’s a bevy of things that both games aim for, and there are positives and negatives to take from both sides as the last generation wrapped up with two undeniable gems.

The zombie genre has been beaten to death (no pun intended) as The Walking Dead and other franchises surged in popularity almost a decade ago. While it isn’t unfamiliar ground, there’s still an enjoyable story to be told if the writers can be innovative enough. Bend Studio labored away at Days Gone for several years to deliver their passion project, whereas Naughty Dog has been prolific on PlayStation systems for more than two decades now.

So, how do the two games measure up in comparison to one another? Well, there are a lot of areas to inspect in this argument. First, let’s dissect the one thing that breathes life into this genre: the story. Days Gone sees Deacon St. John try to find a purpose in post-apocalyptic life as he struggles with his last sane friend Boozer and the clinching hope that his wife is alive. On the other hand, The Last of Us: Part II challenges the player to see things from an unwanted perspective and tells a tale of revenge and its by-products from two different viewpoints.

Days Gone thrives thanks to its believable, engaging voice acting, where Last of Us: Part II contains a memorable format thanks to its ability to tell a story without cutscenes. In fact, the latter seamlessly moves between cutscene and gameplay with no pauses. However, a lengthy load time is necessary when booting up the game on a PS4. The former falls short in its open-world nature letting the player dictate the story’s pace, removing the sure sign that the compact delivery is guaranteed.

As far as set-pieces go, The Last of Us: Part II is a masterclass. Whether you are in a thick forest fog, a frantic stormy night, or a casual jaunt through a well-secured town, the mood is perfectly established in this offering. Days Gone opts for a rarely-utilized setting in rural Oregon, displaying marshes, a snowcapped mountain, and desert all in a believable real-world place that is optimally traversed with your trusty motorcycle.

Combat between both games is fairly similar: you’re dealing with your low ammo count, prioritizing enemy types, and debating between running from a fight or utilizing the last of your resources to dispatch all of your foes. While these two games offer different gameplay experiences, they’re both smartly crafted stories with ample polish and a fulfilling ending. At the end of the day, both games are worth trying in their own right and show there’s still life in the zombie gaming genre.