The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered vs God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla – A Comparative Analysis of Two PlayStation Roguelike Modes

The roguelike genre has gained significant popularity in recent years, with many developers experimenting with the concept in various ways. Two of PlayStation’s biggest hits, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered and God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla, have recently dipped their toes into this genre, albeit with different philosophies driving them. In this article, we will provide a comparative analysis of these two PlayStation roguelike modes, focusing on their gameplay, storytelling, and overall experience.

Gameplay: The Fundamental Differences

Both modes are love letters to the characters and worlds established by their parent games, offering a chance to revisit familiar faces and arenas. However, the underlying gameplay mechanics and design philosophies are vastly different.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return mode focuses on the game’s tense stealth combat, offering a showcase for the system’s intricacies without any narrative dressing. The limited arsenal and enemy types restrict the randomness, creating a more methodical experience. On the other hand, God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla’s roguelike mode, Valhalla, is built around the game’s diverse runic abilities, skill trees, and a greater variety of enemy types. The larger set of factors allows for a more unpredictable and fresh experience with each run.

Fundamentally, God of War’s gameplay is better suited to the roguelike genre due to its richer combat system and the potential for more varied encounters. The Last of Us’ limited arsenal and enemy types restrict the randomness, making the experience more methodical but less adaptable to the roguelike ethos.

Storytelling: The Role of Narrative

Both modes pay homage to their parent games’ stories, but they approach narrative in different ways. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return mode focuses on combat, reducing its characters to killing machines and detaching them from the story. This creates a philosophical dissonance between the core themes and messages of The Last of Us Part 2.

God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla, on the other hand, invites players to dive deeper into Kratos’ story, serving as an epilogue to Ragnarok and an essential chapter of his evolution. The roguelike nature of the mode allows for a steady progression of the narrative, revealing new details and dialogue with each death and resurrection.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return mode lacks the narrative focus that makes the game special, while God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla uses the roguelike mechanics to tell a compelling story that complements the game’s core narrative.

Experience: The Complete Package vs. The Side Quest

God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla is the more successful experiment due to its seamless integration of storytelling and gameplay, offering a complete package that feels like an essential part of the game. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return mode, while fun, is a side quest that detaches from the main story and feels at odds with the game’s themes.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return mode is a well-executed roguelike spin-off that showcases the game’s stealth combat, but it lacks the narrative focus and depth that makes God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla stand out. The roguelike genre offers a unique opportunity to explore new stories and characters, and God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla does so in a way that enhances the game’s core narrative, making it a must-play for fans of the series.

In conclusion, while both The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered and God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla offer engaging roguelike modes, God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla is the more successful experiment due to its seamless integration of storytelling and gameplay, offering a complete package that enhances the game’s core narrative. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return mode is a well-executed side quest that showcases the game’s stealth combat, but it lacks the narrative focus and depth that makes God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla a must-play for fans of the series.