The Last of Us Part II’s Music Is An Emotionally Thematic Masterpiece
Say what you want about the story of The Last of Us Part II, but the game’s music expertly conveys the mood and themes of a given moment.
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The Last of Us Part II thrives on music. It’s no surprise considering how important it was for the original game and how it has since defined the series. It emotionally impacted me when I first played the game back in 2013 and it has become a staple of my music collection ever since. It emphasized the game’s identity, especially the darkness and hidden love within its world, and the sequel has continued using music in unique ways, both in practicality and how it is portrayed thematically.
The Score
One of the best things Naughty Dog has ever done is bring Gustavo Santaolalla back for The Last of Us Part II. His compositions and style are what made the first game’s score so brilliant and he shows that off once again with the sequel. Throughout the soundtrack, he incorporates past themes in songs like “Chasing a Rumor” and “All Gone (The Promise),” but also introduces new songs for players to fall in love with. He expertly weaves in character themes and moments that pull at your heartstrings, all while staying grounded in the world of The Last of Us. The music isn’t flashy, but is meant to enhance the emotions you’re feeling and Santaolalla does that wonderfully.
Mac Quayle was also brought on to compose original music for The Last of Us Part II and his inclusion brings a new flavor to the game. His pieces are much darker and heavier and they lean more into electronic sounds. This parallels the increased use of technology within the sequel and veers away from Santaolalla’s continued use of acoustic instruments. And while Quayle’s songs are mostly used during encounters, the game finds interesting ways to identify the two differing styles of music.
*Spoilers for The Last of Us Part II ahead*
Santaolalla’s tracks are mostly heard when Ellie is in the driver’s seat. This gives the player a sense of familiarity, something to remember from the first game. The music is often quiet and unsteady, just like Ellie, and emphasizes what she’s feeling without her having to say a word. But Quayle’s music is mostly heard when you are playing as Abby. While the two composers aren’t exclusive to one character throughout the runtime, the darkness and grittiness of Quayle’s tracks fit well for our second protagonist. The music shows off that this is a new character in a new situation. Abby is ruthless, confident, and scared and the music reflects that.
Thematic Elements
Along with the music itself, The Last of Us Part II’s themes revolve around music and use it to tell its story.
Ellie’s guitar, for example, has been a central focus point ever since the game was announced back in 2016, and it’s featured constantly. It even creates a circular narrative within the game as it is both the opening and closing image. It is a constant symbol, following the player throughout the journey and even back into the past. The guitar also symbolizes Joel and Ellie’s relationship. Near the beginning, we see Joel cleaning the guitar, hoping to start fresh with Ellie after the events of the last game and when it needs new strings near the midpoint, it resembles their broken relationship after Joel finally tells Ellie the truth. But Ellie constantly returns to a guitar throughout the story, wanting to cling to the little bit of Joel she has left.
You can even play the guitar in the game, placing yourself in Ellie’s shoes. The act of swiping the touchpad will make Ellie play a chord, but then you can also tap in different areas to pluck different strings. This wasn’t needed in the game as it doesn’t add anything to the overall story, but Naughty Dog put it in anyway and I think it’s one of the best details in the game.
Characters communicate and bond through music as well. There’s a reason we hear the beginning of the song Joel first played for Ellie throughout the game. It connected those two characters and that song will always represent that. In addition, Ellie connects with other characters like Dina through song and even with herself. She’s constantly writing lyrics (and scratching them out) in her journal and you can really see what her inner thoughts are, the things she’s not telling anybody.
Music has always been special for me. It’s expressed the things I could never put into words and to see such a light on it throughout The Last of Us Part II was such a comfort throughout an otherwise dark game. It provided some of the most touching moments for me. The songs both on the soundtrack and in-game made me smile, laugh, and definitely cry. Music is all around, just as it is in real life, and it helps tell Ellie and Abby’s story. It’s perfect and the game wouldn’t have been the same without it.
Link Source : https://www.thegamer.com/last-of-us-part-ii-2-music-emotional-thematic-masterpiece/