Despite its plot proving divisive amongst franchise fans, The Last of Us 2 was a huge commercial and critical success. The action adventure game’s state-of-the-art graphics, brutal gameplay, and emotionally eviscerating storyline have all been praised by critics since its release in 2020.
However, there is another key component of Naughty Dog’s title that was integral to its stellar performance. Without the talents of Troy Baker, Ashley Johnson, Laura Bailey, and the rest of its talented cast, The Last of Us 2 would not have been able to deliver such an impactful and deeply affecting story.
How The Last of Us 2’s Cast Brought the Game to Life
The original The Last of Us was a smash hit, with praise heaped upon the game’s story and its powerful ending. Many believed that the plot was so self-contained and perfectly concluded that scripting a sequel was not only unnecessary, but would indeed be impossible. However, writer and creative director Neil Druckmann believed he had another story to tell in the game’s world, exploring the implications of the violence inflicted on others by the characters in the original. He wanted players to understand that these acts have enormous, and sometimes unexpected, consequences.
The Last of Us 2 began development in 2014, with Naughty Dog’s entire team pivoting to the project by 2017 after the completion of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. The lead actors from the first game, Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, reprised their roles as Joel and Ellie respectively, alongside other returning talents like Jeffrey Pierce as Joel’s brother Tommy.
They were joined by new actors including Shannon Woodward, who portrayed Dina, and Laura Bailey as Abby. The latter, a new character who was heavily depicted in one of the game’s trailers, had her shocking role in the game’s story spoiled by a frustrating pre-launch leak that disclosed the game’s most unexpected plot twists.
One of these twists resulted in Abby’s character drawing the ire of some fans who disagreed with Naughty Dog’s narrative decisions. This controversy resulted in the game being “review bombed,” and in some instances Bailey even received personal threats. However, many fans and critics felt that her portrayal of the character was excellent, and helped to realise the game's bold and unexpected narrative vision. She and the character have also been credited for inspiring fans with the portrayal of a strong, capable, and physically imposing female lead.
Other performances were also singled out for specific praise. Troy Baker was credited with a show-stealing delivery in Joel’s small number of scenes, while Ashley Johnson’s performance was described as “nothing short of awards-worthy” for her depiction of a bereaved character consumed by grief and rage.
Although she was nominated for Best Performer in a Leading Role at the 2021 British Academy Games Awards, it was co-star Bailey who ultimately walked away with the trophy. The fact that Troy Baker, Jeffrey Pierce, and Shannon Woodward were all nominated for Best Performer in A Supporting Role at the same ceremony is testament to the quality of the acting on display.
The game also made unprecedented use of performances even for minor characters. Unlike in other titles, where patrolling guards spout the same few lines of dialogue in a permanent loop, The Last of Us 2 used its stealth combat to reinforce the game's message about the consequences of violence. When the corpse of a sentry killed by the player is found by their comrades, they will often refer to their deceased companion by name, crying out in shock at the violent death of their friend. This touch made even the killing of generic enemies feel consequential and significant — which was precisely Naughty Dog’s intention.
Other Memorable Video Game Performances
Of course, the likes of Troy Baker are far from strangers to delivering lauded video game performances. The veteran has lent his diverse vocal talents to such projects as the recent Arkham games, where he took over from Mark Hamill as the voice of the Joker, as well as to other iconic roles like Revolver Ocelot in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Laura Bailey has also appeared in a huge number of games, with roles ranging from the title role in Catherine to Nadine Ross in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.
As a comparatively fledgling industry, video game actors are still afforded less media coverage than their silver screen counterparts. However, there is increasingly more crossover between the fields. Kiefer Sutherland made headlines when he lined up alongside Troy Baker in Metal Gear Solid V, with many franchise fans irked by the ousting of David Hayter from the lead role. Conversely, Hayter made a successful transition in the opposite direction, with the famous voice of Solid Snake winning the Saturn Award for Best Writing for his work on X-Men, which he co-wrote along with X2 and Watchmen.
Many other experienced actors have demonstrated their diversity when switching between TV, film, and video games. Armin Shimerman delivered one of the best opening monologues in gaming history with his vocal performance as misguided visionary Andrew Ryan in BioShock, but has also starred in a number of small screen roles including appearing as Principal Snyder in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Others have fared less well in the transition, with Game Of Thrones megastar Peter Dinklage being criticized for his uninspired delivery in Destiny.
The boundaries between video games, television, and movies are becoming increasingly blurred. HBO will soon bring a live-action adaptation of The Last of Us to the small screen, and recent movie outings for the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog and Pikachu have met with enormous box office success. This may mean that fewer actors specialize in video games in future, or it may mean that more stars who have made their name in the games industry are able to bring their talents to other media. One thing is certain: The performances of Baker, Johnson, Bailey, and the rest of the cast of The Last of Us 2 will continue to live long in the memory.
The Last of Us 2 is available now for the PS4.