Developed by Naughty Dog, The Last of Us 2 is one of the most impactful games of the eighth console generation. The visual quality of The Last of Us 2 is highly regarded, and its narrative was effective for many by blurring the line between heroes and villains. While the game failed to please everyone, including some ardent fans of the first game, The Last of Us 2 cleaned house in most gaming awards ceremonies for 2020.
With over 300 awards nominations, The Last of Us 2 is regarded as one of the most acclaimed games of all time. The impact of The Last of Us 2 was especially seen during The Game Awards 2020, one of the most prestigious ceremonies in gaming. It snagged seven awards, making it the most awarded title in the show's history. While 2021 brought its fair share of blockbuster titles that have impressed general players and critics alike, none have managed to make as much of a statement as The Last of Us 2.
The Last of Us 2 Nabbed Big Awards
The Game Awards features a variety of categories, allowing a wide range of games the opportunity to receive recognition. Some awards garner more attention than others, and the one most have their eyes on is Game of the Year. It is decided through a combined vote, with 90 percent of voting weight coming from The Game Award's jury, and the rest coming from ordinary gamers who can vote online.
In 2020, the Game of the Year award went to The Last of Us 2. This puts it alongside acclaimed games such as God of War (2018), Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice that also won the award in recent years. The Last of Us 2 also received the award for Best Action/Adventure game 2020, beating out big games such as Ghost of Tsushima and Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Best Game Direction was another category it dominated, said to go for titles with "outstanding creative vision and innovation in game direction and design."
In 2018, God of War also won the trio of Best Game Direction, Best Action/Adventure, and Game of the Year. In fact, God of War is a title that held the most Game of the Year awards from publications and media outlets before The Last of Us 2 broke its record. However, Naughty Dog pulled off a few more tricks that made its iconic game stand out.
The Last of Us Part 2 - A Jack of All Trades
What helped The Last of Us 2 dominate The Game Awards 2020 was that it managed to excel in many different categories. It was one of the most visually impressive games available on PS4, with a dystopian version of Seattle bursting with detail and character. The might of nature is on full display, as trees and vegetation overpower what were once indomitable cities. The Last of Us 2 was nominated for Best Art Direction but lost to Ghost of Tsushima, a game that features a picturesque rendition of Japan's Tsushima Island. Although Naughty Dog's game did not win, being nominated alongside Ghost of Tsushima, Hades, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake is an achievement in itself.
Where the game did succeed is with its audio. The game was nominated for Best Score and Music thanks to work by composer Gustavo Santaolalla and Mac Quayle, but lost to Final Fantasy 7 Remake. However, it did win Best Audio Design, beating out titles such as Resident Evil 3 Remake and DOOM Eternal.
The Last of Us 2's accolades do not end there. The game also swept awards thanks to its compelling narrative, as well as the sterling performances from actors and actresses. The game illustrates the way each person has the potential to be both benevolent or beastial. For its choices, The Last of Us 2 won Best Narrative. It was also nominated twice for Best Performance thanks to Ashley Johnson's role as Ellie and Laura Bailey's role as Abby, with Bailey ultimately winning.
In 2020, a new category was added to The Game Awards: Innovation in Accessibility. According to The Game Awards, this is a prize given to games containing "features, technology, and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience." The award went to The Last of Us 2, which has an array of features to make the game more accessible. This includes visual aids and options that allow gamers to adjust the gameplay to their capabilities.
The Game Awards 2021
This year's The Game Awards has numerous great games competing for various accolades. In the Game of the Year category, titles such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Deathloop, and Resident Evil Village are in the running. Deathloop appears to be leading the pack overall with nine nominations under its belt, but it still falls short of The Last of Us 2's eleven nominations in 2020.
Deathloop is the only game that has the possibility of matching The Last of Us 2's record of seven awards, as the game with the second-most nominations is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart with six. While Deathloop is an achievement by Arkane Studios, the likelihood of the game winning seven awards is slim. The competition is tough, and it faces juggernauts such as Returnal in the Best Game Direction category, Kena: Bridge of Spirits in Best Art Direction, and Life is Strange: True Colors in Best Narrative.
The Game Awards 2021 is set to be an exciting evening celebrating another year of amazing games, in spite of controversies surrounding its stance on Activision-Blizzard that have cropped up. While the games that have been nominated certainly deserve their time in the limelight, it seems unlikely that The Last of Us 2's dominance will be matched this year - or possibly any time soon.
The Last of Us 2 is available now on PS4.