God of War Ragnarok is an impressive sequel that manages to make great improvements over its predecessor. Like the prior game, God of War Ragnarok takes place in the Nine Realms, though it doesn't feel like a boring repeat because Fimbulwinter has struck, turning it into a snowy wonderland filled with new kinds of enemies. This is a good strategy to use to re-imagine old locations, and it is something that The Last of Us could also use in its next game.

In prior games, The Last of Us' locations have often become iconic thanks to their landscape. This includes Seattle, which is where players spend a lot of time in the second game. The Last of Us Part 3 could cash in on nostalgia by revisiting these locations, though different weather effects and new factions could drastically change how these places feel.

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The Importance of Locations in The Last of Us Part 2

The symbolism within The Last of Us Part 2 has been discussed to death, though there has been little attention paid to the setting and what significance it plays in the overall game. The game begins in Jackson, a fortified community where Joel and Ellie have been able to enjoy a semblance of a normal life. However, the calm doesn't last for long, as Ellie is forced to witness one of her loved ones being brutally murdered, sparking a violent quest for revenge.

Her hunt for The Last of Us' Washington Liberation Front takes her to Seattle, though it looks quite different, as it has been flooded, turning streets into rivers. The storm that rages very much reflects the inner discord tormenting Ellie, and it only intensifies as she sacrifices more of herself to get even with her foes. The next game could also cleverly use its setting, and God of War Ragnarok illustrates how it could be done.

What The Last of Us Can Learn From God of War Ragnarok

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God of War Ragnarok's the Nine Realms don't feel repetitive by changing the weather, which in turn, affects how the locations look and feel, and also what enemies are encountered. This guarantees that returning players can take advantage of their knowledge from the prior game, though there is still sufficient new content to keep things interesting. Naughty Dog could do the same thing with The Last of Us Part 3, and it would be a great way to once again reflect character growth.

Having The Last of Us' Ellie return to Seattle could be an interesting experience, and the change in weather would reveal if she has grown at all. A return trip that is stormy yet again may illustrate that Ellie hasn't overcome her demons just yet, while sunny weather could illustrate that she has found peace. Sunny weather could also dry up the wet roads, revealing a new landscape for players to explore. The location could also be drastically changed by whatever factions have settled down there, which could mean plenty of booby traps. There is also the nostalgic factor to consider, and revisiting locations such as the suburbs and theater could bring back plenty of bittersweet memories for fans.

The developer has yet to reveal whether The Last of Us Part 3 is Naughty Dog's next project, but after how monumentally successful the television adaptation has been, it is hard to imagine that the studio will be abandoning or neglecting the franchise any time soon. There are several directions the franchise could go, whether it continues Ellie's story, chooses to follow Abby, or does a soft reboot with new characters altogether. Whatever choice is made, a detour to old locations would be greatly appreciated.

God of War Ragnarok is available on PS4 and PS5.

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