MovieChat Forums > The Last of Us (2013) Discussion > Not a sequel, a prequel

Not a sequel, a prequel

posted 9 years ago by M_Exchange
10 replies | jump to latest

I think that very few of us want to see a sequel that features Joel and/or Ellie in deep trouble again. We want to just leave that ending alone.
So now that they have all-but-confirmed that a sequel will happen I'm almost disappointed because I want a PREQUEL.
I want to go back to that moment when Joel's daughter dies, then go through the soul-dying Joel's descent into hell.
I know that they said that he killed innocent people, which no one wants to play through. They can cleverly cut past those events.
Then it can end with him meeting Tess.
I'm playing the game through for the first time since 2013, and I've died three times with 60% of the game behind me, so this shiz is way too predictable and easy (yeah, normal mode-- I don't want to re-play survival right now) to me now even two years later.
I NEED MAH BACKSTORIES... and that one would be hella interesting.



[–] bakerstreetdozen 9 years ago

I agree that I'd rather go back in time, not forward. I'd actually be interested in perhaps playing as Tommy, with Joel as the companion. Eventually they separate, obviously, but I feel like it would be pretty cool to see how Tommy handled himself during that twenty years.

--
'Save me, Barry!'

[–] jacob_barreiro 9 years ago

I never really desired a prequel after Left Behind, since it filled in the biggest lack in the first story: we got to really see into Ellie. One thing I liked a lot in TLOU was how they didn't do a lot of exposition and let people surmise what happened instead through more realistic dialogue and inferences instead of logging us with a lot of backstory (like when Joel and Bill banter about his "debt"). I really think a sequel picking up right where the prologue left off would be redundant, since we know the gist of what happened then anyway. It could be made to work, and there are a lot of other already established character to follow

But I think what made people love TLOU so much wasn't really what happened, but to whom it happened to. The story elements are pretty common, but the depth of characterization made it work. That, and the popularity of Ellie, is probably a big reason the next one will be a sequel. Personally, I wouldn't mind another set of characters with a radically different story altogether, but I suppose if they absolutely have to make it a direct sequel, I'd like to see the story stray more boldly from traditional video game elements, ie massive violence and gunplay. I actually think a domestic drama, not unlike a Yasujiro Ozu movie (late spring) would probably be the most moving. Having Joel, who seems like he's bound to just get older and lonlier, with Ellie in her 20s, have to find a way to force her from his side, so she can start her own family, her own journey, would be good closure (although you can argue they have good closure already).

[–] majandralover30 9 years ago

the problem is that a prequel you already know how it is going to happen. and giving how people loved the ending of the first, making a sequel and actually saving the world might somehow depreciate it in the eyes of the fans. so I don't even know why make it except for money lol

[–] jimanchower 9 years ago

"so I don't even know why make it except for money lol"

You mean the exact same reason they made the first one and every other video game ever made?

I've read they're making a sequel they just want to make sure they have a strong story.

Like someone else said, the story is pretty generic anyway, it's just the game play/game design and writing that make it good.

[–] cberbes 9 years ago

I agree. I like how this story ended. Continuing it would feel cheap. But there's 20 years of Joe's story to tell. What did he do right after Sarah? How and why did his brother get involved with the fireflies? Why didn't Joel? How did he end up going from TX to MA? How did society go from the outbreak to what we see in this game? They should pick up where the prolog left off and time hop to him ending up in Boston with Tess.

[–] kropolis 9 years ago

Agreed. There's so many vague references to what Joel did after Sarah died that I'd rather see a game beginning with that same opening that takes the player from Texas to Boston over the course of many years. Or even split it into two games so long as story-telling doesn't suffer.

[–] from_ember_to_inferno 8 years ago

I like the idea of a backstory for Tommy, watching his brother fall deeper into despair. How he got in with the fireflies to how he ended up at the camp. Then maybe it could follow from there, something happens that he has to go after Joel and Ellie...

[–] Ohio9 8 years ago

I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel with an adult Ellie.

But I'd also like a prequel as well. That could work. I too would like to see how things went in the earlier days (or years) of the outbreak.

I'd also like to see Tommy's story. What made him leave the fireflies? Why did he go to Wyoming? How did he set up what appears to be only civilized free town left in the world? He was easily my favorite character from the game, and I'd love to know how his story went.

[–] majandralover30 8 years ago

i've heard that there is going to be some time jumping, but considering that the human race is doomed at the end, i don't see the point, unless the sequel part were to find an alternative to the fungus.

[–] Ohio9 8 years ago

The ending didn't establish the human race is doomed. It didn't even imply it. On the contrary, Tommy's town proved the opposite. It showed the people could still live peaceful productive lives even with the infection an ever-present threat.