Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II

While making The Last of Us Part II, Naughty Dog attempted something risky both technically and narratively: cutting the player off from the character they loved in the first game and putting them in the place of the person who killed him. This documentary covers how that decision was taken and how it was argued inside the studio. The writing process, the performance-capture sessions, the sound design, and the harsh reaction after release are all part of the narrative. Directed by Cesar Quintero, the film rests on interviews with Neil Druckmann, Ashley Johnson and others at the studio. It is the second Grounded film; the first was made in 2013 for the original game. The passages about working conditions are the most solid part: long hours and how a project wears people down are discussed directly. Who it's for: Anyone curious about game development, players of The Last of Us, and viewers who like behind-the-scenes documentaries. Who it's not for: It means almost nothing to a viewer who does not know the game, and it is a narrative the studio produced about itself, so the critical distance is limited.