‘The Last of Us Part II Remastered’ Director Matthew Gallant Unpacks No Return Mode and Lost Levels

variety.com:

Katcy Stephan “The Last of Us Part II Remastered” is finally here, complete with a host of new features to draw in new fans and entice existing players.

Chief among them is No Return, a roguelike experience which allows users to complete a series of randomized encounters before facing off with a fearsome boss.

It also gives fans their first opportunity to complete runs as previously unplayable characters like Dina, Jesse and Lev. Game director Matthew Gallant sat down with Variety to unpack the hotly anticipated title’s new additions, from accessibility upgrades to a series of scrapped levels showcasing the development process. Some people may ask why a game released in 2020 needs a remaster already.

Obviously, NaughtyDog released the remaster of the first game after just a year, so there’s a precedent – but why did the studio decide to release this now? The comparison you just made to The Last of Us Remastered on the PS4 – to us, it’s a very similar kind of idea.