With The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, you get the No Return mode which is a roguelike gameplay mode. It might be a little overwhelming for a casual player, but for those who love the game’s combat, it is the best thing ever.
Excel at it, and you’ll unlock new content, some of which you can use in the main game. To learn how to make the most of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered‘s No Return mode, read this guide.
Start slow
If you’re familiar with TLOU 2, you may be tempted to crank up the difficulty. Although this will give you a challenge, you may want to start things slow first. This isn’t like the base game. You’ll be bombarded with encounters and if you aren’t ready for the long run, you’ll get killed and lose all your progress.
Whatever difficulty level you’re comfortable with, start a level or two lower than that just to get used to things.
Prepare to die
There is some intense disappointment that comes with dying in the No Return mode. You lose all your progress and have to start from scratch. However, you do gain experience and some mods are unlocked.
You will inevitably die several times, no matter how good you are. Take it on the chin, identify your errors, and make sure you don’t make the same mistakes twice.
Avoid paths with companions
As you choose your six encounters, you’ll notice some of them have companions to help you. Avoid these. You get help in the short term, but in the long term, you’re screwed over. These routes will typically end up taking you through a particularly difficult encounter to make up for the help you previously received from your companion.
Trap mines and Molotovs
Regardless of your difficulty level, these are your best tools. A well-placed trap mine allows you to trick your foes while you escape while Molotovs can take out two enemies at once if your aim is good. Whenever possible, stock up on these items.
Be prepared
There are a couple of challenges No Return throws at you:
- Assault – survive against waves of foes
- Hunted – stay alive until the timer runs out
- Capture – break into a safe full of guarded supplies
- Holdout – you and your in-game companion take a stand against Infected
Each challenge requires different skills from you so be prepared to approach things differently depending on the challenges you’re facing. You’ll learn the best tactics with experience, but be aware that what works in one scenario won’t work in others.
