Set in the dead, evergreen city of Seattle, Washington, The Last of Us Part II brings a fresh experience for the players. Sure, The Last of Us has always been the story of Ellie and Joel Miller, but the chillingly hazardous nature of Seattle takes the game to a whole new level—almost as if it’s a secondary protagonist of the game.
However, many players might have missed these ten things after finishing all the Seattle chapters in Part II, from facts to hidden Easter eggs. Don’t worry, though, cause we’ve got you covered!
10 There’s A Pearl Jam Poster In Seattle
The Last of Us: Part II might have divided fans into two, but everyone agrees that the best part of the game is the flashback scenes of how sweet Joel and Ellie’s father-and-daughter-like relationship was. When Joel gave his hand-made guitar to Ellie, he crooned a song that started, “If I ever were to lose you, I’d surely lose myself,” much to what he feels about his ‘babygirl’ and everything they had been through.
The song is called ‘Future Days’ by a Seattle-based band, Pearl Jam, from their 2013 album Lightning Bolt. You’re welcome.
9 Pearl Jam’s ‘Future Days’ Was Released in 2013, the Same Year As The Outbreak’s Start And Sarah’s Death
The Seattle-based band released Lightning Bolt in 2013, the same year as the Cordyceps Brain Infection hit the United States of America. It’s also the beginning of the original Last of Us event where Joel’s daughter, Sarah, died in his arms in the hands of a ruthless military soldier.
Coincidence? Think not. Maybe Naughty Dog really loves symbols that much, and how ‘Future Days’ was sung must’ve meant something for Joel and Ellie.
8 There’s A ‘Velveteen Rabbit’ Page In Seattle
For more nods to the OG Last of Us, head over the bookstore in downtown Seattle with Ellie to find a page of the infamous 1922 children’s book, The Velveteen Rabbit. It’s an apparent reference to the Winter chapter of The Last of Us when Ellie took a good care of severely-injured Joel, hunting a rabbit and rushing for medicine before being kidnapped in the hands of cannibalistic survivors, David and James.
Aside from the book, more rabbit references can be found during the first few scenes with Ellie when Jesse asked Ellie to patrol. Before heading out, a rabbit can be found from a window of Ellie’s room.
7 ‘Hotline Miami’
Another cool reference is how Naughty Dog places Hotline Miami after a brutal scene where Ellie slaughtered a Wolf with a PS Vita in hand in Seattle. This game within a game centers around a character named Jacket seeking revenge, very similar to the sole theme of Part II.
“And we’re also just huge fans of Hotline Miami—like, I love that game,” said Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann, as reported by USgamer. “So we reached out to those guys, and they were nice enough to let us put it in there.”
6 Before The Seraphites & The Wolves, FEDRA & Military Controlled The City
Historically, Seattle, as its located at the heart of the US government, was an extensive quarantine zone with plenty of checkpoints and massive walls. During the earliest stage of the Outbreak, the FEDRA, with aid from the military, took over the whole city.
Unfortunately, at some point, the people of Seattle were fed up with how terrible they controlled the city, up until the creation of the Washington Liberation Front.
5 Isaac Dixon Wasn’t The First Leader Of The Wolves
During the first few months of its formation, Isaac Dixon was not even the militia rebel group’s first leader. It was the two Patterson couples, namely Emma and Jason, who led the people of Seattle to rebel against the government.
According to the ‘wanted’ posters found in the Wolves’ base of CenturyLink Field Stadium, Emma and Jason were among the top fugitives of the military and FEDRA, hunted for the acts of terrorism and smuggling.
4 The Wolves Were The Ones Who Erased FEDRA & The Military From Seattle’s Map For Good
Though it’s not precisely a lesser-known fact, it’s still worth pointing that the Wolves, mostly consisted of Seattle citizens who were frustrated on how the FEDRA & military ran the city, started attacking both groups to gain full control over the city.
According to collectibles that can be found throughout the game, the battle lasted for ‘several months.’ The Wolves won, while their rivals, the Seraphites, tried to stay away from the war by moving out to an island nearby the shore.
3 There Were Only Four Soldiers Left During The Last Day Of The Military’s Reign Of The City
According to the files that can be found on Seattle’s highway, after Isaac took over the Wolves’ leadership and turned it into a war-maniac, murderous regime, he led the final offensive against the remaining FEDRA & military forces. As things went south, FEDRA’s headquarter decided to evacuate the city, leaving the remaining four soldiers ambushed.
2 More ‘Left Behind’ DLC Easter Eggs In Seattle
More Easter eggs to the ‘Left Behind’ extension pack, during Ellie’s journey in Seattle after traveling by boat, you’ll come across an arcade machine with its main character, namely Angel Knives, on its front.
It’s a clear nod to the DLC pack where Ellie played the game with her friend and first romantic interest, Riley Abel.
1 It Resembles Real-Life Landmarks Of Seattle City
Naughty Dog took downtown Seattle’s details into a new extreme by comparing the city’s in-game appearance with its real-life counterparts.
From the courthouse to the bookstore, the details that the developer has put into this game are immersive. Even if some players have a polarized view regarding this game, its graphics and details are still worth praising.
