The Last of Us Part 2 is scarier than the first game, relying on a series of well-placed jump scares. The original had Joel face off against creepy enemies in dark corridors, but the game rarely relied on the oft-overused horror trope. The sequel’s upgraded graphics make horror-filled encounters more intense, though.
An infected can attack when least expected—it’s never safe. Most jump scares are from scripted segments, while some can happen organically. These are enough to make anyone jump out of their seat or throw the controller down in fear. Spoilers ahead. Proceed with caution!
10 The Rat King’s “Offspring”
A nest of fungus and infected stalked the basement of a Seattle hospital for twenty years. The fungus continued to grow until all the infected morphed into one being. The blob of infected, with arms and hands sticking out from all parts of its body, stands in Abby’s way of some essential medicine.
The rat king is one of the creepiest creatures of 2020 gaming. One of the infected dislodges from the growth and scurries into the darkness. It attacks Abby as she climbs through some air ducts, trying to escape. Gamers saw this coming, but it’s still one of the most intense segments from the game.
9 Bathroom Break
Enemies in bathroom stalls are a classic video game encounter. Fallout players may be familiar with this trick, but it still catches us by surprise. Early in the game, Ellie is scrounging for supplies. She walks into the bathroom, and a hungry runner jumps out of the stall. Ellie is just as frightened as the player as she frantically stabs the runner with her switchblade. After this encounter, every bathroom was heavily surveyed before entering.
8 The Clicker Plays Peek-A-Boo
What’s the deal with infected attacking our protagonists in narrow pathways? Earlier, a bloater attacks a younger Ellie while she is traversing a pathway. This encounter was easy to see coming, though that cannot be said for the Clicker that attacks Abby later. Abby has to make her way through a slightly collapsed building, but a Clicker comes out of nowhere causing her to backtrack. She eventually falls to the ground, and the player must shoot and kill the Clicker before it reaches her.
7 Infected Hidden In Plain Sight
Fungus growth on the walls is a common occurrence in the world of The Last of Us. It’s a part of the decor and something players and gamers are used to. The first time an infected jump off the wall and grabs Ellie it is a frightening moment.
These tricksters are embedded into the wall, hiding in plain sight. It’s an unexpected encounter and a new mechanic overall. The novelty wears off towards the end, but the first jump scare is a surprising trick that few will see coming.
6 A Surprise Joel
Towards the end of the game, there is a peaceful segment where we experience the life that Joel always wanted for Ellie. She and Dina live in a farmhouse, taking care of their baby, JJ. The house is beautiful, and the sunset paints a picturesque setting. Ellie has to accomplish mundane tasks like herding sheep into a barn. It seems perfect until an image of Joel with a bashed face flashes over the screen. The grotesque image does not match with the peaceful chapter, but it helps to illustrate Ellie’s intense PTSD.
5 Manny Shot
Zombie fiction always has one character who suddenly and unexpectedly dies from a long-distance projectile—it happens in The Walking Dead at least twice. The Last of Us Part 2 gets in on the trend when Manny and Abby chase down an angry Tommy with a sniper rifle. The pair ease closer and closer to the shooter until a barricaded door blocks their path—typical. Manny is about to knock the door down when a bullet flies through his face mid-sentence. It’s shocking for the player and Abby alike, but both do not have time to dwell, as there’s still a mad Tommy on the loose.
4 Horse Explodes
There is a large segment towards the beginning where Ellie and Dina explore a semi-open Seattle. The whole section is about exploration and strengthening the bond between Ellie and Dina. The player gets to ride their horse around Seattle, stopping to explore buildings along the way. But, when the horse suddenly explodes from a trip mine, all sense of safety disappears. The game goes from peaceful exploration to all-out chaos in mere seconds.
3 Bill Must Have Been Here
The dreaded tripwires from the first game make a return, but, this time around, they are purposefully hidden under tall grass. Unlike the horse explosions, these traps are not scripted segments. The explosion will go off if the player does not watch their step. Suddenly seeing Ellie explode with a loud bang is not for the faint of heart. The wires are barely visible, so every step is stress-inducing. It’s a good thing these wires don’t show up often.
2 The Whistling Arrow
Things get freaky when Ellie decides to take a detour through a park. The area is overgrown with grass, and countless trees give off major horror vibes. Ellie and the player alike get anxious when whistles echo throughout the forest but there is no one to be seen. Suddenly, an arrow launches through the darkness and penetrates Ellie’s shoulder.
This is the introduction of the Scars, a religious cult that communicates through whistles. The fact that the surprising arrow happens mid-gameplay adds to the jump-scare factor immensely. If the Scars seem too scary, then just focus on their identical leather jackets. It will take the realism right out of the scene.
1 The Workbench
There is always a safe spot in a game. A place where the player can take a little breather before venturing back out into a dangerous world. At least, that’s what one would think. Ellie takes the time to upgrade some of her guns, as she has done several times before. The player is carefully looking through the menus, trying to decide what gun to upgrade, when they are suddenly attacked from behind. It’s rare when an in-game menu is interrupted by gameplay, but that’s what makes this jump scare so effective.
NEXT: 10 Facts Fans Need To Know Before The Last Of Us Part 2
