Assassin Creed Mirage vs The Last of Us Part II

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-player Only
• Setting: 9th Century Baghdad (Golden Age of Islam), Alamut
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows PC (Ubisoft Store, Epic Games Store, Steam), Amazon Luna, iOS (iPhone 15 Pro/Max, compatible iPads)
• Unique Feature: Return to classic Assassin's Creed gameplay focusing on stealth, parkour, and a linear narrative; detailed recreation of 9th-century Baghdad; Basim's origin story.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: None (Single-Player Only, with 'No Return' roguelike mode in Remastered)
• Setting: Post-Pandemic United States (Jackson, WY; Seattle, WA; Santa Barbara, CA), ~25 years after outbreak
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (Remastered)
• Unique Feature: Dual Playable Protagonists with Intertwined Stories, Unflinching Narrative on Revenge & Trauma, Groundbreaking Animation & Detail, 'No Return' Roguelike Mode (Remastered), Industry-Leading Accessibility Options.

• Enkidu: Basim's loyal eagle companion. Enkidu can be used to scout the environment from above, tag enemies, identify objectives, locate collectibles, and find hidden entrances. Cannot directly attack enemies but is an invaluable tool for reconnaissance and planning.
  Bonelli's Eagle

• Dina (AI - Ellie's Path): Accompanies Ellie for a significant portion of her journey in Seattle. Provides combat support with her weapons, assists with environmental interactions (e.g., boosting Ellie, opening doors), engages in dialogue, and is central to Ellie's emotional arc. She can be downed and require revival.
  Human
• Jesse (AI - Ellie's Path, Temporary): Joins Ellie (and sometimes Dina) for certain missions in Seattle. A capable fighter who provides combat assistance and participates in story events.
  Human
• Lev (AI - Abby's Path): Accompanies Abby for a large part of her storyline. Skilled with a bow and agile, providing ranged support and assistance in traversal. His relationship with Abby is a core element of her character development. Can be downed.
  Human (Seraphite Apostate)
• Yara (AI - Abby's Path, Temporary): Lev's older sister. Joins Abby for a period, providing combat support despite a severe injury. Her medical knowledge is also relevant.
  Human (Seraphite Apostate)
• Manny Alvarez (AI - Abby's Path, Temporary): Fights alongside Abby during several WLF-focused missions. Provides covering fire and participates in squad-based combat scenarios.
  Human (WLF Soldier)
• Various WLF Soldiers (AI - Abby's Path, Temporary): During missions where Abby is operating with her WLF squad, other unnamed soldiers provide general combat support.
  Human (WLF)
• Dogs (Alice - WLF, Bear - Rattlers, temporary companions to Abby/Ellie in some contexts): Alice is a WLF dog Abby interacts with. Bear is a Rattler dog. In some limited gameplay sequences or interactions, a dog might temporarily act as an ally or detection unit.
  Canis familiaris

• Historical Sites: Interactive points scattered throughout Baghdad and its surroundings that provide detailed information about the history, culture, art, and daily life during the Islamic Golden Age.
• Lost Books: Collectible texts hidden across the map. Collecting them all often leads to a reward, such as a unique outfit or weapon, and provides additional lore.
• Enigmas: Map-based riddles or cryptic drawings found in the world that players must decipher to locate a hidden treasure, typically an outfit dye, a talisman, or a weapon/outfit upgrade schematic.
• Gear Chests: Chests containing new weapons (swords, daggers) or outfits for Basim. These are often found in restricted areas or guarded locations and may require solving small environmental puzzles to access.
• Dervis' Artifacts: Valuable artifacts that Basim can pickpocket from specific NPCs throughout Baghdad. Returning these to Dervis provides rewards like upgrade materials or skill points.
• Mysterious Shards: Special collectibles found in heavily guarded chests, usually requiring a key or specific conditions to open. Used to unlock powerful Isu gear in a hidden location.
• Tales of Baghdad: Short, self-contained side stories involving unique characters and situations, offering insights into the lives of Baghdad's inhabitants and often providing small rewards.

• Artifacts (Notes, Letters, Diaries, Maps, etc.): Numerous documents found throughout all environments. They provide rich backstory on the world before and after the outbreak, personal stories of survivors, insights into faction ideologies, clues for safes, or context for ongoing events. Crucial for understanding the game's deep lore.
• Trading Cards (Ellie's Sections): Collectible superhero-themed trading cards hidden in Ellie's playable sections. Each card features unique artwork and a short character bio. Finding all of them unlocks a trophy.
• Coins (Abby's Sections): Collectible US state quarters found by Abby during her playable sections. Each coin represents a different state. Finding all of them unlocks a trophy.
• Journal Entries (Ellie): Specific points of interest, emotional moments, or significant discoveries trigger Ellie to write or sketch in her journal. These are automatic story-related collectibles that provide insight into her thoughts and feelings.
• Workbenches: Locations where Ellie and Abby can upgrade their weapons using scavenged Parts. Finding all workbenches contributes to completion.
• Safes: Locked safes that require finding a combination clue (often in a nearby Artifact) to open. Contain valuable resources, supplements, or sometimes Training Manuals.
• Training Manuals: Found in specific locations, often hidden or in safes. Each manual unlocks a new branch in the player's skill tree, allowing them to learn new abilities.
• Strange Artifact (Pendant - Precursor Orb): A unique collectible referencing Naughty Dog's Jak and Daxter series, found in a specific location.

• Assassin Origins
• Coming-of-Age
• Stealth
• Parkour
• 9th Century Baghdad
• Golden Age of Islam
• Hidden Ones vs. Order of the Ancients
• Fate
• Justice
• Mentorship
• Internal Conflict
• Middle Eastern Folklore

• Revenge & Obsession
• Cycles of Violence
• Trauma & Grief
• Empathy & Perspective
• Tribalism & Factionalism
• Moral Ambiguity
• The Cost of Survival
• Loss of Innocence
• Humanity in a Post-Apocalypse
• Love & Relationships

• Hidden Blade: Primary Assassination Tool
  The iconic weapon of the Assassins, used for stealthy and instant assassinations on unaware or vulnerable targets.
• Sword (One-Handed): Primary Melee Weapon
  Basim's main weapon for open combat, used for attacking, parrying, and dodging. Various swords with different stats and appearances can be acquired and upgraded.
• Dagger: Secondary Melee / Tool
  A secondary weapon often used in conjunction with the sword or for specific combat maneuvers. Can also be used for stealth takedowns or as a utility tool.
• Throwing Knives: Ranged Throwable Tool
  Silent ranged weapons for eliminating enemies from a distance, creating distractions, or hitting weak points. Can be upgraded for increased capacity or damage.
• Smoke Bombs: Tactical Tool
  Creates a cloud of smoke to obscure vision, allowing Basim to escape combat, break line of sight, or perform stealth assassinations. Upgradable for larger radius or longer duration.
• Blowdart: Ranged Tactical Tool
  Used to silently apply various effects to targets, such as sleep, berserk, or poison, from a distance. Requires ammunition (darts).
• Noisemaker Darts / Whistle: Distraction Tool
  Used to lure guards away from their posts or investigate specific locations, creating openings for stealthy passage or takedowns.
• Traps: Tactical Tool
  Deployable traps that can incapacitate or damage enemies who trigger them. Useful for setting up ambushes or securing escape routes.

• Pistols (Semi-Automatic, Revolver): Sidearm
  Ellie and Abby use various pistols, including semi-automatics and revolvers. Can be upgraded for stability, fire rate, capacity, and equipped with silencers (craftable for some).
• Rifles (Bolt-Action, Semi-Automatic): Primary Firearm (Long/Mid Range)
  Includes hunting rifles, military-style semi-auto rifles. Good for medium to long-range engagements. Upgradable with scopes, stocks, etc.
• Shotguns (Pump-Action, Double Barrel, Semi-Auto): Primary Firearm (Close Quarters)
  Devastating at close range. Different types offer varying fire rates and capacities. Ellie uses a pump-action, Abby can find others like a double barrel.
• Bow (Ellie): Silent Ranged
  Ellie's signature silent weapon. Can use standard arrows, craftable explosive arrows, and later, poison arrows (DLC/Remaster). Arrows can often be retrieved.
• Crossbow (Abby): Silent Ranged
  Abby's primary silent ranged weapon. Fires retrievable bolts. Can be upgraded with a scope and stability improvements.
• Submachine Guns / Automatic Weapons (Limited): Primary Firearm (High Rate of Fire)
  Some automatic weapons like SMGs or military rifles are available, particularly for Abby. Ammo can be scarce.
• Melee Weapons (Pipes, Machetes, Hammers, Baseball Bats, Switchblades, etc.): Close Quarters Combat (Upgradeable)
  A wide variety of improvised and dedicated melee weapons. Can be upgraded by attaching blades or bindings to increase damage and durability. Break after extended use.
• Explosives (Molotov Cocktails, Pipe Bombs, Trap Mines): Throwable / Deployable
  Craftable explosives for area denial, crowd control, or dealing with tough enemies. Trap mines can be placed strategically.
• Utility Items (Smoke Bombs, Stun Bombs, Health Kits): Tactical / Survival
  Craftable items for creating diversions (smoke bombs), incapacitating enemies (stun bombs), or healing (health kits).
• Flamethrower (Abby - Late Game): Heavy Weapon
  A powerful, fuel-based weapon found by Abby, effective against groups of infected or heavily armored humans.
• Silencers (Craftable): Weapon Attachment (Stealth)
  Can be crafted and attached to certain pistols and SMGs to allow for silent ranged takedowns. Have limited durability.

• Hidden One Outfit (Default): Basim's initial attire as he joins the Hidden Ones. Offers a balance of protection and agility suitable for an Assassin. Can be upgraded.
• Various Outfits (Unlockable/Craftable): Players can acquire multiple outfits throughout the game, each with a unique appearance and often providing specific passive perks or stat bonuses that cater to different playstyles (e.g., enhancing stealth, combat, or tool effectiveness). Outfits can typically be upgraded and some can be dyed.
• Deluxe Pack Outfit (Prince of Persia inspired): A cosmetic outfit included in the Deluxe Edition, inspired by the Prince of Persia series. Offers a unique visual style.

• No Equipable Armor System: Neither Ellie nor Abby equip traditional armor pieces that provide direct stat bonuses or can be upgraded. Their survivability is determined by their base health (which can be increased via skill upgrades for Abby, and finding Training Manuals that unlock health skills for both), player skill in combat/stealth, and the use of health kits. Clothing changes are purely cosmetic and tied to story progression or unlockable skins in the Remastered version.
• Crafted Items & Skill Upgrades (Implied Protection/Resilience): While not 'armor,' skills related to damage resistance, faster healing, improved dodging, or increased health act as a form of defensive progression. Crafting potent health kits is crucial. Some weapon upgrades might improve handling, indirectly aiding defense by allowing quicker enemy dispatch.

• Hidden One Robes: Basim wears various iterations of the traditional Hidden One attire. These outfits can be upgraded to improve their perks and stats. Dyes can be applied to change the color scheme of most outfits.
• Deluxe Edition Outfit (Prince of Persia Inspired): A unique cosmetic outfit included with the Deluxe Edition, themed after the Prince of Persia series. Includes matching weapon and mount skins.
• Unlockable Outfits: Numerous distinct outfits can be unlocked through story progression, completing side content, finding collectibles (like Enigmas), or purchasing from merchants. Each often comes with specific passive bonuses tailored to stealth, combat, or utility.

• Ellie's Outfits: Ellie wears several distinct outfits throughout the game, reflecting the different environments and stages of her journey (e.g., Jackson winter gear, Seattle casual/combat attire, Santa Barbara outfit). These are story-dictated and not directly customizable by the player in the base game beyond what's equipped for a chapter. The Remastered version adds unlockable cosmetic skins for Ellie.
• Abby's Outfits: Abby also wears different outfits based on her role and location (e.g., WLF soldier uniform, more rugged attire later). Similar to Ellie, these are tied to story progression. The Remastered version adds unlockable cosmetic skins for Abby.
• Backpack Customization (Minor): While not extensive, Ellie can find and attach keychains to her backpack, which are small cosmetic collectibles.
• Unlockable Skins (The Last of Us Part II Remastered): The PS5 Remastered version introduces a variety of unlockable cosmetic skins for both Ellie and Abby, as well as weapon skins. These are earned by completing challenges in the 'No Return' mode or through other means, and can be applied in Story Mode or No Return.

Assassin's Creed Mirage features a smaller, more focused open world compared to recent entries like Valhalla or Odyssey. The primary setting is the dense and vibrant city of Baghdad, divided into four main districts: Karkh (industrial), Abbasiyah (cultural center), Harbiyah (densely populated residential), and the iconic Round City (administrative center). The game also includes the surrounding wilderness and the Hidden Ones' fortress of Alamut. The map size of Baghdad is comparable to AC Unity's Paris or AC Revelations' Constantinople (approx. 2.30 km² for the city itself, with the total explorable area being larger but not on the scale of massive RPGs).

• Horse: Mount / Land Traversal
  Available for faster travel across the larger stretches of land outside the dense city center of Baghdad and for journeying to locations like Alamut.
• Camel: Mount / Land Traversal
  An alternative mount suitable for desert environments surrounding Baghdad, offering a thematic means of transportation.
• Small Boats (Dhows/Skiffs): Water Traversal
  Used for navigating the rivers and canals within and around Baghdad, providing alternative routes for infiltration or travel.

• Horse (Shimmer, Callus, etc.): Mount / Land Traversal
  Used by Ellie and other characters for traversing larger outdoor areas, particularly in Jackson and some sections leading to or within Seattle. Allows for faster travel and escape.
• Motorboat: Watercraft
  Used by Ellie (and Dina) to navigate the flooded streets and waterways of Seattle. Essential for exploring certain districts and reaching specific objectives.
• Enemy Vehicles (Trucks, Jeeps - WLF/Seraphites/Rattlers): Hostile Land Vehicles
  Human factions utilize various vehicles for patrols and transport. While not typically drivable by the player for extended periods, they often feature in combat encounters, either as moving cover, obstacles, or targets for explosives.
• Traversal on Foot (Stealth & Parkour-lite): Player Locomotion
  Primary mode of movement. Involves walking, running, sprinting, climbing, jumping, squeezing through gaps, going prone, and dodging. While not as acrobatic as Dying Light, traversal is key for stealth and navigating complex environments.

• Basim Ibn Ishaq: Protagonist / Hidden One
  A former street thief from Anbar who is recruited into the Hidden Ones in Baghdad. Players follow his journey as he trains to become a Master Assassin, grapples with his past, nightmarish visions, and uncovers conspiracies within the city. He is the player character.
• Roshan bint-La'Ahad: Mentor / Master Assassin
  A senior member and Master Assassin of the Hidden Ones, originally from Persia. She serves as Basim's stern and wise mentor, guiding his training and operations in Baghdad. Voiced by Shohreh Aghdashloo.
• Nehal: Childhood Friend / Confidante
  Basim's close childhood friend from Anbar. She is independent, distrustful of the Hidden Ones, and encourages Basim to investigate the mysteries of his visions and the artifacts sought by the Order. Plays a crucial role in Basim's personal story and his connection to the Isu Loki.
• Ali ibn Muhammad: Leader of the Zanj Rebellion / Ally
  A historical figure and the charismatic leader of the Zanj Rebellion against the Abbasid Caliphate. Basim and the Hidden Ones interact with him and his cause.
• Order of the Ancients Members: Antagonists / Templar Precursors
  The primary antagonistic faction, the precursors to the Templar Order. They have infiltrated the highest levels of power in Baghdad and seek ancient Isu artifacts to further their goals of control. Basim is tasked with identifying and eliminating key members.
• Fuladh: Hidden One / Bureau Leader
  A fellow Hidden One and leader of one of the Assassin Bureaus in Baghdad. Works alongside Basim and Roshan.
• Enkidu: Eagle Companion
  Basim's Bonelli's eagle companion. Used for scouting the environment, marking enemies and points of interest from above. Cannot directly attack enemies but is essential for reconnaissance.

• Ellie Williams: Protagonist
  One of the two main playable characters. Now 19, living in Jackson. A traumatic event sends her on a brutal quest for revenge to Seattle. She is skilled with firearms, a bow, and stealth, but is deeply scarred by her past and driven by rage and grief.
• Abby Anderson: Protagonist / WLF Soldier
  The second main playable character. A strong and capable soldier in the Washington Liberation Front (WLF). Her own quest for revenge intertwines with Ellie's, and players experience a significant portion of the game from her perspective, revealing her motivations and relationships.
• Joel Miller: Supporting Character / Ellie's Surrogate Father
  Ellie's father figure from the first game. His actions at the end of Part I have profound consequences that set the events of Part II in motion. His presence is felt throughout Ellie's journey.
• Dina: Ally / Ellie's Partner & Romantic Interest
  A resident of Jackson and Ellie's close friend and romantic partner. She accompanies Ellie on her initial journey to Seattle, providing support and a contrasting perspective on Ellie's quest for vengeance.
• Jesse: Ally / Ellie & Dina's Friend
  A capable survivor and leader of patrols in Jackson, and Dina's ex-boyfriend. He follows Ellie and Dina to Seattle to help them, offering a more level-headed approach.
• Tommy Miller: Supporting Character / Joel's Brother
  Joel's younger brother and a key figure in the Jackson community. He also embarks on a quest for revenge, often operating independently.
• Owen Moore: Supporting Character / Abby's Ex-Boyfriend & WLF Soldier
  A disillusioned WLF soldier and Abby's former romantic partner. He struggles with the WLF's methods and desires a different life.
• Mel: Supporting Character / WLF Medic / Owen's Partner
  A WLF medic and Owen's pregnant partner. Her relationship with Abby is strained due to past events.
• Manny Alvarez: Supporting Character / Abby's Friend & WLF Soldier
  Abby's loyal friend and fellow WLF soldier. Provides support and some comic relief within Abby's group.
• Yara: Supporting Character / Seraphite Apostate
  A young former Seraphite who, along with her younger brother Lev, escapes the cult. Abby helps them, forming an unlikely bond that challenges Abby's worldview.
• Lev (Lily): Supporting Character / Seraphite Apostate
  Yara's younger transgender brother, whose defiance of Seraphite traditions forces them to flee. He is skilled with a bow and forms a strong connection with Abby.
• Isaac Dixon: Antagonist Figure / WLF Leader
  The ruthless and pragmatic leader of the Washington Liberation Front, focused on eradicating the Seraphites and expanding WLF control.
• Seraphite Prophet (Martyr): Antagonist Figure (Deceased) / Cult Founder
  The deceased founder and spiritual leader of the Seraphites. Her teachings and legacy continue to drive the cult's actions and beliefs, making her an indirect antagonistic force.

• Main Story Quests (Basim's Journey)
  A series of narrative-driven missions following Basim's transformation from a street thief to a Master Assassin within the Hidden Ones. This involves training in Alamut, undertaking contracts in Baghdad, investigating the Order of the Ancients, and uncovering secrets about his past and visions.
• Assassination Contracts (Bureau Investigations)
  Identifying and eliminating key members of the Order of the Ancients who have infiltrated Baghdad. These often feature 'black box' mission design, allowing players multiple ways to gather clues, plan their approach, and execute their targets using stealth, tools, and environmental opportunities.
• Tales of Baghdad
  Short, optional side missions found throughout the city that tell self-contained stories about the citizens of Baghdad, offering insights into their lives and the culture of the era. Completing them often yields minor rewards.
• Lost Books Collection
  Finding a series of lost books scattered across Baghdad for Al-Jahiz, which rewards the player with skill points and potentially unique gear upon completion of the set.
• Dervis' Artifacts Retrieval
  Pickpocketing valuable artifacts from specific NPCs for Dervis, a merchant, in exchange for upgrade materials, resources, or skill points.

• Story Chapters (Jackson, Seattle Day 1-3 for Ellie & Abby, The Farm, Santa Barbara)
  A series of linear, narratively-driven chapters that progress the intertwined stories of Ellie and Abby. Each chapter is typically set in a distinct location or marks a specific day in their respective journeys. Missions involve exploration, stealth, intense combat encounters with human factions and infected, puzzle-solving, and highly cinematic story moments.
• Flashback Sequences
  Several chapters or segments within chapters are flashbacks, providing crucial backstory for Ellie, Joel, and Abby, revealing past events that shape their present motivations and relationships (e.g., Ellie's museum visit with Joel, Abby's experiences leading up to the main conflict).
• Optional Exploration Areas & Encounters
  Within the larger 'wide-linear' levels, there are numerous optional buildings, side paths, and hidden areas to explore. These often contain valuable resources, collectibles (Artifacts, Trading Cards, Coins), safes, Training Manuals, or trigger small, unscripted encounters with enemies.
• Puzzle Solving (Environmental & Mechanical)
  Integrated into level progression, players must solve environmental puzzles involving finding paths, moving objects (like dumpsters), using ropes for traversal, restoring power to doors, or finding safe combinations.
• Major Set-Piece Encounters & Boss Fights
  Spectacular, highly scripted action sequences and challenging boss fights against unique infected (like the Rat King) or formidable human opponents. These serve as climactic moments within the narrative.
• No Return Mode Runs (Remastered)
  In the roguelike 'No Return' mode (PS5 Remastered), each 'run' consists of a series of randomized combat encounters with different objectives (e.g., survive waves, assassinate a target, hold a position) culminating in a boss fight. Successfully completing encounters and runs unlocks new playable characters, skins, and gameplay modifiers.

A standalone multiplayer game set in The Last of Us universe (reportedly titled 'The Last of Us Online') was in development but was later announced to be canceled or significantly re-evaluated by Naughty Dog. The Last of Us Part II itself is a purely single-player experience.

Available editions include: Standard Edition (base game), Deluxe Edition (includes Deluxe Pack with a Prince of Persia-inspired outfit, eagle and mount skins, weapons, and access to digital artbook & soundtrack via a dedicated website), and a Collector's Case (physical edition including the Deluxe Edition content, a Basim figurine, Steelbook case, map of Baghdad, a replica of Basim's brooch, mini-artbook, and selected soundtrack CD).

Available in Standard Edition, Special Edition (SteelBook, art book), Collector's Edition (Ellie statue, bracelet, art book, lithograph, pins, stickers, digital content), and Ellie Edition (Collector's content + Ellie's backpack replica, soundtrack vinyl). A PS5 remaster, 'The Last of Us Part II Remastered,' was released in January 2024, including graphical enhancements, new modes like 'No Return' (roguelike survival), Guitar Free Play, Lost Levels with developer commentary, and DualSense integration.

Ubisoft has stated that Mirage was designed as a standalone experience with no plans for major story DLC. However, the game received post-launch updates including a New Game Plus mode and a permadeath (Full Synchronization Challenge) mode, as well as various cosmetic packs.

No major story DLC was released for The Last of Us Part II. The primary post-launch addition was the 'No Return' roguelike survival mode, new skins, and Lost Levels included in 'The Last of Us Part II Remastered'. The original game received updates for difficulty modes (Grounded) and accessibility.

• Q: When was Assassin's Creed Mirage released?
  A: Assassin's Creed Mirage was released on October 5, 2023.
• Q: What is the setting of Assassin's Creed Mirage?
  A: The game is set in 9th-century Baghdad during the Golden Age of Islam, with players also visiting the Hidden Ones' fortress of Alamut.
• Q: Who is the main character in Assassin's Creed Mirage?
  A: The protagonist is Basim Ibn Ishaq, a character first introduced in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Mirage explores his origin story and transformation from a street thief into a Master Assassin.
• Q: How does the gameplay of Mirage compare to recent Assassin's Creed titles?
  A: Mirage is a deliberate return to the series' roots, emphasizing stealth, parkour, and a more focused, linear narrative. It scales back the large open-world RPG elements found in games like Odyssey and Valhalla for a more classic Assassin's Creed experience.
• Q: Is Assassin's Creed Mirage an open-world game?
  A: Yes, it features an open-world depiction of 9th-century Baghdad and its surrounding areas, including Alamut. However, the map is smaller and more densely packed compared to the vast worlds of recent AC RPGs, designed to facilitate classic parkour and stealth gameplay.
• Q: Does Assassin's Creed Mirage have multiplayer or co-op?
  A: No, Assassin's Creed Mirage is a strictly single-player game with no multiplayer or co-operative modes.
• Q: Are there any DLCs or post-launch story content for Mirage?
  A: Ubisoft has stated that there are no plans for major story DLC for Assassin's Creed Mirage. Post-launch updates have included features like New Game Plus and a permadeath mode.

• Q: Is The Last of Us Part II a direct sequel to the first game?
  A: Yes, it is a direct sequel set five years after the events of The Last of Us Part I, continuing the story of Ellie and Joel.
• Q: Do I need to play The Last of Us Part I before Part II?
  A: It is extremely highly recommended. The Last of Us Part II's entire narrative, character motivations, and emotional impact are built upon the events and relationships established in the first game. Playing Part I first is essential for full understanding and appreciation.
• Q: Why are there two playable characters, Ellie and Abby?
  A: The game features a dual protagonist structure to explore themes of perspective, empathy, and the cyclical nature of violence. Playing as both characters allows players to understand the motivations and experiences of individuals on opposing sides of a deeply personal conflict.
• Q: Is The Last of Us Part II an open-world game?
  A: No, it is not a traditional open-world game. It features large, expansive 'wide-linear' levels that offer significant room for exploration, stealth, and finding alternate paths, but players are generally guided along a narrative through-line within these zones.
• Q: What is 'No Return' mode in The Last of Us Part II Remastered?
  A: 'No Return' is a new roguelike survival mode added in the PS5 Remastered version. Players choose a character (from a roster including Ellie, Abby, Joel, Tommy, and others, each with unique traits) and attempt to survive runs through randomized encounters, earning currency to unlock new characters, skins, and gameplay modifiers.
• Q: Are there different endings in The Last of Us Part II?
  A: The Last of Us Part II has one primary, definitive ending to its main narrative. Unlike some RPGs, player choices do not lead to branching endings for the core story, though the interpretation and emotional impact of the ending are subject to player perspective.

Utilizes an updated version of the Ubisoft Anvil engine to render a detailed and vibrant depiction of 9th-century Baghdad. Focuses on environmental density, historical accuracy in architecture, and character animations that support the fluid parkour and stealth gameplay. Supports modern graphical features on PC and current-gen consoles.

Powered by an advanced version of Naughty Dog's proprietary engine, The Last of Us Part II is renowned for its groundbreaking graphics, particularly its incredibly detailed character models, lifelike animations (especially facial animations), and meticulously crafted, dense environments. Features advanced lighting, realistic weather effects, and a stunning level of environmental detail and decay. The PS5 Remastered version offers enhanced fidelity, native 4K, and higher framerate options.

The original score, composed by Brendan Angelides (with a track by Layth Sidiq), blends traditional Middle Eastern instrumentation with orchestral themes to create an authentic atmosphere for 9th-century Baghdad. Voice acting is available in multiple languages, including full Arabic localization for enhanced immersion.

Original score composed by Gustavo Santaolalla (returning from Part I) with contributions from Mac Quayle for more intense combat/Abby segments. The music is deeply emotional, often melancholic, featuring acoustic guitar, strings, and ambient textures that perfectly underscore the game's tone. Sound design is incredibly realistic and impactful, crucial for stealth (enemy callouts, footsteps), combat (visceral weapon sounds, infected screeches), and environmental immersion.

Features a HUD that is reminiscent of older AC titles, with a focus on clarity for stealth and parkour. Includes a compass, notoriety indicator, health/tool indicators, and contextual prompts. The world map is detailed for Baghdad and its surroundings. Photo mode is available.

Features an immersive and minimalistic HUD. Health is often indicated by screen effects and character animations rather than a persistent bar (though one can be enabled). Ammo count and equipped items are displayed contextually. Crafting and upgrade menus are accessed through Ellie's/Abby's backpack. Listen Mode highlights enemies through walls. The UI is designed to keep players immersed in the world.

Includes a range of accessibility options such as customizable controls (including keyboard and mouse), subtitle customization (size, background, speaker names), closed captions, adjustable HUD elements, aim assist, menu narration, and options to modify gameplay elements like guaranteed pickpocketing.

Naughty Dog set a new industry standard for accessibility with Part II, offering over 60 options. These include comprehensive control remapping, extensive subtitle/caption customization, options for visual aids (high contrast mode, screen magnifier, traversal/combat audio cues), navigation and traversal assistance, options to skip puzzles, combat accessibility (invisible while prone, reduced enemy perception/accuracy, auto-pickup), and text-to-speech/speech-to-text features.

• Official PC system requirements for 'Assassin's Creed Mirage'. An SSD is mandatory for all configurations. Performance will vary based on specific hardware, drivers, and in-game settings. Upscaling technologies (DLSS, FSR, XeSS) are supported.
• Laptop Performance Note: Assassin's Creed Mirage, while less demanding than recent large-scale AC titles, still benefits from a capable gaming laptop for optimal experience. Laptop GPUs generally perform differently than their desktop counterparts due to TGP and thermal limitations. **Ensure your laptop meets or exceeds these estimated specs, especially regarding GPU TGP and cooling capacity.** Check specific laptop model reviews.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P Impact: Total Graphics Power (TGP) for laptop GPUs is critical. Higher TGP variants generally offer better performance for the same GPU model.
• Laptop Consideration: Advanced Cooling Thermals: Efficient cooling is necessary for sustained performance during gameplay to avoid thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Performance Sustain: A modern mobile CPU that maintains good clock speeds under load is important, especially for a game with dense city environments and many NPCs.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Configuration Speed: 8GB is the minimum, but 16GB in dual-channel configuration is strongly recommended for smoother gameplay and reduced stuttering.
• Laptop Consideration: Display Panel G P U Pairing: Consider your laptop's display resolution (1080p is common) and refresh rate. The GPU should comfortably drive frames at or near the panel's refresh rate for the best experience.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch N V I D I A Advanced Optimus: Laptops with a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus can improve performance by directly connecting the dedicated GPU to the display.
• Laptop Consideration: Driver Updates O S Optimization: Always use the latest official GPU drivers. Ensure Windows is updated and configured for gaming performance.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Supports Intel XeSS, NVIDIA DLSS, and AMD FSR. Utilizing these is recommended to boost performance, especially at higher resolutions or settings.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Resolution, Texture Quality, Shadows, Clutter, World Detail, and Anti-Aliasing are key settings affecting performance.
• Game Name: Assassin Creed Mirage

• CONSOLE GAME - PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ARE HIGHLY SPECULATIVE based on The Last of Us Part I PC port and expected demands for a potential Part II PC port. An SSD would be MANDATORY.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of listed desktop GPUs will require comparable performance, very high TGP (Total Graphics Power), and excellent cooling. **If ported to PC, The Last of Us Part II would be an extremely demanding title, requiring top-tier laptop hardware for high settings and resolutions.**
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP will be absolutely crucial.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Exceptional cooling needed to prevent severe thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Laptops with sustained high CPU power limits and strong single/multi-core performance.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM (DDR5) would be essential.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be critical.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Would likely support NVIDIA DLSS (Super Resolution & Frame Generation), AMD FSR 2.0+, and Intel XeSS if ported.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Texture Quality, Model Quality, Shadow Quality, Reflections, Volumetric Effects, Character Detail, Animation Quality, and Particle Effects would heavily impact performance. Ray tracing, if implemented, would be exceptionally demanding.
• Game Name: The Last of Us Part II

• Upscaling Tech: Supports Intel XeSS, NVIDIA DLSS, and AMD FSR. Utilizing these is recommended to boost performance, especially at higher resolutions or settings.
• Key Settings Impact: Resolution, Texture Quality, Shadows, Clutter, World Detail, and Anti-Aliasing are key settings affecting performance.

• Upscaling Tech: Would likely support NVIDIA DLSS (Super Resolution & Frame Generation), AMD FSR 2.0+, and Intel XeSS if ported.
• Key Settings Impact: Texture Quality, Model Quality, Shadow Quality, Reflections, Volumetric Effects, Character Detail, Animation Quality, and Particle Effects would heavily impact performance. Ray tracing, if implemented, would be exceptionally demanding.

• G P U T G P Impact: Total Graphics Power (TGP) for laptop GPUs is critical. Higher TGP variants generally offer better performance for the same GPU model.
• Advanced Cooling Thermals: Efficient cooling is necessary for sustained performance during gameplay to avoid thermal throttling.
• C P U Performance Sustain: A modern mobile CPU that maintains good clock speeds under load is important, especially for a game with dense city environments and many NPCs.
• R A M Configuration Speed: 8GB is the minimum, but 16GB in dual-channel configuration is strongly recommended for smoother gameplay and reduced stuttering.
• Display Panel G P U Pairing: Consider your laptop's display resolution (1080p is common) and refresh rate. The GPU should comfortably drive frames at or near the panel's refresh rate for the best experience.
• M U X Switch N V I D I A Advanced Optimus: Laptops with a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus can improve performance by directly connecting the dedicated GPU to the display.
• Driver Updates O S Optimization: Always use the latest official GPU drivers. Ensure Windows is updated and configured for gaming performance.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP will be absolutely crucial.
• Cooling Thermals: Exceptional cooling needed to prevent severe thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: Laptops with sustained high CPU power limits and strong single/multi-core performance.
• R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM (DDR5) would be essential.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be critical.