The Last of Us 2 is a technical wonder, but would you believe that the hardest part is making the damn doors? You will after reading this Twitter thread.
Kurt Margenau, who co-directed The Last of Us 2, began with an extensive explanation of why everyday architectural detail was real hell for almost every section of Naughty Dog. Margenau is equipped with details and anecdotes from the development of The Last of Us 2, although many of these issues and their solutions may apply to all types of games.
Do not know what everyone is talking about. We added doors in a fight at TLOU2, it took a day. I just have to have good talent … LOL JK THIS WAS THE THING THAT HAS THE LONGEST TO BE RIGHT WHAT WE THINK 1/100 https://t.co/oUmdRFmiGJMarch 9, 2021
In real life, a door is a large rectangle with many handles. In The Last of Us 2, a door is an object of misery that can be opened, closed, or closed; they can sometimes block your path, but not always; they can exist in a liminal space where you are still with things on the other side of the door. You’ve probably had frustrating experiences with hinky video game doors in the past, but since Naughty Dog is Naughty Dog, he promised to take all the potential frustration on his own and wrestle with the Door Menace until just one of them stands.
Jump to 6:45 in this video from lead animator Maksym Zhuravlov for a quick look at some of the many ways Ellie can open and move through closed doors – or not open when locked.
Have you ever noticed that doors usually stay open in The Last of Us 2, but they close slowly as you fight? This is so that they can function as both visual memories of where you have already explored and as automatic coverage of enemies in battles. Have you ever noticed that all the doors in the game are double hung? It is so that they always open from you without breaking your step.
‘There was virtually no department affected by adding doors in the fight. Friends, melee systems, everything, ‘ Margenau added. “Fuck doors.”
This thread just follows Naughty Dog started with all sorts of detailed effects and optimizations of The Last of Us 2.