This detail in The Last of Us 2 makes Dina an even more realistic character

A player of The Last of Us Part 2 discovered a subtle detail that helps further humanize one of the game's main characters. This is just one of many such situations, as players have been exploring the game world since its release three years ago, uncovering new nuanced elements, some of which can be easily overlooked.

WARNING: Spoilers ahead for The Last of Us Part 2

The Last of Us 2 is an incredibly detailed game. Naughty Dog's latest release has been praised by countless fans for its cutting-edge graphics, particularly in terms of facial animations, which are among the most realistic out there. The realism of the game's many central characters and NPCs shines through in crucial moments like emotional cutscenes or acts of violence, but the developers' attention to detail can also be seen in smaller situations. Characters engage in conversation, change their gait, and display various facial expressions as the player traverses the game's environments, adding a touch of realism to the gameplay from moment to moment.

While glitches in The Last of Us 2 have gone viral and disrupted players' emotional in-game moments, a Reddit user recently discovered an example of the opposite. While exploring Joel's house at the beginning of the game after he was killed by Abby, you can see Dina waiting for Ellie in the kitchen and awkwardly fidgeting as the latter says goodbye to her father figure. Based on everything known, it appears that this animation is exclusively designed for this moment in the game.

This awkward fidgeting is significant because even though Dina cares for Ellie, the situation they are in is quite uncomfortable. Ellie had a heated argument with Joel shortly before his death, in the presence of Dina, and as a result, the characters lack closure. Ellie taking Joel's place as the protagonist in TLOU2 is one of the more controversial aspects of the game, but the trauma and grief she experiences in relation to his death are understandable and relatable. All in all, many people would not know exactly how to behave in Dina's position, and this uncomfortable, fidgety animation makes it easier to empathize with her in that regard.

As mentioned before, TLOU2 is quite a controversial game. Nevertheless, even the game's biggest critics would have difficulty arguing that it is not a detail-rich product. Naughty Dog places great emphasis on realism in games, and this realism is evident in both the acting performances and the small character animations, as well as in the photorealistic graphics. Whichever direction a potential The Last of Us 3 takes, it will surely carry on this legacy.

The Last of Us Part 2 is available of PS4.