<p>FWIW, I don't think that this trailer was created especially for marketing purposes. I'm betting that it's an in-game cut scene. </p>

<p>Possible, but I hope not. To have an entire six minutes spoiled of the bat disappoints me; I'd rather have had a tease of the game-play that a cut-scene that definitely would have been enjoyed a lot more when immersed in playing the game. </p><p>I'm hoping it was like the cut scene we initially saw of Joel and Ellie way back when; that wasn't an in-game cut-scene but it teased an event in the game (fighting Hunters and Infected in Pittsburgh). I'm hoping for that, or the very least this cut-scene to be slightly different if rendered in the game. </p><p>Thing I'm worried about though it if it is a flashback: flashbacks tend to be dodgy storytelling. Maybe its best if its not, that way Joel and Ellie meeting these characters is more believable; for her to meet her mother after 25 years would be an amazing moment, but realistically its flawed, especially when TLOU has emphasized more realism than the <i>Uncharted</i> series. </p>

<p>With the release of the gameplay trailer, I think that the time has come to rework my theory. I'm pretty sure now that the cult we saw in the cinematic trailer is going to be the antagonists. Maybe, in the aftermath of the fall of the Fireflies about five years previously, they've become the ones giving hope and direction to the survivors in North America. Now, they've attacked Jackson and are responsible for the death of Ellie's girlfriend. </p><p>So, I'm still calling that this is going to be a vendetta storyline but I think that this new faction, this cult, is going to be the antagonist. Maybe they know something about Ellie's past that will be the final-reel shock reveal? </p><p>To summarise my current working theory: </p>

• Jackson is probably going to be damaged but intact; if the town had been destroyed, then Joel wouldn't be questioning Ellie's rampage but be right alongside her;

• Dina will likely die during the Cult's attack on Jackson and avenging her will be Ellie's primary motivation;

• The current leadership of the Cult will know something about Ellie's mysterious origins. When they find out who she is, their attitude towards her might change considerably (she'll either be a manifestation of the Divine on Earth or the Arch-demon herself).

<p>Oh yeah, this is definitely a vendetta story but it's starting to feel too obvious - like they've really spilled the plot bare if it's simply Ellie on a redemption quest for this girl Dina. </p><p>By the way, did anyone else notice the picture of what seems to be a woman with the caption "May she guide us" seen on the left here: ^_^ </p> <div id="gallery-1" hash="3a815923a04014b372562c5500a44c41" class="wikia-gallery wikia-gallery-caption-below wikia-gallery-position-left wikia-gallery-spacing-medium wikia-gallery-border-small wikia-gallery-captions-left wikia-gallery-caption-size-medium"><div class="wikia-gallery-item" style="width:187px; "><div class="thumb" style="height:106px;"><div class="gallery-image-wrapper accent" id="Last_of_Us_2_Gameplay-png" style="position: relative; height:104px; width:185px;"></div></div></div>
Add a photo to this gallery</div> <p>Could this be the leader of this religious/cultist extremists or is it just something completely unrelated to the game's story? </p>

<p>The woman in the grafitti might be the cultist leader that Ellie's mother killed in the cinematic trailer. That's the sort of backstory that makes for a martyr or saint-like figure in these sorts of movements. </p><p>Also, based on one of the cultist's dialogue in the gameplay trailer, I'm assuming that the cult is called The Sacrifice. The gramatical structure of the line makes 'Sacrifice' sound like a noun rather than a verb. </p>

<p>Interesting, I noticed towards the end the last guy alive said sacrifice in a big way too. This game is going to be fascinating to play, can't wait ahah. also noticed the number "2" on the train as Ellie was fighting two bad guys - not so subtle way of saying this is Part II. </p><p>Gonna be weird if we only play with Ellie though. One of the things (the thing) that made the first game so incredible was the little ways we see Joel and Ellie's relationship grow in-game as they journey together. Ellie on her own certainly creates an absence of such, meaning she'll spend a lot of time silent. </p><p>The first game's best moments (even in the DLC) was when was the player was not alone but with someone at all times to "talk" to. Going to be strange lacking such to bounce off, but will make a great contrast to the first game - Ellie's fear of loneliness is realized. </p>

<p>Did anyone notice that Ellie was wearing the wristband of the girl she was kissing after the transition? The first trailer was about revenge, so instead of Ellie avenging Joel's death, I think she is avenging her new love interest. This is all assumption with no other evidence to back it up. I havent seen anyone else talk about this so I just wanted to bring this into the discussion. </p>

<p>to be honest with you Naughty Dogg has been aroyund for many years now almost 3 decades of gaming and iv clocked almost all of their releases </p><p>
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this post apolcolyptic game is the greatest ever made and it is only going to get darker and more real as i feel there WILL be another and another after part II..... </p><p>
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im not going to spec...... im going to CHECK what is going on by actually playing the game.. </p><p>
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however i feel that revenge is on the cards in this one and it is going to be one hella rollercoaster  </p><p>and as for my main man joel ....if he dead its cool but how do you actually kill that dude !?  </p><p>
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SUPER EXCITED . </p>

<p>The plot will be that the muscular woman we don't know the name of yet it's actually Ellie's mom! We'll play as her or see flashblacks of her and what she went through like something similar of what the gameplay of Left Behind was. Ellie will find out how actually Anna died and it's possibly revealed that the new cult lead by Emily killed her. Ellie fuels up with rage and hate by this news and seeks revenge, That's why she was so furious and is determined to kill "every last one" of them in the trailers we've seen. The posters we saw of the two hands, one muscular arm holding a hammer (the muscular woman in the trailer we've seen) and the other arm which is Ellie's gave it away for me. We don't know the name of that woman yet, they haven't revealed it for a good reason because everybody else's names have been revealed. Like they said Laura Bailey is set to play an important character.... Plus what other reasons would Ellie have to be so full of hate to make her seek revenge like that? I don't think it's because they aparently killed Dina... it was too obvious from the trailer and you know ND's surprise element always plays really well. What do you think? </p>

<div class="quote"><i>> instead of Ellie avenging Joel's death, I think she is avenging her new love interest.</i></div>
<p>right! </p><p>>  I havent seen anyone else talk about this so I just wanted to bring this into the discussion. I said that when the first preview came out and nobody believed me. </p><p>> I don't think it's because they aparently killed Dina. </p><p>If Dina is the girl she danced with, it is. </p>