The Last of Us 2's Abby Anderson continues to stir controversy and bewilderment simultaneously among fans. Abby's contextual motivations in The Last of Us 2 are driven through environmental storytelling, which plays a big part in why Naughty Dog may have decided to give her a superbly muscular frame. Of course, women maintaining Abby's muscular physique is not hitherto unheard of. Please note that this article will have some SPOILERS for The Last of Us 2.
But in gaming, women having sheer muscle mass is perhaps less represented and becomes Abby's most defining physical characteristic in both narrative and gameplay. Abby's physical transformation is addressed in The Last of Us 2's narrative as the result of her father being murdered, and is ultimately a visual depiction of her focused determination in seeking revenge. Fans have recently begun to celebrate and admire Abby's physique by taking a nostalgic look back at her transformation from skinny to buff.
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Reddit user andreigarfield shares side-by-side images of Abby's arms from the game's third-person perspective, showcasing how different she looked before and after her father's death. Abby's younger self, which players experience through playable flashbacks, is considerably skinnier and has a shorter hair braid. Abby's older, present self has obtained a substantially larger muscular figure and looks imposing. Abby's transformation is being shared by andreigarfield and other The Last of Us 2 fans as "goals" for fitness and physique due to the significant difference shown in andreigarfield's comparison images.
Fans agree that Abby's distinguishable achievement, though difficult, would be plausible despite the tribulations that come from The Last of Us' post-apocalyptic conditions. Players note that Abby's affiliation with the Washington Front Liberation provides her with unbridled access to weight equipment, a butcher shop, and other abundant resources that would be influential in achieving her physique.
Besides being resourceful with crafting and stealth, players may fall back upon Ellie's trusty switchblade in combat, which players hold onto indefinitely because it does not degrade with use like other melee instruments. Rather, Abby's physical strength allows her to overpower others in hand-to-hand combat while connecting a combination string of punches, throwing one-hit knockout haymakers, or slamming opponents into environments.
Seeing Abby emaciated during The Last of Us 2's conclusion is alarming and indicative of how she must have suffered in Santa Barbara. But players celebrate the dedication Abby must have needed to commit to in building her strength and figure, with many fans believing the end result is an admirable motivation to improve one's own physique.
The Last of Us 2 is available now on PS4.
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