The Last of Us Part II (2020)

I'm glad that this exists, because it's really, really good - but simultaneously maintain the belief that it shouldn't exist, purely because of how brilliant the ending to the first game was and is.

It also suffers from several of the problems that plagued Uncharted 4 - overly drawn-out sequences, some questionable writing in places, and the ludonarrative dissonance regarding the wanton murder of what must be hundreds of people by the end - but it also never felt anywhere near as exhausting as that game did, despite the near-relentless bleakness of its world.

That said, the writing and gameplay are a marked step up from the first game, particularly the latter which feels incredibly fluid and rewarding once you get to grips with the combat/stealth encounters. There's so much I could discuss with the writing and characterisation, almost all of it glowingly positive, but I'd rather not without going into spoilers. Just give it a go if you haven't already. I held off for a long time due to Naughty Dog/cinematic Sony fatigue, and in a way I'm glad I did given the poisonous discourse surrounding it on initial release. All told, it's excellent.

I was shocked by how good this was after all the negative press. It turns out most of the negativity is directed towards the story. The gameplay is fantastic! I was a huge fan of the shooting/stealth gameplay from the first one and they focus on that hard in this game, giving you two to three times the amount of content. Perhaps my low expectations colored my enjoyment of this as well but I encourage anyone who is at least curious it to give it a shot.

My playthrough highlights:

I finished this game a few days ago, and the story I experienced through it continues to cast a shadow over my days in the best way possible. There aren't many pieces of media that leave me with this sort of lasting grief for the end of characters' stories but watching Ellie put herself through all of this was totally gut-wrenching. I keep thinking of the girl we knew in the first game and knowing that this is where her story leads just really depresses me (In a good way!).

The story is harrowing and presented in such a brutal way. When characters came to blows, no punches were pulled. They always felt like they were desperately trying to murder each other. This was front and center while not compromising on the stellar character development that had me so enraptured by the first game. I do have some complaints about the pacing however, which I'll get to once I finish with the positives.

And the real cherry on top here for me is how this time around I genuinely enjoyed the combat. They really ironed out just about all of the kinks that had me desperately avoiding enemy encounters before so that now I actually found myself getting excited whenever I ran into some baddies. Everything felt so much smoother. The craftable items felt infinitely more useful and more readily available with some thorough exploration, which also in turn felt significantly more rewarding.

However. This is all not to say I have no complaints. The pacing was just...ughhh. Though as I said, I loved the story, the need the director/writers had to cut seemingly so many high tension scenes including what at the time seemed like the actual narrative climax of the story with sudden flashbacks and narrative changes in direction was incredibly frustrating. Having said this, this next bit is going to sound a bit silly. I sort of... want more "changes in narrative direction," as I put it.

I think the amount of frustration I felt from thinking I was at the end of the game and then having the rug pulled from under me with the start of Abby's half of the game would have been greatly diminished if rather than splitting the game's story between Ellie and Abby right down the middle, they had instead set it up so after each day in Seattle as Ellie, you then played through that day as Abby. It's not like it's some big secret that her sections of the game exist, since you encounter one within the game's first hour. Also please stop cutting away from important high tension moments, for god's sake.

The second false ending was still a bit annoying, since there was still a good chunk left to go, but I found that it led to a far more satisfying and soul-crushing conclusion than otherwise would have been, so I didn't mind it so much (other than having my hopes to have time to do other things with my night after finishing the game thoroughly dashed by the long conclusion).

Also while I initially really appreciated Lev as a character during the first few hours with him, I strongly disliked how they not only made his entire story about how everyone wants him dead for being trans but also had him make the single stupidest decision any character in the game made by trying to save his mom. Like prior to the moment he goes after her on the boat, he's a super reasonable dude. He knows how to keep himself and his sister safe and despite the hatred the Seraphites show him, he still retains his faith, which is a very strong defining trait. So like. Why does he suddenly think it's a great idea to abandon his sister who he surely must know will chase after him in this attempt to rescue a mother who he also knows will only try to hurt him?? This is the kind of absurd MacGuffin writing I expect from a much less well-written game, not this one. I fully believe the game would be significantly better if you chopped the whole sequence chasing after and rescuing him out of the plot.

I played the first game not all that long ago while being vaguely aware of the rocky reception around its sequel back on its release and came into this one quite curious to see what all the controversy was about. All I knew was that it seemed to be a fairly polarizing game for some reason. I came out on the other side a bit confused, honestly. As I've said, there's some stuff I would change to improve the rough pacing of the story, but otherwise this game seems like a total triumph in narrative and strong character writing while also boasting strongly survival horror resource based gameplay.

I'm sure I'll be thinking of this experience for years to come.

Amazing first half, then just pooped the bed.

SPOILERS

Switching to a new character halfway through instantly sucked out all enjoyment. All of my care and interest and just everything disappeared. I can’t finish it. So bummed because I was having so much fun.

Edit - I did finish. I’m not as taken back by the switch, and some amazing stuff in the second half, but man I couldn’t wait for the game to finally end. And in the end, it really didn’t feel meaningful or impactful. Not gonna change my rating

Score: 10/10

The Last of Us Part II is one hell of a game. From a technical standpoint the game is nearly flawless (though we should always push back against the crunch that was used to make it). Still, Naughty Dog's insanely well made sneak/action/scavange cycle is mouth watering perfection and each encounter allows you total freedom to approach it whilst always keeping you on the edge of your seat. Marrying it almost perfectly (though maybe not as much as the first) with the story is the great strength of the game and you really do feel harried and desperate without it ever feeling unfair. Any mistakes here are yours, and it's up to you to be smart about what resources you are using and how you spend your upgrades. Graphically stunning and mechanically as perfect as any game since MGS V.

Of course the story of The Last of Us Part II is one that hits hard. Again, it didn't quite reach the heights of the original (what could?) but it basically got me to the point of feeling like a terrible person for what I was doing to enemies as well as bringing me to tears at the end, exhausted from all the violence and pain and suffering. The psychologies of the characters in The Last of Us Part II are deep and rich and by the end you'll marvel at the characters the game has created. That's to say nothing for the progressive casting of characters in the game (racially, gender, and sexual identity diverse) and the grace with which the game handles them.

The best thing about this game is the way it marries interactivity with story. So, so, so few games really manage this significantly - the original The Last of Us, Spec Ops: The Line, Death Stranding, and the Metal Gear Solid series are the only ones I can think of that really push the envelope in using the interactive nature of the medium to tell the story and communicate things in a way that only games can tell. The Last of Us 2 is a masterwork of this and fore that it receives a full score and the highest praise I can give.

The Last of Us Part Deux is a weird congeries of conservative and ambitious decisions. Mostly conservative. It's a tech marvel that makes my gasping original PS4 feel like a PS5, its accessibility options should be lauded (and replicated across the board), and the story moves with thematic purpose rather than going an overly easy route that placates fans.

Otherwise, damn. This structurally unsound behemoth with violence as aesthetic only is largely The Last of Us seven years later. In 2013 it managed to summarise and cap off that generation. I don't think this will be remembered anywhere near as kindly.

Neil calls TLOU2's gameplay contribution 'heightened reality.' You need to be served up 1000+ people to dispatch because that's how combat encounters have to be balanced to offer a challenge within the action paradigm. The takeaway from these encounters, then, is a broad feeling of 'having been through it' rather than the too literal implications of Ellie having hundreds of souls on her conscience. The cutscenes make this distinction clear given weight is only ever placed on the killing of significant figures. If this game leaves me with any resonant feeling it's that there has to another way. Can a limited encounter game work? It just has to for this to be done again.

This feeling aside, stealth and combat are as desperately entertaining as ever. I was always a big defender of the original's combat, so the additions of enhanced AI that allowed me to entertain the personhood of my enemies and many spice of life unique scripted encounters were mighty entertaining (not affecting). Its early flirtations with exploration devolving into corridors is a more peculiar quirk of the game. A missed opportunity for sure. Still, one late game encounter had me jumping round the room manic with how it was forcing the player into a 'self-fight.' What a mixed bag.

If there's one near-genius element TLOU2 pulls off, it's its mirroring of bias and tribalism - namely the bias of player control and narrative framing - of the the intergroup conflicts in the plot with the eruption within the gaming community over said plot. The one thing that sours this for me is Neil Druckmann's admission that this is essentially a 'both-sides,' centrist take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Fatalistic cycles of violence bullshit that fundamentally misunderstands real world conflict - no thank you.

I'm almost as conflicted as TLOU2's world has conflict. I was emotionally swept up by its story beats and cinematically reduced to a rapt state. Given time to reflect, however, this game should be taken as an early signal of the troubles ahead for so-called 'AAAA' game development. You can't simply layer on evermore sophisticated garments upon a dinosaur. At some point you'll have to address the Rugops on the runway.

It's been the worst year - or perhaps the beginning of the worst decade to come? It makes sense that this should both be the year that Naughty Dog gets exposed as a toxic developer before putting out one of the most polished, pessimistic pieces of media I've ever consumed. It was a fine narrative experiment, but please let it be the last of this.

Loved this game unequivocally.

It's beautifully crafted, every environment and detail a pleasure to behold. The narrative is deeply thought-provoking (provided you have the capacity for abstract thought, which I see some reviewers don't) and heart-wrenching.

Mechanically it's not very different from the first game (or from the Uncharted games for that matter), with some small tweaks and polishing, all positive, as you'd expect from a newer iteration. The biggest mechanical change of note that I liked was that the two main characters you play each have distinct ability trees and a different collection of weapons/tools at their disposal. One is not just a reskinned version of the other; their weapons and skills actually feel completely different and, I found, necessitated different styles of play which seems appropriate.

Yes it's a linear narrative game that doesn't give the player a lot of meaningful choices. But that's only one way to use the video game medium. If you don't know how Naughty Dog uses the medium by now, you must be new here. The story has already been written for you, you don't get to change it. Just strap in and enjoy the ride. You get agency as the character(s) and this helps you develop greater empathy for and connection to them, but you're not the writer of this story.

The haters are all a bunch of neckbeard-wearing troglodytes who are either offended by some aspect of the characters or plot, or they're knuckle-dragging simpletons on whom complex ideas like human emotion are wasted, and they should go back to endlessly clicking on each other's heads in COD. Probably both.

I have slowly worked my way through The Last Of Us Part II whilst watching the game generate massive amounts of praise and criticism. I largely avoided the controversy in the interest of avoiding spoilers and after finishing can definitely see why.

There is plenty to praise about this game. Artistically TLOU2 is in the absolute top tier of games on PS4. The graphics are beautiful and music although mostly subtle compliments the feel of the game brilliantly particularly at key moments in the story.

The game play whilst holding true to the formula of the first game is significantly improved and feels silky smooth. The level design is also absolutely fantastic, particularly towards the end of the games second arc I experienced some of the most intense, atmospheric and fun levels I have played. Overall the game plays brilliantly and is as polished and beautiful as you could ask for.

The story is where The Last Of Us Part II becomes very controversial. In short without spoilers Naughty Dog set out to tell an ambitious story that challenges us to think about how we view ourselves and others and that good and bad can be just a matter of perspective. It was a daring and effective approach to storytelling that I really appreciated but I can definitely see it how it could be confronting and not everyone's cup of tea.

The story wasn't perfect to me by any means though. The way the story is told really hinders the pacing of the game especially during the first half of its second act. I can't help but feel by arranging events in a more chronological order of events the game and story would have flowed a lot better and perhaps make certain big moments feel even more significant. The ending also fell flat for me in a big way not so much in its conclusion, but its execution, which just left me feeling unsatisfied after such an intense build up.

8/10

I will start by saying The Last of Us is one of my all time favorite video games, so it was highly unlikely that I wouldn't like this game.

The Last of Us Part II is not quite what I thought it would be, but I quickly was enthralled.

What I Liked: -The gameplay is familiar, but subtly tweaked to be better; sneaking has more options, the AI is more intelligent, and you have a wider variety of equipment options -Ellie and Abby are well fleshed out, amazingly acted, leads. Their supporting cast is great. Honestly I loved every lead or partner characters -It's gorgeous, the landscape is often shockingly beuatiful, in the midst of horrifying violence

What I Didn't Like: -Switching protagonists midway through is initially jarring, and hurts pacing midway through the game (though it grew on me) -Encounter areas are much bigger than in the first game. This allows more exploration but also makes getting overwhelmed by enemies much easier

• Generally you only fight two groups, so you don't learn about various locations and groups, unlike the first game, which had many different locations and groups. -Protagonist travel alone much more frequently, removing the bonding and dialogue a second character could create.

If the first game was defined by the themes of hope, and learning living is more then survival, then the second game is defined by negative experiences of anger, revenge, and guilt. This creates a much, MUCH bleaker play experience. There are almost none of the light moments of bonding the first game had to break up the brutality of survival. This game is bleak and sad.

Overall, I really loved the game. It is not what I was expecting or even hoping, but it was still a rewarding play experience.

If you like story and character focused games, that force examination of tough emotions and topics, this is the game for you.

I beat the game in 27 hours, so long enough to really get to know the characters, but not overly long.

NO SPOILER

It is really hard to rate this game with the big shitstorm going in circle around it even before its release so I'll try to be as clear as possible (while still being subjective of course, this is a personnal review).

Gameplay - 5/5

Honestly not much more to say except the amount of work and dedication to the combat animations really shows. The basics are something you've already seen tens of times but better, and more satisfying. The stealth mechanics are working well but even when I got caught of guard, the "momentum" kicked in and the game just looked spectacular. The loop of exploring, scavenging, fighting can be a bit repetitive at some points but honestly there is just so much to find that it never bothered me.

World building/atmosphere - 5/5

You know sometimes you wish you could just spend a little more time in a specific place when playing a classic cover shooter/TPS? This scratches the itch, every room has something to add to the world, a letter, a manual you can use to improve your character, an encounter, a line of dialog. Environments are super well designed and have a lot of details and easter eggs.

Artistic direction - 5/5

Just look at the lighting, realism, acting, music! Everything is just top notch. Sound design especially is on fire and makes some moments just stand out even more.

MILD SPOILER ZONE

Story - 4/5

Clearly there are some choices made by the characters that I find a bit odd. However the overall tone, the moment to moment discovery of Seattle and everything that is happening is just breathtaking. There is never a dull moment and that is exceptional considering it took me more than 20 hours to finish the game. In particular the second half of the game is even better on this side. While I like Ellie better as a character and didn't care much for Abby, the whole run to the hospital and back are just filled with great writing and the pacing is just perfect. Then you just walk in the middle of a giant civil war that is probably one of the most poignant scenes in video gaming ever. By the end, the fact that she turns on her clan is both satisfying but also a validation of Ellie's actions for me. I don't think that was the intended purpose but both protagonists end up killing wolves and that means Abby was just a bit too stupid to realize how wrong her way of life was up until then. Following Isaac was not the correct idea since the beginning which is why the whole "humanize the baddies" didn't work for me. However she has a change of heart and becomes much more reliable after that. Both character arcs are a bit over the top in terms of stereotypes, but at the end it still kinda works. At least it did for me. Clearly there are a lot of games with a better scenario overall, but the first entry didn't have a stellar story either, it was the way it was told that had us all on the edge of our seats, and this is still true here.

END OF SPOILERS

This game is not for everyone as it is the case for most narrative games, it has a lot of small defaults (gameplay not super original, characters being dumb sometimes) but a lot of those faulty elements are forgotten because everything else is crafted to perfection. It highly deserves the praise it got in the press. It's probably going to be a big contender for Game of the year. It is I think best narrative game since Detroit and one of the best exclusives Sony pulled out this gen.