Never have I been more conflicted after the credits to a game rolled than I have for The Last of Us part 2. That conflict is not a byproduct of disappointment or one of intrigue but rather one of genuine confusion.
I am writing this literally the day after completing my first playthrough and I still don’t know what to think.
Usually an amazing game lingers in your mind long after one has completed it. It’s not uncommon to want to share that excitement with others, to phone up friends and other gamers alike to express one’s admiration and love for the experience they just took part in.
In some ways we all want others to feel that same sense of enthusiasm and awe we had on our own personal journey. Such are the feelings that were conjured up after I completed the original The Last of Us way back in 2013.
I remember telling everyone I knew at the time how amazing an experience Naughty Dog’s masterpiece was and I wasn’t alone. It was very rare to hear anything negative from people who actually played it. Sure, there were the odd people here and there that would try to downplay its rather “safe” combat and shooter-based mechanics but by far almost everyone was unanimous on the strengths that lied inherent in Joel and Ellie’s journey. In fact, these strengths are what helped bolster the game into many gamers minds as being one of the best games ever made. Most notably, the story.
The original adventure through a post-apocalyptic world with Joel and Ellie was one that tug at gamers heartstrings for all the right reasons. This was thanks in part mostly to the character development that the main character Joel went through. From a grizzled, flawed, and cold man to one who’s heart opened for a girl he initially had no feelings for it’s easy to see why many were won over. I think this was in part due to the kind of unconditional love on display by the end. As gamers we grew with Joel and Ellie. We saw them change and become better people than they originally started out as.
While this sequel by all means was an amazing and masterful course in storytelling it didn’t quite reach the same heights its predecessor did; at least not on that front.
Don’t get me wrong, I personally think TLOU2 had one of the most compelling storylines I have ever witnessed in a game but it’s how it gets there through its execution that left me unsatisfied by the time New game Plus appeared on my screen.
TLOU2 picks up years after the events of the first, filling in gamers throughout the length of its campaign through multiple flashbacks as to what exactly transpired immediately after the events of the first. In fact, it is during these flashbacks that some of the best storytelling of the game takes place.
The first section of the game has gamers take control of Ellie. Things have progressed in her life now that her and Joel have found allies behind the walls of Jackson, a settlement that for the most part seems to be a stark contrast to the mayhem the two went through during the events of the first game.
The game takes great lengths to paint a picture of a community that is trying to work together to stay alive during what quite literally could be called Hell on Earth. The first section of the game has Ellie wandering around, talking to inhabitants of Jackson while gamers get acquainted with some of the new faces Ellie now calls friends.
While I understand why Naughty Dog did this I can’t help but feel they spent way too much time in this phase. Personally, I feel conflicted about this (something you will hear me say a lot of in this review so be forewarned.). The story-nut in me loved how Naughty Dog took the time to really paint this picture of the relationships around Ellie but as a game it doesn’t’ translate as well thanks mostly in part to poor pacing (yet another thing you will hear me say a lot.).
It feels like a small eternity before any real threat of danger that fans of the original are familiar to prop up but by then another obstacle rears its ugly head. Dina. I think it’s fair to say that the first section of the game is centered around Ellie and Dina. Unfortunately, Dina might be the worst companion in the game. Every time I was around her, I couldn’t stand it.
-Now you know how we all feel about you in the comments section, Ninja!-
Her pairing with Ellie, the writing, the commentary was just atrocious and constantly had me asking myself “How old is Ellie in this game, again?” It’s not because I was genuinely curious (although after a while I started to wonder.) but rather because of the dialogue and the interactions between the two.
I could swear she was a 13 year-old with some of the dialogue being thrown around. In many ways it felt like Ellie hadn’t matured at all from the time between games. In fact, I know what I’m about to say is controversial but I don’t care… I’m going to say it. I personally believe Ellie’s part in the game (except for near the end.) was the worst part of the game. There. I said it!
Most of the players time with Ellie comprises of her journeying to abandoned (and I do mean abandoned.) locales all on her quest for revenge. It’s during these encounters (or lack thereof.) where TLOU2’s weaknesses start to become more and more glaring.
While Naughty Dog did what most publishers now a days are doing by equating a bigger sandbox for gamers to explore with an overall better experience this move actually in my opinion detracts from the flow of the narrative as well as the urgency and progression of the main story.
It’s only until you play it that you can marvel with how well Naughty Dog handled the pacing of the first game and why every moment in that predecessor flowed perfectly from one segment to the next. The same cannot be said of TLOU2.
It wasn’t uncommon during my initial 12 to 15 something hours as Ellie to be fighting off waves of exhaustion as I once again rummaged through every drawer in yet another abandoned building in the hopes of some kind of interaction; whether good or bad. I understand this is a post-apocalyptic world but was it really necessary to add in so much… well, empty space?
These areas aren’t completely wasted as they sometimes contain vital tools for making supplies and such but the frequency and proximity makes one wonder if Naughty Dog was just going after quantity rather than quality.
In fact, what kept me going during most of these times were the brilliant flashbacks between Ellie and Joel. Granted, not a lot of anything (if memory serves me correctly.) happened during these moments in the way of fighting off enemies or hordes of clickers but they really juxtapose the difference and the underlying feel between this sequel and the original.
There is one scene in particular that stands out in my mind as exemplifying this best.
SLIGHT SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When Joel surprises Ellie by sneaking into an abandoned museum and gives her a cassette (-What’s a cassette, Ninja?-) of a rocket launch recording as the both sit inside a replica (or the real thing.) of a space shuttle it made me realize what this new installment was missing.
Soul.
That theme of genuine love. True love. Unconditional love.
The kind of love a parent has for a child is one that is very hard to duplicate. Sure, there are other types of love, but they are all for the most part conditional on some level. The love between that of two lovers, between that of life-long friends, or even siblings. They are all different and in many ways inferior to the one between a parent and their child.
The original Last of Us portrayed this concept well and aside from perhaps this one scene TLOU2 just couldn’t reach that same level throughout its long journey.
Unfortunately, as soon as these flashbacks are over gamers are once again brought back to a rather shallow motivation through way of Ellie’s revenge narrative. Another thing that just didn’t sit well with me was how “emo” Ellie seemed. Is “emo” even still a thing? Can I say that? I understand things haven’t exactly been good to her but her demeanor felt more forced than it needed to be at times. Also, whoever did the voice of Ellie…. Ugh. Yeah, let’s not even go there. It worked in the first game but in this one… not so sure.
Thankfully things start to get pretty good around the conclusion of Ellie’s first section (that’s right! First section people.). Which brings me to one of the main controversies that no doubt sprung up once gamers got a hold of this game.
SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Abby.
Much like Kojima did with Metal Gear solid 2 Naughty Dog completely pulls the wool over gamers eyes by ditching what everyone thought would be the dominant character for the whole game in lieu of another character named Abby.
Abby’s storyline, while not originally laid out, is intimately tied to Ellie and Joel’s and is the driving force behind the next big controversy that sparked a huge wave of backlash (partly due to the leaks.) before the game even dropped.
MAJOR SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Abby kills Joel!
Not long after we are introduced to this new character does she take the opportunity to utterly destroy Joel right in front of Ellie’s eyes. And gamers everywhere wept. It’s not hard to see how this lone act is now the driving force for Ellie going forward as well as the main theme of TLOU2… revenge.
While there are many who are still up in arms about this decision, I personally think it was a brave and bold one in terms of narrative. That’s the one thing that I absolutely loved about TLOU2 and something I wish other games would do more regularly. Namely, never make you feel safe about anyone or anything.
In fact, I was very much hoping Ellie would have gotten the same treatment soon after.
-Woah, Ninja! We get you don’t like her that much but, c’mon.-
I know, I know. I’m a terrible person. In all seriousness I felt something like that would have really shocked everyone and I’m all about the shock value. I love games, books, movies that forego playing it safe in hopes of subverting people’s expectations.
Once again, I can see why so many were turned off of even purchasing this game just by hearing that lovely bit of news but due to the nature of this storyline a catalyst like this needed to be exploited. As such the flames of revenge consume Ellie and for the remainder of the game seeking out vengeance is all she can think about.
Things come to a head between the two after even more lives are lost. Eventually things cumulate as Abby is left holding a gun above the head of a long-time ally as Ellie helplessly watches on.
At this point the game switches over to Abby’s story through a series of flashbacks that give gamers insight in to just why she did what she did.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of this being a completely new character Naughty Dog takes liberties with their flashback gimmick to help flesh out Abby’s motivations and understandings of the events that not only surround this installment but the previous one.
In fact, the flashbacks in this section of the game (lets call it the next 1/3rd or half.) can be quite cumbersome.
-Like reading this review, Ninja?-
I’m not exactly sure (wasn’t counting or anything.) but if someone told me Abby’s section went through 20 different flashback scenes (almost all playable too.) I wouldn’t bat an eye.
As such it can get a bit confusing when you are jumping from 2 days before to 3 years ago back to 1 day before the event in question.
Luckily, Abby’s section of the game feels more in line with what many were hoping for in terms of interactions with enemies. Also, Abby’s storyline I feel is muuuuuuch better than Ellies first section. I know this may sound a bit weird but unlike Ellie Abby’s narrative actually had good character development. We learn her reasons and motivations for doing the things she does. The same can’t be said of Ellie. In fact, the problem with the first portion of the game involving Ellie revolves around the fact that she is a stagnant character. Crazy I know. Considering all the baggage she has that sounds impossible but…
Unlike Ellie, Abby’s sections of the game had me clamoring for more. I constantly wanted to see what happened next and how events would unfold. In many ways I feel that if Naughty Dog had just ditched Ellie’s first part it wouldn’t have made a difference. Long term I know why they did it and it does make sense but its execution was perhaps a bit too poorly implemented.
Perhaps what I love the most about the story at this point is how Naughty Dog, through this jumping around in time (flashbacks.), shows how intertwined Abby’s story is with Ellie’s. In a sense both characters are mirrors of each other albeit in different ways. The other great thing with the narrative is how both Ellie and Abby’s stories meet up with each other eventually at the exact same moment in time.
While Ellie is a frailer looking figure Abby is headstrong, physically imposing (clearly, she upped the dose 😉.) and ready to take action. It is within the framework of her narrative that the whole “cult” narrative that gamers got glimpses of during the reveals come to a head.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of questions that go unanswered as well as a slew of opportunities that go unchecked in this portion of the game. It is at this time that we learn that Abby’s group have been waging some kind of a war with another faction called the Seraphites who seem to shun “old world things” like technology in an effort to be more with nature. I would guess the closest thing we have to that in our modern world in the West today would be the Amish but to make the comparison between the two on any other level would be demonstrably false.
The Seraphites run around their territory bow and arrows at the ready to take down any intruders or unbelievers. All of this seems in many ways to stem from their prophetess and during Abby’s adventure it is not uncommon to see multiple indications of her presence such as letters reading “May she guide you” sprawled out in the most random of places.
Unfortunately, this scenario (while quite good even if it often overplayed in the medium.) is a huge missed opportunity by the end of the game. In fact, I was hoping to have some kind of encounter with the prophetess at some point down the road but unfortunately that never materialized.
This really felt like a wasted opportunity. Instead what we are privy to are some rather lackluster reasons for sparking concern into this danger zone courtesy of a character named Lev; another catalyst that feels like it was just tacked on for… y’know… reasons.
😉
Lev’s character is a strange one in the sense of their placement. On the one hand I think Lev played a pivotal role for Abby by the end of the game but as far as Lev as an excuse to head back into the danger zone... well, it just felt forced and like a wasted opportunity.
The other area that Naughty Dog just fumbles is no doubt the one area that gained a lot of attention from the gaming world at large. Namely, Naughty Dog’s rather unabashed decision to load up their latest project with lots of socio-cultural commentary.
Many have expressed frustration over some of the intentional choices the developers (especially Druckmann.) implemented before the game even launched. No doubt after having completed the game those same decisions and more will cause even more division amongst the gaming community.
For all those who were worried about certain ideologies or unnecessary socio-cultural and political commentary seeping their way into Naughty Dog’s latest… well, I would be hard pressed to find anyone arguing against that sentiment by the time the credits rolled.
The worst part about this is that many of these controversial decisions feel terribly forced and more like Druckmann and the team were striking off the boxes on a “woke” checklist. As such, there is the occasional altercation and cliché’ encounter one would expect in mainstream media that has seeped its way into Naughty Dog’s latest.
Put it this way. If someone were to say to me that Naughty Dog is guilty of pandering to certain groups at the expense of their story, I would have a hard time refuting that assertion.
While there are so many moments in this game that borrow heavily from Hollywood in terms of its storytelling and execution there are just as many negative tropes injected in that seem so commonplace in today’s media that its will no doubt garner many eye rolls and groans from gamers of all demographics.
In fact, these “creative decisions” alone might be enough in many cases for people to just completely right this game off altogether. In all fairness, I can see why. For many out there gaming is an escape from reality for the few hours one sits down in front of that screen. To have all those issues bombarding them in their favorite medium is a warranted and understandable turn-off.
Honestly, a lot of the dialogue and other moments involving these issues in the game feel terribly forced too. From certain locales to conversations, to injecting certain characters in for no real reason while taking the opportunity for the developers to stand on their soapbox and preach I totally get why some have said they don’t want to partake in another Naughty Dog let alone Neil Druckmann directed game.
In a way it kind of makes one harken back to the “good old days” where this sort of stuff wasn’t so commonplace in our medium. When a game was a game and developers didn’t feel the need to do social commentary or grand standing to appeal to certain demographics just to get in their good graces.
I have already heard people referring to this sequel as “The Woke of Us” and quite honestly, I can see why.
Which brings me to the next point of contention.
The pacing.
I think there was around 6 times during my playthrough where I thought the game was on the verge of wrapping up but instead was treated to yet another cutscene followed by more and more in the way of game.
This is yet another area of confusion for me. I have always been one to say when playing a well-rounded game that “I don’t want it to end” and for all intensive purposes TLOU2 is one such game that warrants that accolade but I have to admit there were many times I found even myself saying “There’s still more?”
And that wasn’t a “Hey, there’s still more!” in a positive way.
I think this is one of the biggest issues with this sequel and what makes it lose sight of being in the same league as its predecessor. The pacing.
The game felt at many points like it was being extended and dragged on just for the sake of filling time. Heck, it was going on so much you would have thought that I wrote the script.
😉
Once again this is an area that troubles me deeply as I am usually the one person who is always saying after completing a game “Yeah, could have been longer”. In fact, any big-name single player game out there I probably have said that exact phrase at some point. In that regard TLOU2 has done something no other game has done before… it made me want it to end.
I feel dirty just for saying that especially when I consider this to be a great game despite some of my criticism.
Perhaps it was just the monotonous nature of the pacing. An amazing and engaging cutscene followed by walking through multiple solitary and abandoned residences until some kind of group encounter occurred; all then to be done over again and again. And it’s not that these encounters were bad (they were actually some of the highlights of the game.) but rather it was the getting there that made the game lose some of the wind in its sail.
Unlike the first entry it wasn’t uncommon for a character to point a place out in the horizon as the next destination before beginning a long journey (usually quite uneventful as well.) until it was reached. By the end of the game this mechanic started to build dread in my heart.
Ex:
Ellie: “Is that place in the distance where I’m supposed to go?”
Videogame Ninja: “Please, no…”
I shouldn’t be saying this in a game, especially one as good as this. Period!
I know I’m being overly critical with much of my gripes but when you put out a sequel to what many believe to be one of the best games ever made its all par for the course. The truth is I really enjoyed TLOU2 and the overall narrative weaved was an amazing, thrilling and engaging one that was bold and pushed the boundaries of storytelling rarely seen in our medium.
I was completely invested in Abby’s story as well as the driving force behind the decisions she made along her journey but I wish the same could be said for Ellie.
Considering Ellie was the focal point before this game even released I see this as a huge failure on Naughty Dog’s part and frankly one that would make me even go so far as to say I might not be that interested in a Part 3 if Ellie once again maintained some kind of prominent role.
I know I’m ragging a lot on this game and I wouldn’t hold it against anyone to think I absolutely hated my time with it but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Unlike a lot of other games out there The last of Us franchise comes with a boatload of expectations thanks to how well the first entry was received. In many ways it’s unfair as the level of scrutiny is raised exponentially in comparison to other games.
Unfortunately, this is the kind of double standard that comes when the previous entry in a series completely knocks the socks off of everyone and in some rare cases changes the scope of the videogame landscape forever. Think of iconic titles like Street Fighter 2, Metal Gear Solid, Uncharted 2, Final Fantasy 7, etc… Their successors were almost doomed to fail, comparatively speaking. The Last of Us 2 falls into this category as well. Instead of being a Street Fighter 2 or an Uncharted 2 it was more of a Street Fighter 3 or an Uncharted 3. Still unbelievably amazing games but ones that fall short of redefining the genre.
I know I have been spending almost the entirety of the review talking about the negatives but there are a myriad of positives that make The Last of Us 2 stand head and shoulders above most of the competition out there.
Encounters with enemies were unbelievably tense and added a sense of realism rarely felt in most modern games. Running through a field as the jolting sound of a bullet rings through the air before pinning you down never got old.
Naughty Dog boasted many months before release about the AI in the game and perhaps while not as impressive as they had made it out to initially be the level of realism that many of the enemies engage in is in many ways unheard of in a game. Enemies call out by name their peers if they go missing adding a sense of realism to the world you are immersed in.
Encounters are also extremely brutal and in many ways some of the most graphic and horrific examples of violence in our medium. This game is not for the squeamish, that is for sure. Luckily, I’m so warped in the head I loved these moments and all their cinematic flare.
Then there are the graphics. For the most part they were amazing, but I did have some issues with many of the character models. The other thing that troubled me during my almost 50-hour campaign (That’s right, 50 hours!!!) was that very rarely was I blown away by the artistic design on my screen.
I had just come off of playing Final Fantasy 7 before engaging in TLOU2 so perhaps that’s why some of the effects that would have otherwise wowed me felt a bit dull. Playing FF7 remake it wasn’t uncommon for me to stop the game every once and a while and pan the camera around at the unbelievably gorgeous visuals staring back at me.
The worst part is that I know (at least I feel this should be the case.) that TLOU2 should blow it out of the water but you would never think that playing the two side by side. Personally, I think it has more to do with art direction rather than graphical might. Unlike FF7, TLOU2 is a more dark, gritty, and lifeless world and as such having those picturesque photo mode encounters are much rarer. That’s not to insinuate that detail wasn’t there as Naughty Dogs attention to detail is pretty much second to none.
I don’t know why I feel this way, but I just wasn’t as impressed graphically as I should have been. And I just don’t know why. Once again, perhaps this was unrealistic expectations going in? I have no idea. But I don’t want anyone to walk away thinking that I thought this game looked bad as that is not the case at all. In fact, I will go so far as to say TLOU2 is one of the best looking games currently out there.
I could go on and on about more of the things that TLOU2 does well but I fear this review would end up being a book.
Told ya’ I wrote the game 😉
But at the end of the day the big question is going to come down to this…
How does it compare to the first?
The best analogy I can give is to compare it between that movie you love and a tv series you love.
The first Last of Us is like a movie. The movie is shorter but its pacing is perfect, its story is succinct, on point, not a moment is wasted and everything flows perfectly from one scene to the next. It’s the kind of thing you can watch over and over again at any point in its theatrical run.
The Last of Us part 2 is like a season of a series. Overall, it’s an amazing season but there are a few episodes where things take a dive, maybe a few slumps or bumps in the road but overall it comes together in the end nicely.
Is The Last of Us part 2 a worthy successor to the original?
In many ways yes.
Is The Last of Us Part 2 better than the original? Is it the kind of game that when people look back in history will garner praise and admiration on the same level as the first?
Despite all the things I feel it did well I think you would be hard pressed to find many people out there who would be willing to say yes.
-VIDEOGAME CONFLICTED NINJA APPROVED-