Sara Hamilton

It's really hard to love a story-driven game with a poorly written story. I will say first however, the graphics, animation, UI, combat, music- the elements of game feel and game mechanics are impeccable. The detail that has gone into the actual gameplay is phenomenal and I am truly blown away by the innovation of gameplay this game presents. I could quite literally spend all day talking about how gorgeous it is. *SPOILERS* Everyone knows by now that the story is very badly written, and it confuses me when people talk about Joel's death as if his death is why so many people are disappointed. The trailers suggested that this game was going to progress Joel and Ellie's relationship, that Joel would have a big role to play. Joel was going to die, and I was quite ready for it. It was just sudden and done in a way that disrespected all the building the first game had done with his character. I was so keen in seeing how a grown up Ellie and an older Joel would communicate, and grow on this new journey, with different stakes and motivations. As a lot of people have already touched on, it's very very difficult to try and have an audience sympathise with an antagonist in the way they had planned with Abby. I do not like Abby, even if I know she's morally just most of the time. There's just so much contradiction to her motivations that it just makes me cringe when you have to play as her. I'm just disappointed that shock value and the agenda was more important to the writers than actually trying to add to the already beautifully established characters from the first game, and adding to those relationships with new characters. Haaa my heart hurts man. 7 years man.