Carl Fredrick Aquino

The final chapters of this game had me more horrified than any other game I'd experienced -- and it had nothing to do with zombies. Naughty Dog have brilliantly crafted a journey for our dual protagonists which was both complete, surprising and emotionally gutting. The gameplay was satisfying although the pacing felt a little slow at times. It wasn't a perfect game, and this isn't a perfect rating system. That said, I'd rate it closer to 5 stars than to 4 -- so 5 stars it is. [SPOILERS BELOW] The character work is the highlight for me. Abby transforms from a hardened, blood-thirsty wolf into a caring and compassionate person thanks to Yara and Lev. But what about Ellie? The last battle at the beach is so horrifying because we're not sure how far Ellie is willing to go for her revenge. It's not until afterwards, during that final flashback with Joel, that we understand that Ellie actually has it in her to forgive. She just has to try. In the game's final moments, we see Ellie finally forgive Joel as she sets the guitar down and walks away. It's a touching moment which reminds us of how far we've come -- and how much we've lost to get here.