The dog you kill as Ellie vs seeing it from the Abby view sums this game up.
In an age in gaming where killing enemy thugs has no meaning at all.. being forced to see the enemy POV is groundbreaking.
Good and bad is a perspective, not absolute.
Not surprise there are bad reviews. This is a mainstream game with a non mainstream plot. People would've preferred 5 more games with Joel until it became stale. To take him away from us so early is what made it painful. Genius.
Note, I did not get exposed to the plot spoilers. I wonder whether that is what ruined the experience for many?