Jack Gervais

It seems everyone reviewing this game either hates it or worships it. This sequel didn't need to exist. I think the lore may have had more justice if it hadn't. The point is the game DOES exist and for what it's worth it's the most captivating game I've ever played. I finished the game in three days which is the fastest I've ever finished a game, (and this game is quite lengthy at around twenty hours). The story does not live up to the classic masterpiece of the original, but I wasn't expecting to. Anyone looking for the same formula as the original game is sure to be disappointed because this story does not pull punches and is more interested in delivering an unbelievably memorable story than a "satisfying" one. I can see how this approach to the story is infuriating, and I do wonder if the game would've been more satisfying to me as a player following the original game's formula. BUT, the Last of us Part II sets a goal to accomplish and it does it well. You can tell when the game is trying to convey something without it shoving it down your throat. This approach and recognition of morality and perspective in game story-telling I think is frustrating to some people who were looking for a certain type of experience from this title. For me personally I believe the unapologetic nature of the story it tells is exactly the point of the gritty perspective in story telling the game tries to convey. The problem with this is the nature of the story can possibly feel out of place as a sequel by not attempting to convey a similar experience as it's predecessor. I do feel a bit betrayed with the sequel being so different in approach because I find the point of a "sequel" is to deliver further on what it's predecessor delivered, which in terms of gameplay and character depth TLOU2 certainly did, but in story progression it did not. My point is, the story aims to achieve a certain aspect and point in its storytelling, and in that aspect it succeeds. There are some flaws I had with the story occasionally, especially with the ending. I was satisfied by the conclusion to Abby and Ellie's revenge plot, it's the indefiniteness of Ellie and Dina's relationship back in Jackson that bugs me. I believe that for a game that prides itself so much on its unapologetic story to be successful in fulfilling it's characters' purpose, there must be some definitive positivity in the ending. It is highly likely and is believed based on game details that Ellie and Dina became a family again after Ellie's arrival back, but with no actual confirmation of this in the script or any previous version of the script, it feels incomplete and unsatisfying as an ending. I feel for the recurring plot point of the previous game "keep finding something to fight for" to fully ring true, the ending of the game must depict Ellie having gained that something to fight for after losing it all... If you are to base a game's reviews off of whether it was "worth it" in terms of pricing and time, I enjoyed everything this game through at me. Some aspects I didn't necessarily feel "happy" immediately, but never did I feel the story fell flat on what it seemed to be aiming to do. Every plot point was intentional and succeeded in it's purpose in moving the story forward, whether you agree with the choices or not (and don't get me wrong, this game being so unapologetic in nature...you might not."