Tommy Hickin

I love how sudden the twists can be in the game. Not everything has to be built up and foreshadowed. A death can very much be quick and unexpected and brutal. The game keeps you feeling sad, angry and motivated as a post-apocalyptic world really should. Super immersive. There are upbeat moments spread throughout though so you don’t have to worry about feeling too depressed. Lots of nods the original as well as reflection between both halves of the game (play it and you will understand). The story kept me feeling regret for characters actions, and inner conflict with siding between opposing characters who each have valid motivations. The game makes you question morality within the narrative and this is reflected in the gameplay as it wants you to feel guilt. Whether that’s by having dying NPCs scream in agony or the fact that everyone you kill is a person with a name. Compared to the first game, the gameplay is hugely improved and the story is equally/ more impactful (though it plays more with anger than love this time) and the storytelling technique is at least almost as good (although I find it better). The game is definitely controversial though so you could hate it but I feel like people should understand that the game wants you to feel sad and angry, it’s emotive and shouldn’t be considered bad because it doesn’t glorify characters like most games. There are very unsatisfying deaths in the game that leave you feeling uncomfortable. It’s realistic (not cinematic with a grand satisfying last goodbye) and leaves you feeling uncomfortable and eats away at you but I feel like that fits the world. If you’d prefer something hugely satisfying or more upbeat, you may land in the category of people who the game doesn’t suit, so don’t waste your money, but if you think you can get into how harrowing and gruelling the game is, then you will probably love it and see it as one of the most powerful narratives within gaming as a medium (kind of like the first one was, but this time a lot darker for sure). Also bloaters have been hugely buffed into something genuinely scary to come across, they’re so much stronger and shamblers (bloater-lites) will instead be found in groups. They’re quicker but less bullet-spongey :)