Jordan Bradley

A game about the apocalypse and people are mad about death? ...Spoilers ahead. This game is undeniable a fan favourite and We/I have waited years to play as Ellie and Joel again so the biggest jarring point is the forced perspective of playing as a brand new player thought to be the enemy. I hated Abby in the first hour of playing her i honestly felt deflated that I would have to carry on as her. We all love Ellie so how dare they right? Well wrong. It’s annoying when people tell you to stick with something irritating but honestly this game challenges you with morality in a way that can change your own perspectives. I warmed to Abby, Empathised with her and could see how Ellie could easily be in her situation and vice versa... so at the end of the day it’s human choices this game focuses on, and dealing with grief. Was Abby or Ellie right or wrong? I don’t think it’s that easy and it’s not supposed to be in the apocalypse. We are pushed to see Ellie in a darker light but we are under no illusions that Abby is no saint. Ellie pushes the boundaries of her humanity and morals for revenge, slaughtering her way to it, to come to a realisation that is consuming her and stopping her living. Abby came to that conclusion after getting her revenge on Joel. Losing Joel was expected for me personally, I already thought he was gone until Ellie mentions him, and I was okay with that because it’s about her now and I wanted it to be. Losing Joel was a massive driving force for her but knowing why he saved her from fireflies only makes Ellie’s character arc darker. I think that was not only an anti climax but a jarring emotion to slot in for Ellie. She’s furious with Joel and yes no one wants to see your ‘father’ murdered like that of course, but it strips away at this mystery of finding Abby and finding out her motive (we guess but Ellie was supposed to be clueless). Hunting her down for answers as wel as revenge was more plausible, more in character. Instead we are led down a revenge fuelled slaughter fest. Then the white picket fence scene was more than a perfect way to end. Ellie has her peace even with the nightmares but revenge would never bring Joel back so I don’t know why she still needs to hunt abby (really trying to make her dark as can be). Overall I did enjoy the game. I would have changed a few story telling bits and make Ellie less ‘evil’, we are supposed to understand both perspectives perhaps we could see the devastation el’s quests is leaving behind through Abby, not through Ellie as she’s consumed by it, and Apart from giving us the flip side perspective the game opens up the world of the apocalypse in brilliant new ways. It’s tense and new and yet familiar in style and gameplay. It’s refreshing to get new enemies and new cities to explore. Overall I’m satisfied with this game but I think the gameplay as Ellie is over ( and Abby I’m not an abby Stan) perhaps it should be her and her son if they create another one.