Sierra Rose

This game is not for people who want a happy ending. This game is dark, disturbing, and depressing. Many people seem to hate on this game because it's not what they wanted or expected. But to be honest, I think this game is even better than the first. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved the first game. It was so groundbreaking at the time for a triple a title to have such a deep story. Although, there were some downsides to the game. I think the second game was just as good as the first, with the game feeling relatively the same to play. As soon as you start the game's tutorial you feel the nostaglia from the first game. However, this game improved greatly on the graphics and the horror aspects that the first was missing. The first game was technically a horror game, but the horror is much more prevalent in this game. I felt way more scared and distressed playing this game than the first. The atmospheres are perfect and the shocking brutality of some of the characters really hits home. Even the fights with the zombie-like creatures were a lot better this time around. Secondly, the story improved so much. The first game had a great story, and while the story of this game isn't as simple, it teaches simple lessons. The main story arch of the first game is that people are not either good or bad, they're both. This game pushes that even further. Ellie, a character we've all come to love and respect, shows her dark side. She does awful things in the name of revenge. When you play her side of the game, you want her to win, even if she is doing something that is morally wrong. However, when the game makes us play as Abby, the "villain", it makes us sympathize with her. At the beginning we hate her and hope that she dies, but by the end of her story arch we can see that she's actually a very loyal and good person. She does make mistakes and does horrible things, but she also does good. She is not inherently evil, just like Ellie is not inherently good. By the end of the game I was conflicted on whose side I should be on. Both made mistakes. Both sought revenge. But the only person who got anything good out of the situation was the one who learned to let go You are allowed to not like this game if you played it and didn't like it. But you can't hate the game for just not doing what you wanted it to do. No character is sacred. Give this game a chance. It's a beautiful game with so many details, and a wonderfully executed depressing story. I never felt a dull moment playing this game, I never wanted to put the controller down, and I don't regret playing this game at all. It's my favorite of the two games and I will not forget how this game made me feel. (Sidenote: I am a lesbian and I've been a gamer my whole life. The fact that I liked this game was not swayed by the lgbtq+ representation, but it did make me so happy to see someone that I can relate to on that level as the main character of the game. It was not needed, but thank you NaughtyDog for giving the representation that the video game community has been lacking. It made me feel so much more emotional being able to fully relate to a love story.)