Dustin Barden

This was a beautiful game. Full of nuance, diverging and converging storylines, rebukes, restorations, and restitutions. From the main menu to final scene, my emotions were mounted on a mantle of uncertainty. I went into this completely blind, only seeing the trailer where Abby was strung up with a noose. Once i started the game it was so long after the release, the hanging scene was a confabulation and i thought it was Ellie that got strung up. Needless to say, i didn’t know you would even play as Abby. At first, I was disappointed to my core that the developers would try to get me to dislike Joel, and completely afflicted with his death. By the point you began to play as Abby, things were making sense. Before i was even halfway through abbys gameplay i already had forgiven her and was sympathetic. I could careless about the feminist slant that others are complaining about, as it added a fresh dystopian perspective. Joel was the hero of the first, and Ellie and Abby were the heroes of the second. I was slightly disappointed in the AI (humans). They were predictable, and easily outmanoeuvred. Mind you there were numerous instances in the game where i was surprised by a new engagement. I played the game on hard, and wished i played it one tier higher. I was also disappointed that i was cautious with all of my inventory and ammunition, right until the end; where i finished the game with full ammo for every gun. USE IT, ENJOY IT. By the end i was very happy with the emotional rollercoaster. The empty house, the muted guitar chords. A consequence of revenge. I dont like reviewing, so- Great job NaughtyDog!