T Y

The Last of Us Part 2 looks very impressive graphically and has some fine tuning some to the mechanics of the last game. However, the plot takes some pretty major disappointing directions and virtually every character is portrayed in ways that is completely unlikable, uninteresting or unrealistic given their character development of the last game. The plot is so intent on hammering you with its anvilicious point and unrelentingly bleak tone that even I find it to be an exercise in cinematic masochism. There is also an unquestionable LGBTQ agenda inserted into the game and while it’s not necessarily the worst aspect of the game, I do think it comes off as fairly unnecessary and convoluted in the context of this story. But as a fan of the first installment of the series the most unforgivable thing the game does is how it goes about bludgeons the main characters Ellie and Joel, in most ways characterization wise but in one glaring way literally. While the game is obviously far from the most egregious pile of garbage ever to hit a console... it is a huge misstep and a massive disappointment for me, especially given the masterful presentation and writing of Last of Us part 1.