Gabe T.

I just finished the game, and hands down it is one of- if not- the best game I've ever played. I feel obligated to write this review because it has such a low rating which is completely undeserved, and this game really sets a new bar in future game development. The combat was more enjoyable than any game I've ever played. It was completely fluid and realistic, like playing through a movie. You could almost always run through, go gung-ho, or sneak by, and it allows you to customize and to gear up based on your playing style which makes it significantly more fun. The environment and graphics are unprecedented. The amount of detail in every tiny aspect of the game is astounding, and you feel like you're just a small part of a larger world, not to mention how many areas and scenes are awe-inspiring. The game will also slowly hint at new information before introducing it which builds excitement and speculation for future encounters. And the characters were the most lifelike I've seen in any game. Each person feels like they could be the main character, and even each miscellaneous NPC looks and feels like a normal person trapped in a terrible situation. From the small conversations they carry (I've never heard any NPC say the same line) to their strategic communication and tactics, these NPC's rival what you'd expect of real life. In addition, the actors and casting for the game were perfect, and each characters’ performances felt straight from a movie. Now to the plot, which people have problems with (no spoilers in this section). I never had any problem with the plot, although I know many use the plot as an excuse to hate the game and taint it with one-star reviews. The game features many female protagonists and Ellie is gay, and while this is promoting progressive ideals, it never feels forced, and you're never taken out of the game because of it. The plot is spectacular and made me feel incredibly attached to the characters, but it also kept a Game of Thrones element of how they can die at any time, no matter their importance. The characters, more than anything, are what made me want to keep playing the game, and the seeing their lives influence one another is immensely satisfying. Although the plot moves a bit slowly mid-game, the characters' interactions pull you through it, and it certainly pays off. (SPOILER SECTION- scroll past to no more spoilers marking if you're sensitive to this) The main problem people have is how relatively early on, Joel is killed by a newly-introduced character named Abby. People claim he could have had a more valiant death which is true, but the purpose of his death was to create conflict between the characters and to give Ellie an MO. It did so well, and personally, I felt it introduced the plot very well. This isn't the last you see of Joel, as the flashbacks throughout the game serve to develop the plot and slowly reveal information and keep you attached to his character, allowing you to still see his and Ellie's relationship growing. Furthermore, having Abby be the daughter of the surgeon Joel killed in the previous game was an interesting way to connect the previous game to this one, and was a better alternative to there being no connection at all. (NO MORE SPOILERS) This game deserves five stars, and I think that anyone with $60 to spare would be missing out not to give it a go! I hope my review helped you out and sufficiently defended the game against all those one-star reviewers who can't appreciate a true work of art