The Last of Us: Part 2 Review- A kerfuffle in the name of ratings
The history of TLOU: Part 2 is one of conflict- both from a narrative perspective and also from a social point of view. The launch of this game was one of those events that shook the gaming landscape: it was all-out warfare between critic and user consensus, and it is a sensitive and potentially toxic subject to this day.
Part 2 had a very rocky launch: one of the major plot points of the game got spoiled early and served as kindling for one of the most prominent post-launch review bombing campaigns. The two camps huddled at the extremes, with the users aiming to drag the user score as low as possible, and critics showering the game with almost universal praise.
I think neither camp is entirely correct here, and I'll go with a more balanced opinion that I'll explain as we go on. That reminds me...
Gameplay
This is perhaps the most agreed-upon topic among both gamers and critics, with Naughty Dog being among the best at gameplay pacing in the whole industry. I have played a lot of games lately that did not strike a good balance between combat encounters and quiet time; most of them chose to go with the "the more the merrier" approach and as far as I am concerned, that approach can get very tiring very quickly. This is not the case here. Every encounter is just about long enough and coupled with just enough rest bite to feel tense and rewarding.
The changing power dynamic between Abby and Ellie also adds to the experience. Ellie is stealthy and nimble, and Abby is powerful and unrelenting. These differences between the two protagonists can be seen in every facet of the gameplay from the animation to the melee systems, and also in weapon choice. Abby has a more punchy arsenal, which encourages more a more gun-ho attitude, while Ellie requires a bit more of a tactical approach, due to the fact she cannot power through unfavorable odds with sheer firepower.
There is one more remarkable thing that could be bundled together into the gameplay section and that is environmental puzzles and physics. This game has the best rope physics I have ever seen (I am aware of how ridiculous that sounds). Every material reacts convincingly to your interactions: glass shatters from the point of impact outwards, plants are blown away by gunfire, and ankle-height water can be swam in with a specially designed system. It is all very well done and it could not have been cheap or easy.
World
Once again, outstanding. The world is wonderfully realized and presents both linear levels and open, exploration-oriented levels. It does a good job of guiding you through the level without any heavy-handed procedures.
The environments are varied and realistic, from meadows and forests to abandoned hospitals and basements. The artists and level designers managed to craft each space with real purpose, containing powerful imagery, and I can think of few games that do it better.
Narrative
Now, I think this is what we're all here for (that is why I left it last). I think there are three major points of contention to be tackled as far as the story goes: Joel, Abby, and revenge. Those three words could also be used to summarize the entire thing, but that would be overly reductive.
I think it's fair to expect spoilers at this point so without further ado, if you want to see what I thought of those points or are just into suffering and want to get spoiled, toggle the spoiler box below:
The Juicy bits (Spoilers)
The biggest talking point ahead of release was the leaked scene of the murder of Joel Miller. This irreparably destroyed the emotional impact of the scene and generally soured many people against the games' creators.
I think the decision to kill Joel was kind of brave and well-executed. I did not expect it and I think he got what he deserved after Part 1. I understand most people feel very strongly attached to Joel (I am, as well) but it was a very Ned Stark moment that I think overall has the emotional impact it needed to. It also helps that Ellie is a strong protagonist on her own and can easily carry the story; it is, after all, Ellie's story.
About Abby, I think contrasting her with Ellie is also quite brilliant. Having two "enemies" whom you both control and knowing how they will end up is quite fun. It gives everything more meaning, especially when you realize who those people are and why they are just as human as any of the others.
I do object to the heavy-handed use of these techniques though. Sometimes they made it so obvious it actually had the opposite effect (like with Bear). As a side note, I also think they try a little too hard to paint Abby as a good gal. She's a kind-hearted queen but she chased revenge for 20y relentlessly.
On the overall plot of the game, I feel the "revenge is bad" point is really shallow. The final chapter of the game, immediately from when Ellie gets back to her house with Dina and Tommy does not impress me at all. Tommy nearly dies and he goes over there to Ellie to be like "Come on, try again baby girl, you promised me blood".
The worst thing is that Ellie is very much in agreement and starts her bloodlust-fueled frenzy with a fresh enthusiasm that really had nowhere to come from. (sure, the dreams and all... I don't think that's enough).
I recognize that the core issue is very strong, but I have heard this in God of War, Assassin's Creed, and countless other games. It's quite well-trodden, this path.
Generally, I feel the story is entirely harmless. I realize some people think it aimed high and absolutely nailed it, I know some people think it was utterly ridiculous. I am of the opinion that the message it tries to convey is rather dull and obvious, but that it's told in a decently interesting way, with a few too many flourishes.
Did I learn something? No. Did I enjoy my time? Sure. Do I think it needed to be said? Not really, perhaps something more ambiguous could have been tackled.
Now that it's all over with, I think it's time to try to wrap it all in a conclusion.
Conclusion (Grade A)
I think Naughty Dog pulled off an incredibly accomplished game from a technical point of view. It feels, plays, looks, and sounds amazing, but that's already something we know from this studio. They once again smashed it, but where they did not smash it in my opinion was the plot. The story is well designed and overall does the job, but it's not quite what I hoped for, and does not rise to the highs of its predecessor.