The 'Horror' segments of this game are absolutely brilliant, nerve wracking, creepy and gut wrenching. I did the bit leading up to, and then the
Hospital
section, I was fairly shitting my keks. It was very Aliens compared to its prequel.
Me and the Mrs have been watching Frasier in the mornings while I've been playing this and every now and again when I think about the games setting this pops into my head:
"HEY BABY I HEAR THE BLUES ARE CALLIN' TOSSED SALAD AND SCRAMBLED EGGS"
I just don't care about Abby or her friends. The aquarium scene was meant to mirror Joel and Ellie's museum trip but we've had 25+ hours to be attached to those characters and for it to mean something. We know Abby and pals for 2 hours at most. I don't care that I killed the pregnant woman or the dog. This is what I meant about hacky writing. "See what a monster you've become? Killing a pregnant woman and a dog?"
I'm about 19 hours in and yeah I see myself rating it this by the end. 8 starts to seem a bit high for all its flaws, but 6 is very low as well. 7 seems right for me so far.
The second half of the game will have to be pretty shite for me to give it less than a 9. It's definitely not perfect but it's still fantastic. I love the weight of the combat and it's genuinely nerve wracking at times. Can't remember a game in recent years that gave me so many "oh feck" moments. It's also stunning looking, and Ellie is just a great character even though I don't find the story as strong as the first so far.
The biggest issues are definitely the annoying controls, the shitty enemy AI (especially in stealth) and the silly horror movie-esque decisions characters make at times to force the story forward.
Do I think a sequel was needed? Probably not, but right now I'm happy they made one cause it's great.
Finished the game today. I think from a presentation stand point the it is incredible, from the graphics, audio, environments, animation, I think it's one of the most polished games I've ever played.
I think the story and themes were fine, if not a little ham-fisted. It definitely made me feel something and I commend it for that. Where the game falls short for me is the delivery of said story. I think the approach they took was doomed to fail. I think they only way that approach could have worked would have been to...
somehow tell the story from Abby's point of view first. To build some rapport with the character. Or even to jump between Ellie and Abby so that the hard reset half way through the game didn't feel so abrupt. But I'm not sure this would have made a difference
I didn't like any of the characters and thought they were very bland compared to the original. Only
Abby and Lev's
relationship came close to anything from the original.
I also disliked the end.
I felt the player should have been given a choice at the end to kill Abby and leave Lev to her fate. The game constantly moralises decisions which it takes out of the players hands, I thought it would have been a good way to let the player have the final say. I thought it would have been appropriate if Ellie's revenge cost her her family and her last link to Joel (the guitar) instead it turned out, it was just her indecision.
Overall I'm glad I played it. I loved the original, but didn't need a sequel like I feel some people needed one. I think people who accept this for what it is and not what they wanted it to be, will enjoy it a lot more
That part about wanting a player choice, I really don't get that. This game isn't about the player, it's about the characters. Ellie is Ellie, not a reflection of the player. The player doesn't get a choice because it's not their story, it's Ellie's and Abby's. The mindset that video games that try to reckon with the violence of its characters always necessarily have something to tell about the player, is hugely problematic for me, because it doesn't allow video games to evolve as a narrative medium. This game is not a Spec Ops: The Line. Yes, it wants to draw you in as a player and wants you to feel what the characters are feeling, but in my opinion there's never any doubt that it presents the decisions firmly as the character's. It doesn't try to moralise, what it wants is for the player to empathise.
On that note, I also can't imagine playing through the entire game and still wanting Ellie to kill Abby at the end. It's something I've been seeing a lot as one of the main complaints about the story and it just doesn't sit right with me. When Ellie found Abby at the end, I couldn't even bear the thought that she would somehow fight and kill her. Not just because I didn't want Abby to die - and I truly wanted her to live - but also because to me it would mean Ellie losing the last bit of her humanity, the last shred of hope for something better. I literally begged her to stop. And that's why I love the ending and the more I think about it, the more I'm loving it. Despite her returning to an abandoned farm, I still see it as something beautiful.
The idea that she already lost everything and might just as well have gotten that "sweet" revenge in return really doesn't work for me, because I felt she still had more to lose. Her capacity for empathy and as we saw in that final flashback with Joel, her capacity for forgiveness. In the end, that's what she managed to save. It's the only thing that gives me hope for a chance at something better in her future. It's also why I really wouldn't want a third game with her as protagonist.
That part about wanting a player choice, I really don't get that. This game isn't about the player, it's about the characters. Ellie is Ellie, not a reflection of the player. The player doesn't get a choice because it's not their story, it's Ellie's and Abby's. The mindset that video games that try to reckon with the violence of its characters always necessarily have something to tell about the player, is hugely problematic for me, because it doesn't allow video games to evolve as a narrative medium. This game is not a Spec Ops: The Line. Yes, it wants to draw you in as a player and wants you to feel what the characters are feeling, but in my opinion there's never any doubt that it presents the decisions firmly as the character's. It doesn't try to moralise, what it wants is for the player to empathise.
On that note, I also can't imagine playing through the entire game and still wanting Ellie to kill Abby at the end. It's something I've been seeing a lot as one of the main complaints about the story and it just doesn't sit right with me. When Ellie found Abby at the end, I couldn't even bear the thought that she would somehow fight and kill her. Not just because I didn't want Abby to die - and I truly wanted her to live - but also because to me it would mean Ellie losing the last bit of her humanity, the last shred of hope for something better. I literally begged her to stop. And that's why I love the ending and the more I think about it, the more I'm loving it. Despite her returning to an abandoned farm, I still see it as something beautiful.
The idea that she already lost everything and might just as well have gotten that "sweet" revenge in return really doesn't work for me, because I felt she still had more to lose. Her capacity for empathy and as we saw in that final flashback with Joel, her capacity for forgiveness. In the end, that's what she managed to save. It's the only thing that gives me hope for a chance at something better in her future. It's also why I really wouldn't want a third game with her as protagonist.
Felt the same. I was visibly cringing and hating it when Ellie was nearly drowning her. It just felt so pointless. But in a good 'the game made me feel this way' rather than in a bad way.
I know, I agree but I’ve enjoyed the pacing and length of 2, I know others haven’t though. I enjoyed the feeling by the end that I’d literally travelled miles and miles. Felt real.
Resetera starting to turn on Druckmann. Him wishing Colin Moriarty well has already put him on the shit list. Few months before there are tons of threads moaning about this game.
I needed until the last third of the game to fully vibe with the story, but it ended up really resonating with me and looking back now I'm glad they tried something different.
My criticisms would be mostly about pacing in some areas and the story would really benefit from being a bit more focused.
I'd give it a 9/10. I was sort of hovering around 8 give or take midway through but I really loved what they did onwards from the part where
Abby and Lev have to go to get medical supplies
I can see me playing through this again to be honest. I checked the trophies and it seems like even though I thought I was being really thorough I've missed quite a lot. I'd easily be able to get the platinum doing a new game plus and just like to see what I notice in the story & narrative I missed first time round knowing now what's gonna happen.
I needed until the last third of the game to fully vibe with the story, but it ended up really resonating with me and looking back now I'm glad they tried something different.
My criticisms would be mostly about pacing in some areas and the story would really benefit from being a bit more focused.
I'd give it a 9/10. I was sort of hovering around 8 give or take midway through but I really loved what they did onwards from the part where
Abby and Lev have to go to get medical supplies
I can see me playing through this again to be honest. I checked the trophies and it seems like even though I thought I was being really thorough I've missed quite a lot. I'd easily be able to get the platinum doing a new game plus and just like to see what I notice in the story & narrative I missed first time round knowing now what's gonna happen.
I think a second playthrough could show a lot of stuff along the way in a different light, so yeah I'll be doing one later as well. I might just wait for the PS5 though, if this gets an enhanced version with a solid 60 fps or some other tweaks.
I’m usually don’t with games once I finish but I could genuinely see myself playing this again too. Killing enemies is done so well in this game. Probably the best I’ve seen it done.
I think a second playthrough could show a lot of stuff along the way in a different light, so yeah I'll be doing one later as well. I might just wait for the PS5 though, if this gets an enhanced version with a solid 60 fps or some other tweaks.
Yeah I think I might wait for the PS5 too there actually. I just did a few of the first sections there and I found a note in an abandoned house signed by Seth, he had been stranded there with his two sons, starving and as a final desperate hail Mary they headed out towards some gunfire they heard hoping they would be friendly. Seth is also the the guy who runs the bar in Jackson. I found this the first time but didn't connect the dots.
That part about wanting a player choice, I really don't get that. This game isn't about the player, it's about the characters. Ellie is Ellie, not a reflection of the player. The player doesn't get a choice because it's not their story, it's Ellie's and Abby's. The mindset that video games that try to reckon with the violence of its characters always necessarily have something to tell about the player, is hugely problematic for me, because it doesn't allow video games to evolve as a narrative medium. This game is not a Spec Ops: The Line. Yes, it wants to draw you in as a player and wants you to feel what the characters are feeling, but in my opinion there's never any doubt that it presents the decisions firmly as the character's. It doesn't try to moralise, what it wants is for the player to empathise.
On that note, I also can't imagine playing through the entire game and still wanting Ellie to kill Abby at the end. It's something I've been seeing a lot as one of the main complaints about the story and it just doesn't sit right with me. When Ellie found Abby at the end, I couldn't even bear the thought that she would somehow fight and kill her. Not just because I didn't want Abby to die - and I truly wanted her to live - but also because to me it would mean Ellie losing the last bit of her humanity, the last shred of hope for something better. I literally begged her to stop. And that's why I love the ending and the more I think about it, the more I'm loving it. Despite her returning to an abandoned farm, I still see it as something beautiful.
The idea that she already lost everything and might just as well have gotten that "sweet" revenge in return really doesn't work for me, because I felt she still had more to lose. Her capacity for empathy and as we saw in that final flashback with Joel, her capacity for forgiveness. In the end, that's what she managed to save. It's the only thing that gives me hope for a chance at something better in her future. It's also why I really wouldn't want a third game with her as protagonist.
Some of the marketing material in the lead up to the game, discussed morality like a game mechanic and that felt very present when I played through. I also feel they used player complicitness in a way other games don't. When I woke up as Abby, I felt very uncomfortable walking in her shoes. When I was chasing down Ellie as Abby, was probably when I felt the most conflicted. I actually paused at the top of the stairs, then just sprinted down them, because I felt so uncomfortable that I wanted the section to be over. Much more than I would have if it had been a cut-scene. I would be absolutely amazed if this wasn't intentional.
My problem with the ending isn't that I wanted to butcher Abby to make her pay for Joel's death (I also felt uncomfortable when I fought Abby as Ellie). My problem was the decisions Ellie made to get to that point. She gave up her partner, baby and idyllic home for revenge. Once that decision was made, I felt like there was no way back from that for Ellie and that, there was no chance of even a happy-ish ending. For her to change her mind (three times), felt almost ridiculous. The reason the player (or at least some) feel for Abby is because we walked in her shoes, otherwise she is no different from the Johns, Sandras and Dereks who were routinely slaughtered through-out the game.
I would have liked the symmetry of both Ellie and Abby breaking the cycle of violence, because if one doesn't, then it continues. I also agree that these character should be finished in terms of being main protagonists in future games, but maybe Abby just got Ellie on a good day/moment and she will be back to her murderous ways for part three?
Some of the marketing material in the lead up to the game, discussed morality like a game mechanic and that felt very present when I played through. I also feel they used player complicitness in a way other games don't. When I woke up as Abby, I felt very uncomfortable walking in her shoes. When I was chasing down Ellie as Abby, was probably when I felt the most conflicted. I actually paused at the top of the stairs, then just sprinted down them, because I felt so uncomfortable that I wanted the section to be over. Much more than I would have if it had been a cut-scene. I would be absolutely amazed if this wasn't intentional.
My problem with the ending isn't that I wanted to butcher Abby to make her pay for Joel's death (I also felt uncomfortable when I fought Abby as Ellie). My problem was the decisions Ellie made to get to that point. She gave up her partner, baby and idyllic home for revenge. Once that decision was made, I felt like there was no way back from that for Ellie and that, there was no chance of even a happy-ish ending. For her to change her mind (three times), felt almost ridiculous. The reason the player (or at least some) feel for Abby is because we walked in her shoes, otherwise she is no different from the Johns, Sandras and Dereks who were routinely slaughtered through-out the game.
I would have liked the symmetry of both Ellie and Abby breaking the cycle of violence, because if one doesn't, then it continues. I also agree that these character should be finished in terms of being main protagonists in future games, but maybe Abby just got Ellie on a good day/moment and she will be back to her murderous ways for part three?
This is where I fundamentally disagree. Even when living in that farm, she was still broken inside. It was no longer about wanting revenge, it was the feeling that she wouldn't be able to continue as a person unless she repaid that debt to Joel. To the point that she probably thought she couldn't be a real partner or mother. Clearly what she needed at that point was therapy, but in the absence of that, she did the only thing she thought she could do. It was not really a decision, more like a compulsion.
I'm still chugging away, taking my time and soaking it all up. I do think if I didn't play on survival from the off though, and barely upgraded any weapons or Ellie I'd be way more bored. I think people are missing out there.
It's getting more stealth based now, which is a shame because that's easily the weakest part of the game. The A.I and sound engine are absolutely terrible (stealth dogs are hilarious!), and the level design is rudimentary at best, it's like playing a PS2 game at times for those things it's all really archaic.
Still, it's a very well built game in terms of atmosphere and it's keeping me interested even if the story beats aren't as good as the first. I love the birthday flashback too, it was very feels
I'm still chugging away, taking my time and soaking it all up. I do think if I didn't play on survival from the off though, and barely upgraded any weapons or Ellie I'd be way more bored. I think people are missing out there.
It's getting more stealth based now, which is a shame because that's easily the weakest part of the game. The A.I and sound engine are absolutely terrible (stealth dogs are hilarious!), and the level design is rudimentary at best, it's like playing a PS2 game at times for those things it's all really archaic.
Still, it's a very well built game in terms of atmosphere and it's keeping me interested even if the story beats aren't as good as the first. I love the birthday flashback too, it was very feels
I have no idea how people can beat it on survivor. I actually struggled quite a lot just on normal. Found it hard to stay stealthy when I had little ammo.
I have no idea how people can beat it on survivor. I actually struggled quite a lot just on normal. Found it hard to stay stealthy when I had little ammo.
I'm not finding ammo a problem at all, but then I'm very used to these games. In fact, I'm leaving shitloads of stuff behind which is triggering me!
If anything, you may enjoy survival more as it forces you to get more creative with the stealth/combat and learn better. Although having said that, since the a.i is so tragic, it's also easy to wipe out entire encounters with minimal bullets. Or just 1 or 2 traps.
I'm still chugging away, taking my time and soaking it all up. I do think if I didn't play on survival from the off though, and barely upgraded any weapons or Ellie I'd be way more bored. I think people are missing out there.
It's getting more stealth based now, which is a shame because that's easily the weakest part of the game. The A.I and sound engine are absolutely terrible (stealth dogs are hilarious!), and the level design is rudimentary at best, it's like playing a PS2 game at times for those things it's all really archaic.
Still, it's a very well built game in terms of atmosphere and it's keeping me interested even if the story beats aren't as good as the first. I love the birthday flashback too, it was very feels
Decided to have my first run through on hard and honestly it's not in anyway challenging yet, beyond Dina being a idiot and shooting a clicker or runner as I'm about the stealth kill them.
All but one of the deaths I've had have been caused by the companion AI making some questionable decisions.
I'm extremely glad I waited for my TV to arrive to play it though. It's worth the price of admission alone.
Decided to have my first run through on hard and honestly it's not in anyway challenging yet, beyond Dina being a idiot and shooting a clicker or runner as I'm about the stealth kill them.
All but one of the deaths I've had have been caused by the companion AI making some questionable decisions.
I'm extremely glad I waited for my TV to arrive to play it though. It's worth the price of admission alone.
Yeah on surviver almost every single one of my deaths have been down to science.
I think I've died maybe 2 times purely down to Dina. Since being solo, I've enjoyed it more and only died when I've experimented with what you can do with the dogs (giggity).
It's not a tough game at all. But then it doesn't really need to be, the atmosphere makes it scary enough.
Love the little detail upgrading the weapons. Putting on extra attachments you can actually see. Halfway through the game again for the 2nd time. Just rushing through it so I can get the Collectibles and get the platinum. Then I’ll play it one last time after that.
Love the little detail upgrading the weapons. Putting on extra attachments you can actually see. Halfway through the game again for the 2nd time. Just rushing through it so I can get the Collectibles and get the platinum. Then I’ll play it one last time after that.
But take the scope, it is a bit pointless. At least so far for me. I haven't got it yet as there's no need, even the longest encounters are at mid-range (end of map to end of map) at most and it's easy enough to headshot without it. Maybe there's a section or 2 up ahead made for sniping, but I can't see anything more than that. In a game built for stealth and close encounters, a 6x scope is pointless. But maybe not entirely useless.
I think I've upgraded capacity on the pistol and damage on the 6 shooter (which again seems pointless) and that's it. I can't see myself bothering further than that for now.
But take the scope, it is a bit pointless. At least so far for me. I haven't got it yet as there's no need, even the longest encounters are at mid-range (end of map to end of map) at most and it's easy enough to headshot without it. Maybe there's a section or 2 up ahead made for sniping, but I can't see anything more than that. In a game built for stealth and close encounters, a 6x scope is pointless. But maybe not entirely useless.
I think I've upgraded capacity on the pistol and damage on the 6 shooter (which again seems pointless) and that's it. I can't see myself bothering further than that for now.
