Wassup Y'all!!! Just a heads up, the final 2 playthoughts will be posted ASAP - Just really wanted to get this review posted. And since there's so much negative out there about this game, I made the decision to focus 99.9% of my review on why I loved the story of this game. Feel free to share all your thoughts and feelings below - just be nice to each other.
Fantastic review man! I think some people hate this game because it didn’t go the way they wanted it to go. However, whether you agree with it or not, it doesn’t take away from how well-written it is. No other video game moves you and breaks you emotionally like this game does, NONE! Thank you for being appreciative of this masterpiece.
@@Dularr almost everyone expected Joel to die but for some people it didn't go the way they wanted and started to baby cry. They wanted Joel to die like a hero... but he wasn't one.
Watched your reactions for a while. Man, great job on reviewing the story. Like you, i never knew a fictional story, let alone a video game, could make me so emotional. Great job
I think the main takeaway from this story is that in order to preserve your humanity, you need to forgive yourself. By the end, the story was less about revenge than it was about Ellie trying to forgive herself for not mending her relationship with Joel sooner. Of course, she goes after Abby because she’s the one responsible for taking away that possibility forever, but she ultimately decides to forgive herself which will eventually enable her to regain some of her humanity back. Revenge is bad, that goes without saying, but tackling topics like loss, forgiveness and healing after grief was ultimately what made me love this story.
@X Æ A-12 Musk Maybe the execution could have been handled differently. It’s not a flawless game, it has pacing issues and many wished they wouldn’t have been deprived of the choice to kill Abby. I get that, but the story isn’t about what us, gamers, want. (Joel dies two hours into the game.) It’s a story of perspective that clearly intends to make you feel something : loss, anger, acceptance, forgiveness. Ellie realizing that she should break the cycle of violence when almost killing Abby was powerful and her very own journey with coming to terms with her emotions. By the end, she started to go on this final rampage out of misplaced loyalty for Tommy and to punish Abby because she couldn’t stop feeling guilt over the way things ended with Joel. Yet, it’s only on the verge of killing her that she realizes that the person she loved is lost forever though not in her memory. Revenge is not worth it and I’m happy Ellie decided to not kill Abby. Was it done at the right moment? I don’t think it’s about that. Ellie’s journey, and whether I necessarily agree with it in the course of the game, is not the point I feel like. You can find it badly handled and flawed, but I still think it tells something.
@X Æ A-12 Musk Abby’s « happy ending » comes at the expense of SO MUCH, though. She basically starts the game where Ellie finishes it, and she doesn’t handle killing Joel as well as you frame it. She has PTSD as seen with the nightmares she keeps having and her desire for revenge cost her her most meaningful relationships i.e her relationship with Owen. I feel it is unfair to say that Abby has it better when really, her journey is meant to mirror Ellie’s if only at a different stage. They both learn the same lessons, but Abby learns them sooner, that’s all there is to it. Abby started her own journey of healing and forgiveness sonner than Ellie. Her sparing Ellie’s life multiple times shows that. Her ending is more « hopeful » because she was able to reconnect with her humanity sooner by meeting Lev and Yara. She’s also been able to come to terms with the repercussions of her actions and to actively decide to make better choices sooner. By the end, she’s not the person that once killed Joel in the most gruesome manner anymore. Had Ellie been able to let go and heal sooner, not that she’s responsible for taking the time she needs, she would have gotten her happy ending. Dina warned her yet she decides to walk away, and her being alone at the end only signifies that when you’re not able to forgive yourself, you’re distancing away from the people that love and care about you. It’s not a happy ending for sure, but a valuable lesson that has been taught at the expense of so much for both characters.
"Preserve your humanity". That is fucking rich, Ellie cut a swath through like a hundred people to get to Abby and then spare her - despite her absolutely deserving to die for brutally torturing and killing Joel. What a joke.
@@Tyrantofthewind As stated at the end of my comment, choosing to not kill Abby enables Ellie to regain some of her humanity back. Of course it’s not all of it since it's a long journey, but I personally believe that while killing Abby might have felt right/deserved in the moment, it wouldn’t have achieved anything for Ellie personally. Abby killed Joel for killing her father and it’s constantly showed that she didn’t gain any peace of mind from it. That’s the point imo, but agree to disagree.
Man, you guys really restored my faith in humanity. I have read so many horrible and hateful things about the game's theme and the people behind it, your positivity and willingness to engage with what the game is trying to say is a true ray of light. Much love from germany!
The anger that everyone had for the game was a planned thing. Problem is 85% of the people who played this are entitled children who need everything spoon fed and wrapped with a pretty bow in the end. This game is 1000% a masterpiece
@Adrian Bujun nah I get it. I just don't understand that reaction to it when Joel's death was a formality at that point. So it happened in the beginning? Boohoo. People need to get over themselves. Every game isn't going to cater to their every soft, sensitive whim.
Stebbi LV Joel was never a prominent character. Sure, TLOU1 was huge. But that wasn’t because of Joel. He never struck me as an iconic video game character that can cause one of the biggest controversies in gaming history. Still can’t wrap my head around it
Amen. That entitlement is also responsible for some people thinking they should have some say in the story. They can’t just allow themselves to experience the story someone is telling because they have no control over it. It’s juvenile and emotionally immature.
@Adrian Bujun Not gonna lie, AJ's reaction was so bad that I actually unsubbed his channel. If you don't like a game that's fine. If you want to do an honest, good faith review of the game and talk about how you didn't like it and why, that's also fine. But to decide that you hated it before even playing it, then simply doing a hate play through with no consideration of the actual game, barely paying attention to anything that's happening? Nope, now I know not to listen to your opinion on things.
This game was deliberately unsatisfying, and I really admire that. Naughty Dog could have made a game in which Abby and her friends are horrible people, Ellie exacts righteous retribution, and the player feels satisfied they got their just revenge. I bet there wouldn't have been a backlash to that game, but there's not much to take away from that. This game challenges you to feel empathy towards people you want to hate, and to see characters you love through an uglier lens. It explores how people dehumanize those they hate to justify violence, and how that creates a cycle that leads to further violence. It's powerful, interesting, and challenging, so it makes sense it would be polarizing. Lots of good art is.
@@davidpinto-fernandez7132 you do know that Joel is a villain in the first game, right? if they tell you Abby was the good guy, then you won't have much hate. like they don't even need to do much, just don't mute what Owen said in the mansion, it'd be enough by itself.
@@lazyboyterry pff even Druckmann says that looking at this game through the lens of "heroes and villains" is really retarded . There isn't such things as those labels. You don't have the moral responsibility to sacrifice someone who you care about, fuck that. Muting what the group where talking is really smart but also really predictable, I knew we were going to get a flashback understanding why they left them live and I'm angry at people jumping into: "THIS IS STUPID; THEY SHOULD HAVE KILL THEM ALREADY" But all this narrative structure is fucking stupid in my opinion.
@@davidpinto-fernandez7132 I have brain damage? No, I have a different opinion. You think the story structure was stupid, I don't, and in my opinion it's more challenging to see Abby kill Joel and then be forced to empathize with her, than to spend half the game empathizing with her only for her to kill Joel.
That’s the problem with some people, they’re unwilling to understand another human being because of there bias or love for someone close to them, not everything’s black and white good and evil.
I finished playing The Last Of Us 2 earlier today and I think it was one of the most thought provoking games I have ever played and it was fantastic! Naughty Dog took a huge risk and I think it paid off very well. This was a brilliant review and I agree with everything you talked about when it came to the story and its analysis. :)
Knowing that this is the first gaming review you've ever done, and having been there throughout your whole playthrough, I hope we can look forward to more reviews in the future Steven. Keep pushing your limits brother, we'll be right here to push them with you.
Uncharted from ND never has consequences , TLOU2 was all about them. I loved it. It grew on me more and more and definitely think it's worthy of playing again knowing Abby's side as Ellie. So many story links overlooked at first.
I'm on my second play through and there are so many thing you see/hear that are so significant that you sometimes dont realise the first time. Plus I have already done things that I missed on the first play like climbing up the dinosaur 😂
I also loved the game. i went through so many emotions. every kind of emotion from sad to happy to disgusted to angry. It was a hell of an experience. I'm replaying it on survivor. which i highly recommend, steve. some battles really made me feel like i was fighting for my life. I hope we get more Ellie story. i would love to see an older Ellie in this world. She gave me Sarah conner vibes in the california section.
i love what this game gave me, which is not just one new game, but three. the first playthrough of the last of us 2, the second playthrough, knowing everything you know, and replaying the the last of us. everything has more depth and meaning now. the last of us was the first game that ever really made me feel something for characters in a game, this one literally had me going through stages of grief. no piece of media has ever done that for me. i have no other gaming experience to compare it to, that makes it special. i’m sorry other people didnt get to have that experience.
Fantastic breakdown. You touched on something I think was a major obstacle for many people. The difficulty in being able to move past Joel's death and be willing to look at the reality of the game and the story objectively. The fact is, this is a world where most people, including Joel have done fucked up things. It just so happens that the fucked up thing Abby does is brutally killing a character you love in an attempt to get justice for her dad and the end of a possible cure. There's this quote from I believe a Japanese commentator that people keep posting everywhere saying, "It's a game about right and wrong written by people who think they are always right." And I find it quite dumb. It's a game about a lot of things and I'm sure none of the creators would argue they are always right. They just wanted to share this story and ideas. Moral Greyness: The collectibles you gain throughout the game as both characters are references to this. Abby's are simple. Coins. Two sides to every coin. But Ellie's character cards are more interesting. You'll notice they might say hero, villain, neutral villain, ect. but on the bottom you'll notice their alignment is actually on a spectrum. Indicating none are completely good or evil. That's also were Yara and Lev are important in Abby's story. They are part of the good old tried and true, all bad, all black cliche villain in so many stories. The religious cult. As Ellie we only see them string up and gut people. But in Abby's story we understand it's full on war and the wolves are also capturing and torturing them. And there's no clear answer on who broke the truce. On all sides in every community we see they do their best to raise and protect their children, and with the Seraphites there's insight into why they found the teachings of their prophet so useful. In the end, in that final battle on the island, there is definitely this sense of, man, this is so messed up. No one's winning this. Coping with trauma: A lot of people found the ending unfulfilling but I actually think the only other option, the ending where she kills Abby then just sits there all somber with the sense of, yeah, but this didn't bring back Joel would have been such a worse ending. You'll notice when you first meet Abby before Joel, she wakes from a nightmare. After Joel when you finally pick back up with her . . . she wakes from a nightmare. We got the ending above in the game. It's just what Abby got after killing Joel. You'll notice when you relive Joel's death from her perspective, that she immediately looks like killing him didn't fulfill her like she had hoped it would. She's actually still mad. Throughout her story, we learn she also eventually felt guilty. She has that moment of rage when Owen taunts her about it, and she says to Lev that she is helping him and Yara due to guilt and needing to lighten the load. It' through this journey of coming to empathize with and help supposed enemies, when she couldn't help her father that she finally stops having the nightmares and can see her father alive and well. The ending I think is very hopeful, because we understand that Ellie is letting go and starting to try and deal with her trauma in a positive way. Forgiveness of not just others, but ourselves: Throughout Ellie's flashbacks we come to understand that she is not only mad at Abby, but herself. Abby tortured Joel physically but she tortured him emotionally for what he did. The biggest source of her pain is the fact that Joel died before she could fully mend their relationship. That to me is one of the reasons she lets Abby go in the end. She realized that killing Abby wouldn't ease the pain and guilt she feels at herself. That is why it flashes to Joel before she lets go. She doesn't really forgive Abby in the end, she just realizes the source of most of her pain. I personally think she knew the entire game that Joel did have that fate coming to him sooner or later. So in the end, she starts to accept what happened, and trying to forgive herself. These are the main things I got out of the story. So much more than, "revenge is bad." There's plenty of arguments to be made about pacing issues and order of events and scenes. I personally think this story would have hit better with more people as a few seasons of a tv show, rather than a game because of how long the game ended up having to be for the sake of showing not telling. But as the experience it is, where you actually have to play as a character you hate and try to understand them, I still think it is a worthwhile exercise in story telling.
I truly believe that in the near future this game will be considered an iconic classic that managed to eclipse the original game it was a sequel to. People will look back and not even understand why it was controversial.
Great story review. You looked at it exactly the way I did. The final fight between Ellie and Abby in the sea made me feel something I've never felt watching any film or tv, or playing any game. I remember so vividly sitting there watching unblinking and just willing Ellie to stop. Incredible work by Naughty Dog making people really FEEL the emotion of the story.
If either of them died at the end, playing as either would feel like a waste of time. Notice the goal with playing as either is never to win/kill but to survive
It's hard to root between someone you have come to love despite their sins and someone you've been with for the past 7 years going down the rabbit hole of blind vengeance. The ending fight got me all mixed up. That said, the game did its job in making me feel conflicted and depressed with a glimmer of hope for Ellie's actual redemption, should there be a part 3.
There’s gonna a part 3 regardless with Ellie finds a doctor that can make a vaccine and Ellie saving humanity that what the story gonna end up like everything if you pay attention that what the story gonna go ..and Abby she probably is immune bc Ellie bite her and nothing happen
@@GAMING101-y4y in the first game Tess makes a remark that everybody changes by day 2 when ellie gets tested by the soldiers they are held up by and they first see shes infected. David died the same day so who knows if he would have turned if he survived. That being said ellie did tell dina she can't infect her so who knows.
@@barbarariley2973 David wouldn't have turned considering the fact that she bites Abby when they're fighting in the theater and she's still not turned like a year later, when she gets kidnapped with Lev.
Great review Steven! I like how you broke it down into sections. I'd definitely love to see more game reviews from you in the future. I enjoyed watching your playthrough as well. Just to add to what you said about the ending, Naughty Dog actually planned (throughout much of the development) to end it like you said, with Ellie killing Abby and then being left with nothing, which would support the theme of revenge being a fool's game. They ended up changing it when they realized it was more important to serve the characters than the theme, and their idea was that there was still enough humanity left in Ellie to finally choose to just let go. I think it was the right call and the game is a masterpiece.
Yeah, I believe that the "alternate" ending could have worked very well too, but it would have been devastatingly crushing. I think it was fitting that they altered their plan for the ending and left us with that small glimmer of hope for Ellie and her future. "When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light!"
That is what we call a solid story review people , some reviewers just say game was trash and that is it but steve here shows us how its really done thanks for your sensible review man!
@@Dularr sure , my problem is with the ppl that just shits on the game too harshly because they didnt like the story. But gameplay details music and graphics in this game are masterpiece so deserves respect .
@@BrkyTheMythical The problem is that Las of Us is a story based game, and if the story is bad, the game can't be very enjoyable even though the graphics and gameplay were amazing. I do agree that it got too much hate, and some people hated it just to hate it. But as someone who has played the original over 5 times, i don't think i'll play this one again.
@@LeMaqnifique Exactly my point. Abby's father was a monster that was murdering a young girl. In the post apocalypses, if Abby's dad was trying to murder my daughter, I would kill him as well. I would not allow him to continue to experiment on children. I would never allow strangers to take care of my horse. I would never go into a room full of strangers. I would never use my real name. Not saying Joel is a good man, I'm just saying Joel is not stupid. Which is my main complaint about the story telling. They make characters stupid to move forward the storytelling. They also went to extraordinary measure to make Abby likable. It was transparent and manipulative. But you bring up the argument you see over and over again. If you don't like Abby, you must be homophobic or transphobic.
@@Dularr Joel was the monster. Abbys father was willing to kill Ellie to help mankind. Joel was a hunter for years, killed innocent people, tortured people. So yes, the doctor is definitely the morally better person.
The fact that 30+ plus hours of incessant misery can manage to instill a incredibly powerful message of life-affirming hope by the end is masterful in and of itself.
Kids want their heroes to go out in a blaze of glory, like a lot of Hollywood bullshit. Adults understand that in REAL LIFE the ones we love could be dead tomorrow. That the bad guy doesn't give some elaborate bullshit dialogue before they kill our loved ones and their death could be VERY unceremonious, like Joel. Naughty Dog gave us an adult's game. They delivered in spades. Best story based triple AAA game of this generation❗️I still tear up every time I watch a play through, when Joel dies. I've watched about 20 and it still happens. This is a testament to Naughty Dogs incredible writing of Joel as character.
Great review man, loved that you opened yourself up just to take in the story being told. You’re one of the most honest reviews on UA-cam, thanks man. Can’t wait for more reviews!
I appreciate how in depth you went with this. I also went into this with an open mind and glad I came out the other side with a deeper appreciation of the world they have built, and not just the characters. I wouldn't be surprised if we jumped to another character in the third game. As we have seen throughout the series, starting as Sara, then jumping to Joel, then to Ellie and now Abby. I can see Lev as being a strong new playable character.
Your official real game review was excellent! I loved how you focused on the issues that the game brought up and the feelings it put you through. I'm only half-way through it, but I've seen so many other reactions on UA-cam I feel like I've played it already! LOL There have been so many hate videos up about this game but I like how you let it simmer a bit before actually doing your review. Good job!
Just a little thing you can appriciate :) : Joel did a lot of bad things. He redeemed himself after he met Ellie. Abby did a lot of bad things. She redeemed herself after she met Lev/Yara. (also Abby that brings lev's body saying "i got you" like Joel did with Ellie) Ironic uh? :), Joel was the one that Abby hated the most and the one that ruined her life. Still her story is very similar to Joel's one :)
While I can appreciate those similarities, I think the key difference is that, at least for me, Abby was introduced in such a horrendous way (torturing and murdering a man in front of his daughter) that I just couldn't connect to her for the rest of the game. I sympathized with her, and I liked her relationship with Lev, but aside from that and being able to crush bad guys with my bare hands, it just didn't want to play as her. I don't mind that she didn't die, I just didn't want to go on that journey with her because of what I'd already seen her do, regardless of whether or not I was already attached to Joel. If we'd send Joel do the same thing in the first game (I know that it's hinted he's done terrible things before, but they aren't spelled out and we don't really see them pre-Ellie) I guarantee I wouldn't have been as attached to him.
"everyone I have ever cared about has either died or left me'' from the first last of us really hits on a whole new level after this game... This game is a bloody masterpiece
if it was a masterpiece then this game would be remembered for years,but this would be forgotten in a few months,a lot of fans of the 1 part are mad because of 2 part and they want to forget about it as if it's a bad dream XD
@@dangdang4334 not sure about that neil said they didn't really think of where ellie went or her future and its on the player to kind of decide or hope unless they decide on a part 3 and who knows if ellie will even be in another sequel due to her being done with everything amd only having 3 fingers on one hand. Hard to have a fight to the death and grab weapons with 3 fingers on one hand. Not impossible but imagine her surviving part 2 with all the battles if she started out with only 8 fingers. Plus its 2 fingers in a row which makes grabing items very difficult. But who knows but probably be about abby and lev which to be honest ill hate.
Thanks for that review! Love your Expanse reactions too! Let me add some thoughts about the first farm scene and why it is often misunderstood. So Ellie's motivation for pursuing revenge isn't mainly motivated by rage or hate like it's commonly assumed. Instead it's guilt like in the first game. Guilt for not having protected Joel, guilt that she is the reason Joel was murdered and guilt that she wasn't able to forgive Joel before he died. This leads to her quest for revenge to Seattle where she does horrible things which make her feel even more guilty. It ends in a total disaster with Jesse dead and Tommy crippled and even more guilt for her. Okay, now we come to the first farm scene. It's gorgeous! It's beautiful and happy. We get to see the happy life of Ellie , Dina and JJ. Or do we? I might be the exception here but my first thought was: Why is Ellie so thin? She was always slim but the difference is notable here. Then we get to witness her having a PTSD attack. Later Tommy comes to visit and it does not go well for everyone. When Ellie wakes up at night the game does something that it does very rarely. It makes us to look at Ellies notebook. What it shows us is that PTSD attacks happen often to her, that she can't sleep, she is unable to have contact with other people (she ran off during a visit of Jesse's parents), she can't even talk about Joel anymore and her idea of a good day is one she is distracted enough to not think about Seattle for a few hours. There is also a bunch of notes in there that are downright suicidal. This is Ellie at her lowest mentally. She is barely able to function as a human anymore and for all her love and trying Dina couldn't help her. So when Tommy mentions the lead on Abby she finally has something. A way out. A hope at closure. Because if she stays like this she will put bullet into her head rather sooner than later. The scene with Dina is heartbreaking but Dina does the only right thing she can do in her situation: Walk away to protect herself and her child. She has no other choice. Like Ellie has no other choice. If you don't pick up on this you might see how that can change your perception of the ending in a significant way. When she finally finds Abby she doesn't really want to kill her anymore and just follows to the boats. It's only when the pain in her wound triggers another PTSD flashback of dying Joel she forces Abby to fight. Right when Ellie is drowning Abby in the end you can see tears streaming down her face. She doesn't want to do it but feels that she has to. But then we get to see that mini flashback of Joel playing guitar and Ellie let's her go. And that's where we get confused. But once we see the final flashback of the game it becomes clear. On that beach Ellie realizes that while she can't forgive Joel anymore she can forgive the person who took that away from her. And she lets go. When Ellie arrives at the farm for the final time there's a new drawing of Joel in notebook. For the first time since his death she is able to draw him with eyes again. She plays Joel's song again. "If I were to ever lose you, I would surely lose myself." That was true for Joel but it didn't need to be true for her. Ellie has started healing and it might be a long process but she will finally get there. Also note that Ellie is wearing Dina's bracelet again. She didn't have that on in California and it wasn't in her backpack either. So while the ending looks bleak and sad it actually is quite the opposite.
I'm really impressed with your point of view! I was also able to play through this game spoiler-free and I agree, this game made me feel things at such depth that I'd never expected to find through a game. It's been weeks and I'm still thinking about the game's story, and how we all could use more ability to see things from other points of view in our lives.
I agree with you completely!!! Though, it was Catalina Island, and not Santa Barbara at the post-credit menu. So that's the way they're showing us that Abby and Lev actually made it to the other fireflies.
This is beautiful. Thank you for putting this out there. There’s such insane gibberish being leveled at this game, I would say, because it resonates with so much that is going on in society. I love your clearly heartfelt, calm breakdown of the game, and I am looking forward to the rest of your playthrough!
I think whats really unique about this is that this story really couldn't be told as another movie. To put the player in physical control of someone you are meant to dislike, even hate couldn't be done in another medium. You have to protect this character, gather supplies, unlock loads of abilities etc. Kind of forcing you to come to terms with the character.
The most sensible thing I've heard in a long time. Most of them just don't think outside the box. Remain stubborn in their views, completely shut themselves off and only express hate. What falls by the wayside is common sense and people don't even bother with that. The game felt like the majority of players missed the target. However, this is not due to the game. This game should actually be a lesson for tolerance, foresight and awareness. Unfortunately, the result is only a reflection of the society in which we live today. We should actually sink into the ground with shame. The game takes place in the Apocalypse. We act like we're in the middle of it. Elli was a traumatized child before Joel. She lost both parents and had to watch how her first love changed. She probably also killed her afterwards. I think Elli has had every mental health problem since then. No meaning in life, no self-esteem, no self-confidence. She hides all of this with her cheeky manner and plays the witty one. To do this, she is sensitive to any kind of criticism and is accordingly resentful if it does not go to her head, she is insulted or things beyond her control. For this purpose, she was determined by her entire life. Every life-changing decision was made overhead. The girl has been completely broken since childhood. Poor Elli knows no other way to help but to face problems with aggression and violence. The world in which she was born consists of aggression and violence. Joel also showed her the nice things, but she also learned from him that violence somehow works. The problem is that she sees the only way that works for her. Until it just stops working and it breaks down more and more. She holds what she has so tightly that loss becomes even more unhealthy for her. That continues into adulthood. Fear of loss (Joel, Dina-Jesse conflict), fear of losing control (Kanibale David, Joel's death) determine her life. In addition, since Joel's lie, there is also the feeling that she has lost the last bit of her life and she cannot compensate for it. It has just been finished with the world for a very long time. If she is better at something than others, then she also takes advantage of these short moments of self-confidence and jokes about their deficits. You can see that when elli is in the museum with joel and shares her knowledge with him there. Elli's real motivation was never revenge. She only pushed it forward. It was a feeling of guilt. She could no longer forgive joel for life and believed that if she avenged him, she would act in his interest and get compensation. Elli never learned to forgive. She cannot forgive herself or others. It is not in her nature. She couldn't forgive Riley for leaving her. She couldn't forgive Seth for insulting Elli and Dina as lesbians. On Dino Day, you have to reciprocate that Joel threw she into the water. She could have looked at the deer with him too. The snowball fight was also revenge. She couldn't forgive Joel's lie for 2 years. When she wanted it it was too late. Elli's greatest challenge was not to take revenge, but to learn forgiveness. In the end she did it. It cost her 2 fingers, a friend and part of her soul. Elli's greatest fear is ending alone. Dina is Ellis Rock in the surf. She gives her confidence and security. Dina didn't go with her, but didn't leave her either. As Dina said as a joke, her claims are low and she really loves Elli. She just said that she can't do that again. Back in the cemetery, Dina said "you go, i go. End of story". It is also not possible with baby and responsibility. Dina could not farm any farm alone for months. That's why she went back to Jackson. Why do I say the two are still together? Elli no longer has on the farm Dinas bracelet. And even later in Santa Babara she doesn't have it with her. But when she returns to the farm, she wears it again. She has new clothes on and is unarmed. So she was back in Jackson between Santa Babara and Farm. She will have asked Dina for forgiveness (she just learned that). Dina is not resentful and I think she loved Elli before Jessie. The diary entry shows that also about my opinion. And that is also the reason why she goes to the farm again. She was still unable to finish with the topic. She is still tormenting. She believes that her condition is not good for Dina and JJ (read diary). She goes to the farm to say goodbye to joel. And from her old life too. She plays joel's song one last time on his guitar and thinks of the last conversation with him. Then put the guitar away and go home to Jackson. The last conversation was all about forgiveness and Dina. And that's also the sign that she has these things now. Btw, this memory previously saved Abby's life and Elli's as well. Joel always wanted the best for Elli. Has made many wrong decisions for this. But he would never have wanted her to break up like this ... physically and mentally ... and certainly not for him. He wants her to be happy. Now she has the chance. She now has the chance indirectly through him. Flashback from the porch at the last moment before Abby dies. Abby and Lev are in Santa Babara now. See the new startscreen. My opinion. Good ending for me. Excuse my bad English. I hope you understand what I mean anyway.
Great review!! I think you gave an excellent analysis of the story. Glad you found something you liked. I thought it was great. I've been running into more and more positive reviews lately as people take their time to sit with the experience. I know you can't tell someone how to feel. You can't make someone like something. We're all different. There are reviewers who found it just wasn't for them and I get that. But one sentiment I've seen in the reviews that are comically, overwhelmingly negative is always "I don't care. I still don't like Abby" or **laughs** "Whatever, I still don't like Abby". It seems like being dismissive and glib is a point of pride. Like, these developers can't tell me how to feel so I'm actively going to try not to let anything in. Apathy is cool and the more stubborn I am for not getting the story that I personally wanted, I've won. Everything needed to understand and enjoy the game is purposefully thrown away out of anger and pride. Ironically this is the theme presented in the game over and over. Being so focused on feeling one way and throwing away all the good things available to you. Some people didn't like the gameplay and you can't really argue with anyone's personal taste there. I just don't see how this is genuinely considered worse than like an Aliens Colonial Marines. While this may not be for everyone, I don't think it's garbage.
I loved The Last Of Us 2 it was complex emotional tragic and beautiful. I now can't wait for the HBO show should be interesting to see how they adapt the games. And also I think in the end they left the door slightly open for a part 3 to happen if they so choose.
Ima be honest i wasn't gonna watch the whole video but i did because love the way you edited this it's so well done! Videos that are well edited like this is what i like to see... Like placed.
20:20 If I was Ellie dealing with PTSD I would have too. I would know that I was never just going to get better just by distracting myself and "playing house" especially after still being traumatized after a year has already passed. Going after Abby again was Ellie's therapy, this was the only way that Ellie was going to work past HER trauma. When Ellie tells Dina before she leaves again "I don't eat, I don't sleep, I'm not like you" she isn't saying that how Dina is dealing with things is easier, but it is just different then what Ellie is dealing with. Another reason Ellie has to leave again is because Dina is going to leave with JJ if Ellie goes on this revenge quest again. Joel is the only person that would do anything for Ellie and loved her unconditionally. If the roles were reversed whatever Ellie did Joel was always going to be there for her. Which was proven throughout the game that even when Ellie didn't have any kind of interaction with Joel for two years he still defended her against Seth. I always see people ask what was the point of Ellie killing all those rattlers to get to Abby and kill her as well, only to not kill Abby. For me when Ellie is drowning Abby and then lets go is when is she is finally able to break the cycle of revenge and finally have a break through with the trauma that she has been dealing with ever since Joel died. It was just something ELLIE had to do in order for her to get over these things. Sometimes you have to break yourself all the way down in order to build yourself back up.
Really looking forward to watching the rest of the play through. I really wanna see your reaction to fighting Ellie as Abby. I was in total shock at that point and was so freaked out that I actually died real quick cause I didn’t wanna hurt Ellie.
"I don't think I can ever forgive you for that... But I would like to try" That last scene between Joel and Ellie, especially after it looked like Joel possibly died with them having fought the night before was such a relief and so emotional... Really loved this game even though for a while I didn't think it'd come near the original. But ultimately both games are one big story and I just love how it wrapped up even though it wasn't the easy/nice ending (or story as a whole).
I think that while this game is about revenge and cycles of violence... Empathy, forgiveness and perspective are even bigger themes. Ellie and Abby are on the same journey, just at different points on that journey. Abby found her redemption through Lev. And she has to now go on and live with that. Ellie in def on the right path now. She forgave (or at least tried to forgive) Abby. She walked away. She walked away with hey soul. She has a chance to heal. Also, Ellie didn't lose everything at the end. She is wearing the bracelet Dina gave her. She didn't have that when she went to Santa Barbara. But she was wearing that when we see her at the farm at the end. I think that Ellie and Dina made up, or at least started to do so. The ending of this game is much more hopeful than the end of the first one. Good review Steven :)
I truly enjoyed this game. From top to bottom. I think it was a big leap of faith with the direction the creators decided. I also believe it hit the mark and then some. As for the backlash, those reviews have every right to be angry and upset. The marketing felt like a bait and switch. I personally perceived that Joel was going to help Ellie get revenge but instead ended up with something far more bitter. That is unfair and misleading. But I trust Naughty Dog. I trust their story telling; hence the first game. Cynically speaking, it was a risky move by Naughty Dog. Controversy does creates cash. I think that’s one (of the many) big leaps that Naughty Dog took. They were very aware that killing off a beloved character would split the fan base. However, in defense of the writers, Joel did commit unforgivable atrocities and at some point those actions have consequences. In other words, Abby represents the other side of Joe’s choices. That was a 10+ hour eye opening experience that I won’t forget. I also think most of those negative reviews are a bit short sighted with the overall message and storyline Naughty Dog was pushing to convey. To me, Abby and Ellie are on the same revenge story, just at different times of the revenge cycle. A cycle that begets more revenge. In the end, I didn’t know who was going to survive. What I found interesting is how people reacted to the ending. Lots of people felt Ellie NOT executing her revenge by murder Abby was ‘dumb’ and possibly unfulfilling. I saw it as an understated twist. If you think about it, if Abby didn’t let Ellie live (twice might I add) then Ellie wouldn’t have been able to save Abby in the end. Overall, I felt like the game was two separate redemption stories wrapped in revenge connected by heart break. How can two complex characters overcome their darkest intentions? I don’t know but Naughty Dog might have an idea.
I like your review. It’s sadly rare to see someone not just whining, because it’s popular to hate this game. I think the reason so many dislike it, is because society today is so polarised. If you’re cheering for one side of a story, it’s almost impossible to view it from another perspective. This is reflected in today’s political landscape. I loved that I got to see Abbys point of view. I loved that I could start to feel bad for Abby and how I could feel bad about meeting all the people I brutally killed as friends of Abby. There is a reason why hostage negotiators always use names and personal info. When you get personal details about someone, you start to see them in another light. It was an emotional rollercoaster and afterwards I looked at my game collection and didn’t feel like playing anything, because this game had spoiled me, by drawing me into one of the most emotional games I’ve ever played.
I know Ellie finds out Joel killed the people in the hospital to get her out, but does Ellie ever find out specifically that Joel killed Abby's father? I don't remember if she does...
Absolutely loved listening to your review. Very refreshing to hear someone break down the story with an open mind and appreciate the complexity that this game delivers! I also love seeing a comment section with generating positive discussions. This game has been in my mind weeks after I put down the controller, and I still find myself discussing main points about it regularly. Looking forward to more reviews in the future!
Great review!I felt the same way and in the end Ellie leaving the guitar by the window at the hose is saying she is letting Joel go finally and is now able to start her new life, free of demons and finally at peace.
Ironically, Abby choosing to end the cycle of violence and not kill Dina is what saved her life and the life of Lev. If she had chosen to kill them in that moment, Ellie would not have been there to save her in Santa Barbara. Thus, paradoxically it was Abby choosing to end the cycle of Revenge while Ellie chose to continue it that saved the lives of Abby and Lev.
I played part 2 at the start of the pandemic. It was the single most emotionally draining gaming experience and one of the greatest games I’ve ever played. Still mustering up the emotional and mental energy for a second playthrough. And to answer your question on if I’d leave the family life for revenge or not, I would stay. It’s hard to know what I’d for sure do in those exactly circumstances but that’s where my minds at. Look at Tommy, his marriage basically dissolved due to his need for revenge and that basically happened to Ellie and Dina. Ellie is always an emotional step behind Abby. Abby chose life after the first fight with Ellie and Ellie chose life during the final fight. Cycles have to be chosen to be broken. You have to choose life otherwise the cycle continues. The world of TLOU is pure survival but if someone had an opportunity to actually live peacefully, could they be okay with that? That’s a big theme I noticed here.
@@Skkrrrrt I ah- I'm not actually. I think the same as Steven. Viewing both perspectives made me kinda interested in the game. Although I liked playing as Ellie more, I did like playing as Abby too. I understand if you have a different opinion tho. I accept and understand other's judgement.
Great update. I am fresh off of finishing the game. So much so that I swear I keep seeing ammo flashing on the shelf behind you :) I loved the game and agree with the emotional turmoil experienced with having to play Abby, however the game did a great job of showing that all groups were really just about their own survival and were only perceived "bad" by others.
Even though it feels like Abby is taking over the story, this really ultimately works in favor and concludes with Ellie. Even though we know Abby isn’t as bloodthirsty as Ellie.
I admire those who have gotten so much from this game. I too was expecting Joel to exit the scene in this game, albeit not the way he did, but for me it felt like the message of the game was hitting me over the head to the detriment of the characters and story. By that I mean Ellie's repeating revenge plot with no follow through and suffering because of it. The last straw for me was after the time jump at the end... Ellie seemed to leave only because Tommy gave her a hard time over it. It had felt that other than the PTSD she had come to know some peace while living with Dina and the baby. For me that was a bridge too far. I would have been happy if the game had finished there. As it stands, though, for me the ending is just too depressing in terms of where it left Ellie.
Yeah the Tommy thing stood out because before, back when they were in the theater, Tommy said he was fine with Abby getting to live after Ellie questioned him. But in the time jump he's fired up about Ellie taking her out.
@@bwolf2076 Tommy couldn't let go so he came over to reignite the flame of hate... then again Ellie with her PTSD seemed to think that the only way to get it all out of her system was not to talk about it, but to run all the way over to Santa Barbara like an action hero and start up some more cycles of hate. I mean I love the game, but it is all pretty fucked... that is what vengeance at any cost does to people.
@@LeMaqnifique I definitely understand Ellie's reasoning and the ptsd, and I get Tommy could change his mind after that, yet at the same time I have trouble with that change with Tommy. The execution of it to me reads more like Tommy lit the flame in Ellie to continue, rather than Ellie fully deciding she has to finish this in order to stop suffering. But without Tommy, she wouldn't know where Abby was. I get Ellie was suffering the whole time and despite appearing to be happy with her life, she never let Abby go.
Thank you for going in with an open mind. The fact that so many hate on it without even playing it based on a couple leaks. It was nice to see a reviewer acknowledge what you did while continuing to accept that it’s peoples emotions about Joel that made the story in their minds “bad”.
I started this game loving the feeling of being back in the last of us universe, seeing Joel and Tommy, an older Ellie. Near the end of the first half I actually found myself a little tired of Ellie, and with the introduction of Abby and her story and the characters in her story I found rich with personality, I felt refreshed and by the end of the game I found myself on Abby’s side, watching Ellie’s decent into revenge and vengeance whereas Abby’s road takes her out of there and into redemption. 8/10 great game I’m one of the few who probably thoroughly enjoyed Abby’s story. Definitely some subtle progressive messaging (I honestly dont care) and some plot and story holes but after all said and done it was a great game. Will replay on survivor +.
You aren't alone. Abby's portion of the story was my favorite as well. I enjoyed Ellie's gameplay more since I really like the proximity mines, but Abby's story was really good. The portion in the rain where she meets Yara and Lev was sooooo sooo good. Overall I loved this game. I really like how different it was and enjoyed not knowing what was gonna happen next because of it.
Miles S. Burrell strange enough the wolves don’t have the explosive traps but Ellie finds them and uses them. But all Abby and the wolves have are pipe bombs. Still, I loved being able to punch people and infected as Abby like Joel did.
In terms of The Last of Us 2, there is a channel that perfectly summed up my thoughts on it and supposed to be plotholes in it. You could check their review of TLOU2 too, its named 'Girlfriend Review' and their videos are entertaining and informative at the same time :P
Love your reaction and in many ways agree with it. One small point of contention though: you talk about Ellie being alone going forward, but that's not really clear. It's supposed to be ambiguous, but the most simple - and I would argue, likely - assumption is that at the end, she is walking back to Jackson. She'll beg Dina to take her back and maybe that happens, maybe not, but at the very least she'll be part of that community still. Reconnect with uncle Tommy, help him he'll while she heals herself, etc.
Solid review Steven!! I love how you broke everything down and explained why each part was so important to the story. I really appreciate that I was able to go on this journey with you and Nikki as you were playing it. I loved the game myself as well and never thought anything could top TLOU, but TLOU2 did and exceeded my expectations.... even with the death of Joel 😭. Forcing the player to “walk a mile in your enemy’s shoes” is truly a risk, but definitely won in my book. Great job!!
Looking forward to watching the review. Just gonna wait to watch the last of the playthrough first. I personally loved the game, so I am happy to see you have enjoyed the experience too so far and from the info of this video even with so many people trying to sway let's players opinions of the game another way.
EXCELLENT commentary. the negative people also just happen to be the loudest and most toxic. really appreicate how reasoned and comprehensive your review is!
I absolutely loved the story. I thought the character development of Abby was done amazingly. We was able to hate her and then gradually understand her reasoning for what she did, plus watch her show empathy and compassion too. Both her and Ellie are on the same path in wanting revenge and I love at the end they are able to let each other go. I think Abby in particular never had any issues with Ellie hence her never wanting to fight her or harm her. Loved your playthrough Steven & Nikki! Watched it all on your replays on Twitch.
It’s a sad world we live in where taking a moment to process and judging things on their totality is now both taboo and alien to most. Knee jerk reaction and outrage exploitation are the way of the world. It’s nice to hear a sobering take on this game and just in general. Keep it up. Ps: I just want to say that even after both games, I still would have done what Joel did. Well, tried to, and maybe not in the exact same manner, you get what I’m saying.
I think it's worth remembering that the loudest voices aren't always the most numerous. We don't hear about the millions of people who bought, played, and enjoyed this game because they aren't the ones who feel motivated to review bomb, make petitions to remake the game, or send death threats to the voice actors, etc.
Fangtorn When the game first released everyone with a positive opinion was pretty much shot down and drowned out by the negative people. Someone literally told me I “have no idea what I’m talking about” just because I said I was enjoying the game. Some of the behaviour from the people who disliked the game is just ridiculously childish and the fact that a lot of them are defending the death threats (“what did you expect” etc) is horrific.
This game does not deserve all the hate. The first game focused on the idea of Joel's fatherly love towards Ellie. This game went completely in the opposite direction, putting the focus on Revenge - trying to make the player realize that revenge is not always fulfilling.
Druckman said the game would be divisive. I don't think he calculated that it would be this divisive - he clearly put out the story he wanted without considering how it would interact with the fan love towards the first game. People can hate the story and recognize its other technical achievements. For those people, the story was crap and so were the WLF characters.
@@kilroy987 that's always the problem with putting out artistic vision --- you may think you've got a great story to tell to legions of fans, but people go take the Misery route if the story you cooked up doesn't align with their sentiments. It's the entitlement that comes with paying $60, I guess, but also a pretty unreasonable mentality for a linear, story-driven game in which the player is merely the car and the creative team is in the driver's seat. If this were an RPG, and the most important choices in the game were stripped from you, it'd be understandable.
The pacing in the first was a bit better, but LoU2 was better in the story. I love the risk, execution, and reward that Naughty Dog did with 2. Druckman stated when LoU2 was announced, the first game was about love, and the second was going to be about hate. He created that game, and showed hate's consequences. In addition, Abby is a phenomenal addition to the LoU universe. Hope she can get her gains back.
I loved watching you play this cant wait to see your reactions for the rest! I love how you are really into the story of the game. You have a new subscriber 😁 and I love how your partner/wife (in case yous aren't married I don't know lol) is there with her reactions 😂 I really enjoyed this game and made me think deep into a lot of things relating to my own life. It's thought provoking... Here is hoping we have a 3rd game on ps5. The two sides of the story colliding... It's a oerfect ending to lead up to a 3rd game 🙏😭
I'm glad you loved it. It has such mixed reviews. A lot of negative from those that didn't play and just read spoilers. I was spoiled and understood the story from the get go. Even before spoilers I had a strong feeling Joel was dead. Playing as Abby felt a tiny bit too long but overall it was a fantastic game. The first game is a masterpiece and this game doesn't hit that spot yet for me... but it is a wonderful adventure and story.
I do agree that Ellie did lose everything, but the one thing she regained that imo makes up for all that was lost is her humanity. Her ability to forgive herself in order to forgive Joel. Now that Ellie is out from under Joel’s shadow and is able to let him go, she can walk on her own path and leave everything behind, yet still hold onto the memories of what she’s had with Joel.
First off, you guys do an awesome job with your channel. Quality is top notch. Just wanted to give my 2 cents. I don't think Ellie lost everything. When she goes back to farm, you can see she's wearing Dina's bracelet, implying that she did reunite with Dina in Jackson. She wasn't wearing it when she left. Also, I think Ellie felt guilty for not forgiving Joel when she had a chance. She stops drowing Abby when she has that flashback to Joel in their last conversation before he died. She said she would try to forgive him. So in the end, she did kill hundreds of people to get to Abby but it wasn't about revenge. It was about her own guilt. Killing Abby wouldn't absolve her of her inability to forgive and to let things go. In the end though, she finally was able to.
I love this game but there's also a lot of frustrations that comes from it for me. I was spoiled the entire game and I really feel robbed of these amazing conflicting emotions that I know I would have felt. The things they pulled in this story are something I've never seen in anything. What a game.
@@NikkiStevenLIVE True and that it happened to a game like THIS is an extra shame. But the ending was spoiled to me after the premiere. Literally a day before I've beaten the game.
Looking back a few years later at the reception to the game, it's very funny how the two major camps in terms of complaints are people saying that a moral tale centered around revenge is overplayed and we all already know that revenge is bad, and then people saying its stupid that the game made us empathize with Abby and we should've gotten to kill her in cold blood. I think when the two main criticisms of the game are so fundamentally opposed, I think it's pretty clear that it had something important to say and isn't trite or pointless.
This game definitely took some risks, and by the end of it I feel I really liked the game, yet at the same time I'm conflicted about it. I agree about the flashbacks. Seemed like a lot (the museum scenario was my favorite), and I did reach a point of where I was playing as Abby for so long that I was eager to get back to moving the main story forward with Ellie. I liked Abby's developing relationship with Yara and Lev, but before that it was tough adapting to playing as a new character for half of the game, in addition to what she did. Showing the other perspective was cool, but it didn't make me feel one way or the other about Abby, which is fine because I don't believe this game is trying to force anyone to feel a certain way about the characters. I figured from the way she killed Joel that Joel killed someone close to her, so being able to predict that before seeing what went down lessened the impact on me. The environments get an A+. I loved looking at and interacting with all the new places and scenery. Just gorgeous. Gameplay was great. I didn't struggle much, despite two or three points where I died a lot. When I first saw the teaser for this game years ago, I wasn't certain I liked the idea of a revenge plot, but I was set on giving it a shot. Nice to see you're doing game reviews :)
metacritc is divided almost perfectly who give 0 or 2 scores and people with 10 and 8 most probably will get GOTY award doesn't matter for some people liked or not
Awesome game story. I have to agree 100% with you Steve. This game is really a movies (just like the first one), and with any movie that your watch - you as the view cannot change how it begins or how it ends, you are along for the ride. This game is also about consequences for actions taken. Every one of the main characters made a decision that brought about bad consequences. Joel and his decision at the end of the last game to save Ellie and kill the Firefly Doctor - consequences; destroying the Firefly message of hope and ending any chance of a cure. Abby getting revenge on Joel - consequence; every one of her friends that where in the room in Wyoming is eventually killed by either Ellie or Tommy. Lev's mom turning on her kids, which lead to her ending. Tommy going on his journey of revenge and losing his eye and wife. Ellie being consumed by the need for revenge, killing a whole lot of people and losing her family. It was only Abby that had the courage to break the cycle. Yes, Ellie suffered from PTSD over Joel, but I sure that Abby had similar PTSD driving her initial desire for revenge. As for the ending; I loved it too. I saw it as Ellie leaving the farmhouse to go and attempt to make amends with Dina and bring her and little JJ back to their farm home - that's why Ellie didn't put the guitar away in its case or take any of her stuff as she's planning on returning to the house. Once gain an awesome game and approach to putting me (the game player) into the story and feeling the emotional strains within Ellie and Abby from both sides.
I feel like the themes in this game are similar to Hunger Games. Everyone wants victory(revenge can be a victory condition), and everyone is willing to use whatever force necessary to achieve victory. But both stories ask at what cost? Is victory still a victory given the means used and the road traveled to get there? I think where Hunger Games used Katniss as almost a 3rd party viewer on the revolution to communicate that the no one wins in war, Last of Us ptII doubled down on the characters involved and exposed the tragic humanity in everyone involved, but both stories end without a traditional “victory”, arguably because both stories are communicating that there can’t be a “victory” (no Star Wars episode 6 ending here).
I just felt like Ellie’s actions in the end were spontaneous. We watch her throughout the game eager to get her hands on Abby, ruthlessly killing WLF soldiers along the way. I don’t know why her flashback to Joel stopped her?
There should be a rule to where you can’t put out a game review until you’ve uploaded the entire play through😂I just have a feeling they knew it was gonna take awhile to put up those last 2 so they went ahead and put this up
I don’t think Ellie went to Santa Barbara because of her desire for revenge anymore. She thought it could resolve her PTSD. Also, she felt guilty that she wasn’t able to forgive Joel before he died because Abby robbed her of that opportunity.
Stikker Gaming she starts the fight because she sees a flash of Joel’s beaten face, which is her PTSD. Before Ellie leaves the farmhouse, she tells Dina “I can’t eat, I can’t sleep”. She thinks by killing Abby, she could live a normal life.
@@NikkiStevenLIVE Yes, of course she went there to kill Abby and take revenge. But also to overcome her PTSD (her journal is a very good source for that). It's both connected, so you can't separate it. But then Ellie sees Abby in that horrible condition and that was something she didn't expect. She was confused and irritated. She imagined to fight Abby, but when she finally found her, she was in a very bad shape. And then she watches Abby how she cares about Lev. I think in that moment she was willing to just let her go, even if she felt conflicted about it. But then her wound opened again, she sees the blood on her hand, which reminds her of Joel's bloody face. And then it came all back and she decided, that she can't let her go like this. I love this scene scene because of it's emotional complexity on both sides, Ellie's and Abby's.
Everything you touched on with this review........I 100% agree. However i still think Naughty Dog could have given Joel a badass death. Maybe where he and abby fight and joel gets distracted by Ellie and protecting her, Abby maybe beats him with her hands. Coming in a couple years later, I heard part 3 is coming. And that's crazy to hear. I believe It's gonna game quite a few years to create but we're getting the HBO max series in March next year and that already looks fantastic.
![The Last of Us Part II [SPOILERS] - 10 Reasons Why It's A Masterpiece! - Electric Playground](/img/n.gif)
Wassup Y'all!!! Just a heads up, the final 2 playthoughts will be posted ASAP - Just really wanted to get this review posted. And since there's so much negative out there about this game, I made the decision to focus 99.9% of my review on why I loved the story of this game. Feel free to share all your thoughts and feelings below - just be nice to each other.
Fantastic review man! I think some people hate this game because it didn’t go the way they wanted it to go. However, whether you agree with it or not, it doesn’t take away from how well-written it is. No other video game moves you and breaks you emotionally like this game does, NONE! Thank you for being appreciative of this masterpiece.
@@Khaled-F Not really. Almost everyone expected Joel to die. With not everyone agrees the story was well written.
@@Dularr almost everyone expected Joel to die but for some people it didn't go the way they wanted and started to baby cry. They wanted Joel to die like a hero... but he wasn't one.
Watched your reactions for a while. Man, great job on reviewing the story. Like you, i never knew a fictional story, let alone a video game, could make me so emotional. Great job
@@DeLeo_77 They obviously wanted Joel to sacrifice himself saving Ellie but if that happened they would call it predictable 😂
I think the main takeaway from this story is that in order to preserve your humanity, you need to forgive yourself. By the end, the story was less about revenge than it was about Ellie trying to forgive herself for not mending her relationship with Joel sooner. Of course, she goes after Abby because she’s the one responsible for taking away that possibility forever, but she ultimately decides to forgive herself which will eventually enable her to regain some of her humanity back. Revenge is bad, that goes without saying, but tackling topics like loss, forgiveness and healing after grief was ultimately what made me love this story.
@X Æ A-12 Musk Maybe the execution could have been handled differently. It’s not a flawless game, it has pacing issues and many wished they wouldn’t have been deprived of the choice to kill Abby. I get that, but the story isn’t about what us, gamers, want. (Joel dies two hours into the game.) It’s a story of perspective that clearly intends to make you feel something : loss, anger, acceptance, forgiveness. Ellie realizing that she should break the cycle of violence when almost killing Abby was powerful and her very own journey with coming to terms with her emotions. By the end, she started to go on this final rampage out of misplaced loyalty for Tommy and to punish Abby because she couldn’t stop feeling guilt over the way things ended with Joel. Yet, it’s only on the verge of killing her that she realizes that the person she loved is lost forever though not in her memory. Revenge is not worth it and I’m happy Ellie decided to not kill Abby. Was it done at the right moment? I don’t think it’s about that. Ellie’s journey, and whether I necessarily agree with it in the course of the game, is not the point I feel like. You can find it badly handled and flawed, but I still think it tells something.
@X Æ A-12 Musk Abby’s « happy ending » comes at the expense of SO MUCH, though. She basically starts the game where Ellie finishes it, and she doesn’t handle killing Joel as well as you frame it. She has PTSD as seen with the nightmares she keeps having and her desire for revenge cost her her most meaningful relationships i.e her relationship with Owen. I feel it is unfair to say that Abby has it better when really, her journey is meant to mirror Ellie’s if only at a different stage. They both learn the same lessons, but Abby learns them sooner, that’s all there is to it.
Abby started her own journey of healing and forgiveness sonner than Ellie. Her sparing Ellie’s life multiple times shows that. Her ending is more « hopeful » because she was able to reconnect with her humanity sooner by meeting Lev and Yara. She’s also been able to come to terms with the repercussions of her actions and to actively decide to make better choices sooner. By the end, she’s not the person that once killed Joel in the most gruesome manner anymore.
Had Ellie been able to let go and heal sooner, not that she’s responsible for taking the time she needs, she would have gotten her happy ending. Dina warned her yet she decides to walk away, and her being alone at the end only signifies that when you’re not able to forgive yourself, you’re distancing away from the people that love and care about you. It’s not a happy ending for sure, but a valuable lesson that has been taught at the expense of so much for both characters.
"Preserve your humanity". That is fucking rich, Ellie cut a swath through like a hundred people to get to Abby and then spare her - despite her absolutely deserving to die for brutally torturing and killing Joel. What a joke.
@@Tyrantofthewind As stated at the end of my comment, choosing to not kill Abby enables Ellie to regain some of her humanity back. Of course it’s not all of it since it's a long journey, but I personally believe that while killing Abby might have felt right/deserved in the moment, it wouldn’t have achieved anything for Ellie personally. Abby killed Joel for killing her father and it’s constantly showed that she didn’t gain any peace of mind from it. That’s the point imo, but agree to disagree.
@@Tyrantofthewind YOU cut a swath through a hundred people to get to Abby. You could have stealthed 95% of the game.
Man, you guys really restored my faith in humanity.
I have read so many horrible and hateful things about the game's theme and the people behind it, your positivity and willingness to engage with what the game is trying to say is a true ray of light.
Much love from germany!
The anger that everyone had for the game was a planned thing. Problem is 85% of the people who played this are entitled children who need everything spoon fed and wrapped with a pretty bow in the end. This game is 1000% a masterpiece
@Adrian Bujun nah I get it. I just don't understand that reaction to it when Joel's death was a formality at that point. So it happened in the beginning? Boohoo. People need to get over themselves. Every game isn't going to cater to their every soft, sensitive whim.
@Adrian Bujun AJ decided to hate this game since the leaks. I agree, What a shame.
Stebbi LV Joel was never a prominent character. Sure, TLOU1 was huge. But that wasn’t because of Joel. He never struck me as an iconic video game character that can cause one of the biggest controversies in gaming history. Still can’t wrap my head around it
Amen. That entitlement is also responsible for some people thinking they should have some say in the story. They can’t just allow themselves to experience the story someone is telling because they have no control over it. It’s juvenile and emotionally immature.
@Adrian Bujun Not gonna lie, AJ's reaction was so bad that I actually unsubbed his channel. If you don't like a game that's fine. If you want to do an honest, good faith review of the game and talk about how you didn't like it and why, that's also fine. But to decide that you hated it before even playing it, then simply doing a hate play through with no consideration of the actual game, barely paying attention to anything that's happening? Nope, now I know not to listen to your opinion on things.
This game was deliberately unsatisfying, and I really admire that. Naughty Dog could have made a game in which Abby and her friends are horrible people, Ellie exacts righteous retribution, and the player feels satisfied they got their just revenge. I bet there wouldn't have been a backlash to that game, but there's not much to take away from that. This game challenges you to feel empathy towards people you want to hate, and to see characters you love through an uglier lens. It explores how people dehumanize those they hate to justify violence, and how that creates a cycle that leads to further violence. It's powerful, interesting, and challenging, so it makes sense it would be polarizing. Lots of good art is.
I’m glad they didn’t do that cookie cutter shit. It is perfect the way it is.
same. I don't mind another Uncharted like story line, but man, this is 100 times better.
@@davidpinto-fernandez7132 you do know that Joel is a villain in the first game, right? if they tell you Abby was the good guy, then you won't have much hate. like they don't even need to do much, just don't mute what Owen said in the mansion, it'd be enough by itself.
@@lazyboyterry pff even Druckmann says that looking at this game through the lens of "heroes and villains" is really retarded . There isn't such things as those labels. You don't have the moral responsibility to sacrifice someone who you care about, fuck that. Muting what the group where talking is really smart but also really predictable, I knew we were going to get a flashback understanding why they left them live and I'm angry at people jumping into: "THIS IS STUPID; THEY SHOULD HAVE KILL THEM ALREADY"
But all this narrative structure is fucking stupid in my opinion.
@@davidpinto-fernandez7132 I have brain damage? No, I have a different opinion. You think the story structure was stupid, I don't, and in my opinion it's more challenging to see Abby kill Joel and then be forced to empathize with her, than to spend half the game empathizing with her only for her to kill Joel.
Not gonna lie, in the end, Ellie did end up saving Abby by going to California.
Yeah, that’s true
Finally. Someone who actually understood what NaughtyDog was trying to do. Sick of all these childish people crying about the game.
That’s the problem with some people, they’re unwilling to understand another human being because of there bias or love for someone close to them, not everything’s black and white good and evil.
I finished playing The Last Of Us 2 earlier today and I think it was one of the most thought provoking games I have ever played and it was fantastic! Naughty Dog took a huge risk and I think it paid off very well. This was a brilliant review and I agree with everything you talked about when it came to the story and its analysis. :)
Knowing that this is the first gaming review you've ever done, and having been there throughout your whole playthrough, I hope we can look forward to more reviews in the future Steven. Keep pushing your limits brother, we'll be right here to push them with you.
Uncharted from ND never has consequences , TLOU2 was all about them. I loved it. It grew on me more and more and definitely think it's worthy of playing again knowing Abby's side as Ellie. So many story links overlooked at first.
I'm on my second play through and there are so many thing you see/hear that are so significant that you sometimes dont realise the first time. Plus I have already done things that I missed on the first play like climbing up the dinosaur 😂
I also loved the game. i went through so many emotions. every kind of emotion from sad to happy to disgusted to angry. It was a hell of an experience. I'm replaying it on survivor. which i highly recommend, steve. some battles really made me feel like i was fighting for my life. I hope we get more Ellie story. i would love to see an older Ellie in this world. She gave me Sarah conner vibes in the california section.
I didn't climb the dinosaur and I don't remember putting on the hat either. Still managed to love the game.
There are two hats and you can put them on dinosaur’s heads lol. Joel finally lets on and puts a hat on the very tall dino
I manage to do every single extra stuff there, except climbing the damn dinosaur :/
@@TheLynx30 climbing the dinosaur and jumping was the best part imo.
i love what this game gave me, which is not just one new game, but three. the first playthrough of the last of us 2, the second playthrough, knowing everything you know, and replaying the the last of us. everything has more depth and meaning now. the last of us was the first game that ever really made me feel something for characters in a game, this one literally had me going through stages of grief. no piece of media has ever done that for me. i have no other gaming experience to compare it to, that makes it special. i’m sorry other people didnt get to have that experience.
Fantastic breakdown. You touched on something I think was a major obstacle for many people. The difficulty in being able to move past Joel's death and be willing to look at the reality of the game and the story objectively. The fact is, this is a world where most people, including Joel have done fucked up things. It just so happens that the fucked up thing Abby does is brutally killing a character you love in an attempt to get justice for her dad and the end of a possible cure.
There's this quote from I believe a Japanese commentator that people keep posting everywhere saying, "It's a game about right and wrong written by people who think they are always right." And I find it quite dumb. It's a game about a lot of things and I'm sure none of the creators would argue they are always right. They just wanted to share this story and ideas.
Moral Greyness:
The collectibles you gain throughout the game as both characters are references to this. Abby's are simple. Coins. Two sides to every coin. But Ellie's character cards are more interesting. You'll notice they might say hero, villain, neutral villain, ect. but on the bottom you'll notice their alignment is actually on a spectrum. Indicating none are completely good or evil. That's also were Yara and Lev are important in Abby's story. They are part of the good old tried and true, all bad, all black cliche villain in so many stories. The religious cult. As Ellie we only see them string up and gut people. But in Abby's story we understand it's full on war and the wolves are also capturing and torturing them. And there's no clear answer on who broke the truce. On all sides in every community we see they do their best to raise and protect their children, and with the Seraphites there's insight into why they found the teachings of their prophet so useful. In the end, in that final battle on the island, there is definitely this sense of, man, this is so messed up. No one's winning this.
Coping with trauma:
A lot of people found the ending unfulfilling but I actually think the only other option, the ending where she kills Abby then just sits there all somber with the sense of, yeah, but this didn't bring back Joel would have been such a worse ending.
You'll notice when you first meet Abby before Joel, she wakes from a nightmare. After Joel when you finally pick back up with her . . . she wakes from a nightmare. We got the ending above in the game. It's just what Abby got after killing Joel. You'll notice when you relive Joel's death from her perspective, that she immediately looks like killing him didn't fulfill her like she had hoped it would. She's actually still mad. Throughout her story, we learn she also eventually felt guilty. She has that moment of rage when Owen taunts her about it, and she says to Lev that she is helping him and Yara due to guilt and needing to lighten the load. It' through this journey of coming to empathize with and help supposed enemies, when she couldn't help her father that she finally stops having the nightmares and can see her father alive and well.
The ending I think is very hopeful, because we understand that Ellie is letting go and starting to try and deal with her trauma in a positive way.
Forgiveness of not just others, but ourselves:
Throughout Ellie's flashbacks we come to understand that she is not only mad at Abby, but herself. Abby tortured Joel physically but she tortured him emotionally for what he did. The biggest source of her pain is the fact that Joel died before she could fully mend their relationship. That to me is one of the reasons she lets Abby go in the end. She realized that killing Abby wouldn't ease the pain and guilt she feels at herself. That is why it flashes to Joel before she lets go. She doesn't really forgive Abby in the end, she just realizes the source of most of her pain. I personally think she knew the entire game that Joel did have that fate coming to him sooner or later. So in the end, she starts to accept what happened, and trying to forgive herself.
These are the main things I got out of the story. So much more than, "revenge is bad."
There's plenty of arguments to be made about pacing issues and order of events and scenes. I personally think this story would have hit better with more people as a few seasons of a tv show, rather than a game because of how long the game ended up having to be for the sake of showing not telling. But as the experience it is, where you actually have to play as a character you hate and try to understand them, I still think it is a worthwhile exercise in story telling.
I truly believe that in the near future this game will be considered an iconic classic that managed to eclipse the original game it was a sequel to. People will look back and not even understand why it was controversial.
Lmfao
@@GAMING101-y4y he's right
100% agreed.
Yeah, like TLJ. Oh wait!
Tell em!
I took this game as a story about choosing love over hate.
I feel like when people have calmed down a bit and worked through their feelings, this game will go down in history as one of the big great ones.
Also you did a great job with this review Steven! I hope to see more of this sort of content in the future 👍
Great story review. You looked at it exactly the way I did. The final fight between Ellie and Abby in the sea made me feel something I've never felt watching any film or tv, or playing any game. I remember so vividly sitting there watching unblinking and just willing Ellie to stop. Incredible work by Naughty Dog making people really FEEL the emotion of the story.
If either of them died at the end, playing as either would feel like a waste of time. Notice the goal with playing as either is never to win/kill but to survive
It's hard to root between someone you have come to love despite their sins and someone you've been with for the past 7 years going down the rabbit hole of blind vengeance. The ending fight got me all mixed up.
That said, the game did its job in making me feel conflicted and depressed with a glimmer of hope for Ellie's actual redemption, should there be a part 3.
There’s gonna a part 3 regardless with Ellie finds a doctor that can make a vaccine and Ellie saving humanity that what the story gonna end up like everything if you pay attention that what the story gonna go ..and Abby she probably is immune bc Ellie bite her and nothing happen
@@KevinDiazx11 nah she bit David in the first game nothing happened to him (she can't infect people
@@GAMING101-y4y in the first game Tess makes a remark that everybody changes by day 2 when ellie gets tested by the soldiers they are held up by and they first see shes infected. David died the same day so who knows if he would have turned if he survived. That being said ellie did tell dina she can't infect her so who knows.
@@barbarariley2973 David wouldn't have turned considering the fact that she bites Abby when they're fighting in the theater and she's still not turned like a year later, when she gets kidnapped with Lev.
@@whydoihavesubs6644oh yea forgot about that
Man, it’s my first time watching your review content other than reactions. This is paced and edited damn well!
Thank you Leo!!!! Really appreciate that. It was my first ever game review so your comment is amazing.
Please do more videos like this! I'd love to hear you and Nikki break down your thoughts on other games going forward.
Thank you!! Absolutely loved doing this video and want to do more. I need more hours in the day, ha!!!!
Both of you are such a joy to watch! Great job on the content, and all the best for your future endeavors
Great review Steven! I like how you broke it down into sections. I'd definitely love to see more game reviews from you in the future. I enjoyed watching your playthrough as well.
Just to add to what you said about the ending, Naughty Dog actually planned (throughout much of the development) to end it like you said, with Ellie killing Abby and then being left with nothing, which would support the theme of revenge being a fool's game. They ended up changing it when they realized it was more important to serve the characters than the theme, and their idea was that there was still enough humanity left in Ellie to finally choose to just let go. I think it was the right call and the game is a masterpiece.
Yeah, I believe that the "alternate" ending could have worked very well too, but it would have been devastatingly crushing.
I think it was fitting that they altered their plan for the ending and left us with that small glimmer of hope for Ellie and her future.
"When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light!"
That is what we call a solid story review people , some reviewers just say game was trash and that is it but steve here shows us how its really done thanks for your sensible review man!
Appreciate that. It was my first ever review of a video game so I was definitely nervous about posting it.
So if he didn't like the game, would you still call it sensible?
@@Dularr sure , my problem is with the ppl that just shits on the game too harshly because they didnt like the story. But gameplay details music and graphics in this game are masterpiece so deserves respect .
@@BrkyTheMythical The problem is that Las of Us is a story based game, and if the story is bad, the game can't be very enjoyable even though the graphics and gameplay were amazing. I do agree that it got too much hate, and some people hated it just to hate it. But as someone who has played the original over 5 times, i don't think i'll play this one again.
@@tukehuhtis3871 respect your opinion bro
naughty dog has fuckin balls no one can deny that, wish more developers took risks like that
Always glad to see someone with an open mind! Keep up the good work Steven and have fun with the hate comments!
The hate all comes with something like this. People will make their comments without even watching the video. I enjoy this, it’s fun.
@@NikkiStevenLIVE Well, if you hated the story. Do you think people would be calling you a hater, followed up with all sort of name calling?
So, if he hated the story, would you still consider him open minded?
@@LeMaqnifique Exactly my point. Abby's father was a monster that was murdering a young girl. In the post apocalypses, if Abby's dad was trying to murder my daughter, I would kill him as well. I would not allow him to continue to experiment on children. I would never allow strangers to take care of my horse. I would never go into a room full of strangers. I would never use my real name. Not saying Joel is a good man, I'm just saying Joel is not stupid. Which is my main complaint about the story telling. They make characters stupid to move forward the storytelling. They also went to extraordinary measure to make Abby likable. It was transparent and manipulative.
But you bring up the argument you see over and over again. If you don't like Abby, you must be homophobic or transphobic.
@@Dularr Joel was the monster. Abbys father was willing to kill Ellie to help mankind. Joel was a hunter for years, killed innocent people, tortured people. So yes, the doctor is definitely the morally better person.
The fact that 30+ plus hours of incessant misery can manage to instill a incredibly powerful message of life-affirming hope by the end is masterful in and of itself.
Kids want their heroes to go out in a blaze of glory, like a lot of Hollywood bullshit. Adults understand that in REAL LIFE the ones we love could be dead tomorrow. That the bad guy doesn't give some elaborate bullshit dialogue before they kill our loved ones and their death could be VERY unceremonious, like Joel. Naughty Dog gave us an adult's game. They delivered in spades. Best story based triple AAA game of this generation❗️I still tear up every time I watch a play through, when Joel dies. I've watched about 20 and it still happens. This is a testament to Naughty Dogs incredible writing of Joel as character.
Great review man, loved that you opened yourself up just to take in the story being told.
You’re one of the most honest reviews on UA-cam, thanks man. Can’t wait for more reviews!
Appreciate that.
27:50 "but that's not our story to tell" is key, a LOT of people felt like the masses should dictate the story, absurd.
Amazing review, i'm happy that i found your channel. Can't wait to see the two of you react to the rest of the game
Appreciate that. Hopefully get the final two videos up this week.
I appreciate how in depth you went with this. I also went into this with an open mind and glad I came out the other side with a deeper appreciation of the world they have built, and not just the characters. I wouldn't be surprised if we jumped to another character in the third game. As we have seen throughout the series, starting as Sara, then jumping to Joel, then to Ellie and now Abby. I can see Lev as being a strong new playable character.
Great review, even the first game was Ellie’s story btw, at least that’s how Neil sees the first game.
Your official real game review was excellent! I loved how you focused on the issues that the game brought up and the feelings it put you through. I'm only half-way through it, but I've seen so many other reactions on UA-cam I feel like I've played it already! LOL There have been so many hate videos up about this game but I like how you let it simmer a bit before actually doing your review. Good job!
Abby: Lol im going to torture scars for revenge and get off on it.
*ca 3 days later*
How could my group do this violence against them omg.
Just a little thing you can appriciate :) :
Joel did a lot of bad things. He redeemed himself after he met Ellie.
Abby did a lot of bad things. She redeemed herself after she met Lev/Yara.
(also Abby that brings lev's body saying "i got you" like Joel did with Ellie)
Ironic uh? :), Joel was the one that Abby hated the most and the one that ruined her life. Still her story is very similar to Joel's one :)
While I can appreciate those similarities, I think the key difference is that, at least for me, Abby was introduced in such a horrendous way (torturing and murdering a man in front of his daughter) that I just couldn't connect to her for the rest of the game. I sympathized with her, and I liked her relationship with Lev, but aside from that and being able to crush bad guys with my bare hands, it just didn't want to play as her. I don't mind that she didn't die, I just didn't want to go on that journey with her because of what I'd already seen her do, regardless of whether or not I was already attached to Joel. If we'd send Joel do the same thing in the first game (I know that it's hinted he's done terrible things before, but they aren't spelled out and we don't really see them pre-Ellie) I guarantee I wouldn't have been as attached to him.
"everyone I have ever cared about has either died or left me'' from the first last of us really hits on a whole new level after this game... This game is a bloody masterpiece
Insane how Ellie ends up the same way.
Bryan Gomez except she actually doesn't, if you paid attention she's clearly back with Dina and JJ and Jackson already
if it was a masterpiece then this game would be remembered for years,but this would be forgotten in a few months,a lot of fans of the 1 part are mad because of 2 part and they want to forget about it as if it's a bad dream XD
@@dangdang4334 not sure about that neil said they didn't really think of where ellie went or her future and its on the player to kind of decide or hope unless they decide on a part 3 and who knows if ellie will even be in another sequel due to her being done with everything amd only having 3 fingers on one hand. Hard to have a fight to the death and grab weapons with 3 fingers on one hand. Not impossible but imagine her surviving part 2 with all the battles if she started out with only 8 fingers. Plus its 2 fingers in a row which makes grabing items very difficult. But who knows but probably be about abby and lev which to be honest ill hate.
@@КСТААДАПОЛУЧАЕТСЯТАКНУЧТОЖОСТА ha.... Well I won't. But you can go ahead and forget it. I'll remember it for you.
Thanks for that review! Love your Expanse reactions too!
Let me add some thoughts about the first farm scene and why it is often misunderstood.
So Ellie's motivation for pursuing revenge isn't mainly motivated by rage or hate like it's commonly assumed. Instead it's guilt like in the first game.
Guilt for not having protected Joel, guilt that she is the reason Joel was murdered and guilt that she wasn't able to forgive Joel before he died.
This leads to her quest for revenge to Seattle where she does horrible things which make her feel even more guilty. It ends in a total disaster
with Jesse dead and Tommy crippled and even more guilt for her.
Okay, now we come to the first farm scene. It's gorgeous! It's beautiful and happy. We get to see the happy life of Ellie , Dina and JJ. Or do we?
I might be the exception here but my first thought was: Why is Ellie so thin? She was always slim but the difference is notable here.
Then we get to witness her having a PTSD attack. Later Tommy comes to visit and it does not go well for everyone. When Ellie wakes up at night the game does something that it does very rarely. It makes us to look at Ellies notebook. What it shows us is that PTSD attacks happen often to her, that she can't sleep, she is unable to have contact with other people (she ran off during a visit of Jesse's parents), she can't even talk about Joel anymore and her idea of a good day is one she is distracted enough to not think about Seattle for a few hours. There is also a bunch of notes in there that are downright suicidal.
This is Ellie at her lowest mentally. She is barely able to function as a human anymore and for all her love and trying Dina couldn't help her.
So when Tommy mentions the lead on Abby she finally has something.
A way out. A hope at closure.
Because if she stays like this she will put bullet into her head rather sooner than later.
The scene with Dina is heartbreaking but Dina does the only right thing she can do in her situation: Walk away to protect herself and her child.
She has no other choice. Like Ellie has no other choice.
If you don't pick up on this you might see how that can change your perception of the ending in a significant way.
When she finally finds Abby she doesn't really want to kill her anymore and just follows to the boats.
It's only when the pain in her wound triggers another PTSD flashback of dying Joel she forces Abby to fight.
Right when Ellie is drowning Abby in the end you can see tears streaming down her face. She doesn't want to do it but feels that she has to.
But then we get to see that mini flashback of Joel playing guitar and Ellie let's her go. And that's where we get confused.
But once we see the final flashback of the game it becomes clear.
On that beach Ellie realizes that while she can't forgive Joel anymore she can forgive the person who took that away from her. And she lets go.
When Ellie arrives at the farm for the final time there's a new drawing of Joel in notebook. For the first time since his death she is able to draw him with eyes again.
She plays Joel's song again. "If I were to ever lose you, I would surely lose myself." That was true for Joel but it didn't need to be true for her.
Ellie has started healing and it might be a long process but she will finally get there.
Also note that Ellie is wearing Dina's bracelet again. She didn't have that on in California and it wasn't in her backpack either.
So while the ending looks bleak and sad it actually is quite the opposite.
Good review. Good to see people exploring the deeper themes instead of dismissing it as pretentious.
I'm really impressed with your point of view! I was also able to play through this game spoiler-free and I agree, this game made me feel things at such depth that I'd never expected to find through a game. It's been weeks and I'm still thinking about the game's story, and how we all could use more ability to see things from other points of view in our lives.
Appreciate that very much.
I agree with everything you said ! You are a lovely channel, I am happy I stumbled upon it, keep being true to yourself and genuine !
Shout-out not only to the excellent review, but to to excellent editing. Great video man.
Appreciate that!!
I agree with you completely!!!
Though, it was Catalina Island, and not Santa Barbara at the post-credit menu. So that's the way they're showing us that Abby and Lev actually made it to the other fireflies.
This is beautiful. Thank you for putting this out there. There’s such insane gibberish being leveled at this game, I would say, because it resonates with so much that is going on in society. I love your clearly heartfelt, calm breakdown of the game, and I am looking forward to the rest of your playthrough!
I think whats really unique about this is that this story really couldn't be told as another movie. To put the player in physical control of someone you are meant to dislike, even hate couldn't be done in another medium. You have to protect this character, gather supplies, unlock loads of abilities etc. Kind of forcing you to come to terms with the character.
The most sensible thing I've heard in a long time. Most of them just don't think outside the box. Remain stubborn in their views, completely shut themselves off and only express hate. What falls by the wayside is common sense and people don't even bother with that. The game felt like the majority of players missed the target. However, this is not due to the game. This game should actually be a lesson for tolerance, foresight and awareness. Unfortunately, the result is only a reflection of the society in which we live today. We should actually sink into the ground with shame. The game takes place in the Apocalypse. We act like we're in the middle of it.
Elli was a traumatized child before Joel. She lost both parents and had to watch how her first love changed. She probably also killed her afterwards. I think Elli has had every mental health problem since then. No meaning in life, no self-esteem, no self-confidence. She hides all of this with her cheeky manner and plays the witty one. To do this, she is sensitive to any kind of criticism and is accordingly resentful if it does not go to her head, she is insulted or things beyond her control. For this purpose, she was determined by her entire life. Every life-changing decision was made overhead. The girl has been completely broken since childhood. Poor Elli knows no other way to help but to face problems with aggression and violence. The world in which she was born consists of aggression and violence. Joel also showed her the nice things, but she also learned from him that violence somehow works. The problem is that she sees the only way that works for her. Until it just stops working and it breaks down more and more. She holds what she has so tightly that loss becomes even more unhealthy for her. That continues into adulthood. Fear of loss (Joel, Dina-Jesse conflict), fear of losing control (Kanibale David, Joel's death) determine her life. In addition, since Joel's lie, there is also the feeling that she has lost the last bit of her life and she cannot compensate for it. It has just been finished with the world for a very long time.
If she is better at something than others, then she also takes advantage of these short moments of self-confidence and jokes about their deficits. You can see that when elli is in the museum with joel and shares her knowledge with him there.
Elli's real motivation was never revenge. She only pushed it forward. It was a feeling of guilt. She could no longer forgive joel for life and believed that if she avenged him, she would act in his interest and get compensation. Elli never learned to forgive. She cannot forgive herself or others. It is not in her nature. She couldn't forgive Riley for leaving her. She couldn't forgive Seth for insulting Elli and Dina as lesbians. On Dino Day, you have to reciprocate that Joel threw she into the water. She could have looked at the deer with him too. The snowball fight was also revenge. She couldn't forgive Joel's lie for 2 years. When she wanted it it was too late. Elli's greatest challenge was not to take revenge, but to learn forgiveness. In the end she did it. It cost her 2 fingers, a friend and part of her soul.
Elli's greatest fear is ending alone. Dina is Ellis Rock in the surf. She gives her confidence and security. Dina didn't go with her, but didn't leave her either. As Dina said as a joke, her claims are low and she really loves Elli.
She just said that she can't do that again. Back in the cemetery, Dina said "you go, i go. End of story". It is also not possible with baby and responsibility. Dina could not farm any farm alone for months. That's why she went back to Jackson. Why do I say the two are still together? Elli no longer has on the farm Dinas bracelet. And even later in Santa Babara she doesn't have it with her. But when she returns to the farm, she wears it again. She has new clothes on and is unarmed. So she was back in Jackson between Santa Babara and Farm. She will have asked Dina for forgiveness (she just learned that). Dina is not resentful and I think she loved Elli before Jessie.
The diary entry shows that also about my opinion. And that is also the reason why she goes to the farm again. She was still unable to finish with the topic. She is still tormenting. She believes that her condition is not good for Dina and JJ (read diary). She goes to the farm to say goodbye to joel. And from her old life too. She plays joel's song one last time on his guitar and thinks of the last conversation with him. Then put the guitar away and go home to Jackson. The last conversation was all about forgiveness and Dina. And that's also the sign that she has these things now. Btw, this memory previously saved Abby's life and Elli's as well.
Joel always wanted the best for Elli. Has made many wrong decisions for this. But he would never have wanted her to break up like this ... physically and mentally ... and certainly not for him. He wants her to be happy. Now she has the chance. She now has the chance indirectly through him. Flashback from the porch at the last moment before Abby dies.
Abby and Lev are in Santa Babara now. See the new startscreen.
My opinion. Good ending for me.
Excuse my bad English. I hope you understand what I mean anyway.
Great review!! I think you gave an excellent analysis of the story. Glad you found something you liked. I thought it was great.
I've been running into more and more positive reviews lately as people take their time to sit with the experience.
I know you can't tell someone how to feel. You can't make someone like something. We're all different. There are reviewers who found it just wasn't for them and I get that. But one sentiment I've seen in the reviews that are comically, overwhelmingly negative is always "I don't care. I still don't like Abby" or **laughs** "Whatever, I still don't like Abby".
It seems like being dismissive and glib is a point of pride. Like, these developers can't tell me how to feel so I'm actively going to try not to let anything in. Apathy is cool and the more stubborn I am for not getting the story that I personally wanted, I've won. Everything needed to understand and enjoy the game is purposefully thrown away out of anger and pride. Ironically this is the theme presented in the game over and over. Being so focused on feeling one way and throwing away all the good things available to you.
Some people didn't like the gameplay and you can't really argue with anyone's personal taste there. I just don't see how this is genuinely considered worse than like an Aliens Colonial Marines.
While this may not be for everyone, I don't think it's garbage.
I loved The Last Of Us 2 it was complex emotional tragic and beautiful. I now can't wait for the HBO show should be interesting to see how they adapt the games. And also I think in the end they left the door slightly open for a part 3 to happen if they so choose.
Ima be honest i wasn't gonna watch the whole video but i did because love the way you edited this it's so well done! Videos that are well edited like this is what i like to see... Like placed.
I put a lot of thought and time into this video so thank you!!
20:20 If I was Ellie dealing with PTSD I would have too. I would know that I was never just going to get better just by distracting myself and "playing house" especially after still being traumatized after a year has already passed. Going after Abby again was Ellie's therapy, this was the only way that Ellie was going to work past HER trauma. When Ellie tells Dina before she leaves again "I don't eat, I don't sleep, I'm not like you" she isn't saying that how Dina is dealing with things is easier, but it is just different then what Ellie is dealing with. Another reason Ellie has to leave again is because Dina is going to leave with JJ if Ellie goes on this revenge quest again. Joel is the only person that would do anything for Ellie and loved her unconditionally. If the roles were reversed whatever Ellie did Joel was always going to be there for her. Which was proven throughout the game that even when Ellie didn't have any kind of interaction with Joel for two years he still defended her against Seth. I always see people ask what was the point of Ellie killing all those rattlers to get to Abby and kill her as well, only to not kill Abby. For me when Ellie is drowning Abby and then lets go is when is she is finally able to break the cycle of revenge and finally have a break through with the trauma that she has been dealing with ever since Joel died. It was just something ELLIE had to do in order for her to get over these things. Sometimes you have to break yourself all the way down in order to build yourself back up.
Well there was another option to deal with Joel. Talk about him with Dina, don't just bottle everything up
Really looking forward to watching the rest of the play through. I really wanna see your reaction to fighting Ellie as Abby. I was in total shock at that point and was so freaked out that I actually died real quick cause I didn’t wanna hurt Ellie.
"I don't think I can ever forgive you for that... But I would like to try"
That last scene between Joel and Ellie, especially after it looked like Joel possibly died with them having fought the night before was such a relief and so emotional... Really loved this game even though for a while I didn't think it'd come near the original. But ultimately both games are one big story and I just love how it wrapped up even though it wasn't the easy/nice ending (or story as a whole).
I think that while this game is about revenge and cycles of violence... Empathy, forgiveness and perspective are even bigger themes.
Ellie and Abby are on the same journey, just at different points on that journey.
Abby found her redemption through Lev. And she has to now go on and live with that.
Ellie in def on the right path now. She forgave (or at least tried to forgive) Abby. She walked away. She walked away with hey soul. She has a chance to heal.
Also, Ellie didn't lose everything at the end. She is wearing the bracelet Dina gave her. She didn't have that when she went to Santa Barbara. But she was wearing that when we see her at the farm at the end. I think that Ellie and Dina made up, or at least started to do so.
The ending of this game is much more hopeful than the end of the first one.
Good review Steven :)
amazing review!!! I had the exact same thoughts but I couldnt articulate it as good as you have!
I truly enjoyed this game. From top to bottom. I think it was a big leap of faith with the direction the creators decided. I also believe it hit the mark and then some.
As for the backlash, those reviews have every right to be angry and upset. The marketing felt like a bait and switch. I personally perceived that Joel was going to help Ellie get revenge but instead ended up with something far more bitter.
That is unfair and misleading. But I trust Naughty Dog. I trust their story telling; hence the first game.
Cynically speaking, it was a risky move by Naughty Dog. Controversy does creates cash. I think that’s one (of the many) big leaps that Naughty Dog took. They were very aware that killing off a beloved character would split the fan base.
However, in defense of the writers, Joel did commit unforgivable atrocities and at some point those actions have consequences. In other words, Abby represents the other side of Joe’s choices. That was a 10+ hour eye opening experience that I won’t forget.
I also think most of those negative reviews are a bit short sighted with the overall message and storyline Naughty Dog was pushing to convey.
To me, Abby and Ellie are on the same revenge story, just at different times of the revenge cycle. A cycle that begets more revenge.
In the end, I didn’t know who was going to survive.
What I found interesting is how people reacted to the ending. Lots of people felt Ellie NOT executing her revenge by murder Abby was ‘dumb’ and possibly unfulfilling. I saw it as an understated twist. If you think about it, if Abby didn’t let Ellie live (twice might I add) then Ellie wouldn’t have been able to save Abby in the end.
Overall, I felt like the game was two separate redemption stories wrapped in revenge connected by heart break.
How can two complex characters overcome their darkest intentions? I don’t know but Naughty Dog might have an idea.
I like your review. It’s sadly rare to see someone not just whining, because it’s popular to hate this game.
I think the reason so many dislike it, is because society today is so polarised. If you’re cheering for one side of a story, it’s almost impossible to view it from another perspective. This is reflected in today’s political landscape.
I loved that I got to see Abbys point of view. I loved that I could start to feel bad for Abby and how I could feel bad about meeting all the people I brutally killed as friends of Abby.
There is a reason why hostage negotiators always use names and personal info. When you get personal details about someone, you start to see them in another light.
It was an emotional rollercoaster and afterwards I looked at my game collection and didn’t feel like playing anything, because this game had spoiled me, by drawing me into one of the most emotional games I’ve ever played.
I know Ellie finds out Joel killed the people in the hospital to get her out, but does Ellie ever find out specifically that Joel killed Abby's father? I don't remember if she does...
Absolutely loved listening to your review. Very refreshing to hear someone break down the story with an open mind and appreciate the complexity that this game delivers! I also love seeing a comment section with generating positive discussions. This game has been in my mind weeks after I put down the controller, and I still find myself discussing main points about it regularly.
Looking forward to more reviews in the future!
Great review!I felt the same way and in the end Ellie leaving the guitar by the window at the hose is saying she is letting Joel go finally and is now able to start her new life, free of demons and finally at peace.
Ironically, Abby choosing to end the cycle of violence and not kill Dina is what saved her life and the life of Lev. If she had chosen to kill them in that moment, Ellie would not have been there to save her in Santa Barbara. Thus, paradoxically it was Abby choosing to end the cycle of Revenge while Ellie chose to continue it that saved the lives of Abby and Lev.
I played part 2 at the start of the pandemic. It was the single most emotionally draining gaming experience and one of the greatest games I’ve ever played.
Still mustering up the emotional and mental energy for a second playthrough.
And to answer your question on if I’d leave the family life for revenge or not, I would stay. It’s hard to know what I’d for sure do in those exactly circumstances but that’s where my minds at. Look at Tommy, his marriage basically dissolved due to his need for revenge and that basically happened to Ellie and Dina.
Ellie is always an emotional step behind Abby. Abby chose life after the first fight with Ellie and Ellie chose life during the final fight.
Cycles have to be chosen to be broken. You have to choose life otherwise the cycle continues. The world of TLOU is pure survival but if someone had an opportunity to actually live peacefully, could they be okay with that? That’s a big theme I noticed here.
I loved playing as Abby.
I hope your joking
@@Skkrrrrt I ah- I'm not actually. I think the same as Steven. Viewing both perspectives made me kinda interested in the game. Although I liked playing as Ellie more, I did like playing as Abby too. I understand if you have a different opinion tho. I accept and understand other's judgement.
Great update. I am fresh off of finishing the game. So much so that I swear I keep seeing ammo flashing on the shelf behind you :)
I loved the game and agree with the emotional turmoil experienced with having to play Abby, however the game did a great job of showing that all groups were really just about their own survival and were only perceived "bad" by others.
I have never been so emotionally conflicted pressing Square on a PS4 before. Game of the Year.
Even though it feels like Abby is taking over the story, this really ultimately works in favor and concludes with Ellie. Even though we know Abby isn’t as bloodthirsty as Ellie.
I admire those who have gotten so much from this game.
I too was expecting Joel to exit the scene in this game, albeit not the way he did, but for me it felt like the message of the game was hitting me over the head to the detriment of the characters and story. By that I mean Ellie's repeating revenge plot with no follow through and suffering because of it. The last straw for me was after the time jump at the end... Ellie seemed to leave only because Tommy gave her a hard time over it. It had felt that other than the PTSD she had come to know some peace while living with Dina and the baby. For me that was a bridge too far. I would have been happy if the game had finished there. As it stands, though, for me the ending is just too depressing in terms of where it left Ellie.
Yeah the Tommy thing stood out because before, back when they were in the theater, Tommy said he was fine with Abby getting to live after Ellie questioned him. But in the time jump he's fired up about Ellie taking her out.
@@bwolf2076 Tommy couldn't let go so he came over to reignite the flame of hate... then again Ellie with her PTSD seemed to think that the only way to get it all out of her system was not to talk about it, but to run all the way over to Santa Barbara like an action hero and start up some more cycles of hate.
I mean I love the game, but it is all pretty fucked... that is what vengeance at any cost does to people.
@@LeMaqnifique I definitely understand Ellie's reasoning and the ptsd, and I get Tommy could change his mind after that, yet at the same time I have trouble with that change with Tommy. The execution of it to me reads more like Tommy lit the flame in Ellie to continue, rather than Ellie fully deciding she has to finish this in order to stop suffering. But without Tommy, she wouldn't know where Abby was. I get Ellie was suffering the whole time and despite appearing to be happy with her life, she never let Abby go.
Thank you for going in with an open mind. The fact that so many hate on it without even playing it based on a couple leaks. It was nice to see a reviewer acknowledge what you did while continuing to accept that it’s peoples emotions about Joel that made the story in their minds “bad”.
I started this game loving the feeling of being back in the last of us universe, seeing Joel and Tommy, an older Ellie. Near the end of the first half I actually found myself a little tired of Ellie, and with the introduction of Abby and her story and the characters in her story I found rich with personality, I felt refreshed and by the end of the game I found myself on Abby’s side, watching Ellie’s decent into revenge and vengeance whereas Abby’s road takes her out of there and into redemption. 8/10 great game I’m one of the few who probably thoroughly enjoyed Abby’s story. Definitely some subtle progressive messaging (I honestly dont care) and some plot and story holes but after all said and done it was a great game. Will replay on survivor +.
Eh, many people are going to hate people like us, because I enjoyed playing as Abby too. But i'm OK with that. Sorry for my English)
You aren't alone. Abby's portion of the story was my favorite as well. I enjoyed Ellie's gameplay more since I really like the proximity mines, but Abby's story was really good. The portion in the rain where she meets Yara and Lev was sooooo sooo good.
Overall I loved this game. I really like how different it was and enjoyed not knowing what was gonna happen next because of it.
Miles S. Burrell strange enough the wolves don’t have the explosive traps but Ellie finds them and uses them. But all Abby and the wolves have are pipe bombs. Still, I loved being able to punch people and infected as Abby like Joel did.
Thanks for your review, I have really enjoyed all of your playthrough Steven and Nikki. Thanks again for playing it all . : )
In terms of The Last of Us 2, there is a channel that perfectly summed up my thoughts on it and supposed to be plotholes in it. You could check their review of TLOU2 too, its named 'Girlfriend Review' and their videos are entertaining and informative at the same time :P
Love your reaction and in many ways agree with it. One small point of contention though: you talk about Ellie being alone going forward, but that's not really clear. It's supposed to be ambiguous, but the most simple - and I would argue, likely - assumption is that at the end, she is walking back to Jackson. She'll beg Dina to take her back and maybe that happens, maybe not, but at the very least she'll be part of that community still. Reconnect with uncle Tommy, help him he'll while she heals herself, etc.
Solid review Steven!! I love how you broke everything down and explained why each part was so important to the story. I really appreciate that I was able to go on this journey with you and Nikki as you were playing it. I loved the game myself as well and never thought anything could top TLOU, but TLOU2 did and exceeded my expectations.... even with the death of Joel 😭. Forcing the player to “walk a mile in your enemy’s shoes” is truly a risk, but definitely won in my book. Great job!!
Looking forward to watching the review. Just gonna wait to watch the last of the playthrough first. I personally loved the game, so I am happy to see you have enjoyed the experience too so far and from the info of this video even with so many people trying to sway let's players opinions of the game another way.
EXCELLENT commentary. the negative people also just happen to be the loudest and most toxic. really appreicate how reasoned and comprehensive your review is!
I absolutely loved the story. I thought the character development of Abby was done amazingly. We was able to hate her and then gradually understand her reasoning for what she did, plus watch her show empathy and compassion too. Both her and Ellie are on the same path in wanting revenge and I love at the end they are able to let each other go. I think Abby in particular never had any issues with Ellie hence her never wanting to fight her or harm her. Loved your playthrough Steven & Nikki! Watched it all on your replays on Twitch.
It’s a sad world we live in where taking a moment to process and judging things on their totality is now both taboo and alien to most. Knee jerk reaction and outrage exploitation are the way of the world.
It’s nice to hear a sobering take on this game and just in general. Keep it up.
Ps: I just want to say that even after both games, I still would have done what Joel did. Well, tried to, and maybe not in the exact same manner, you get what I’m saying.
I think it's worth remembering that the loudest voices aren't always the most numerous. We don't hear about the millions of people who bought, played, and enjoyed this game because they aren't the ones who feel motivated to review bomb, make petitions to remake the game, or send death threats to the voice actors, etc.
Fangtorn When the game first released everyone with a positive opinion was pretty much shot down and drowned out by the negative people. Someone literally told me I “have no idea what I’m talking about” just because I said I was enjoying the game. Some of the behaviour from the people who disliked the game is just ridiculously childish and the fact that a lot of them are defending the death threats (“what did you expect” etc) is horrific.
This game does not deserve all the hate.
The first game focused on the idea of Joel's fatherly love towards Ellie.
This game went completely in the opposite direction, putting the focus on Revenge - trying to make the player realize that revenge is not always fulfilling.
Druckman said the game would be divisive. I don't think he calculated that it would be this divisive - he clearly put out the story he wanted without considering how it would interact with the fan love towards the first game. People can hate the story and recognize its other technical achievements. For those people, the story was crap and so were the WLF characters.
Actually most think the game is great. Only a small minority of Joel fanboys are hating.
By the end of the game I became more of a fan of Abby what a fucking journey that was cant wait to replay it on survivor +.
@@teeno91 same #TEAMABBY
@@kilroy987 that's always the problem with putting out artistic vision --- you may think you've got a great story to tell to legions of fans, but people go take the Misery route if the story you cooked up doesn't align with their sentiments. It's the entitlement that comes with paying $60, I guess, but also a pretty unreasonable mentality for a linear, story-driven game in which the player is merely the car and the creative team is in the driver's seat. If this were an RPG, and the most important choices in the game were stripped from you, it'd be understandable.
The pacing in the first was a bit better, but LoU2 was better in the story. I love the risk, execution, and reward that Naughty Dog did with 2. Druckman stated when LoU2 was announced, the first game was about love, and the second was going to be about hate. He created that game, and showed hate's consequences. In addition, Abby is a phenomenal addition to the LoU universe. Hope she can get her gains back.
One other thing, for both games, Gustavo Santaolalla deserves mad props for the music he created.
I loved watching you play this cant wait to see your reactions for the rest! I love how you are really into the story of the game. You have a new subscriber 😁 and I love how your partner/wife (in case yous aren't married I don't know lol) is there with her reactions 😂 I really enjoyed this game and made me think deep into a lot of things relating to my own life. It's thought provoking... Here is hoping we have a 3rd game on ps5. The two sides of the story colliding... It's a oerfect ending to lead up to a 3rd game 🙏😭
Man please keep doing game reviews this was real great
Agree Steve and Nick are great watching.
Thx Steve!
Welcome!! Thank you!!
I'm glad you loved it. It has such mixed reviews. A lot of negative from those that didn't play and just read spoilers. I was spoiled and understood the story from the get go. Even before spoilers I had a strong feeling Joel was dead. Playing as Abby felt a tiny bit too long but overall it was a fantastic game. The first game is a masterpiece and this game doesn't hit that spot yet for me... but it is a wonderful adventure and story.
I do agree that Ellie did lose everything, but the one thing she regained that imo makes up for all that was lost is her humanity. Her ability to forgive herself in order to forgive Joel. Now that Ellie is out from under Joel’s shadow and is able to let him go, she can walk on her own path and leave everything behind, yet still hold onto the memories of what she’s had with Joel.
Solid thought, I like that.
First off, you guys do an awesome job with your channel. Quality is top notch.
Just wanted to give my 2 cents. I don't think Ellie lost everything. When she goes back to farm, you can see she's wearing Dina's bracelet, implying that she did reunite with Dina in Jackson. She wasn't wearing it when she left.
Also, I think Ellie felt guilty for not forgiving Joel when she had a chance. She stops drowing Abby when she has that flashback to Joel in their last conversation before he died. She said she would try to forgive him. So in the end, she did kill hundreds of people to get to Abby but it wasn't about revenge. It was about her own guilt. Killing Abby wouldn't absolve her of her inability to forgive and to let things go. In the end though, she finally was able to.
Glad to see you love the game. I really love the game as well. Is one of those game that make me thing and feel so many thing.
I love this game but there's also a lot of frustrations that comes from it for me. I was spoiled the entire game and I really feel robbed of these amazing conflicting emotions that I know I would have felt. The things they pulled in this story are something I've never seen in anything. What a game.
It’s unfortunate the story was leaked
@@NikkiStevenLIVE True and that it happened to a game like THIS is an extra shame. But the ending was spoiled to me after the premiere. Literally a day before I've beaten the game.
Looking back a few years later at the reception to the game, it's very funny how the two major camps in terms of complaints are people saying that a moral tale centered around revenge is overplayed and we all already know that revenge is bad, and then people saying its stupid that the game made us empathize with Abby and we should've gotten to kill her in cold blood. I think when the two main criticisms of the game are so fundamentally opposed, I think it's pretty clear that it had something important to say and isn't trite or pointless.
This game definitely took some risks, and by the end of it I feel I really liked the game, yet at the same time I'm conflicted about it. I agree about the flashbacks. Seemed like a lot (the museum scenario was my favorite), and I did reach a point of where I was playing as Abby for so long that I was eager to get back to moving the main story forward with Ellie. I liked Abby's developing relationship with Yara and Lev, but before that it was tough adapting to playing as a new character for half of the game, in addition to what she did. Showing the other perspective was cool, but it didn't make me feel one way or the other about Abby, which is fine because I don't believe this game is trying to force anyone to feel a certain way about the characters. I figured from the way she killed Joel that Joel killed someone close to her, so being able to predict that before seeing what went down lessened the impact on me. The environments get an A+. I loved looking at and interacting with all the new places and scenery. Just gorgeous. Gameplay was great. I didn't struggle much, despite two or three points where I died a lot. When I first saw the teaser for this game years ago, I wasn't certain I liked the idea of a revenge plot, but I was set on giving it a shot. Nice to see you're doing game reviews :)
metacritc is divided almost perfectly who give 0 or 2 scores and people with 10 and 8
most probably will get GOTY award doesn't matter for some people liked or not
Awesome game story. I have to agree 100% with you Steve. This game is really a movies (just like the first one), and with any movie that your watch - you as the view cannot change how it begins or how it ends, you are along for the ride. This game is also about consequences for actions taken. Every one of the main characters made a decision that brought about bad consequences. Joel and his decision at the end of the last game to save Ellie and kill the Firefly Doctor - consequences; destroying the Firefly message of hope and ending any chance of a cure. Abby getting revenge on Joel - consequence; every one of her friends that where in the room in Wyoming is eventually killed by either Ellie or Tommy. Lev's mom turning on her kids, which lead to her ending. Tommy going on his journey of revenge and losing his eye and wife. Ellie being consumed by the need for revenge, killing a whole lot of people and losing her family. It was only Abby that had the courage to break the cycle. Yes, Ellie suffered from PTSD over Joel, but I sure that Abby had similar PTSD driving her initial desire for revenge. As for the ending; I loved it too. I saw it as Ellie leaving the farmhouse to go and attempt to make amends with Dina and bring her and little JJ back to their farm home - that's why Ellie didn't put the guitar away in its case or take any of her stuff as she's planning on returning to the house. Once gain an awesome game and approach to putting me (the game player) into the story and feeling the emotional strains within Ellie and Abby from both sides.
I feel like the themes in this game are similar to Hunger Games. Everyone wants victory(revenge can be a victory condition), and everyone is willing to use whatever force necessary to achieve victory. But both stories ask at what cost? Is victory still a victory given the means used and the road traveled to get there? I think where Hunger Games used Katniss as almost a 3rd party viewer on the revolution to communicate that the no one wins in war, Last of Us ptII doubled down on the characters involved and exposed the tragic humanity in everyone involved, but both stories end without a traditional “victory”, arguably because both stories are communicating that there can’t be a “victory” (no Star Wars episode 6 ending here).
I just felt like Ellie’s actions in the end were spontaneous. We watch her throughout the game eager to get her hands on Abby, ruthlessly killing WLF soldiers along the way. I don’t know why her flashback to Joel stopped her?
Because she realized that no matter what she does in revenge that nothing would bring back what she lost.
There should be a rule to where you can’t put out a game review until you’ve uploaded the entire play through😂I just have a feeling they knew it was gonna take awhile to put up those last 2 so they went ahead and put this up
I don’t think Ellie went to Santa Barbara because of her desire for revenge anymore. She thought it could resolve her PTSD. Also, she felt guilty that she wasn’t able to forgive Joel before he died because Abby robbed her of that opportunity.
But in the moment she could have let Abby leave, she starts the fight. Of course she went there to kill Abby and end things as in kill her.
Stikker Gaming she starts the fight because she sees a flash of Joel’s beaten face, which is her PTSD. Before Ellie leaves the farmhouse, she tells Dina “I can’t eat, I can’t sleep”. She thinks by killing Abby, she could live a normal life.
Does revenge matter if it’s want vs need?
@@NikkiStevenLIVE Yes, of course she went there to kill Abby and take revenge. But also to overcome her PTSD (her journal is a very good source for that). It's both connected, so you can't separate it. But then Ellie sees Abby in that horrible condition and that was something she didn't expect. She was confused and irritated. She imagined to fight Abby, but when she finally found her, she was in a very bad shape. And then she watches Abby how she cares about Lev. I think in that moment she was willing to just let her go, even if she felt conflicted about it. But then her wound opened again, she sees the blood on her hand, which reminds her of Joel's bloody face. And then it came all back and she decided, that she can't let her go like this. I love this scene scene because of it's emotional complexity on both sides, Ellie's and Abby's.
IM ON A MOTHERFUCKING DINOSAUR!!!!
I'm ready for TLOU3 starring Abby, Lev... and Ellie!
The last of us part 2 is the greatest game ever made
Everything you touched on with this review........I 100% agree. However i still think Naughty Dog could have given Joel a badass death. Maybe where he and abby fight and joel gets distracted by Ellie and protecting her, Abby maybe beats him with her hands. Coming in a couple years later, I heard part 3 is coming. And that's crazy to hear. I believe It's gonna game quite a few years to create but we're getting the HBO max series in March next year and that already looks fantastic.
Well said dude. This might be my game of the generation, and I consider it an important landmark for gaming narratives.