The Last of Us Part 2 - Now updated for PS5 for at 60fps

[Spacehost]

I know I've got probably half the entire game still to play, but I feel like the game is telling one story- about how relentless oppressive misery and constant violence makes killers of us all- and there's a revenge plot happening on the other channel.

 

End of Day 3 spoilers.

 

Spoiler

It's not like I've even killed any of the core characters either, Ellie has. At least TLOU had the decency to make you, the player, doom all mankind. I don't get to do much except mash square to stop whatever pregnant woman or overly friendly dog has jump on Ellie, then WOOSH! Right in the neck.

 

The end of Day 2 not withstanding that is- I've never felt grimmer pressing Square in my life, as stupid as that sounds written down.

 

The game even has you do nasty little finishers on wounded enemies, but you're robbed of agency usually when you get down to finishing off some part of the "gang".

 

Meanwhile I, the player, have gone from trying to avoid killing too many people to relishing the chance to clear out the local enemies so I can go hunt for Pogs and pieces of equipment to make killing easier.

 

[MardiganX]

7 minutes ago, Spacehost said:

I know I've got probably half the entire game still to play, but I feel like the game is telling one story- about how relentless oppressive misery and constant violence makes killers of us all- and there's a revenge plot happening on the other channel.

 

End of Day 3 spoilers.

 

  Hide contents

It's not like I've even killed any of the core characters either, Ellie has. At least TLOU had the decency to make you, the player, doom all mankind. I don't get to do much except mash square to stop whatever pregnant woman or overly friendly dog has jump on Ellie, then WOOSH! Right in the neck.

 

The end of Day 2 not withstanding that is- I've never felt grimmer pressing Square in my life, as stupid as that sounds written down.

 

Meanwhile I, the player, have gone from trying to avoid killing too many people to relishing the chance to clear out the local enemies so I can go hunt for Pogs and pieces of equipment to make killing easier.

 

 

So much want to say  where exactly are you in terms of the Day 3 context above?

 

 

[Spacehost]

1 minute ago, MardiganX said:

 

So much want to say  where exactly are you in terms of the Day 3 context above?

 

 

Spoiler

Finished Day 3 entirely, did the flashback to find out that Abby is perhaps justifiably upset about Joel but like Ellie, needs a better friend group rather than a bunch of revenge-enablers. Suspect I'm about to replay 17 hours of game from the perspective of Abby.

 

[MardiganX]

7 minutes ago, Spacehost said:

  Reveal hidden contents

Finished Day 3 entirely, did the flashback to find out that Abby is perhaps justifiably upset about Joel but like Ellie, needs a better friend group rather than a bunch of revenge-enablers.

 

 

You're probably now really getting to what the game is really getting at and while everything you said does ring true there is a different angle to it all at the core. I don't want to say anymore until you get through everything but be good to chat once you're done and reflect on your perspective now and at the very end.

[Spacehost]

22 minutes ago, MardiganX said:

 

You're probably at the start of what the game is really getting at and while everything you said does ring true there is a different angle to it all at the core. I don't want to say anymore until you get through everything but be good to chat once you're done and reflect on your perspective now and at the very end.

Spoiler

Ugh, great, gotta slog through another 17 hours of best in class videogame production.

I'd better not be ashamed of my words and deeds after this.

[JoeK]

And done. 

 

The ending was almost as good as the first one for me, but unlike the first where I had absolutely no desire to have a sequel, this one makes me absolutely intrigued to see another tale in this pretty depressing world!

 

It's been a thoroughly outstanding journey though and one that has once again left me emotionally drained - which I think is a good thing occasionally. 

 

 

[Thor]

Yep, I definitely want more. 

[Stanley]

They’ve introduced so many characters and factions now that it’d be easy to do another story, or perhaps this tv series that’s been talked about. 

[Jamie John]

If a third game is as good as 1 and 2, then obviously it'd be great to have one, but I'd prefer to see a new IP from Naughty Dog first. They should do a PS5 'Remaster' of this for Christmas, then start working on a new IP for release in a few years' time, then TLOU Part III at the end of the PS5 gen, with maybe an Uncharted game in between. Easy 

[Stanley]

Hopefully they’re already working on their next game for PS5 and get at least two out during that generation. Either way can’t imagine we’ll see anything new from them until 2022/23. 

[Vemsie]

I don't see them going back to Uncharted. They're gonna do Factions, maybe a tarted-up PS5 version of this and then hopefully a new IP. After that, I'd be fine with a Part 3 or something else in this universe. I thougt I didn't need a part 2 after completing the first but I was wrong.

[womblingfree]

Hard on this is not that hard. You’ll die and it’s challenging, but you can still go in all guns blazing and have a decent chance of success.

[df0]

Story and character wise, Uncharted is done right? If I remember the ending of 4 correctly that is.

 

[Thor]

Yeah, I'd say Uncharted is done.

[JoeK]

For me, Uncharted 4 wrapped up Nate's tale wonderfully well and the more times I've played it the more I've enjoyed it. 

 

Lost Legacy was absolutely brilliant though - would be more than happy to have more adventures with Chloe, or maybe some tales of a younger Sullivan!

[df0]

Put some respeck on his name. Victor "Goddamn" Sullivan.

[Pob]

2 hours ago, MardiganX said:

 

You're probably now really getting to what the game is really getting at and while everything you said does ring true there is a different angle to it all at the core. I don't want to say anymore until you get through everything but be good to chat once you're done and reflect on your perspective now and at the very end.

 

I'm into the final third now and (spoiler for end of Day 3)

Spoiler

 

for me the story shifting to Abby and her crew threw into sharp relief the fact that I wasn't totally invested in Ellie's revenge story. As much as I was enjoying it I felt like I was playing as a foolish character, enabled by other foolish characters, whom I didn't necessarily believe would act in this way, nor would be capable of merking so many WLFs in quick succession. That's all subject to change depending on how it all wraps up but, for now, I feel a bit like Ellie was sold down the river to ensure that the player is able to get on-board with Abby.

 

As soon as Abby's story properly kicked off I was all-in. Her motivation, her relationships, her physicality and toolset/moveset - it's all more engaging that Ellie's segment in my opinion. Abby is a brilliant character. I can't wait to get back to it each evening now.

 

 

[Spacehost]

8 minutes ago, Pob said:

 

I'm into the final third now and (spoiler for end of Day 3)

  Reveal hidden contents

 

for me the story shifting to Abby and her crew threw into sharp relief the fact that I wasn't totally invested in Ellie's revenge story. As much as I was enjoying it I felt like I was playing as a foolish character, enabled by other foolish characters, whom I didn't necessarily believe would act in this way, nor would be capable of merking so many WLFs in quick succession. That's all subject to change depending on how it all wraps up but, for now, I feel a bit like Ellie was sold down the river to ensure that the player is able to get on-board with Abby.

 

As soon as Abby's story properly kicked off I was all-in. Her motivation, her relationships, her physicality and toolset/moveset - it's all more engaging that Ellie's segment in my opinion. Abby is a brilliant character. I can't wait to get back to it each evening now.

 

 

Obviously I'm yet to finish it, and only just did Day 3, but

Spoiler

I wonder how it would have worked if they had played their cards closer to their chest narratively, interleaved the stories more. Keep some secrets, build to a point where you realise that Abby is the person who killed Joel, and that Ellie and co are the people who have been slaughtering Abby's friends, when they finally meet again. That would be quite the gut-punch.

 

Then you wind up going back through the story rapidly filling in the blanks, and having to kill Joel and all Abby's friends in flashback or something? Yeah whatever, something like that.

 

I'm looking forward to Abby's run anyway.

 

[CarloOos]

5 hours ago, Spacehost said:

Obviously I'm yet to finish it, and only just did Day 3, but

  Hide contents

I wonder how it would have worked if they had played their cards closer to their chest narratively, interleaved the stories more. Keep some secrets, build to a point where you realise that Abby is the person who killed Joel, and that Ellie and co are the people who have been slaughtering Abby's friends, when they finally meet again. That would be quite the gut-punch.

 

Then you wind up going back through the story rapidly filling in the blanks, and having to kill Joel and all Abby's friends in flashback or something? Yeah whatever, something like that.

 

I'm looking forward to Abby's run anyway.

 

I definitely think there would have been a neater, more effective way of threading everything together if ND hadn’t been so obsessed with secretism and keeping everything under wraps. In many ways the narrative design of the game feels somewhat beholden to the review embargo and PR campaign.

[Spacehost]

2 minutes ago, CarloOos said:

I definitely think there would have been a neater, more effective way of threading everything together if ND hasn’t been so obsessed with secretism and keeping everything under wraps. In many ways the narrative design of the game feels somewhat beholden to the review embargo and PR campaign.

I don't entirely understand why they were so secretive; unless some real narrative haymakers land in the latter half it's not like I shat my pants when the reveal happens.

[spanx]

1 hour ago, Spacehost said:

I don't entirely understand why they were so secretive; unless some real narrative haymakers land in the latter half it's not like I shat my pants when the reveal happens.

 

I sort of did, but only in a

 

Spoiler

Shiiiit.... this is the doctor Joel killed! Only clicked when man-person shouted his name out as "Doc"

 

[Spacehost]

Just now, spanx said:

 

I sort of did, but only in a

 

  Hide contents

Shiiiit.... this is the doctor Joel killed! Only clicked when man-person shouted his name out as "Doc"

 

Spoiler

I kinda guessed it, but it was quite the "aww fuck" moment when he turned out to be really really nice. He helps out animals! He has quirks!

 

Weirdly, it was when you walk out the woods and see the hospital that really smacked me in the face. Maybe it was the contrast with the other times we saw it so far. Maybe it was how OPTIMISTIC it all seemed and I knew that in the space of a few hours the place would be a tomb.

 

The flashbacks are the best storytelling in the game, IMO.

 

[Stanley]

I didn’t think he was that nice (super spoiler)

Spoiler

He was prepared to sacrifice Ellie’s life to find the cure but probably not his own daughter, would he have acted any different in Joel’s shoes?

Fuck him 

[Spacehost]

5 minutes ago, Stanley said:

I didn’t think he was that nice (super spoiler)

  Hide contents

He was prepared to sacrifice Ellie’s life to find the cure but probably not his own daughter, would he have acted any different in Joel’s shoes?

Fuck him 

Spoiler

Well yeah, but in a superficial way, he's stereotypically nicr- he's not some aloof distant career scientist with no time for anything except his evil experiments.

 

[MardiganX]

11 minutes ago, Stanley said:

I didn’t think he was that nice (super spoiler)

  Hide contents

He was prepared to sacrifice Ellie’s life to find the cure but probably not his own daughter, would he have acted any different in Joel’s shoes?

Fuck him 

 

Spoiler

This is one of the most important questions across the entire story of both games  we have two young, head strong girls that would willingly sacrifice themselves for the greater good and while Joel acted on the fact he couldn't let it happen, it is very clear Abby's Dad would have done no different in that situation.

 

[Dirty Harry Potter]

They drew "First Blood"!

 

Spoiler

By deciding to kill Ellie! I know who's side I'm on (despite really liking Abby)

 

 

 

 

[Dirty Harry Potter]

Just finished.

 

That was incredible.

 

The end.

[GoblinUK]

I’ve only just started day 3 but this has really got its claws into me. Playing with headphones on, late at night is absolutely exhausting in the best possible way. I’m a big immersive theatre fan and have got the same thrill from this with the combination of the fantastic score, the theatrical  lighting and the thick atmosphere of dread. 

 

 

The other thing that strikes me is how much having a child has reframed in my mind Joel’s actions in part 1. It’s such a great narrative hook. 

[Monkeyboy]

Got to the first bit with the dogs. Jesus, they're annoying.

[Stanley]

11 hours ago, GoblinUK said:

 

The other thing that strikes me is how much having a child has reframed in my mind Joel’s actions in part 1. It’s such a great narrative hook. 

Yeah and then if you consider Ellie in Part II.

Quote

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.   

    They may not mean to, but they do.   

They fill you with the faults they had

    And add some extra, just for you.

 

But they were fucked up in their turn

    By fools in old-style hats and coats,   

Who half the time were soppy-stern

    And half at one another’s throats.

 

Man hands on misery to man.

    It deepens like a coastal shelf.

Get out as early as you can,

    And don’t have any kids yourself.