A few fair questions for the author of this review: do you receive any endorsements from gaming studios or have any conflict of interests to declare? Did you write this review after playing the same game that was released or did you just watch the trailer? I can't reconcile what you wrote with the game I just finished playing. Its beyond personal opinion or taste. There are claims you make which I see as factually incorrect. For instance praising the graphics. How is that relevant when the player spends 95% of the game stumbling through shockingly bad lighting. With a flashlight which is supposed to provide light but somehow doesn't. The game is not deep. Or challenging morally. Its crude and lacks depth or nuance in the places where it matters. The characters are unlikable. The player doesn't care whether they succeed or fail. Saving a character is irrelevant since they die anyway. The game is long. Too long. The gameplay is not innovative (copy-paste of "TLoU part 1").
The game claims to challenge the player's perception of right and wrong. But instead it gives into crude voyeurism and a grotesque obsession with torture. For no reason. It lacks depth, balance or nuance. It only showcases the worst in humanity. Without any contrast or subtlety. The LGBTQ+ characters are, let's face it, almost insulting caricatures.
Shocking is not a sign of depth. I feel about the last of us part 2 like I feel about something moldy and furry you'd find in your fridge. I am not shocked by it. I am not challenged by it. I am not made any wiser by it. I am just disgusted by it and I want it gone. There isn't any message to take home either. Will this game leave a long term mark on me? Did it change or teach anything? No. Its going straight in the bin. Naughty Dog took what should have a homerun and managed an epic fail.
I am a massive fan of the first game and it pains me to write this. But anything other than what I wrote would have been a lie.
Comments 1
Re: The Last of Us 2 - Essential Sequel Is Naughty Dog's Best Effort
A few fair questions for the author of this review: do you receive any endorsements from gaming studios or have any conflict of interests to declare? Did you write this review after playing the same game that was released or did you just watch the trailer? I can't reconcile what you wrote with the game I just finished playing. Its beyond personal opinion or taste. There are claims you make which I see as factually incorrect. For instance praising the graphics. How is that relevant when the player spends 95% of the game stumbling through shockingly bad lighting. With a flashlight which is supposed to provide light but somehow doesn't. The game is not deep. Or challenging morally. Its crude and lacks depth or nuance in the places where it matters. The characters are unlikable. The player doesn't care whether they succeed or fail. Saving a character is irrelevant since they die anyway. The game is long. Too long. The gameplay is not innovative (copy-paste of "TLoU part 1").
The game claims to challenge the player's perception of right and wrong. But instead it gives into crude voyeurism and a grotesque obsession with torture. For no reason. It lacks depth, balance or nuance. It only showcases the worst in humanity. Without any contrast or subtlety. The LGBTQ+ characters are, let's face it, almost insulting caricatures.
Shocking is not a sign of depth. I feel about the last of us part 2 like I feel about something moldy and furry you'd find in your fridge. I am not shocked by it. I am not challenged by it. I am not made any wiser by it. I am just disgusted by it and I want it gone. There isn't any message to take home either. Will this game leave a long term mark on me? Did it change or teach anything? No. Its going straight in the bin. Naughty Dog took what should have a homerun and managed an epic fail.
I am a massive fan of the first game and it pains me to write this. But anything other than what I wrote would have been a lie.