@Medic_Alert "overstaying its welcome" is a good way to put it. I don't really disagree with anything you're saying and I find that endgame theory comforting — incredibly, I hadn't seen it mentioned in any of the forums/comment sections I've been frequenting.
You seem a pretty good sort, LOL. Is Medic_Alert your PSN username? I can't remember the last time I added somebody on there (probably have to go all the way back to 2011 and CoD:MW3) but I'd like to have you in my gaming circle.
@Medic_Alert appreciate your perspective and see where you’re coming from.
** BEGIN SPOILERS ** As for the “revenge story with no vengeance payoff” piece, I agree that both Ellie and Abby end up with their lives effectively destroyed (and Joel, Jesse, and many of Abby’s crew lose their lives entirely). But unlike a true satisfying “revenge tale” in the purest sense (e.g., John Wick or Kill Bill), the price to be paid in this game is for those who sought revenge, not the original sinner(s).
To be perfectly honest, I almost could’ve forgiven the narrative choices in the game if Ellie had either (a) stayed on the farm with Dina or (b) killed Abby in the end, though I would’ve greatly preferred Option A. But the fact that she throws her life away to go finish the score with Abby, only to ultimately spare her (because of a momentary vision of Joel?) and still lose her partner, adopted child, and ability to play guitar—and with it, severing that tie with Joel, who taught her to play—was just too much. The point was made; vengeance = bad. I just felt like it was piling on...
** END SPOILERS **
Doubt I’ll play Ghost of Tsushima, but glad to know people are enjoying it. I’ve gotta pick my spots, both in terms of budget and time commitment. So for now I’m just counting down the days ‘til November!
@Medic_Alert true, it’s important to a developer to protect important plot points from being spoiled...but changing player skins and putting an entirely fabricated scene of Joel in the trailer is beyond the pale. Incredibly manipulative and disingenuous move by ND.
That being said, the lack of “Joel time” isn’t my gripe with this game. It’s just not an enjoyable experience...and I guess it isn’t meant to be, but is that really what we want from video games that lock us in for 30, 40, or even 100 hours? Players have no agency. Characters constantly commit irredeemable atrocities and act inconsistently with their previously established motivations. It’s a “revenge” story with no vengeance payoff.
I guess I just don’t need to be hit over the head with the age-old morality tale of “an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind,” or “right/wrong and good/bad depend on your point of view.” Can’t wait until Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla come out so I can get a much-needed palette cleanser...
@Rob_230 you’re certainly entitled to your opinion regarding the game, but won’t you admit that the incredible early sales numbers have more to do with The Last of Us (part 1, that is) than the sequel itself? It sold 4 million copies in its first week because people LOVED the first game and couldn’t WAIT to spend more time with Joel and Ellie. Then word got out about what the game’s really like and sales plummeted. (As the article points out, some two-thirds of the digital sales were pre-orders!) A truly “great” game would have staying power in the form of sustained sales driven by positive word of mouth.
Comments 4
Re: The Last of Us 2 Sets a New Record with 2.8 Million Digital Sales in June
@Medic_Alert "overstaying its welcome" is a good way to put it. I don't really disagree with anything you're saying and I find that endgame theory comforting — incredibly, I hadn't seen it mentioned in any of the forums/comment sections I've been frequenting.
You seem a pretty good sort, LOL. Is Medic_Alert your PSN username? I can't remember the last time I added somebody on there (probably have to go all the way back to 2011 and CoD:MW3) but I'd like to have you in my gaming circle.
Re: The Last of Us 2 Sets a New Record with 2.8 Million Digital Sales in June
@Medic_Alert appreciate your perspective and see where you’re coming from.
** BEGIN SPOILERS **
As for the “revenge story with no vengeance payoff” piece, I agree that both Ellie and Abby end up with their lives effectively destroyed (and Joel, Jesse, and many of Abby’s crew lose their lives entirely). But unlike a true satisfying “revenge tale” in the purest sense (e.g., John Wick or Kill Bill), the price to be paid in this game is for those who sought revenge, not the original sinner(s).
To be perfectly honest, I almost could’ve forgiven the narrative choices in the game if Ellie had either (a) stayed on the farm with Dina or (b) killed Abby in the end, though I would’ve greatly preferred Option A. But the fact that she throws her life away to go finish the score with Abby, only to ultimately spare her (because of a momentary vision of Joel?) and still lose her partner, adopted child, and ability to play guitar—and with it, severing that tie with Joel, who taught her to play—was just too much. The point was made; vengeance = bad. I just felt like it was piling on...
** END SPOILERS **
Doubt I’ll play Ghost of Tsushima, but glad to know people are enjoying it. I’ve gotta pick my spots, both in terms of budget and time commitment. So for now I’m just counting down the days ‘til November!
Re: The Last of Us 2 Sets a New Record with 2.8 Million Digital Sales in June
@Medic_Alert true, it’s important to a developer to protect important plot points from being spoiled...but changing player skins and putting an entirely fabricated scene of Joel in the trailer is beyond the pale. Incredibly manipulative and disingenuous move by ND.
That being said, the lack of “Joel time” isn’t my gripe with this game. It’s just not an enjoyable experience...and I guess it isn’t meant to be, but is that really what we want from video games that lock us in for 30, 40, or even 100 hours? Players have no agency. Characters constantly commit irredeemable atrocities and act inconsistently with their previously established motivations. It’s a “revenge” story with no vengeance payoff.
I guess I just don’t need to be hit over the head with the age-old morality tale of “an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind,” or “right/wrong and good/bad depend on your point of view.” Can’t wait until Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla come out so I can get a much-needed palette cleanser...
Re: The Last of Us 2 Sets a New Record with 2.8 Million Digital Sales in June
@Rob_230 you’re certainly entitled to your opinion regarding the game, but won’t you admit that the incredible early sales numbers have more to do with The Last of Us (part 1, that is) than the sequel itself? It sold 4 million copies in its first week because people LOVED the first game and couldn’t WAIT to spend more time with Joel and Ellie. Then word got out about what the game’s really like and sales plummeted. (As the article points out, some two-thirds of the digital sales were pre-orders!) A truly “great” game would have staying power in the form of sustained sales driven by positive word of mouth.