“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves”

7 years is a long time to wait. While waiting for a sequel, follow-up or other adaptation set in an established universe using beloved characters, people build up expectations. Unrealistic expectations. The sad truth of it is that a delivered product – especially after so much time – will fail to meet many of those fans’ expectations and preconceived ideas. You can’t please everybody, that’s understandable. However the extreme backlash that The Last of Us Part 2 has received is completely unfounded. It truly boggles the mind to wonder how professed ‘hardcore’ fans of the original game could be completely dissatisfied with every aspect of the story-line and narrative. After having played the original game and then immediately ploughing straight into Part 2, I am left with a sense of bittersweet, reflective melancholy. To play one and/or both of these games is to be taken on a journey, and much like when I finished the first game, I have been reflecting on all the decisions and plot points of the second. I have even dreamed about it. It may not be a ‘perfect game’, there are definitely a few things that could’ve been changed/improved for the better, but if you were a fan of the first game – or even just casually enjoyed it – this title is an absolute must-play. Naughty Dog have taken everything about the first game – from gameplay mechanics to heart-wrenching narrative – and supersized it.

Almost every aspect of gameplay from the original title has been expanded upon or improved in some way, but by far the largest improvements that have been made are with the combat. The melee combat is more tense, (at times) more difficult and requires finesse to pull off flawlessly to come out unscathed. The improved dodge mechanics, while somewhat unforgiving, add a complexity to the melee combat that it felt it was lacking in the original game, and both human and infected enemies pack quite a punch. The animation for the melee combat is polished to hell and back, as well as being visceral in its detail. There are a couple of new enemy types, which added variety and challenge to a number of sections in the game (especially when you’re running low on ammo and you can’t see how many enemies there are because they’re immune to Listen Mode goddamn Stalkers had me yelping like a wounded dog every time they came rushing at me from behind a desk). The enemy AI has been given a much-needed overhaul, as well. The scripted paths the NPCs follow feel a lot more fleshed out and organic, enemies notice missing comrades faster and call out to each other by name when reporting in/trying to find each other/witnessing each other die, which adds a hefty layer of realism and tension (especially when you’re trying to be sneaky or blast someone in the face in front of their brother or whatever) to an immersive experience. The combat sections feel more diverse and less linear than in the first game, with many alternative pathways and unconventional methods of dispatching enemies available to the player, should they care to roam about or examine their surrounds. A personal favourite tactic of mine was using throwable distraction items to lure the infected towards human enemies and cause them to fight each other while I sneaked by, pillaging all the resources out of every nearby cabinet and drawer I came across like I had an addiction to oily rags and broken pairs of scissors. The weapon customisation feels a little more fleshed out, and the weapons change aesthetically more noticeably with each customisation – which is a nice touch. However the weapon sway did make an annoying – if not as horrific – return so I recommend upgrading that on your longer range weapons immediately if you don’t want to simulate what I imagine it feels like to try and aim at something while drunk off your tits. Lastly, the swimming has been improved, and feels more fluent and controls a lot tighter, in the original game swimming felt like you were treading water in molasses and diving underwater rendered your view about as detailed as trying to see the bottom of a bucket full of murky piss. All in all, the game plays even better than it’s predecessor, and while the gameplay may not win any awards for being experimental and innovative, it is enjoyable and really shows the upper limit of what the PlayStation 4 is capable of. A very nice benchmark title to come out near the end of the PlayStation 4’s lifespan.

“Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they themselves must pass.”

The storyline is – and I do not say this lightly – an absolutely wild, heartwrenching ride from start to finish. While the central ‘theme’ of the first title was “Life goes on”, it feels like the theme of the second is grief, and the destruction it can cause to ourselves and those around us, and the consequences of letting hate consume us. The characterisation is once again absolutely excellent, every single character – for better or for worse – lives and breathes within the narrative, and apart from a couple of oddly stilted moments of exposition, the dialogues feels as natural as a cool breeze blowing through the silent trees of a redwood forest. To discuss any spoilers would be doing this game a disservice, as I feel every moment in the narrative needs to be seen and felt first-hand to have the most profound amount of impact. However I will say that Abby is one of the most finely written ‘villains’ I have experienced within a narrative – let alone a video game – for a long, long time and the particular way that the narrative is shown to the player is something I have wanted to see done for years, and Naughty Dog did it (almost) perfectly.

The game is not absolutely flawless, there are a few minor gripes I had with the story (particularly near the end) but the game did not come across as preachy at all, to me. There is representation, as I am sure you have heard, but none of it really feels tokenistic by any measure. I honestly think people let conjecture from the leaked script – as well as their long-built expectations – unfairly colour their opinion of this gripping title, and while a controversial release now, I think The Last Of Us Part II will go on to become a highly regarded and beloved title on the PlayStation, much like it’s predecessor. If you were a fan of the first game, you absolutely must experience this game. Let the waves of emotion crash over you, close the book on the story of Joel and Ellie, and feel it every step of the way. It really is something worth feeling.

“You don’t need strength to let go of something. What you really need is understanding.”