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The Last of Us Part II review
by Graham Kaletsky

I have major issues with the story and the character writing, and the already dated combat from the first game has only been slightly improved.  But it's graphically stunning and the gameplay is solid.

Other reviews55

-- The game is about not judging by people's worst actions, context matters
-- so that's why it's crazy how they can do that but switch protagonists to make you embody and empathize. It;s so meta that people hated the story and that's exactly what they're trying to get you to feel.  
-- Revenge! Is it ever worth it? They're the same!
--the game is maybe too long? Stretched out and the back (like I had to do the revenge) and I didn't want to restart the story with Abby 
-- The stealth mechanic was fun but the sound sucked for it and I wanted more interesting encounter styles 
-- The world building is sublime
«Blew my mind»
«Just one more turn»
The ending is heartbreaking
«Can’t stop playing»
One thing I’d like to say that i love ellie but everything changed and it’s horrible 
After budgeting a good amount of time between release and actually playing this, I can confidently say that the backlash to this game is maybe the worst of all the non-troversies that have shook nerdom in recent years.

I thought it was unanimous that the strengths of The Last of Us were always its commitment to complex characters, a gritty, dangerous world where no one was ever safe, and a genuinely morally grey journey. The Last of Us' ending is not some edgelord fake-deep ending. It's messy, it's uncomfortable, it's gut-wrenching. Joel does not emerge a hero, he's just Joel, with more blood on his hands and just a shred of hope left. It's this experience that left the impact on fans. 

While Part 2 may have a different kind of story, at the end of the day, it's still The Last of Us at its core. I don't see any of the strengths from The Last Of Us absent in Part 2. If anything they're here stronger than ever. The journey may be a  little darker and more complex, but it's always profoundly human in a way that few games are. Beyond that, gameplay has also been improved. Combat is highly energetic, kills are SO brutal, traversal is fun and intuitive. I was motivated to go at it again in New Game + (something I hardly ever feel), though I think I'm playing too many games right now to give that a go.

I still love Elli. Now I love Abby and Lev. I have no idea what they could do for Part 3, but I'd love to see them try. 
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I played TLOU I for the first time right before playing this game, which helped me see TLOU II as an extension of Part I. Still raw from the events from the first part, the second part ripped my heart out and I hated what was happening ...until I played as the antagonist. The game really underlines the fact that everyone, even our favorite characters, are only human and imperfect. The only misgiving I have about this game is the pacing. I mistook two chapters for the Epilogue before it actually ended. But what an ending. 
«Blew my mind»
«Can’t stop playing»
Ellie is literally me irl
The Last of Us is my favorite game. That's not something easy to say for someone who has played so many games during their lives, but I can say it with complete certainty. So I waited seven years for the second part, scared to have my favorite title ruined. But now I can say it with even more certainty than before: The Last of Us, in its entirety, part 1 and 2, is the best game I have ever played in my life. The second one brings more to the table with updated and brand new gameplay mechanics, and a hint of horror that was more intense than the scariest parts of the first one. The story is brutal, it's no longer a tale about love and hope, is a tale about grief, rage, and revenge. It's an entire lesson of empathy and humanity. It caught me by surprise, and it changed me. No game ever had an impact like that in my life, and I doubt it ever will. 
«Blew my mind»
«That ending!»
Graphism excellent, ost too. Gameplay meh at least u can personalize it. Ever fell tension cause u dont have amo in a resident evil, guess what just turn the option increase loot. The story is certainly the worst part of it, with a scenario who try so much to subvert expectation than it doesnt make any sens and stupid forgetballe character who are stupid af. Just one exemple, u kill somebody in front of his friend they say to u i will kill u what to do ? leave and forget a good night will certainly change his mind. Also they have change the first one in the flashback guess they need consistency at some point
«Waste of time»
«Oh God i managed it»
Completed 2/20/21
This game is the best thing happened to me in 2020. It screws open-world and multi-ending products just delivering a masterpiece story in a mind blowing way.
«Blew my mind»
«Just one more turn»
Masterpiece
«Blew my mind»
«Can’t stop playing»