The Last of Us Part II tries to be profound. It fails

While The Last of Us Part II parades as a profound video game with multiple layers, it really isn't as deep as it makes itself out to be.

[Cupid_Viper_3]

"The Last of Us Part II tries to be profound. It fails"

Ok, so what? There have been over 4000 games released for the PS4 some of which have succeeded in their goals and a larger majority have failed.

Again, so what? Why is this specific developer/game not allowed to fail or succeed like the other 4000?

[Software_Lover]

....... It is allowed to fail or succeed, it was released. It will probably succeed.

[Eonjay]

The last of Us is a good game. Perhaps folks should stop looking so deep into it and enjoy it for what it is: AAA game with polish for days. Stop trying to extract some meaning to life and enjoy what was built. The production quality alone makes it a must play.

[Marquinho]

I'm 4 hours in the game now... Have mixed feelings about it. I can say right now that I'm not enjoying it as much as I did with TLOU1, but it's still a technical masterpiece.

[Bathyj]

Give it a bit more time Marquinho. I'm about 10 hours and I feel like I've barely scratched the surface. At 4 hours if you were watching The Godfather you'd still be at the wedding scene.

[nirwanda]

All this reminds me of a clockwork orange, that was critically acclaimed by most, panned by a few then partly banned over violence or people outraged over it glorifing violence.
Cinema grow as and branched because of it, without that you wouldn't have tarrentino etc.

[ABizzel1]

The articles main point is about the violence, however, they leave out a huge point in comparison to "Hollywood" (which can also depict heavy violence) and the real world (which again is as bad or worse especially today), and that is this game is set 24 / 25 years after the events of the outbreak which ruined the world.

Violence is there, because there is no law, there is no government, everything has reset back to that of a survivalist mentality and fundamentals of an animal kingdom. The human race has not been a national civilization for a quarter of a century, and besides nature they have to worry about surviving the infected and spores daily.

In summary, Morality is gone, it's kill or be killed, them against us. Characters like Ellie only know this life, and characters like Joel... had to learn this over 20 years. So the violence is understood, because having a moral compass when people have lost there's over the span of 25 years is a way to get your killed.

Even today the moral compass of the world is questionable, give them world no hope, starvation, and constant death, and we will devolve into chaos as well.

They lead with the Spielberg quote, however, The Last of Us has made me feel empathy and emotions, concern for characters, and anticipation for the story more than 99.9% of Hollywood Blockbusters, which is why this quote is no longer valid to the millions of gamers who enjoy games of all kinds for their story.

[MWH]

I think you'll like the movie The Road. check it out if you haven't seen it yet.

[ABizzel1]

@MWH

Seen it and loved it, and the controversial ending :)

Not everything needs a happy ending, there's a movie that flatout nearly steals from The Last of Us on Netflix. The Girl with all the gifts, it's pretty good as well.

[jznrpg]

@MWH I watched the Road With my wife many years ago in the Theatre , very underrated.

[Cueil]

You don't interact with these depressing ass movies and they, aside from the rare few, are generally small films with limited runs

[Melankolis]

We live in the same era when Game of Thrones broadcasted. That "medievil" setting depicted in the series was full of violence and indecent things. Yet, the viewers are fine with that. The viewers understood.

But why the same thing cannot be applied to videogames?. Are the videogame players not ready for this kind of "entertainment"? or is it because most of them are just not matured enough to accept any gruesome story and/or ending?.

I haven't played this but i always ready for gruesome story, tragedy, or controversial ending. All of them never bothered me.

[Rambokind]

Go the the user reviews on Metacritic and you'll understand why he put it that way.

[ABizzel1]

Why? So he can see people upset about the opening of the game, so he can see people outraged by having to play as a lesbian which everyone should have known from the first game's DLC who wanted to find love in a world that has nearly none, and enraged by the decisions of some of the characters???

It's okay to not like to direction Naughty chose to go with the story, it's okay to be angered by what happens, it's not okay to rate a game a 0/10 for it when the game is clearly a huge improvement in gameplay over the original and even an upgrade over Uncharted on PS4, offers arguably the best acting in any video to date, and if you care about graphics one of the best looking games on any platform. I won't argue the story because that's subjective, but I will say as much as I was shocked by the opening and what happens through the game I was just as impressed with the bravery and decisions they chose, and in the end, I loved this game just as much as the original.

[Profchaos]

The game has been out for 24 hours and over 3000 negaty metacritic review bombs.
Do you really think all those people even played the introduction yet

[timotim]

Y'all better get ready! Its coming!

[throne]

it sure is....GOTY!

[timotim]

Nothing wrong with it man...nothing wrong with it at all.

[rainslacker]

You mean the wells Fargo wagon? OH BOY!!!

[CorndogBurglar]

Did he say its not allowed to fail? Did you get upset when articles criticized other games? Are people not allowed to write articles and state their opinion anymore?

[Mothman1984]

Calm down Viper...it's all right now - just relax and take your pills :)

[Mothman1984]

Nevermind. It's OK to see things differently. Peace man

[anast]

There is a disconnect to what profundity is when pared with video games stories. Not one of them in the history of gaming has been profound. The closest story wise would be RDR2, the dichotomy between industrialization and freedom and the Last of Us 1, the strength of a father and daughter relationship.

Profound is in the space of Dostoevsky, Camus, Darwin, Kropotkin, Novatore, Kafka and on and on. People want profound then we might need to set the bar toward world changing.

[porkChop]

No one said they aren't allowed to fail. It's just an opinion, you don't have to agree with it.

[rainslacker]

Wired always trying to be edgy.

[RangerWalk267]

I'm not in to it as much as the first one. However, I'm only 6 hours in. The first one was sooo good and changed the way I viewed post apocalyptic times. They captured it so well that it set the bar for the second almost too high for it to compete with the first.

[Bahamut-Shin]

it is allow to succed or fail, but there are many vocal people who thinks everyone opinon is based around their genitalia.

[Mister_Wolf]

Stop whining. It is allowed to fail. And people are allowed to talk about its failures. Stop putting ND and this game on a pedestal.

[TheHan]

Simply because naughty dog puts themselves as the top PS first party developer. Meaning their gonna get the most criticism. Goes for many talented developers, such as 343i

[overlordror]

This article's analysis isn't as deep as it makes itself out to be, either.

[Rambokind]

Then you didn't read it carefully

[CaptainOmega]

The only thing the article really talks about is the game is primarily about violence.

I haven’t played it yet (i will)... but I have a feeling it WILL be profound.

[Christopher]

It honestly isn't. These same things have been said for decades about books, tv shows, and movies. The idea of utilizing a medium know for glorifying one thing or another to show how it's wrong rarely works and is typically criticized.

[Dixiedevil]

Let the pearl clutching begin.

[BillyG0AT]

Handbags at dawn!

[TheProfessional]

This is a bad joke. It's a masterpiece and truly something different. The bleak tone and extremely realistic violence combined with 10/10 graphics, responsive controls, intense combat and classic survival horror elements with the clickers and infected make it one of the best.

It's ambitious and has a well written, long campaign with memorable levels. The way it examines violence and revenge is interesting, especially for a game. How is it failing at anything?

[Wimba61]

The entire plot is garbage.

I am so tempted to post spoilers here but NOONE can write the a summary of the game’s story without contradiction. It is stupid and makes no sense.

Idk how the game got 10s. Idk how the game follows up one of the best stories in gaming.
It is bad.

The story is objectively plot hole ridden filth and I cannot understand the delusion.

[throne]

visuals, immersive environments, fluid gameplay, intense action...comes to mind

[outsider1624]

You finished the game? Im halfway now...damn is this game amzing or what. I too did not like the direction but i will finish it.
Ill form my own decision. Visuals, pacing, sound, music, armosphere, acting, ...the best ive seen.

[CaptainOmega]

Then do it. Spoil it. Go ahead and tell us how the game is such a mess. You’ve had the game for how long? less than 12 hours? You’ve already beaten it?

[Profchaos]

It's been out for 24 hours have you seriously finished it ?

[OMNlPOTENT]

Cmon man don’t threaten to post spoilers. It doesn’t help backup your point. I agree though, the plot is one of the worst things I’ve ever sat through. I played the OG last of us mainly for its compelling and excellent story. It feels like a stab in the back tbh.

[Ristul]

Its different alright. Its almost hard to believe Sony spent so much time and resourses on this absurd plot.

[gamer7804]

Appreciate the same old revenge story with horrible character development and continuity? Okay have at it!

[Specter229]

Its ... ok.

[Dragonscale]

Masterpiece my ass lol. The game is a bad joke and deserves all the criticism currently.

[BenRC01]

I adore tlou, but this is boring, trite, and an actual chore to play. Someone the decisions made in the 2nd half are just insane. Its like they're not even tlou fans.

[cell989]

Well written? What are you 10?

[Christopher]

We're allowed our opinions but can't get behind some of yours.

[sourOG]

I don’t need it to be profound. I just need it to be good so I don’t feel suckered by the dirty game media again lol. I wasn’t going to buy it but decided to give it a try, should be downloaded by the time I get home.

[Silly gameAr]

Depends on who you ask. Anyway, enough of this crap. I'm going to go back to the game and enjoy it like I have been.

[RememberThe357]

You know you can't enjoy things other people don't like. This is Sony's Crackdown 3, haven't you heard? It's a complete broken mess with it's violent lesbian army's. At least that what I'm hearing from "gamers."

[CaptainOmega]

No one is saying that.

[zackeroniii]

first of all, no one goes to this shit site for reviews...who goes here for anything?

second, why is it we get a million games with violence in it, in a world where GTA exists...and somehow, we choose THIS GAME, to all of a sudden have an issue with.

if your game has senseless violence it's a problem.

if your game tries to put a message behind the violence it is STILL a problem.

you can't win with these kind of people...shitty journalism at is's finest when you don't know what side you are even on.

seems to me like someone is writing out of their ass just for clicks and to be different. can't seem to identify one valid point in this worthless excuse of a shit-piece.

seems the "writer" thinks he's so deep of an intellect but this waste of an article is everything BUT that...

[Wimba61]

Thank you finally!

[sushimama]

Finally what? A website cashing in the the hate? Who cares. I'm 11 hours and the game is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. There's truly nothing like this one consoles.

[snoopgg]

Your review isn't as deep either, so it also fails.

[waverider]

I just wish that the boy or girl that wrote this was more profound. Its a shame. You tried, but you failed. For me, it had emotion, it move me. I didnt like some scenes, they were heavy, but i know what i was playing. Im already pumped and waiting for some kind of DLC.

[Kumakai]

this game is turning out to be a little more divisive than i was expecting.

[moomoo319]

Im enjoying so far a couple hours in. Some of the dialougue is a little cringey, but honestly in a realistic way. Like yes this is what a real 19yr old girl would say in modern america. Do i always agree with the views of a 19yr old girl? No, but that is ok. That's the character.

[borneFROMblood]

People keep forgetting or ignoring i guess, that this is a different world, 24 years after pandemic destroyed everything. What people do, what people say, what they endure is way different from your modern american.

[Juancho51]

If you dont play this game, you're doing yourself a disservice. Period. There are no games that come out that are this well made this day and age, they're very rare, and should be enjoyed by everyone.

[tontontam0]

Yup playing it right now, game is easily 8/10

Play the game even if you skip the cutscenes , even without context you'd feel the emotion of the characters through the gameplay. and if you are wondering why ellie is so angry just think of something like her dog was killed and she is setting out to take revenge.

[borneFROMblood]

and you getting downvotes from those 7000 haters on metacritic, rating a game before even playing it.
same was with FF7Remake, and now this. I bet Ghost of Tsushima will have it as well, haters just can't help but downplay Sony.
And it's laughable, how people claim that they are fans of original, and still watch a 90 minute video to get spoiled, and then complain about it.

[waverider]

They arent. They try the same with death stranding, but that one Was easier to do. Then metacritic deleted thousands of reviews. With this one its not working because its getting tons of. perfect scores

[MetalGearsofWar]

I could say the same about Death Stranding, but I'm aware it's not for everyone. If story is a big focus in the game, then it can make or break it.

[The_Sage]

This re re from wired tried to write an article and it fails.

[chobit_A5HL3Y]

the writing in this game is an absolute slap in the god damn face for anyone that cared about the characters and story from the first game. the gameplay and all that is fun enough, but my god... they try so hard to hide their poor writing behind high production value, and almost succeed. i’m pretty sure any fan of the first game could have read the script and story during production and told them how horrible it was going to be.

[sushimama]

Disagree, I feel the writing is excellent

[Gatsu]

I disagree.

[rlow1]

This game is controversial, so it doesn't surprise me on the yoyo reactions. Joker won and Oscar and it didn't score well because it told a story that really divided people. The Last of Us, from everything I've read about it seems to be in the same vain. Life can be ugly, people want the characters they love to follow a certain path and when that doesn't happen. Then it can go from being divisive to down right depressing. So it shouldn't surprise anyone with a story like this, were a character goes down a bad path and doesn't recover that the scores are so varied. Peace

[Zodiac]

Loved the first and picking the second up today, but I agree with some of the criticisms of extreme violence, in principle. Obviously I haven’t played it yet. The game presents the violence as it’s “message”. Based on some reviews, it seems it crosses into edge lord territory, where extreme violence and gritty atmosphere = sophisticated and mature story telling. But over the top violence isn’t a message, and yes, it’s not profound either. One great review of the violence was a kotaku reviewer who said that it’s there so often and so much that it stops meaning anything. The impact disappears when it’s so continuously present.

Regardless, I am excited to play, but I won’t buy into the narrative of violence and gore = high quality and profound.

[WelkinCole]

When I play games I don't play it to understand the meaning of life lol!

12hrs in and it is my game of the generation sofar.

[ghostrider32]

Last Of 2 is lowkey exposing homophobia in the gaming community.

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

Lowkey? Nope - its there for all to see, is there something wrong with that? I'll tell you this it isn't the first time and it won't be the last.

[kayoss]

Sure, but movies and tv shows get a pass for violence an immoral subjects? Like the article stated, it’s game with a Hollywood story. So it’s ok to have movies have offensive actions, but video games can’t? American X have curbs stomps but you’re ok with that in that movies? , So it’s not Ok to have video games tell a story? It’s like you going on to pornhub and expect to find good content and complaining that there’s too many offensive videos.

[jznrpg]

This article tries to get my click , it Fails . It’s a game . I want it to be fun to play and I’m sure it is. I’m not looking for perfection , I want to be entertained while I’m going through the challenge of playing a difficult game( I’m starting on Survivor) why do people come up with stuff to bitch about . Tries to be profound ? Who said that ? I go by this . Graphics , Story , Gameplay, Sound, AI & Fun factor (that’s the most varying from person to person and most important to me) . I don’t care what they were trying to do or not to do. Ultimately I want to have enjoyed my time playing the game

[AK91]

I would agree but its more that the devs and particularly Neil Druckmann forces diversity and identity politics over a good story, something which Druckmann himself has openly admitted he would do and to be fair he made good on his statement.

[tulholdren]

Loving this game some will and some will not. Lots of games that people like that I hate so to each there own.

[XabiDaChosenOne]

I watched a full play through, makes me sick to my stomach what they did to the legacy of those characters.

[snake-OO]

Why does a game need to be predictable to enjoy. Its a post apocalyptic world where humanity can devolve to baser instincts, and the game pulls that off brilliantly. IM 10 hours in and loving the game.

[tagzskie]

Those who didn't play the game does not have the right to tell others who also did not play the game to express their opinion about the game simple as that.. Im not fan of basing my purchase because of the review, but majority of the gaming site gave it high score wether you like it or not, most people who really play the game have fun w/ it. Have fun sleeping at night haters lol

[Traecy]

Opinions opinions everyone has one.

[TheHateTheyGive]

The last of us 2 is a blockbuster masterpiece, you cant find anything negative about it, game of the gen, looks better than most next gen games shown so far.

[CrimsonWing69]

But it’s pretty good as a game, so...?

[Gamerking82]

Na I’m about 25 hours in and the game is great . Defo my game of the year so far . It’s a revenge tale and good too . I mean I would probs do the same thing . But it’s also so much more than what these people that have only played the first hour and judged say. The game is great . And if you loved the family of the last of us and just want more story it’s a buy now from me . Life init always pretty or black and white . The last of us 2 shows and proves that . If you have a PS4 and pass on this because of some idiot nobody YouTube thing , then you are missing out on a great game .

[chiefJohn117]

The user reviewers bombed the game. It's the opposite of day's gone. The pro reviews disliked it while the user reviewers loved it. Tlous2 is the exact opposite.

[Acecalibur]

Failed BIG TIME.

[Sprucegoose77]

This article tries to be clickbait. It succeeds.

[LucidIllusion]

Okey doke

[gigzamillion]

LOL, you knew someone was going to try.

[MatriXcian]

I'm about 9 hours in and I've got to say so far I'm very disappointed the story has obviously changed dramatically from the several times its been shown off to the public and not for the better. The graphics are great but so far that's about it everything else is underwhelming and comes nowhere near the original. The reviewers got this completely wrong.

[PaulFiend]

Damn snob journalists try to be profound all the time. They fail.

The game is about humans being humans for better or worse living after the apocalypse. The world ND have created for this setting is amazing with truly life-like characters (like them cowboys from RDR 2), nice stealth mechanics and action-packed combat if you choose that way. Is it gory? Absolutely. It has "M" rating for all you apparently grown up pussies over there. Does it make the game a bad experience? Hell no! Finally it has the graphics I thought the PS 4 would be impossible to achieve. NDs are wizards at their job and this game is 10/10.

Dear sirs,
da faq do you want more?

[quenomamen]

Yea I didn't like the violence at all in this game bruh, so I stopped playing it and went back to playing more wholesome games like:
Mortal Kombat, Residen Evil, DOOM, COD, BFV, PUBG, Gears, Apex, Fortnite, DAYZ, Rainbow 6, Ghost Recon,
Far Cry, Metro, Star Wars, RAGE, WOLFENSTEIN, Hunting Simulator, Fallout, Tomb Raider, and all other games that require me to kill to win. I mean, there is only so much killing a person can take in a video game. You know ?

[mch2011uk]

This article is so ridiculous it fails

[Harryvok]

About 5 hours in.

I love it.

[Max_Eckhardt]

I returned the game. I’m so depressed, was looking forward to the game so much, avoided spoilers. Why did the reviews lie to us?!

[Einhander1971]

Just enjoy the game for what it is. God I’m sick of whinging assholes. Obviously some idiots out there play games just pick holes in anything they can. Get a new hobby and F**k off!! no game is 100 percent perfect.

[InUrFoxHole]

This game so far is my game of the Gen

[JimBeans]

Gameplay and exploration are good. Story is a jumbled mess filled with flashbacks and weird decisions. Simple

[BenRC01]

Technically supeeb, but as a massive tlou fan, its just boring. I hate most of the gameplay decisions made in this game, won't post spoilers but most sections just become a huge chore. I'm massively disappointed.

[purpleblau]

I hated it when I heard about the spoiler. But I still ordered it and played it. And I hated it! Yes, it is a technical masterpiece. No doubt about that. But the story is a shit. I don't know what they're trying to achieve. If a game doesn't please the majority or maybe the 90% of the players, it can't be categorized as a good game despite the graphics. The story is not enjoyable and with that story in mind it's hard to make it fun. I am angry when playing throughout the game. Who wants to pay 60 bucks to have an unenjoyable experience??? Naughty Dog tried too hard this time and they failed big time. In the end, a game is supposed to be fun. That's the core idea of gaming.

[Elda]

I'm enjoying it so far.