Review: The Last Of Us Part II - Forbes

It’s stunning. It’s important. And it’s a deeply well-told story to the point where I genuinely cannot fathom why anyone who has fully beaten the game, not just heard the spoilers, not just watched a streamer snark their way through it or watched ripped YouTube cutscenes, doesn’t appreciate what it has achieved here.

[TheKingKratos]

First time i like something from Forbes

[mania568]

even a broken clock is right twice a day
its good that they start by saying the difference between out of context leaks and actually playing the game itself, its a good game.

[sushimama]

Well this is the opinion of the person who reviewed it. Not shitty Forbes lol.

But I loved the game and the story too. I thought it was amazing. Was I sad and angry while playing? Yes I was at times, but not at the writers or ND, but at certain characters. I was fully involved in the story and whichever way it was taking me. The ride was awesome.

[P_Bomb]

“ I've watched several YouTube reviewers now...”

That might be part of the problem. Which ones? There’s a motley of guys sitting in their bedrooms full of Star Wars toys with Mario on a TV in the background. Conversely there’s a hundred traditional critics that gave their opinions too without trying to sell sponsor merch and subscriptions. Depends how you weigh it.

Personally I wouldn’t trust geeks and gamers, the quartering, heelvsbabyface, Ryan kinel etc to tell me the time. They’re very much politics before gameplay.

[P_Bomb]

Who turned off replies?! You’re replying right now aren’t you?

“ A comment as pathetic and self absorbed as that is frankly embarrassing.”

Personal attacks already? At least buy me dinner and a movie first.

“Just because most ppl outside of ur virgin n4g bubble”

Virgin? I have kids lol. Judging by your new account status, I’m also your first.

[TricksterArrow]

@Magatsushi I'd like to know how people came to the conclusion that Abby is a psycopath compared to Ellie and Joel.

[ABizzel1]

"But it’s stunning. It’s important. And it’s a deeply well-told story to the point where I genuinely cannot fathom why anyone who has fully beaten the game, not just heard the spoilers, not just watched a streamer snark their way through it or watched ripped YouTube cutscenes, doesn’t appreciate what it has achieved here. But again, I can only offer my own opinion and my own defense of what I think is a must-play as a huge fan of the original, even as someone who loved the characters they’ve murdered and maimed and morally compromised here. It’s remarkable, and it will stay with me a long while, just like the first."

This. Whether you like what happens or not, if you're not playing the intense moments in this game you're in no way, share. or form informed enough to discuss a review score. The Boss fights in this game are done amazingly well for a game that you wouldn't expect to have boss fights. The acting is the best in gaming. The world is incredibly detailed and both a joy and terrifying to explore. The environmental storytelling and letters left by the people who inhabited the world could easily have their own mini-stories I can remember several notable ones off the top of my head, the neighbors who were feeding and taking care of each other being killed by Scars. The couple that left Jackson because they wanted to help people around the world dying getting bite and him killing her to save her from turning, but not being able to kill himself. The bank robbery that went wrong. And as much as people dislike it I enjoyed the dual narrative, although I feel the structure of the story should have been more focused instead of bouncing for character to character and year / day to year / day.

Amazing game.

[RpgSama]

Oh wow, was totally not expecting this from Forbes out of all places, they actually wrote a previous article before the launch of the game (they didn't get a review copy) and it looked like they excusing themselves out of the eventual bad score, color me surprised.

[JackBNimble]

They obviously haven't been shilling enough, why do you think Sony didn't give Forbes a copy ?
I think they've learned their lesson with a 9.5 👍

[rainslacker]

Forbes has been on a pro-Sony kick the past few weeks. Still the occasional negative piece, but overall, not as cynical as they were in the past. Their general quality of articles still sucks though.

[Gamerking82]

My game of the year. No spoilers . But I was disappointed in the ending again . Yes I thought the first last of us ending never cut it for me , and neither does the second too be frank . But they are both excellent games with great story’s going though . So I got my money’s worth still and enjoyed .

[outsider1624]

Im halfway through..any chance they're hinting a prt 3.

[TheKingKratos]

Yes

[Brutus83]

I think they left the ending open in a way that it could either stop here or continue. Either way it goes, i'm satified with the story that was told. Its really deserves its masterpiece status

[zackeroniii]

haven't finished the game yet...i'm a huge fan of the last of us, the first game is my favorite game ever made. i've played the game about 5 times and watched the walkthrough on youtube maybe another 4 or 5 times. just trying to say that there is no other piece of media i hold close to my heart as much as this.

i wouldn't have minded the first last of us being a stand alone game, it is very sacred and dear to me, everything about it i love.

can't believe it's been 7 years and i finally get a sequel to a game i cherish. whether that's a good thing or a bad thing i have yet to know. the first few hours tore me apart. i can't believe what i saw and after witnessing that scene, i just wished the first last of us, was the last. i'm savoring my experience and taking it all in since i got it release day, i'm just about 10 hours in.

i've never played a game that's got me so miserable, this game is the only thing that's been on my mind since playing on release day. i'm not sure whether i like the game or not for what it is doing to me and i'm sure others feel the same. extremely powerful game just like the first, but maybe to a different degree.

the first game was wholesome in a way. this one just has me confused. why what happened had to happen? i hope i get answers at the end credits.

it's not up to any of us tell developers or creates what to make and what not to make. what to do with their creations and what not to do. we...or maybe just i(?), hope that they have a story that is worthy and truthful.

i agree that the first game didn't need a sequel like many others, but it's ultimately up to the developers to make that call. we have no control...after all this is their creation because without them...we don't have the first last of us...period. but hey getting a follow up to my favorite game ever made is always exciting, i just hope that it would be worth it and meaninful. i remember at i think PSX 2016 how neil druckmann said with the last of us part 2 they were doing right by their fans and to trust them.

i'm trying to hang onto those words but man...idk...

that scene literally just shook and hurt me. i could get into it more but i'll reserve all my criticisms until i finish the game.

i just hope after my playthrough that it's all worth it and that this is a story that was worth telling to such extremes.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Just stick with it. You'll get all needed answers and understand why everything happened the way it did by the end.

[zackeroniii]

thank you very much i appreciate that. i was losing hope a bit but i'm definitely sticking with it i know i have to.

[xenz]

I was in the same boat as you, but trust me. It will all make sense. The game overall is a masterpiece.

[dumahim]

"i've never played a game that's got me so miserable"
"the first game was wholesome in a way."

I think that's the intent. Neil has said the first game was about love, and this one is about hate (revenge). I'm not sure if you read the Forbes article or not, but it's pretty well written and you're past the point of spoilers that are talked about (the big early event) and does a good job of explaining how it really does work for the sequel.

[ginsunuva]

I liked the sequel a lot, but of course when some game is perfection like the first entry, people should not clamor and demand a sequel. As much as I enjoyed Part 2, I would have maybe rather they left it at Part 1 and move onto a new IP.

People don't know when to stop when something's good. They just hold onto something good and want it to last forever, but life don't work that way.

[on_line_forever]

Those Mercenaries

[gigzamillion]

Well if Forbes liked it you know its good.

[Acecalibur]

They lost me at deeply well-told story. Everything else is top tier tho.

[EmperorDalek]

A deeply well told story? That's ludicrous. I swear no other story focused game would get away with such a bad level of writing.

[Spicyram]

Like honestly, that's a complete load of bullshit. There arent many games that COME CLOSE to the level of story telling in the The last of us . Naughty Dog is just in a league of their own. im about 70% through the game now and if TLOU has poor character's and storytelling, then there isnt much hope for other games going by that logic.This game is just on another level. Sorry.

[MetalGearsofWar]

Sounds like an opinion. For example, I believe that metal gear 5 (the weakest in the series) has a better story than anything naughty dog has ever made in it's entirety.
If you believe tlou2 has the one of the greatest stories in gaming, I'd like to recommend the final fantasy series, Heavy Rain, and maybe Bioshock.

[EmperorDalek]

Plenty of games have matched Naughty Dog's storytelling capabilities, many of which were already at that level before ND were well renowned for their stories. Mass Effect, Heavy Rain and Red Dead Redemption 2 all had better stories than any ND game. A few of the Telltale games were at least on par. Just to name a few.

Instead of just swatting away people's complaints with the story, just go and find out what people are complaining about. Watch some videos. That's all I'm saying, because objectively, the story has some big problems.

[SamPao]

Can you explain? Because it seems people think that letting a character die is bad writing xD
Do you remember how many characters that were introduced in TLOU 1 died? Yup 80% of them. And all of them were great characters

[EmperorDalek]

Joel in part 1 - doesn't trust anyone. Runs over a guy because he didn't believe he was really injured. Natural distrust is part of his core.

Joel in part 2 - "Howdy strangers! My name is Joel, and this is my brother Tommy, former leader of the Fireflies, which I later massacred. Sounds like you've all heard of me? Those are some big guns you all got there, yep Joel that's my na-"

That's what's wrong with that scene. Joel dying isn't the problem, it's the way they did it that was poor. They ignored one of his major character traits to make it happen. This isn't subjective. Objectively speaking, this was poor writing.

The whole story has major problems, and you can find many videos by now explaining them. No need to argue with me, just look at what people are saying.

In my opinion, Joel was the strongest part of the first game. The second one doesn't have anyone nearly interesting enough to make up for his absence. So yes, of course people are going to be extremely disappointed with it. It's the next Mass Effect 3.

[TKCMuzzer]

@Emperor
Go back and play the first game, it seems your picking parts to suit your narrative. If my memory serves there is quite a big part in the first game where Joel trusts someone he doesn’t know or does that just not fit into the narrative being thrown around. Also in the second one, it’s Tommy who starts the whole introduction I believe, this kind of attitude would easily lead others in his community to also became more trusting. People seem to have conveniently forgotten that Ellie and Joel have been part of a community for 4 years, in this environment it would undoubtedly change your attitude towards trust and ultimately alter your character, it’s less bad writing and more people not understanding dynamics of human interaction over a period of time.
You can not trust many Youtubers reviews because they had pulled the game apart from the spoilers, this meant they could not give a balanced opinion as they were already swayed, unfortunately there are also many people commenting who have not played the game, yet believe their opinion should be counted as valid.
I keep saying this, people do not take context into account, they are treating Joel and Ellie as the same characters from the first game, because that’s how they want them to be, they are not the same, they are 4 years further forward with many human interactions behind them, communities naturally make people more trusting.
One of human beings greatest flaws........is not listening to their own advice, it happens everyday, to everyone.

[IRetrouk]

Tommy told abbey who they were after joel saves her life, she knows who he is, he doesnt know who she is, they run for their lives back to the cabin, nothing to do with trust they were surviving, once joel realises the group heard of him he turns around, abbey already has the shotgun pointed at his knee, then the rest follows....

[OB1Biker]

I agree with what you r saying but there's no point. All you will get is getting insulted.
To be fair in the first one, people actually believe some terrorists could manage to make a cure by sort of squeezing it out of Ellie's brain and they would trust them enough to sacrifice their daughters.

[Vipre77]

Yeah. Forbes is my go-to place for game news and reviews. :rolleyes:

[dumahim]

Usually I'd agree, but this one is pretty well written.

[AsunaYuukiTheFlash]

Its way better than your Holy Grail and Savior that is Skill Up lol.

[Vipre77]

My what? No idea who or what Skill Up is. Never heard of it. Are you thinking of someone else?