Abby is the Most Important Character in The Last of Us Part II and Here’s Why

Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II was one of the most highly anticipated and controversial games of 2020.

[Christopher]

You cannot understand the purpose of her role without Ellie and vice versa. You cannot hold one higher than the other without bringing the other down to the same level.

[Snookies12]

That's what makes it so great. It presents a moral dilemma for you as the player. We got attached to Ellie and Joel in the original, and the sequel decides to cast a spotlight on them. Revealing the shadows these beloved characters have actually cast. We want to root for them, and it's not exactly wrong to do so. However, it gives us a new point of view, and information that skews what our perception of the original actually was. It's brilliant, and a leap of creativity that's been long overdue in the wider world of game development.

[TheOpenWorlder]

Yeah, seeing her play golf with Joel as he dumbassedly walked into a room full of strangers which was completely out of character was a "leap of creativity" I never saw coming. So bold, so brave...

[FreeFallFrenzy]

I didn't like Abby because the writers never made her understand that her father dying was her fault, not Joel/Ellie's fault. She was the one who selfishly told him that she would choose to die to save humanity. All well-knowing that Ellie wouldn't have a choice in the matter. Her father would then go on to try to end Ellie's life "for the greater good." Joel did what he had to do to save his "daughter." Now, Abby was a kid when this all went down and kids say what they say, but she should have had the epiphany about this and never did.

[Snookies12]

@TheOpenWorlder - Oh here we go with that sad excuse again. So I'll try it in all caps so it might actually get heard. JOEL LITERALLY DID THE SAME THING TRUSTING STRANGERS WHEN HE FOLLOWED SAM AND HENRY IN PART 1. This is a character trait Joel had since the first game. He trusted him without knowing what to expect following him back to his base. Show me evidence that Joel's decision in Part 2 wasn't part of his character. And I will gladly admit I was wrong. I'm fairly certain that you can't. Because it IS in his character to do what he did.

This is like the "go-to" hater comment for this game, lol. And it's just flat out false. Acting like Joel has never done that, or never would do that. People need to go replay the last game, because they clearly missed some important character defining moments throughout it. Ones that absolutely make perfect sense in the sequel.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

Lol, no shit. Anybody who rebels against Abby’s inclusion is completely blind to what the story is intentionally doing to them: it challenges your perceptions.

Everybody felt basically the same after the first part, because we were supposed to. Definitely plenty to discuss in terms of character decisions, but, ultimately, we as the player would NEVER let Ellie go.

Now, for part 2, all they did was complicate that decision. I love how I am still chewing on the story mentally. It’s not a “fun” story, but it is a great story.

[TheOpenWorlder]

Lol....get a grip lol

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

Lol…. Thanks for the contribution lol

[KingofBandits]

pfft HA and no. Go take your stunning and shove it right up your brave. Nasty token character. Nasty ass rape scene...just useless pandering.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

What token character, what rape?

[giveyerheadawobble]

We're still talking about this disaster?

[medman]

Won more goty awards than any other game that year. Perhaps the disaster is your limited mindset?

[Shiore2u]

The pozzed media likes thing that appeals to them. Shock.

[TricksterArrow]

“The pozzed media”. It also won the most “Player’s Choices” of all time. Unless you wear a tinfoil hat or only think they are legit with games you like, it is what it is.

[VerminSC]

Including fan voted too

[nommers]

@TricksterArrow

Can you show an actual transparent voting poll? Highest shown votes that were shown in real time I mean. I don't mean what an article said for a site that they had in votes. The Playstation blog awards said they had like 2.5 million participants, but when you go to the actual results page of who won there's only 200 or so comments with some of the same commenters: https://blog.playstation.co...

While it makes sense that there would be a lower amount in general than total votes...that is exponentially lower by a couple of leagues. If anything it sounds like 2.5 millions were that many people that may have visited the site during a certain period of time rather than actual votes.

On GameFAQS tlou2 got destroyed at around an average of 10,000 participants, it didn't even make the semifinals. Metacritic and Resetera had about 2000+ participants where tlou2 won, but you have to login to vote, which makes sense that there was fewer participants. Metacritic is arguably just as popular as GameFAQS. Each poll in Gamefaqs only lasts a day too so there would have been more votes if it lasted longer, with the percentages expected to remain about the same as is the general case for polls that have reached a few thousand votes.

The fact is it's actually quite difficult to get people to participate in a survey, which is why I question any site that says they had millions of votes if they require you to login in order to vote.

[medman]

Losers will be losers. The game sold exceptionally well, racked up awards from the media and fans alike, and even took honors from other developers who praised it's systems, animations, characters....keep crying folks. Naughty Dog keeps winning. Good luck with your lives though, lol.

[-Foxtrot]

Yet despite all those awards

All those big puff up pieces by journalists who lick ass most of the time

All the crazy Neil fanboys

All the die hard white knights attacking anyone for having even just a slight opinion against their own on the game

I've never seen a game like that, a GOTY game, discounted so much after such little time and they've hardly said a peep about actual sale numbers, only the 4 million at launch which is a given considering the hype on the franchise name alone. Hey I'm not saying the sales are going to be terrible or hurt Sony money wise, God no but for a big franchise like this worth 7 years of hype...I don't think it would have met what they originally predicted. The majority of the other games Sony had last year they've talked about, but the Last of Us Part II, it's just all gone silent.

[TricksterArrow]

"Can you show an actual transparent voting poll?"

Like I said, when their favorite games win those polls, nobody bats an eye, but when a game they do not like win "it's biased", "it's rigged", "it's the communists". If you don't believe those polls, it's on you to disprove them. Sue if you will. They are what they are.

[VerminSC]

Amazing sells and goty awards disagree

[TheOpenWorlder]

It had exceptionally poor sales after the first month. What the hell are you on about? Also GOTY awards mean nothing.

[VerminSC]

Theopenworlder

Can you provide a single source showing poor sales figures? .. Moron..

So fan voted awards mean nothing, critic voted reviews mean nothing, but everyone should listen to a handful of idiots on the internet?

[_LarZen_]

Best game ever made will of course trigger some.

[TheOpenWorlder]

I feel sorry for you if you think it's the best game ever made. Lol The Last of Us (the only canon game) says Hi.

[TricksterArrow]

"The only canon game" aka. "I don't like something so I pretend it doesn't exist". Children these days... So entitled.

[giveyerheadawobble]

Wasn't even the best game that month.

Best game ever made. Fucking hell. This is where we're at these days.

[anast]

As Christopher stated, "the most" is a bit absurd. Moving forward, in the first one, I got attached Joel then had to play Ellie and because of this I ended up being attached to Ellie and subsequently their relationship. The second one was similar for me in a way. While I didn't get into Abby the same way, I got attached to Abby's relationship between her and Lev, which ultimately formed an interest in Lev. The 2 games (combined) seemed to be a representation "the" processes and symbols of relationships during crisis. In the end, I emotionally sided with Ellie, Tommy and Joel because of history, but I wouldn't mind playing as Abby again or even an older Lev.

[TheOpenWorlder]

Really...you got emotionally attached to anything related to Abby? Wow. I don't think I have enough lack of brain cells for that honestly. The whole Abby/Lev thing was a blatant rip off of Joel and Ellie's relationship. I also doubt Joel took a bat to an innocent person in the face in a room full of strangers.

[Lexreborn2]

lol did you just call Joel Innocent? REALLY? I get that you guys hate the fact Joel was killed. But, the lengths some of you go to to attempt to crap on others enjoyment and things you say is wild. You lost braincells reading his comment... But, you call Joel Innocent who shot an unarmed doctor in the head and massacred a whole group for his own intent and you think that's innocent?

Man the haters of LoU2 have gone way off the deep end.

[TheOpenWorlder]

Yes, REALLY? oh wow. the shock an appall by you to only not explain what exactly you think Joel is guilty of...go ahead, I'll wait. Just stop sucking on Neil Cuckmann's teet first.

[TricksterArrow]

"you got emotionally attached to anything related to Abby?" Some people have different opinions and POVs. Doesn't mean they have "a lack of brain cells", spoiled brat. Commenting and hunting down anyone having a positive view on the game... Can't handle someone liking something you hate? You sound like... You know: psst, a SJW. Suck it up.

"I also doubt Joel took a bat to an innocent person in the face in a room full of strangers." He admitted having took part in the Hunters faction, the one that kills innocents, including families, for their shoes. Tommy left him behind because "he had nightmares about everything that Joel did". This was on the first game. Even Ellie sounded disappointed when she knew. You are dense.

[anast]

This must have been hard on you. I am sorry for your loss.

[Abear21]

60fps patch keeps the goat in the news much to haters dismay. IMO Abby was the most complex and interesting character in a game in a LONG time, truly amazing character development as you play the game and yeah, just master class in game design

[medman]

The most important characters are the horse and the doggy.

[TheOpenWorlder]

Don't forget our true savior: Fat Geralt.

[lellkay]

This game was so good. Took me a while to process and accept it. But once I did I came to love it.

[TheOpenWorlder]

This game was so NOT good. Took me a while to process and accept it. But once I did I came to love it.

Corrected it for ya. no worries, free of charge

[lellkay]

That's not what I said, but you do you my guy haha. Love this place.

[Sinemetsu]

This is like saying Snoak is more important than the Knights of Ren. It's a shallow narrative with shallower meaning.

[senorfartcushion]

He was in those Star Wars films. He was also important in general. He had his own part to play.

If you don’t mind, I need to ask: what does important even look like to you in cinema?

[TheOpenWorlder]

I know what important doesn't look like to me - a she-hulk character playing golf with a seasoned or established character and then having to watch a movie being shoved down my throat on how I should sympathize for her, booo hoo ;(

[senorfartcushion]

@theopenworlder

I’d never let anyone force me to watch anything, I’m not weak 😄

[gold_drake]

i dont not care for her story. at all. the fact that you play as her for as long as we had to kinda miffed me off. i wanted to play as ellie.
Laura did a fantastic job voice acting her tho.

[VerminSC]

This should be titled “I’m trying to stir people up for attention”

[PersonX]

Also the worst character in the game

[kevinsheeks]

ehhh after they killed the dynamic between joel and elle I tuned out and it became just a game I had to finish because I paid for it.

ghost of tsu is better

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Best game ever made aside from the first game and Life is Strange

[Dixiedevil]

Stunning and brave. 🤡

[ChasterMies]

Given a choice between Abby and Ellie, it’s Abby every time.

[Inverno]

Of course she is, the game is actually about her. Ellie was just in it cause she was recognizable so she'd sell the game.

[masterfox]

Haha you wish, a TLOU series wouldn't exist if wasn't for the first one critically acclaimed characters , story and visuals , the first one was a complete package, the second one was about personal orientations of certain developers giving a damn about the people who bought the game and maked the TLOU succesful in the first place, and for that, the TLOU 2 story was garbage imo but visually impressive.

[justadelusion]

he won the a lot of woke gaming awards for them i guess

[thiaxl2]

Good game but very long

[Kyizen]

While think Abby is important and a well fleshed out character. Joel imo is the most import in both part 1 and 2. Abby wouldn't be the Abby we play as if it wasn't for Joel's decision.

[leemo19]

If that's what makes you sleep good at night, keep telling yourself that one. TLOU2 in terms of story was a disaster and huge spit in the face of the fans who not only were lied to, but deceived into thinking it would continue the story with Ellie and Joel. The characters that made the first one so good. Soy boy progressive moron Neil Druckmann wanted to please his woke friends and just ruin all what made the first one so good. Which is why great portion of the fans don't like Abby. Who hated that they were forced to play as her as long as they did. Neil tried to make us feel sorry for her but really lots of us didn't, wanted her to just die.

[Snakeeater25]

Joël is the most important of them all and he got killed so I stop playing that lgbt propaganda game after that

[olorin818]

When the story took a spin, and shifted to Abby perspective, it took me a little while, when I was still thinking 'ok, when are we going back to Ellie' but after some time, I enjoyed it just as much. It was interested getting a different perspective, and both characters are just as well developed. Never could relate to , or understand the drama that followed Abby inclusion in the game.

[TricksterArrow]

Entitlement.

One of my favorite characters in gaming as a father was Harry Mason, yet he was unceremoniously killed off-screen with little to no reverberation in Silent Hill 3. I accepted it and moved on. Some people can't seem to do the same, this generation has failed.

[MadLad]

Druckmann's fanfiction, the game.
So glad he took pointers from his buddy, Sarkeesian, when creating the story.

[Elda]

She & Ellie were equally important.

[Jim Hawking]

I had a lot of problems with TLOU2's story, but I actually came to a different conclusion than most. That game should have ONLY BEEN ABOUT ABBY. The war between the Wolves and the Seraphites was way more interesting than the stupid and petty revenge plots. Ellie shouldn't have been in the game AT ALL.

This doesn't make Abby a great character in the game we got, but it would make the story less stupid and pointless.

[SurvivorGirl]

The most anticipated and the wrose games of 2020

[PaulFiend]

She's my favorite character in TLoU 2, I don't get all the hate she receives. Lots of gamers are still kids even in their mature ages it seems. xD

[-Foxtrot]

Lol

The “you’re not mature enough to understand” bullshit

First one was pretty mature and everyone loved it

[SurvivorGirl]

People Hate on her 1) because she murdered Joel and 2) because people didn't pay $60.00 FU**** dollars to play as Abby they bought the game expecting to play mostly as Ellie and some as Joel. NOT play some Bitch that fights against the very characters they love

[titans9999]

Abby = worse thing ever in a video game......just pathetic!

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

Wow people love characters too much sometimes… too much in that it makes them think it’s THEIR story to dictate.

Abby was a story direction nobody predicted, AND it ultimately fit perfectly as a follow up to a story that nobody had faith in having a worthwhile follow up.

At the very least, respect the creative ambition, and stop writing it off as mere pandering just because you still miss you know who.

[cruxito]

Why do we still talking about this disaster? It’s an awful game. No worth it.
Because it sold so many copies?!
It did but it was because the first game had a huge fan base.
A game with a story like this would have never get past the 50000 Copies sold.