The Last of Us Part II

⭐ 10/10

There are many games I would consider my favourites because of the nostalgia I have attached to them, and even the games I would say are the greatest have some glaring flaws that I can overlook. Red Dead Redemption 2 broke me, what I would call a perfect game in all aspects. I can use qualifiers and say that this is the best story-driven game I've ever played, but that's lame - let's just put it on the Mount Rushmore.

Playing this game outside of the toxic discourse and depressing year it came out in it is impossible for me to understand any reason someone would dislike this. But I don't want to make straw man arguments, I'd rather just say what I liked about this.

My lead at work says this is his favourite game of all time, that it uses a video game to tell a story in a way only video games can, and I agree completely. The lackluster season 2 of the show, and even season 1, feel like cheaper copies where there is a barrier between you and the characters you are watching. This game's story structure and the way flashbacks are used had me completely absorbed, empathizing and understand both main characters but also feeling completely conflicted. The power of the end of the first game is that it forces you to do something that you really don't want to, and that inner conflict creates a gut-punch of an ending. I thought this game did that multiple times in even more effective ways.

I was completely bowled over by the end of this game, emotional in a way I have never been with a controller in my hand. Quick-time events are terrible, and I was annoyed at one point in my playthrough at how often you need to mash buttons to move a stuck door or something, it kind of losses its effect. But in the final scene I was completely heartbroken, doing what the game told me to do but almost looking away wishing I could stop it. The dynamic between the two characters and my feelings about both of them had me completely torn apart, and when the final choice is made I felt myself gasp in relief but also pained about how far it had gone. There is a tremendous cut that pulled tears from my eyes, and a subtle framing of Abby that made me mourn a loss I have never felt.

Not only is the story fantastic, but the gameplay is also incredible. Super violent, much like the first game I liked the feeling of just trying to survive in this world. So many awesome set pieces, incredible worlds you are going through that make me want to stop and enjoy the scenery. I liked the upgrade system, looting every desk drawer I see is satisfying, and every encounter felt unique. As I got better at the game I also got bolder, leading to some awesome mechanic discoveries like using human shields or just generally being less stealthy, resulting in movie-esque action scenes that I was controlling. The scars in the forest, Abby hanging from a noose, going after a sniper, hospital basement, countless sequences are burned into my brain. No one does it better. Did I mention this is one of the best looking games ever? My 10 year old PC handled it no problem, so kudos to this awesome port.

Back to the story here, it makes so many brave choices as the sequel to an all-time classic. Shocking death early on, twin storylines that are not told in parallel so you basically have to reset mid way through the game. Going for revenge as Ellie and then seeing what these people you kill mean to Abby is a framing device I don't think I have seen before. All of it leading to that final satisfying showdown, expertly done in a way that evoked every emotion they intended in me.

When I finished the game I watched a 2 hour documentary on the development process that made me fall even deeper in love with it. To start I was not jealous of the people working on this game. The leaks, the online drama, the delays, the crunch, sounds terrible. But by the end I was filled with envy. These developers made a piece of art that I think will stand the test of time. I'm not sure how you would even work on something else after this, because what could possible be better. Being a programmer myself I was just in awe at the artistic and technical talent of these people, and it made me feel so inadequate as someone with zero artistic talent. Its amazing that a studio funds something like this, and I think having a single auteur running the show has a lot to do with it, much like great shows and movies.

I'll hit publish and remember 10 other things I loved. Druckmann ends the doc by basically saying that he has an idea for the third and its going to happen, so looks like I'll be buying a new console in a couple year. But I think this is like Empire Strikes Back or other great sequels, where the success of the first and the bold vision of the creator means the safety comes off and they go in a completely unexpected direction. The first one does this too, a fresh take on the pandemic cure story, but focusing a game on the consequences of those final actions and what revenge does to a person is audacious and completely pays off.

Druckmann also says at the end of the doc that Naughty Dog is completely restructuring in a way to make developer life better, eliminate crunch, all that. Can good art be made without pain and countless setbacks? We will see.