The Last of Us Part II

A little over 7 years ago, I decided to expand my review site into gaming. I remember being really nervous before doing so -- curious if anyone would actually be interested to read my likely-delayed game reviews (takes a lot longer to play through a game than a movie). Over the course of 66, now 67, games I've found these to be more "one for me" posts as I highly enjoy breaking down a game into various components. 

What gave me the confidence to start this new branch of Rath's Reviews was that the first game up was so easy to gush about. The Last of Us is one of the best PlayStation exclusives ever and marked a pretty monumental moment in gaming as being an expert blend of mature, character-driven story telling and visceral, fun gameplay. Since then, Naughty Dog has only continued to do amazing things and sits with Rockstar as probably the best game developer on the market (perhaps even better given that Grand Theft Auto V came out the same year and we're still getting recycled copies of that...). Their attention to characters, detail, stunning graphics that shouldn't seem possible, and story have made them the top tier of single-player gaming. The Last of Us was their pinnacle and many assumed it would remain untouched. When Part II was announced a while back, many wondered if they'd survive the crushing weight of expectation and hype. 

Well this can't be good...

Interestingly enough, I got my first "understanding" (minor as it may have been) of Part II about a year and a half back. In my rare free time I like to make some extra cash by participating in focus groups (and because I have an opinion on everything!). I was called to help with a gaming focus group thinking, "This will probably be for an app/game on your phone." As the 2 hour session progressed, the game sounded somewhat generic...talking to us about revenge, anger, etc. Low and behold, they revealed the game - to our collective shock/excitement - was The Last of Us Part II. And now having played the game, I feel like our interaction with its rather cliche "Revenge won't make you feel better" angles was somewhat of a disservice to a much more complex tale. 

Frustratingly, a vocal minority of the gaming community decided to leak game details and are up in arms from everything to "Hey there's lesbians in my game!" to "Wow, that one female character's arms are way too big, they're gross!" to " [crying] you killed X character and therefore your story is invalid!". Not to get on my high horse (but I feel like I have no other option) but it's these gamers in particular who...well...just aren't quite mature enough to play The Last of Us Part II. And I'm not sure where they got the notion that this series would hold their hands or consider their feelings with how dark of an ending the first game gave us. It's sad because it has taken away from Naughty Dog's impeccable work and if you're one of those that decided to hold off because of their rants, then I implore you to ignore them. If you're someone who has problems with gay/lesbian characters, or buff females in your game then I implore you to join us in 2020 and get over it! If you're someone who reads spoilers without context then A) what are you doing?!? and B) the game's main plot developments have hours of context behind them. Play the damn game. 

And you should play this game because it's one of the most memorable stories (across any medium) that I've interacted with in a long time. While it may not have the initial "wow" factor that came with the first game, it still packs a huge punch of character decisions and plot developments that will have you thinking far after the game is over. 

Downtown Seattle somehow looks more real life than real life?

Gut punch the infected!

One of the things I was continuously floored by with The Last of Us Part II was just how long of a single player game it was. Keep in mind this isn't an RPG or an open world game so for it to be story driven and relatively linear for 30+ hours is a huge feat. As much as I miss the insanely intense and unique multiplayer experience from the first game (hoping we get one with the inevitable PS5 release), I now understand why they put all their eggs in the single player basket. Talking about the story is difficult as it would almost instantly have spoilers (though I've been debating doing a Rath Write Up about it...) but I cannot avoid spoilers from the first game. The story picks up years after the first game ended with Joel massacring the Fireflies who were going to create a cure for mankind, but at the expense of Ellie's life. Obviously that decision was so monumental and layered that it would play a role in this game. We come to learn that Joel, Ellie, and a band of new, enjoyable characters have joined a "town" where they live relatively normal lives. Soon in, that normal gets upended and our story begins. There are some shocking moments here and brutal violence...again I should remind you that The Last of Us is not here to hold your hand. People die and it's not always ceremoniously or with a hero's exit. Uncharted, this is not. But where the story starts out as relatively straight forward, I found that by the end it was complex and I had mixed emotions. My mixed emotions were not toward the game that I was continuously stunned by, but to characters that I believed I sided with. Now I was seeing them in different lights and I didn't quite like what I saw. At times, I didn't quite like what the game made me do. At the end in particular, I wanted to almost stop playing...to avoid what I thought was coming. Part II is a game that challenges you and your attachments to characters. It's brutally violent, sure, but it's emotionally brutal too. It tells you that when the world goes to s**t, there's likely not a happy ending and if you're expecting one, you'll likely die (and given that our nation has foolishly politicized wearing small pieces of cloth to protect against a surging virus, the statement couldn't have been more poignant). This story makes the game so long because of multiple climaxes that I applaud Naughty Dog for having the balls to take risks on. It builds nearly every character up (two, in specific) so that you understand their mindset, their motives, and can get a feel for what kind of person they are...or that you think they are. Without giving too much away, I couldn't help but ponder on the parallels between the characters and as more pieces of the puzzle are revealed, to further understand their motives too. As a [amateur] storyteller myself, I was wowed by the sheer amount of character development that I was getting from a videogame and it made me recognize that I have a long way to go. What you're left with by the end will be a happy ending for some, and an angering one for others, but you won't be able to deny the game challenged you along the way. And nowhere for this Mature rated game that you signed up for, did it say things would be "nice". 

Creating a sense of dread and foreboding...

As much as I wish I could spend more time on the narrative (that will stand the test of time to be an all-time classic), it would spoil surprises so, I'll move on to gameplay. What I immediately noticed as the game started ramping up was that A) the gameplay is still impressive and well orchestrated but B) it didn't have the same "Holy s**t!" factor I remember when playing the original. That's fine and often the case with sequels so it's not a knock, but just know there's not drastic changes to the formula, everything is just refined with that level of Naughty Dog polish, not to mention lots of small trial and errors from previous games/series. I did find that they "try" and abandon a couple different concepts throughout (i.e. open world segment, some platforming puzzles, others) that I wish they had been more consistent with. As you get into the latter third of the game all that stuff feels like a distant memory and some of it could have broken up the gameplay slightly. But at the same time, literally everything TLOUII tries and does is AAA quality. There's realistic gunplay across a variety of weapons, the intense, in-the-moment crafting is back, platforming is more streamlined this time around, and when there are setpieces they're almost as grand as Uncharted's (which was a pleasant surprise). Stealth continues to practically give me stress ulcers as I found it was much more difficult this time around with smarter AI and more realistic game logic. Not to mention the whole "deafening roar" when an enemy is looking at you really dials it up. Along the way I only encountered one really difficult spike that I felt was unnecessary (on hard mode) but otherwise the game is challenging, fair, and whenever you die there's almost certainly another [better] way to go about what you're doing. 

Enemy variety goes a long way in Part II as well. The infected continued to be downright terrifying with clickers sending shivers up my spine anytime their echolocation screams go off near me. New infected enemies are introduced to shake things up (with one of them being very stress inducing) and overall these fungal monsters are still as memorable and tense as the original. Human enemies seem smarter this time around - for the most part - and don't give up as easy as other games, nor are they dense. If you're hiding in grass near them, they'll find you. I found it really difficult to get through most segments with pure stealth which signals the game is going to force you into some loud, all vs. one situations (and yes...it also shows I'm sometimes impatient). 

Probably the most significant
Seattle nod...pretty cool!

This gameplay is all surrounded by - again - that Naughty Dog polish. They're often able to push gaming systems further than they should be able to go and while I'm not sure TLOUII had graphics that blew me away more than anything in other games this generation (or God of War for a PS exclusive example) it still looks tremendous and bleak. Most of the game takes place in a broken down Seattle that is war-torn, overgrown, and mostly dead. It's all visually outstanding and it's the details that add up: the expressions on characters' faces, the light that filters through cracked buildings, the newspapers/magazines from 2013, realistic physics and weather, etc. Probably even more impressive is the sound from violent, guttural infected, the high pitched whistles of certain enemies, the pack of guns, or the splatter of explosions ripping someone apart. And to not mention the world-class original score would be a disservice too; it's one I will listen to in my free time, it's that good. 

I could talk about the remainder of the game's progression system (it's good, nothing great though) or the performances (some might as well be Oscar worthy), but instead I'll ponder on the violence for a moment. The Last of Us Part II is incredibly violent and brutal. At times it made me uncomfortable, often when it was trying to prove a point. Do I think Naughty Dog went too far? No, not really (though I could have done without having to kill dogs personally). But it does beg for parents to take it seriously and realize that both physically and thematically, this game is mature. I would have played it at 15 and enjoyed it, but not really have "gotten" the why behind most of it. 

There's a lot more that could be said about The Last of Us Part II and the more I wrote this review, the more I wanted to focus and write about the story. This site is spoiler-free reviews, so perhaps for a different post. What I can say is that The Last of Us Part II takes bold risks throughout. Like its predecessor, it's pushing the medium forward...pushing change. It's a story that relies on characters, their decisions, the consequences of those decisions, and all the context that goes into them. You don't have to like where the story ends up. Many won't. As I sit a day later from my long, patient playthrough, it's the fun, visceral, and intense gameplay that kept me entertained, but it's the story I can already tell has burrowed itself into my mind, forcing me to think about how complex it is. 

Do I feel good about what I did? 

It's the first time I've ever played a game where my answer is no and that's an unforgettable feeling in a medium that has encompassed hundreds of hours of my lifetime. 

CONS

• Lack of multiplayer hurts because it was so surprisingly great the first time around
• Seems like it tries a few gameplay elements and then abandons them
• Could have done without the dog violence
• Was bummed there weren't more famous Seattle locales to visit

PROS

• Such an incredible story that I'm still coming to terms with. Much like the first game, its ending (and everything that came before it) will stay on your mind. The character development and layers of complexity are masterful, regardless of medium
• Didn't cite it much in the review body, but the performances are top notch like usual. Perhaps more than any game before it, it suggests there should be serious acting awards for gaming
• The most polished and smooth gameplay Naughty Dog has produced yet. It's more realistic than Uncharted but all the frantic and tense elements of the first game are here and built upon
• Stunning graphics and lighting. One of the PS4's best looking games
• Even more stunning sound design
• One of the best original scores in a game, ever
• Far longer than I thought it would be. It earns your $60 and by the time it's over and you look back where you started, you'll be floored with just how much is here
• Challenges you in many, many ways. Some gamers clearly aren't handling it well but for those mature enough to take the plunge, you'll be in for a memorable gaming experience
• Gun crafting and leveling up are a nice touch
• Varied enemy type. Infected are a challenging beast all in their own right while humans (and the AI that drives them) were particularly challenging and threatening
• Unrivaled attention to detail and moment-to-moment intensity
• Like its predecessor, it is one of the most significant events in gaming and its evolution as a storytelling mechanism. No other medium can get you as close to the characters as this one and Naughty Dog, perhaps for the first time, takes full advantage of that realization

Rath's Review Score |

10/10 - Instant Classic