Video Game Review: The Last of Us Part II

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A Video Game Review of The Last of Us Part II. Completed in 29 hours. (Heavy Spoilers)

Video Game Review: The Last of Us Part II
The Last of Us (Part II)


The Last of Us (2013) is often considered to be among the greatest game of all time. The near-flawless narrative of this game solidified its place among the greatest. Did the long-awaited sequel of that masterpiece live up to the expectations? 

For me, the most important and the moment that defined The Last of Us's narrative was Ellie's conversation with David, the leader of the Cannibals. A single conversation to change the narrative's weight as you saw your protagonists from the perspective of someone else. The moment that tells you that there's no heroes or good guys. Only survivors. To show the player the perspective of 2 survivors and tell a flawed yet masterfully crafted narrative is what The Last of Us Part II excels at.

At its core, the PC game starts to tell a revenge story. Ellie's journey started so that she could avenge the one she loved most. But at what cost? To Ellie, no cost seemed too much at that time. But She as proven wrong on her first day in the unknown enemy territory of Seattle. She did care about those around her but the craving for revenge was too much. Her path to revenge left a wake of bodies behind her as she struggled to grasp what this quest meant for her. She did not wish to kill many who were not truly responsible in her eyes but their blood was in her hands nonetheless. Although over time her need for revenge lessened as her friends and close ones saved her from her own destructive self, the deed was already done. She had already taken her revenge against the villains who wronged her. But were they just simple villains? In Ellie's eyes maybe, but in Abby's, they were her friends and family. It was Abby who was responsible for creating such anger and hatred that led Ellie on her path of destruction. 

Abby's father and friends were murdered in cold blood by a smuggler. How could she forgive the one who caused her life to be in ruins and possibly doomed the only chance of a cure for humanity? She did not. Her obsession with revenge was second to none. Her obsession took many things from her but the worst was yet to come. The revenge that she took after 5 years of the dark events of her life led to the birth of another like her. As Abby, you walk through the destruction that was left by Ellie. Abby loses everything in her obsession for revenge much like Ellie herself.

How could Abby forgive the killer of her father and friends? The one who essentially ruined her life and basically destroyed an entire outpost of fireflies? How could Ellie forgive the killer for the only father figure she had? How could Joel not save his daughter? No matter what the cost Joel would save Ellie if the chance was given to him again. Can you justify either one for the actions they took? If you justify one then why would the other one be wrong? If you do love one for their actions and condemn other then The Last of Us missed its mark with you not The Last of Us II.
Video Game Review: The Last of Us Part II
The Last of Us (Part II)


The Last of Us Part II tells a fine tale of 3 broken people in a broken world. Joel once said "you can not escape from your past" and his came back to not only haunt him but the one he loved and wanted to protect the most. In Joel's own words "If I ever were to lose you. I'd surely lose myself". Ellie understood what those words meant albeit late. 

To end this I have to say what a fantastic job Naughty Dog did with Joel's character development in the game. He had around 2 hours of screen time and that developed his character more than the entirety of the first game. This was Naughty Dog's finest work. The last few hours of The Last of Us Part II had so many incredible moments that made me want to take a break and think "what have you done to me naughty dog". This was an experience unlike any other. You must experience this to understand the masterfully crafted tale. 

This game story has pacing issues and underdeveloped side characters other than that this was an amazing story.

Check out other expert reviews by Forbes, IGN, & Metacritic.

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