The Last of Us Part II (PS4)
| Dimensions: | 17.2 x 15 x 1.4 cm; 80 Grams |
| Model: | 9329800 |
| Dimensions: | 17.2 x 15 x 1.4 cm; 80 Grams |
| Model: | 9329800 |
It’s brilliantly written, well structured and cinematic, wonderfully performed with astonishingly intricate motion capture work. TLOU Part II doesn’t take the easy route and tells a story that may not ultimately turn out the way you might have expected. I’ll concede that not every one will be happy with the direction and creative decisions taken with the game together with it’s uncompromising depiction of violence, but go in with an open mind and you either like it or don’t…but I honestly feel it deserves more praise from the gaming community. At least it’s heartening to see the majority of the critical reviews have been strong.
In terms of gaming, the graphics are incredible as is the sound. Gameplay is similar to that of the first game with some improvements to the combat/stealth mechanics and new weapons/upgrades.
Just give it a go, expect the unexpected and be aware that this isn’t merely a retread of the first game. I’m actually going to miss playing it now, so I’m going to dive into a replay of the original TLOU.
Don’t believe the 1 star reviews, they’re just riding the hate train. This game is an absolute master-piece start to end. Incredible story telling that is both original and thought-provoking. It’s an intense and thrilling ride, breaking the boundaries between game and movie. Easily the best title I’ve ever played… Hats off to Naughty Dog.
just wow. I never played the first one so going into this one blind. I’ve been absolutely blown away by the intensity and craziness of this game. every single enemy encounter area i am at the edge, like i’ve never been in a game before. You have this awesome dark bassy music following your moves when enemies are near and then if anybody sees you its absolute carnage of you avoiding having your neck ripped off by infected or dogs chasing you when its the rival faction or running for your life through abandoned hospitals and offices.
The kills are brutal in every good way possible. multiple shanks to the neck. hammers getting stuck in peoples heads, exploding bodies and guttural screams echoing round as you wound enemies with a body or leg shot and hide away after to avoid the frantic panic of multiple enemies running onto you.
I’m halfway through and exhausted. well played.
This games graphics are like out of this world, it’s a cross between Resident evil/Red Dead Redemption 2. I understand it’s a story mode but just think the possibility of this becoming an actual free roam gameplay it would be incredible!
Naughty Dog is at the top of its game here (as usual), and I feel The Last of Us Part 2 exceeds the first.
The game looks stunning; the story line has you gripped from the start; and there’s a real sense of character investment – Naughty Dog’s ingenious storytelling cleverly manipulates your emotions through these characters and the events they are subjected to – I don’t want to give too much away other than your allegiance will be called into question.
The music adds to a very tense, suspenseful, and often terrifying world. Couple this with the graphic realism and and sublime attention to detail, and you have yourself one of the most realistic and thought provoking games of this generation.
The evolution of the storyline has caused many fans to criticise the game, and while they are entitled to their opinion, I feel many of the comments are unfair. Having said that, those looking for a continuation in the same vein of the first game’s narrative will be disappointed.
The Last of Us Part 2 has already broken sales records, and I believe its continued success will prove these naysayers wrong.
Buy it, play it, and lose yourself in it. This game will define this generation of console gaming.
While the gameplay doesn’t offer anything extraordinarily innovative, what it does, it does extremely well. The graphics are, hands down, the best in any PS4 game. No arguments. In terms of plot, the opening 3 hours are quite a lot. While enjoyable you will find that this is not a game that does anything in half measures. Cut to half way through the game and you’ll reach what you believe to be the climax only for the game to force you to take the perspective of the villain. HOW DARE YOU Naughty Dog you will say, proceeding to commit in game suicide for the next few hours. The game knows how to pull your strings and it will do so continuously. The finale is gripping and many parallels are drawn between Ellie’s relationships and that of the villains.
In summary this was in my opinion a better game than the first game. DO NOT GET ME WRONG I am mad at what happens in this game and I wish it were not so, however the script is truly superb (if a little blunt in places). 10/10 worth your money.
Didnt listen to reviews went into this game unbiased and have to say am enjoying every minute so far even if something shocking happens a few hours in, experience for yourself if you enjoyed the first game you’ll enjoy this
Amazing sequel and an amazing experience to play. I’m jealous of people who haven’t played it yet.
Naughty Dog have crafted a sequel unlike any other. One that is worthy of its predecessor and beyond. Any PS4 owner needs to give this franchise a shot. This is a game that will stick with you for a lifetime.
Get this game.
Ok so where to start, I suppose with a statement that is going to be very controversial – I really liked this game and it’s story.
As a massive fan of The Last of Us and the characters that had been established, I was always looking forward to this. I was under no illusion that characters will last forever and I’m not a fan of the trend in gaming that has been around for a while now of burly white (mainly American) men solving everything with guns. I’m sure most people have heard about the controversy about main characters that are maimed or killed in TLOU2 but what better way to spark a sequel and a revenge plot and serve a driving point for players only for things to unravel into a bigger picture.
Honestly I don’t know why people are so mad at this game and I don’t think most people know themselves why they are. This is a very well written, very well acted and beautiful game. I honestly cannot compliment this enough. I’m on my second play through and I will definitely be going back for more. There’s a message that this game is trying to get across about violence, revenge and mob mentality and how bad and toxic those things can be and the fact that the internet have reacted in the way that they have only proves the point. Ultimately this is a game about more than just shooting and zombies, there is a message being told, a bigger more ambitious story being told and it’s a shame that so many narrow minded people cannot see that. It is bleak, it is grim and it is very violent but it’s also realistic for those reasons.
To round off all I’ll say is that in one review I saw the press saying that they didn’t think that humanity were as selfish and as bad as Naughty Dog have made us out to be. The internet has proven that reviewer absolutely wrong and only strengthens the games point.
An incredible, immersive experience. Great storytelling, good gameplay, beautiful environments.
Ignore the haters, avoid the spoilers.
I fail to see how you cannot be anything but amazed by this masterpiece. I feel like playing it through is experiencing a landmark in gaming that will stay with you forever.
There’s a lot of hate surrounding this game…for me personally… its incredible, powerful, uncomfortable, complex, visceral. I’ts visually awe inspiring; sure maybe there’s a few misteps here an there, but overall it’s an amazing experience, where we get to see two sides of the story.
10/10
This game is amazing I would say it’s better than the original, a lot going on but it’s easy to take in and the story and gameplay is fantastic.
A lot of cinematics but if you’re into that then this is worth the play.
Going to try and leave a spoiler free review here but be in mind of minor spoilers.
Positives: the game play works really well. Puzzle solving, cambat mechanics, and crafting system is really nice and modelled on the previous game. The games atheistic is beautiful and cannot say enough how beautiful the setting of this game is. The story builds a good character development, and inrrodices new characters which I straight away had interest in. The decision on how to engage encounters is brilliantly made, and makes you feel part of the world and actually want some of the characters/ scenarios to do well. The weapon customisation is great and the story does pick up where the previous game left, and for the start, gives a very good direct narrative which is very engaging.
Negatives: the story line gave me whiplash. So many times I thought the game was over but nope. Continue. 5,8,10 hours later you’re still going. Sometimes this is good, but it can also kill the story line, and actually lead to me intensionally failing a mission a few times because I disagreed with the narrative. It just seems incoherent. The jump scares become predictable, and makes it frustrating while you try to prevent them by seeming them coming, but can’t. The ending, in my opinion, was not satisfying, and i thought the game could have had a good conclusion 3 hours before the ending. There is a major point in the story which seems rushed and not thought through which did disrupt the story line but literally… Muffling vkices. I feel like this game could have been a good decision based game (and that’s what the creators were aiming for), but in the end the player can’t make decisions! but yet they try to make players feel guilty off the actions of the characters they are playing. Also the open world feel is good and is great at the start exploring with your companion, until you spend the majority of your time going through shops getting materials which puts a massive pause in the narrative, and feels like a chore rather than being part of game play.
Conclusion: if you’ve got this far well done! In total I would buy this game, but not now at this price. It is a beautiful game, and is well worth a play through. The art style and theme is beautiful and it’s a good follow on from the previous game. But it’s not the “great” game I hoped for, and the narrative seems very disjointed. I personally will not be playing this again after my first play through unless some DLC comes out which massively changes my opinion. Hope this helps and of course all this is my opinion and I know others will disagree with me.
The story is challenging, heart breaking and complex. No one comes out as good or evil but to me it is an interesting look at the complexity of human nature and survival in a brutal world. So 4/5 for the story.
The cut scenes and flashbacks are emotional and nostalgic.
Combat is gritty, tense and brutal. 5/5
Graphics and the environment is beautiful and full of danger. 5/5
Definitely worth the money. Up there with the best games ever played even if I do wish the storyline had been a bit different.
First of all a worthy sequel to TLOU – sumptuous graphics, soundtrack and gameplay. It’s a long game, a very long game BUT I think that’s the point. You are not just seeing the narrative from the perspective of Ellie, you also play as and see the narrative from the perspective of Abby. If Naughty Dog always do one thing well it’s tell a good story. The game makes you think about bigotry, revenge and our own morality in the face of a changed world. The unseen consequences of a seemingly correct choice, plays out in ways that are only apparent when seen through the eyes of the other person. If you don’t like your world view to be challenged then this game isn’t for you.
There are some issues around graphics, with scenery blinking out but for the most part it’s excellent. I particularly love chucking a bottle into a posse of enemies when there are clickers nearby. The ensuing chaos is hilarious.
I’ll update when I’ve finished but ignore the haters and think for yourself
**Update after finishing**
Excellent game and well worth the purchase. The ending is controversial but that is the mark of a story well told. It should provoke debate not absolutes. Well done Naughty Dog!!
Game is a masterpiece, not sure why it’s getting negative reviews on here, I urge everyone to give it a go, you will not regret it all.
Please don’t just listen to the bad reviews. Some people just didn’t get what it was trying to do (some didn’t even play it before slating it…)
Let me start by saying I loved the first game and I loved the characters even though Joel was a bit of a monster (I mean he could have maybe saved the world but was selfish instead)
Now for part 2. The gameplay is great. The stealth is terrifying. I was on edge the whole time! You constantly feel like one wrong move will be the end of you!
The world is beautiful and yet so broken…
The story is better than I thought when I started. In the beginning I was hurt. Then it all suddenly made sense. I began to care again. Yes there were parts of the story I wasn’t keen on but not the parts you’d imagine.
As for the ending I think a lot of people just didn’t get it. It’s not the way a lot of people thought and I truly feel like those hating the end just don’t understand it.
I’d love to say more but I didn’t want to spoil anyone’s experience as mine was ruined seeing spoilers.
Please just go into it with an open mind, let the story play out and decide for yourself. It may just surprise you.
There’s been a lot of unjustified criticism over the story. It’s actually very powerful. It will probably make you feel very angry and/or heartbroken at various points. I truly believe that a lot of the rage-filled criticism out there is from people who don’t know how to handle these emotions in a healthy way. (I’m not talking about genuine gripes with the game here, but overblown outrage.)
No writer or actor deserves death threats because you’re emotionally traumatised.
There are parts that I wish they’d taken in a different direction, but their decisions make total sense for the story they wanted to tell. (Even if it’s not the story some people wanted to play.)
I’ll be shocked if this doesn’t with game of the year.
After the long wait definitely worth it. Wanted to stream online but struggled so gave up. Could be our internet though. Def recommend
One of the best games I have played in years
Don’t know wy every one is hating on it so hard, probably cos they don’t have eny one to love them lol
Such a good all round game
I bought this as a present for my husband. I have no idea if it’s a good game or not but it arrived on time, on the date promised when I pre ordered. Packaging was good and game intact. Thank you
Everything about this game is perfection. Gameplay, storyline, graphics. Worth the wait for all these years.
This game is incredible and if you loved the first, you’ll love this. Don’t believe the negative reviews as there is a bit of a vendetta going around. Considering this is a 30hr game, it’s unlikely all zero star reviews left in the first 48hrs are from people who have actually played it.
An excellent game and sequel, with a dark conpkex storyline about obsession and the ultimate futility of revenge. It’s superb.
It’s a shame that so many insecure, hatefilled gamers are spamming one-star reviews because they can’t bear to see LGBTQ representation in a game, or can’t deal with characters changing over time.
Graphics the best on PS4
The game is much bigger than I was expecting I really enjoyed the first instalment so much so I purchased the remaster. I got this on day 1 and as with Amazon arrived in great time.
The story splits over two characters some of the destinations are a tad grim and you need to make sure your brightness and contrast settings are on point esp in dark areas (key for one boss fight!) some cut scenes are a tad long but you can always skip but good to understand the story.
Gameplay can be a little hard Esp against human enemies, in places and repeating parts maybe required to get it right.
The game is extremely violent so should be strictly 18+ only and quite frank puts u on edge a lot!
Classic last of us sequences, breathtaking scenery with collecting items a must to really advance well.
Little let down by the ending but thoroughly enjoyed the experience and has taken a good time to get to the end. Highly recommended game for the PS4!
There are plenty of surprises and and moments to make you appreciate the love that’s gone into crafting this masterpiece. There is at least 25- 30 hours gameplay here and replayable encounters that are genuinely enjoyable.
I can see why people might complain about clunky controls. But in the context it makes sense, your a skinny teenage girl, handling powerful guns. Every shot counts, you feel every bullet you fire and you do so with care and precision, wanting not to waste ammo. That’s how it should be, as you upgrade your weapons and muscle memory kicks in, you’ll be popping headshots with every careful shot, yet you won’t feel like a swat agent, and you really shouldn’t.
If you are looking for something more like uncharted there this the auto aim option, off by default in the menu. But I recommend playing as the makers intended.
This is not a perfect game, but it is probably one of the most ambitious, bravest and complex games that has come out in the last few years.
To point the obvious, the game is STUNNING. The different environments are alive and haunting and you will be surprised where you end up, but each location feels unique and layered. The acting and facial animation has also stepped up a gear and cut scenes blend into game play so seamlessly, that for the first 10 minutes of playing the game, my jaw was just open in awe. Much of the game play is similar to The Last of Us fans, but more stealth mechanics such as going prone and jumping, give more variety to tackling multiple enemies. Weapons and crafting have been improved a little and you will always appreciate finding a brick or a bottle in the middle of a tough fight!
Now…to talk about the story, still spoiler free! If you are lucky enough to not have one major part of the game spoiled, you might have heard that people are upset over that part and not played the rest of the game – which is quite frankly insane. It is not a choice based game; you have to experience and play as what Ellie wants to do at the time, which sometimes you will question yourself as the player because you will gain perspective. This is tackled with brilliantly throughout the course of the story.
During the game you will feel an array of emotion from the best to the worst and the game WANTS you to feel that, by design. It wants you to feel angry at the injustice of some events and then at the next moment, start to make you doubt and question your justification for feeling one way. It is a brutal, complex, hard hitting game and I even had to put my controller down and take a moment away from it, to compose myself before going back head first into the world. There are so many parallels to the original game and even though it is bleak, there are many moments of hope and joy, to show the light, even in the darkest of times.
This is a must buy for people who love and respect the first game, as it is a fantastic sequel.
Arrived fast sealed and cant wait to play already know its going to be good
Superb game one of the best on PS4
Engrossing story that makes you think
Nice visuals and sound
Quite scary not for kids
Great game, great picture, great sound,.. a bit longer than other games. Really like it.
Also delivery was right on time.
Worth to spend money.
Being a big fan of the first game, I was looking forward to playing the lastest instalment. Having just finished the game all I can say is wow – what a juggernaut of a game, I found it immersive and gripping, the gameplay mechanics are greatly improved, visually its stunning especially on the ps4 pro.
The first one was a true masterpiece, and in honesty, the sequel will never beat it. But…I cannot give it any less than 5 stars because its so well crafted as a complete game. Without revealing any spoilers…bottom line is…if you loved the first game then youll love this.
The graphics for a 7 odd year old console is brilliant, the gameplay mechanics were spot on and the amount of jump scares was brilliant. Getting to play from the perspective of the second character after what she did (no spoliers) was fully enjoyable and dare I say I preferred playing as her compared to Ellie? Yes. Yes I did.
In my honest opinion I would put this game in my top 5 and I have no regrets buying this.
Game is great. Buy it.
The story is great, though it’s best if you mindfully ignore the internet’s opinion & make up your own mind.
I have never spent the final hour of a game praying before… (I’m not even religious).
This game has been incredibly divisive in its reviews, but I would recommend anyone play the game and make their own mind up.
Firstly, the graphics are stunning and the actual gameplay mechanics are improved on over the first one. There is a ton of accessibility options for those with sensory issues.
The game itself is significantly bigger than the first one and it includes a few open areas, which is new. I completed the game on normal difficulty without a great deal of problems, so if you want the game to feel more tense and about survival then maybe put it on a higher difficulty (this can be done at any point during the game).
The controversial part of the game seems to have been its story, which I do understand, although this is hard to discuss without spoilers. The game is set in a post apocalyptic world, so is naturally brutal, with themes of violence and death commonplace. The story does not go the way you may expect, however, this adds a sense of realism to the depth of the characters. The story in this game is complex and emotive, often being genuinely heavy to play. This is not a happy game and I found myself taking breaks after long sessions due to the intensity.
Not everyone is going to love all parts of the story, but then we don’t always love the choices other’s make. Play this and make your own mind up.
Took about 22hours to complete. It can be down in anything between 15 and 25 hours I reckon. It all depends on the setting and if you want to look for things.
The games story is like a corridor. You have rooms to explore but at the end of the day you follow the corridor.
While not as good as the first Last of Us this is still a fantastic game. The story is a bit hard to get into but by the end I thought it was excellent.
Full disclosure, I thought the last of us part 1 was the best game I have ever played. I have replayed it more than 40 times, the story, characters everything was fantastic. So I have been looking forward to this one for years and excited to play it.
I will go through the good and bad elements when compared against the original
Graphics – better than the original, it has moved on a lot and looks incredible
Fighting – there are more movement options and the gameplay is very slick
World – the last of us world has been expanded and great to discover
Story – it is not as emotionally strong as the first, that is not to say it has nothing, you do see it but in a different way. There are some very clever links to the original.
Plot – there are parts of it that you just cannot understand why the character is placing themselves at such risk of death. For example, travelling across dangerous lands, fighting dangerous groups to essentially ask someone “you doing ok?” or your arch enemy is in a situation where they are 99% going to die but you would put yourself and others at a 98% risk of death to reach them because you want to then kill them. You would just think “I will stay at home watch some Netflix, those crazy people will sort that other person out.”
The game is enjoyable to play, there are parts where it is really brutal. There are lots of messages in the game and I give the developers a lot of credit for capturing this.
Is the game better than the first, well from a look and feel perspective yes but from a storyline no. The first game went so far beyond what gaming had ever done before I suppose I was hoping this one would do the same. Is that fair, not really, but we have to hope don’t we?
First things first, no, it doesn’t have a PC or LGBTQ+ agenda. Ellie is gay and a secondary character is trans, that’s it. There are no explicit queer sex scenes (though you do see a 30 second heterosexual sex scene – consensual with a bit of boob, definitely nothing that would push the limits of the 18 rating). The most explicitly gay stuff you see is kissing and general cuteness between girlfriends, if you think that’s an agenda then I don’t know what to tell you, you live in a bubble and queer folks exist, get over it.
It’s pretty grim and gruesome, the deaths are a lot more hard hitting. If you shoot someone in the leg and they bleed out, they’ll scream and writhe for several seconds, there’s more fear in their faces when you kill them, they sometimes beg for their lives, the people watching their friends die are more authentically messed up by it, stuff like that. Not something that will bother everyone, but I’d say that’s the nastiest bit of the game in terms of overall gameplay. Once again if you’re more offended by a bit of boob and a consensual sex scene, IDK what to tell you. There’s also a bit of weed use and a mention of a grumpy old alcoholic, if those are deal breakers for you.
Graphics are amazing, sound design is great, and the gameplay itself is very similar to the first game, but just a little bit better. IMO it’s perfect, I hate when they change too much in the sequels when the original was so good. If it’s not broke don’t fix it, you know? And The Last of Us Part II honours that, it basically expanded on the original combat without changing much at all. Oh, except one thing – Clickers ACTUALLY use echolocation now (they just used hearing in the first game) and they don’t bloody tell you, I must have died a dozen times before I realised they can “see” you if you stand in front of them while they’re making noises.
As for the rest… basically it’s a game about how much you can mess yourself up in the pursuit of revenge. It’s a game that hurts you then tells you to get over it, because staying angry will only ever leave you unsatisfied and unhappy. It’s true to life, moreso than most of us would like, and at times it’s frustrating, tedious, or even in-your-face insulting. The game doesn’t care if you like it or not, it doesn’t care if it makes you feel bad, and it doesn’t care about making you feel better. Pretty much every criticism I’ve seen against the game so far (that this plot point should have been different, that the pacing is weird, that you don’t care about that character, that you’re not satisfied with the ending, etc) can be answered with “yes, I know, that’s literally the point.” Once you get your head around that, it’s a good game that achieves exactly what I believe it set out to achieve.
If that sounds interesting to you then I say go for it, maybe watch a playthrough first (I recommend JackSepticEye or GabSmoulders purely because they seems to be the only YouTubers thus far who actually get it) or wait for it to come on sale, or keep your eyes open on marketplaces online or CEX and similar trade-in stores, I’m sure there will be a lot of copies there soon enough. Do actually play the game though if you want to criticise it, and be wary of those with generic copy/paste reasons for disliking it, such as an unsatisfying ending or a dislike for the “PC agenda” it doesn’t have.
Firstly the game looks amazing, everything from the scenery to the character models has improved not only from the last game but from Naughty Dogs last Uncharted game.
The gameplay mechanics have move forward so much, enemies will now flank your location so you can’t just hide behind a wall, you need to move, hide and take them out one at a time.
The story is intriguing and with enough twists and turns to leave you eager for the next section of the game.
The vocal cast/motion capture cast have all delivered stella performances, a game of this scope needs emotion and these performances have delivered.
All in all this game is a contender for game of the year for me and I look forward to seeing what Naughty Dog do next.
Unfortunately, Amazon’s pre-order promotion DLC came to late to be of any use.
I have seen a lot of negative reviews about this game too, seems many gamers are aggrieved about the politically correct nature of the game- I get it, we all know it exists, some may not agree with it and for others its totally acceptable. I also understand its a pain when the PC brigade ram it down your throats- but when you play this game, treat it for what it is- a game and you’ll be ok. There are some who have given this low ratings because they feel depressed- somehow the last game saved their life or whatever. Part 1 was emotionally engaging in a positive way I agree, but so is this in different ways- the world is not a perfect happy place in reality and you are playing a game post-zombie apocalypse- it really isnt that deep. Just enjoy the game for what it is.
Received PS4 game on Tuesday 23/6/20 early thank you Amazon UK. Looking to playing this one.
Lots has been said about the graphics so I won’t delve too deep, they are brilliant, certainly the best the PS4 has seen and the animation, sound and soundtrack etc. is simply first class. I won’t post spoilers but I will skirt around certain aspects.
The game is essentially split into two parts where you get to see the story pan out from two different perspectives. A significant event takes place early in the game which provokes Ellie to seek retribution and so the journey and exploration of Seattle begins. Ellie’s quest is very much Last of Us Part 1 orientated, lots of dialogue and encounters with a wide variety of different factions and infected. On the subject of factions there are two to deal with, the Washington Liberation Front or Wolfs and the Sepherites, a group of religious types that are at war with the aforementioned faction. Both differ how they patrol and secure their areas, the Wolfs tend to be in large packs and have the added bonus of attack dogs which use their sense of smell to track Ellie down. The others I personally believe are harder to deal with, they tend to notice you quicker and communicate via whistling which eventually leads them to your location. It is quite off-putting the whistling, you just never feel comfortable when trying to navigate an area. Finally, and not considering them as a faction, is the infected. Again, they play a massive role and some of the types you come across are both frightening and at the same time exhilarating to take on. There is still the guys from before and a couple of new ones to keep it fresh, some of the set-pieces that you are subjected to form the main highlights of the game in my opinion.
The second part is seen through the eyes of someone else and is definitely the more action packed side of the game but it just doesn’t fit in with the original narrative. There is a lot going on by Ellie that would affect the other protagonist but until near the end, you are not aware of what is going on. It is strange and completely disconnects the story. Towards the latter stages the game just turns into uncharted with various elaborate set pieces that look good but just seems to make no sense. Not to say I didn’t enjoy it, I thought as a whole the second part easily eclipsed the first part in terms of enjoyment but they just feel as separate games entirely.
There is also a third act which I think very early on had a natural stopping point but it is needlessly dragged out for absolutely no reason, nothing is achieved by the final act.
It does sound like I am hating on the game a little but in reality I think it is one of the best that I have played this generation. I liked the characters and the decision made by Naughty Dog, I think once the context has been explained, it is easy to accept the direction that was taken. There are a lot of people that don’t agree, hence 1 star reviews but no way does this game deserve anything less than 4 stars. The game, regardless of the direction etc. was always going to be inferior to the first, it was a masterpiece. The balance was perfect and the bonds you make and the people you meet just further compliment it. Last of Us 2 is completely different, more action focussed but still an absolute gem of a game that will last just as long in the memory as the first.
Finally, if you are thinking about value for money, this has it in abundance. The whole campaign took me over 28 hours to complete and during some parts I felt as though I just rushed through. It does have replay value also with New Game Plus, but essentially it is quite refreshing to have a single player campaign that is this long rather than the normal 10 hours that you normally get. Brilliant game, don’t deny yourselves playing it based on petty, unfounded comments by so called “fans”.
Why ?
Because this game may be the best 3rd person action adventure of this generation.
You just really need to play this game if you are a fan of great games. It’s as simple as that !!
I hope it ushers in many more just like it for the PS5 generation.
It took me 5 days to complete – playing a few chapters every day.
This means at least 25-30hrs of gameplay – more if you take your time and explore every nook and cranny !!
It’s one of those games that just when you think it’s coming to an end – it keeps on giving.
So in terms of VFM it’s a clear winner too.
The story is strong – and is a straight continuation of the first game – told partly in flashback sequences.
Its very ‘adult’ in tone – and doesn’t pull its punches in any way !!
As many have mentioned – its very ‘dark’ and often brutally violent – though If you have played the first game thats exactly what you would expect. There are also some big surprises – and a few VERY controversial decisions in the story that you may not be wanting/expecting – and some that may shock you !!
And yes – it uses revenge as its main story motivation – but it’s just as much about living with the consequences of your actions, loyalty, friendship, love and, ultimately, forgiveness.
If you are familiar with the first game your loyalties WILL be challenged, your expectations shattered !!
It’s the great script and exceptional v/o acting that really sell the story.
The actors doing the original games voice work have returned – and are (again) superb.
They just really know how to sell it to you – giving it real emotional weight – and make it all very believable.
Its also got Gay and Tran’s characters in prominent roles – – but so what !!??
I can’t believe this is an issue for some people – but if it is then can i remind you its 2020 !!
Open up your mind and get over it !!
If anything this is ultra-modern and forward thinking work from the writers – and quite brave issues to take on in a video game. It’s supposed to challenge you !! Not just in terms of game play – but emotionally and morally too !!
Let’s hope more video games are doing this in the next generation. 🙂
It’s obviously been lovingly crafted technically too – in every way imaginable.
Graphically it looks stunning.
They have really optimised the graphics engine this time around.
It plays superbly on my PS4 Pro – and looks beautiful on my 4K LG OLED TV.
It runs at 1440p and has a locked 30fps on the Pro – should that interest you.
Easily good enough to look amazing on a good 4K TV – especially with HDR enabled.
The clarity, depth and rich, lush looking environments looks truly next-gen.
No slow-down, blurry textures or chuggy frame rates here – and it plays smoooooth !!! 🙂
The music is superb – perfectly pitched – it adds tension and drama when called for – but is subtle and never intrusive. You may even learn a few guitar chords !! 😉
The sound design also adds so much atmosphere.
Rainy days and nights, storms with thunder cracking all around you, fast white water rivers, gun shots and enemy chatter echoing around the level – a good surround sound system really brings this game to life !!
And don’t get me started on those Infected/Clicker sounds.
The Clickers have ‘evolved’ this time around – and are much more dangerous.
I won’t spoil the surprise by saying why or how – but OMG !!
Be afraid !!
I have to admit i felt emotionally exhausted after completing it !!
This is because it’s VERY tense throughout and quite demanding in terms of gameplay – with a few difficulty spikes here and there – including one of the most panic-inducing Boss battles i’ve ever had to endure !!
The NPC enemy AI are also super smart this time – especially in tracking you down.
If you get spotted violence from them is often fast and unforgiving.
They work together.
They flank you.
You have to think and act fast or you will be in big trouble !!
Tip: Go slow, use stealth and the silent ‘renewable’ weapon options whenever you can – as ammo and resources are very scarce. Search every corner of every room in every building !!
Many items and collectables are well hidden.
Oh – and take lots of breaks – your blood pressure will thank you !! 😉
Actually – as i have mentioned – difficulty is generally high throughout the game – even on the lower difficulty settings. Their idea of “moderate” is not the same as mine !!
So i recommend playing it on one of the lower (pre-set) difficulty levels first time through – then using the ‘game+’ to play the higher ones. This will reduce frustration – especially early on.
Don’t say i didn’t warn you !!
Strong G.O.T.Y. contender for me.
Highly recommended.
Congrat’s to all at Naughty Dog.
Can’t wait for their next Project. 🙂
PS: You can individually customise all difficulty settings (even during the game) if thats your thing – just be careful to not remove all the challenge !!
If you liked The first game you will Love this one two, But be warned its not the faint of heart.
Summary:
Graphics: 10/10
Audio: 10/10
Story: 9/10
Sure, it’s not for everyone, it’s dark – but what is for everyone? Absolutely perfect.
I am absolutely gob smacked how some can give this game negative reviews and 1 star. I know we are all different but I am genuinely dumb founded. This is my second review, I had this game on order since March 2017 because I loved the first episode so much.
In a nut shell this game is truly remarkable, from the graphics which are just stunning to the story line and let me emphasise on the story. I said this on my last review, it is like a book that you can’t put down and the emotions, well, ive just completed it and at the end I had goose bumps and believe it or not, a wave of emotion. Yes I know, you may think its sad but I genuinely felt emotional at the end and I am blinking 50 years old!! The twists and turns this game gives are amazing and when I switched to playing Abbey, at first I was gutted because I didnt want to play this horrible girl but when you understand what she has been through, you get drawn to her as well and half way through I had to challenge myself on who I preferred.
If your a young person who likes pick up into action at a million miles an hour, this probably isn’t for you. But if you like a great emotional and thrilling story, then this game is a must. Highly suggest you complete episode one first though otherwise you won’t feel the story line in this.
I honestly can not recommend this game enough. Truly staggering……
Naughty Dog…..you are legends. I will hope and pray there is a 3rd.
No idea what im going to do with myself now……
Has a very familiar feel to the first game but with perhaps even more brutality.
Pushes the boundaries of storytelling in games.
A must play.
There is a lot to take in at first as they move the story on by 7 years and introduce you to a lot more characters but it plays it out well. Has all the signs of a masterpiece but only time will tell…
Update, must be about half way (I’m guessing) of this huge game. One of my favourite ever games. Only criticism is the way the story keeps going back in time, 2 months ago, 2 years ago, 5 years ago etc. I would rather play it in sequence, 5 years ago then moving forward. But other than that I see no faults at all.
Overall: I’m not convinced by the story, in the first one you were on the same side, in this switching between two characters who are trying to kill each other, does not work for me. Would you play a game of football with one team in the first half a different in the second half, without being able to control who wins?
A summary after completing the game… The story starts off really well but loses itself later on with changing characters and going back a few years. But the gameplay, for a third person shooter with some puzzles is one of best games available. Overall i enjoyed it and will play it again once it comes out on the PS5.
Story wise, it is gripping. No character is left one-dimensional. They feel real, human. Movement is much improved from the first game too. Not to mention the fact that now you can really go and explore vast areas of your surroundings.
Lastly, I am not sure who in their right mind would badmouth this beautiful masterpiece. It just goes to show that some people are ill-willed, commenting without actually playing the game.
Without doubt, for me, this is the best example why a Playstation is a much better choice over all the other consoles.
Box was broken when I got it, cracks in edges and corners cracked didnt even open the outer sleeve of it ye
Combat is visceral, even more do than in the original.
Story – remains to be seen, will update once I am through.
Just go get it and experience for yourself. Essential.