The simple fact that this game generated a debate that lasts to this day and continues to change people's perspectives is more than enough to know that it is much more than a common video game.
Yep it’s cool because it doesn’t have plot armor. Main characters die as if they are an enemy we kill through out the game. The dialog is very good, the graphics, the emotions you feel, and it’s super satisfying to play, I enjoy the game very much. The bad thing for me at least is that in this world where there is little food, zombies, and people who can hunt and kill you for resources or food, Lilly suddenly identifies as lev. The pyramid of needs would show that realistically she wouldn’t think about stuff like this when there is so much going on, also that others respect her pronounce in this world makes no sense either, as there is no good people in such a world, most kill others or ra*e or whatever. On top of what I mentioned all of this makes lev look extremely selfish and unlikable. Just because she felt like a man, this led to her shaving her head, this lead to her being hunted and her sister lost her arm because of levs feelings. Also later on because lev goes to the mom she gets yara killed aswell. What would have made this 100 times better and would have made lev/ lily more understandable is if they got rid of the trans plot and kept everything else because then the story would be like this. She is a kid, she was ordered to get married to one of the older men, maybe that guy was disgusting, probably was since he was gonna marry a child. This would lead lily to run away, making the scars hunt her, and now it makes sense why her sister sacrificed herself for her because she too could understand that a 14 year old marrying some old guy by force is disturbing. This would also make sense why lily went back to her mom since she didn’t think her mom would disapprove of her not wanting to be with this old guy. Legit all of this happened already as explained by yara, just that they added trans aspect for inclusion or whatever, but this makes all the difference, as it’s not so much that she didn’t want to get forced into marriage but rather she felt like a boy so she caused lots of death including yaras for no reason. Other than that I have one more thing, Joel was very careful even before he had to survive for 20 years, on outbreak day he didn’t t even stop for the family on the road, no way he would go in the middle of 8 people without any weapons. At least stand somewhere he can see everyone or something… the only logical explanation for this is that Jessie mentions Tommy and Joel didn’t get a lot of sleep before hand so maybe they were more careless, but still, looks more like bad writing. What would have been better is if Abby saved Joel or tommy instead, because why would Joel then think that Abby was going to shoot him when she just saved him, or his brother? This is my opinion at least, I agree with you tho it’s not just a common video game, can’t wait to see what they do with the third one
I also like that we play from both sides, seeing how it is being a big group, and how these trespassers are taking us out, also playing as the trespassers being basically John wick
@jawsdan Characters do have plot armour, and typically die only when it serves a purpose to the plot. Ex: Jessie dies so Ellie and Abby can have a family, making her decision to seek revenge more consequential, Joel dies to establish the revenge theme, Tess dies so Joel and Abby can bond, etc. The only difference is that their deaths are executed well, which makes them seem realistic in that they're unexpected, traumatic, and brutal.
@@bboi1489 yes they die for plot reasons, but plot armor is like in the boys when the boys have million opportunities to kill a member of the 7 and don’t because…. Just so they can use the character more
this game is my guilty pleasure, cause everytime i say that i have 400+ hours on it + platinum, and in general tlou2 is my favourite game ever i just get attacked because for some reason people are offended by someone's else's opinion
"i shot her, i couldnt take my own life im a fucking coward" THE PARALLEL TO RILEY HURTS ME SO DEEPLY, not to mention the position of the skeletons perfectly mirroring joels death scene in the final shot
I don't think the naysayers changed their mind, it's just they have short attention spans and moved on to memeing other things. This game needed to be divisive to half the crowd to be a masterpiece for the other half with brains.
@@bladechild2449 haven’t changed my mind, don’t have a short attention span. I don’t care too much about how Joel died other than the false advertisement ; the execution of Abby was shit, the ending message was “revenge is bad” after she slaughtered countless other people, atrocious pacing, plot holes. When Bruce Straley left (original TLOU game director) Druckman went for the stupid revenge story plot across America story that was originally denied in for the first games plot for being stupid, inclusions for the sake of it that doesn’t actually provide any prospective on gay characters, jesse is just a sperm bank, the “maintaining morality is impossible” trope is overdone to hell and the grimy sex scene is just the rotten cherry on top 😂
Finally a video with some appreciation for Abby. She is the most misunderstood character perhaps in gaming history. People are so blind to their bias because of the first game - we KNOW Ellie and Joel, we grew to love them. This game forces you to take yourself outside the bubble of selective bias and realise that the bottom line is Ellie would have done exactly what Abby did to Joel if she were in her position - Ellie’s entire journey through the second game represents that. The people who hate on this game prove that we are bias toward those we love, no matter what they do. Joel killed countless people who all had their own stories, families, people who cared for them and vice versa. Thank you for this video!!! ❤️
@@skillfuloli492 100%! People also forget that Jerry was Abby’s Joel! I love Abby so much and I wish she was more acknowledged. At the end of it all, Ellie made a choice to sacrifice everything in the pursuit of revenge and Abby didn’t choose this yet was the person who lost everything - her dad, ALL of her friends and the place she called home! 😭 I cannot wait for TLOU3 and I hope we get to see Abby & Ellie somehow come together and realise they are two sides of the same coin.
Abby is not a misunderstood character. The entire game was poorly written 😂 watch this perspective on the last of th-cam.com/video/NJJnTSdPL5I/w-d-xo.htmlsi=zz6eRCZ43b92_duW
I personally think that the fireflies didnt ask ellie for consent for the same reason joel didnt ask ellie. They were afraid of what she would say. Marlene didnt want to risk ellie saying no. 45:06
because they knew that if she said no, to either of them, they wouldnt have listened to her. They didn't want to risk becoming the villain. But continued to be one, just under sheeps clothing by not agreeing OR denying her wishes.
Marlene knew that Ellie would've said "Yes". They already had this conversation. Ellie and Marlene have spent time together before meeting Joel, and Ellie knew that she was the key to find a cure. They weren't sure that Ellie needed to die, but she was willing to give her life for the cause in case they came to that. They probably discussed this probability. Marlene knew that Ellie's purpose in life was helping to find a cure in any way. People never consider that Ellie's survival guilt and will to make something good, that would give a meaning to her survival, was her main driving force in Part 1. Not survival. That was Joel. It was Joel who told Ellie "You need to find something new to fight for". But it was Joel talking to himself. He found something new to fight for in Ellie, but he didn't care about Ellie's reason to fight, and it was the cure. That was Ellie's reason. Not being Sarah's replacement. When Marlene was fighting with Jerry, she was fighting for Ellie, but not because they weren't asking her. It's like Ellie's approval was something they were taking for granted. Even Joel was taking that for granted. Why do you think he lied to her? Not to protect her from that knowledge, but because he knew Ellie would despise him for his selfish choice. Joel took the right from Ellie and the Fireflies to find the cure for his selfish love.
@@Gabriel-TárIt’s a possibility that Ellie would have given consent in the moment but it is not certain. Also, there is no solid evidence pointing towards her and Marlene discussing this before having met Joel. If they had, wouldn’t the plot want to bring attention to it at some point? Even then, it is cruel to immediately grab and sedate her without being able to say goodbye to the man she traveled the entire USA with.
@@TotallyNotJoe_ It was cruel but as Marlene said “this isn’t about me, or even her. There is no other choice here”. She wasn’t a human being anymore she was more than that, the cure of the infection. And risking it all just to lose in “kisses and goodbyes” was something they didn’t have time for. What Joel did was cruelctoo. I know you think in “videogame mentality” but in real life if this happened to you I doubt that your father would simply take a rifle and kill 54 people. And let’s not forget that Joel isn’t even Ellie’s father from the Fireflies point of view, he was a smuggler that could have become friend with her after so much, yeah. It’s not like they know that Joel had a daughter and trauma and shit. I think that the major hint is that at the end of the game Ellie says “back when I was bitten […] my best friend was there, and she got bit too […] I’M STILL WAITING FOR MY TURN […] She was the first to die, and then it was Tess, and then Sam.” But Joel interrupts her, he doesn’t let her speak “None of that is on you” And after that she says “No, YOU DON’t Understand”. Basically Ellie is sensing that Joel lied about the Fireflies because she wanted to express how much she was waiting “for her turn to die”, and give a meaning to her immunity (Part 2 prologue, Joel and Tommy), in a way, so she wants to be sure 100% that Joel is telling the truth because if not she would be really hurt (Part 2). so I don’t know how Marlene knew, but I know that Marlene knew that Ellie would’ve said Yes. And even Joel knew (Marlene to Joel: “It’s what she wants: And you know it!”) Also, even if Ellie had given her consent, Joel would’ve still murdered everyone. The narrative purpose of having Ellie being unaware of that was not to make the Fireflies bad because they were doing it without her consent, it was to give Ellie and Joel 2 years of happy life together, because if Ellie had known earlier she would’ve simply hated Joel from the get go.
I have played this game four times and I somehow didn't pick up on the rat king being a physical representation of Abby's combined trauma in the hospital. It just goes to show how many tiny little details there are in this game, I really pick up and learn something different about this story each time I play it/watch a video about it. Great video!
Something I'd like to add too is that the channel that he mentions, the last of us explained, when Abby descends down it could be her descend to hell, and the floors she goes down could represent the (9?) layers of hell in the divine comedy, and also Abby descending to the root of her trauma
I definitely feel that we were meant to feel more angry with Joel when he tells Ellie the truth, the entire game we are specifically put into Ellie’s shoes and our emotions follow hers. However I feel that because we only know and genuinely care about Ellie and Joel as opposed to the rest of the world, it made it harder for people to feel sympathy for Abby and feel anything for the millions that could have been saved. It greatly affected people’s opinion of Joel’s death and people weren’t able to feel sympathy for anyone else after that point, completely blindsiding all of the people who were hurt by Joel. This is actually a pretty important theme in the game, and its audience proved it right.
what i think is most interesting about the first conversation in tlou2 with tommy and joel is joel, being the lovable character that he is, still has many flaws and they shine through there. he doesn’t say “i killed them” he doesn’t say “i took her” he says “i SAVED her” he thinks what he did was subconsciously heroic. he really doesn’t truly see what he did wrong and although this is a flawed mindset, he’s still the loved joel he was. it’s truly like a weird father dynamic where you don’t know if you love or hate him. i never understood the hate of the second game. it’s too one of my favorite games.
I don't know that it's that he thought it was "heroic" or didn't see "anything wrong with it", it's that it was a very clear choice to him. Save her, or let her die. And he couldn't bear the alternative. So he saved her. There's no moral question in it for him, it was simply the choice he felt he could live with. This ties back to when he says "you keep finding something to fight for" later to Ellie. Ellie became his reason. So naturally, he must save her - it doesn't matter if it's wrong or right on any front. It's a very selfish decision, but so SO human, and that's why it's great.
@@Invalidationcoded but seeing it as “saving” her in the first place is already inherently thinking it’s heroic. saving someone’s life is almost always seen as heroic and brave, but in this case, it wasn’t. for multiple reasons.
What always stood out to me that he didn't say "I lied", because he did lie to Ellie. So little of joel by the time we meet him can be described as good. He's almost like Mad Max in that sense, an antihero. Is one lie the worst thing he's done? Probably not, but the actions surrounding the source of the lie and the consequences of the lie in and of itself is probably the second most damaging thing that ever happened to him. It's not about heroism for him, he just can't lose his child again.
Neil has confirmed a few times that the boat on the menu screen after you complete the game is washed up on the shore of Catalina Island where the Firefly base was, so they have made it to the fireflies
@@wisehat If you were Ellie at the end of Part 2, having pretty much lost everything other than your immunity, what would you wanna do? Maybe finally undo what Joel did and see if someone can make a cure cos you have nothing to live for... and what would be your only lead on that cure? The Fireflies. Abby.
The thing I always notice in the spaceship scene, after she takes the helmet off and he says, "I do okay?" - is the light shining on his watch. 😭😭😭 Immediate tears, every time.
That weird sound you hear out of nowhere is me clapping. Bravo... your video is... amazing. Simply amazing. You UNDERSTAND this game. You UNDERSTAND the message OF this game. Thank you for makin git
My favorite game too. Abbys journey of healing, changing and finding new allies was perfect. It felt like an epic, climbing to the highest point, dropping to the lowest depth and squashing the scariest enemy, her fears and her beliefs.
A lot of people seem to miss the point on this game. Of course there are valid criticisms; the pacing seems to be hit or miss for one, though it worked for me. But even today so many people point at things that actually don't matter too much in the overarcing story and use those as examples as to why the game was bad or created to force diversity. Most of the things people point to as forcing a woke agenda could be removed and it wouldn't really impact very much. The only one that would require more extensive attebtion would be if they didn't include Ellie being gay, but seeing as we already knew that from Left Behind I don't see how people would possibly believe it wouldn't still be part of her character in Part 2. I really think Part 2 is an example of diversity done _right._ The characters might be gay or trans or whatever, but it's only a portion of their personality. They were created as full, flawed people who _happen_ to be gay/trans/etc. I'm a gay woman and I'm honestly sick of media conpanies trying to push representation in everything, because it often is done to the detriment of the story. I'd rather have no representation than _bad_ representation. And this is from someone who's been a gamer since NES and really did get sick of having to play male protagonists in pretty much everything growing up lol I won't pretend that seeing Ellie as the lead protagonist, so a gay woman, didn't actually mean a lot to me; it absolutely did. I grew up during a time where i had to be closted for fear of being assaulted or fired for it. But if Naughty Dog used the game as a way to focus on LGBT stuff rather than telling a good story (that really has nothing to do with that), I would have hated it. But the focus of the story was on the hard path to forgiveness. Everything else was just a small part of the characters. I actually really related to Ellie in this game. I've felt similar rage; my childhood wasn't sunshine and roses, and learning to let go and forgive others (and myself) was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Ellie wasn't just struggling with her feelings around forgiving Joel, or learning to forgive Abby. She couldn't forgive herself for pushing Joel away for so long, for losing him without actually repairing their relationship. A lot of people also criticize her decision to go hunting for Abby again after the farm only to let her go. I think it fits. When Ellie left Seattle, she didn't do it on her own terms. She was beaten and broken, with people she loved who were in even worse shape. So when she left Seattle, it was because she _had_ to. When she let Abby go in Santa Barbara, it was Ellie's decision; she decided to let it go. She didn't want to be to Lev what Joel was to Abby, or what Abby was to Ellie. She needed it to be her own choice so she could start to heal. Having the choice taken from her was worse, especially after everything she went through. Also, it's always refreshing when I hear someone else who appreciates Abby's character design. So many people say no woman could be built like that without steroids, which is not at all true. Is it common? No. But women with her build do exist. My girlfriend has the same build; she's a firefighter/paramedic who is required to work out for her job. She doesn't use steroids. Just willpower. That complaint, above all, makes me eyeroll the most. And then there's Joel, and his death. People say he would never, _ever_ tell people his name, or walk into a room with people he doesn't know, or be at all complacent. I would wager most people who say that have never actually been in a setting where complacency is the difference between life and death. Even the most hardened, street-smart, battle-ready person can be conplacent. It doesn't matter how many years of experience you have. Anyone and _everyone_ is susceptible. I work in a field where complacency is a swift ticket to injury or death, and I've seen people get hurt or end up in very bad situations because of it. Hell, I've been there myself, after a decade in this job. It happens. You do your best not to allow it but it's evwntually gonna happen and you just have to hope you come out okay on the other sode and learn from it. In that scene you can see that Joel reads the room and knows something is up. He knew he was in a dangerous situation but it was too late. And to your point about how people seem to think his death was far too undignified for him; those people seem to want plot armor for a character they love. I get it. I love Joel's character, too. But i think the way it all happened was so mich more impactful. Death doesn't care if you love a person when he comes to claim them. Death is equal opportunity, and in a world as brutal as in TLoU, everyone is fair game. It comes so suddenly, and is so shocking, to anyone. Anyone can be a victim at any time, even if they have a heart of gold or people who love them. I think one of the most important messages in this game is to learn to forgive the people you love and spend as much time with them as possible, because you never know when that time's going to be up. I really enjoyed your video. It was well articulated and hopefully can help some people who didn't like the game to understand why so many of us appreciated it. I think it's a testament to Naughty Dog's abilities that we are still having these discussions in 2024, not even just about Part 2, but even Part 1. I love debating the minutiae of both games, and have reached a middle geound eith people who really disliked Part 2 on more than one occasion, where we can each understand why the other likes/dislikes the game. I'm also kinda jealous you managed to get through Part 2 without being spoiled; I got spoiled with the leaks because I was watching anything and everything about Part 2 up until relase and the backlash from the leaks was just so insane that people were intentionally trying to spoil everything.
Thank you so much for your thoughts!! Your interpretation of the characters are literally spot on (esp the thing about abbys build i hate when ppl talk ab that) but realistically thank you fr, the diversity of tlou is so well placed and reminds me a lot of real life, i will never understand anyone who doesn’t appreciate any kind of diversity
The only thing I would call woke that I hated was when Jesse asks if Dina is gonna keep the baby. If they established abortions can be done, okay but it's such a weird line that's so out of place for me. I know some people point to Dina being Jewish for the war now even though this game predates that war by years so it doesn't apply. The rainbow on the street was kind of cool because it was a real thing in Seattle. I'd agree this is how to make a game with diverse characters because being gay, trans or whatever isn't their sole defining trait. You don't like Ellie because she's lesbian. You don't like lev because he's trans.
@@tigerwoods373 i think the question is posed because of the world they live in. Women have given themselves abortions with little medical knowledge now in times of desperation. In a world as desperate at TLOU's id say it a perfectly reasonable question. No one would judge someone for not wanting to bring a baby into that life.
Part 2 will always hold a special place in my heart. I played it a year ago for the first time when i was going through a rough time and played it over and over again. The final fight where ellie remembers that glimpse of joel and their last conversation always gets me. Great video, im happy there are people who love the game as much as i do
It’s so rare that I come across a video essay about tlou2 that actually has good takes and understands the game and the concepts addressed within it. I appreciate this video sm. I LOVE THIS GAME.
Bought a PS4 just to play the Last of Us part 1 remastered. Sold it to a father who wanted it for his son. Bought a PS5 just to play Last of Us part 2 remastered. Sold it to a mother who wanted it for her son. I don’t regret a thing, with the latter being my favorite single player experience of all time.
Wow!!! I'm impressed with your opinions for this game and the way you broke down why was awesome!!! This game deserves the chance to be appreciated for the masterpiece it actually is!!!
i just finished the game for the first time and i can never agree more. literally everyone craps on this game but as if now this is my fav single player game
Thank you man!!! I am so glad to hear that someone else is as passionate about this game as I am. You see everything the same as me about this game. This was a good video to watch not only for the opinions but how much effort you put into it. Keep up the great work!
I went into part 2 after loving part one and was worried I was going to hate it because all I hear are people talking about how bad the game is. This was definitely not the case, no video game has ever had such an emotional impact on me. This game is an absolute masterpiece.
I’m doing a high school research presentation on Last of Us 2, and this makes me understand the story so much more than I was gonna write, thanks for the massive inspiration man
glad to have find others who loves this game. Which is a masterpiece. No other games bring you in an emotional rollercoaster like that. It literally plays with your feelings. Those are not chronological mistakes, they are there for a reason.
What a beautiful video. ❤ So glad to see people with the same view as me on this game, I could talk hours about it. Love how much effort you put into this.
Your commentary was great but also so funny. I rarely see people talk about how they struggle to play some parts while commenting on how great the game was or share the hate for stalkers like I did 😭
Some people hate this game for not doing almost anything with Ellies immunity, but Joel literally took the importance of her immunity by killin all the fireflies in part one. Now theres no one who can make the vaccine using Ellie, so theres pretty much nothin big they can do with the immunity except showing ellie gettin bit or breathing spores, but thats literally what they did. Showed ellie breathing spores and get bit and telling about her immunity to Dina. And people still say the game is bad because of this.
Glad to see someone appreciate Abby. I have gone to like her immensely over the years, even more than Ellie, as controversal as this may be for certain fans. Loved the video. Amazing job 🫶🏼
Same. Something about this game broke me apart and then healed me. I needed this game. The first game, as much as I loved it, left me with a gaping hole in my chest. The contruction of the Joel-Ellie relationship throughout the game ending on Joel's lie was simply... something that didn't give me peace. This game, TLoU2, made me cry and suffer to a level the first game did not, but by the end, I felt renewed hope and understanding. For me, this game told me that no matter what happens, one can heal and continue on.
One question i wish Part 2 posed was the question of whether it was truly Ellie's responsibility to sacrifice herself. I'd argue its consistent with Joel's character to tell her it wasn't. I dont think he took her to the fireflies because he felt the cure was truly possible or because he wanted it. He did it initially out of an obligation to Tess and then because he started to grow close to Ellie. In Part 1, he tells her "We don't have to do this" yet in Part 2, when the truth comes out, i don't remember him ever arguing that point. Ellie's need to sacrifice herself comes from her survivor's guilt. She feels the deaths of Sam, Tess and Riley were pointless and that she, as an immune, has an obligation to sacrifice herself. But its arguable that it isn't her responsibility. She's still just a child at the time riddled with guilt. Plus she'd be leaving Joel alone again despite in Part 1 saying "I'm afraid of being alone" and "Everyone i loved died or left me except you." She's so willing to die and leave Joel alone refusing to see his side of the story. So whilst she has every right to be upset, she herself is also being selfish
This is honestlly the best video I have ever seen about this game, I played it for the first time earlier this year and was worried about not liking it because all the things people always said about it but this game is such a master piece, I loved the game and loved this video
hey man I really appreciate this video. people give part two a lot of crap but it's my favorite of the two parts. thanks for such an empathetic analysis of this game
No one, and I mean NO ONE, will ever change my mind on this game. I will love it no matter what. The story (whilst flawed in certain aspects) captures everything it’s going for. The acting is easily the best I’ve ever seen in a video game, the graphics are fucking gorgeous and the soundtrack somehow exceeds the first game for me. Feel free to argue with me in the replies but my opinion will not change.
Same here (along Part 1) and nobody in this universe can convince me otherwise. I haven't stopped loving or stopped thinking about TLOU since 2013 & Part 2 only refueled it and did the exact same thing again. Sadly the game is buried by so much shit online that it's no longer fun to TALK about.
Sadly a lot of games, movies etc are now having a lot of hate, mostly on twitter and reddit and kind of on youtube, it's getting harder to talk about anything without being attacked by someone
@@TheTom20 Yeah 100% agreed. Especially when it involves anything with the so called "woke" topic which Part 2 often does (I don't really agree with those people but yeah it's sadly the reality)
I think Jessie being similar/familiar to Joel might actually be the point, he's calm, supportive, understanding, obviously independent since he caught up to Ellie. This helps with him saying "I looked up to Joel" and makes me wonder if Joel was like a mentor to him as well
Because of how emotional Part 2 is, it generally requires two playthroughs to fully be appreciated, and because most could barely get through there first, I have a sneaky feeling once season 2 releases, some who haven't touched Part 2 since they completed it will realize this game is a masterpiece.
As another fellow fan of TLOU2 I relate to your passion for the game, The storytelling, characters, and emotional journey make it unforgettable. Your heartfelt perspective really resonates with me, and it's great to see someone who shares the same deep appreciation for this absolute fucking masterpiece. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and reminding me why this game is so special man this video was nothing short of a banger!
I couldn’t agree more, I’ve played a lot of games since 2020 but none of them hooked me like the last of us part 2, I’ve replayed it countless times (at least 75 play throughs) & nothing is as gripping, poignant or rage inducing as this game, it’s a masterpiece from start to finish as far as I’m concerned, impatiently waiting for last of us 3
FINALLY a positive video about TLOU2 it’s literally my fave game of all time. abby is one of my fave characters of all time, thank u for posting this😭 its so refreshing and nice to see someone with opinions like mine enjoying the game rather than sh’tting all over it with repetitive overused points. i prefer this game over tlou1 and everyone calls me crazy
That first big stalker scene in the dark office building is so intense. I've done several playthroughs of this game and I always like to challenge myself to get through all of the stalker scenes in complete stealth using head shots with the bow or the silencer. It can be maddening sometimes, but I'll restart the encounter even if I'm able to run away and get back into hiding. You gotta move really slowly and never advance too far forward cause if you get to close, they'll charge you... but if you manage to keep your distance, the worst that can happen is they'll find a new hiding place and that's your best chance to track them and take them down when they peek around the corner.
Okay I'm kinda late but man was this an amazing video. I geniunelly loved this game and although I can understand some of its critisism, I think a lot of it stems from people just not taking different perspective... It feels like they only see the characters's actions, but not their motives Fantastic essay, I'll be sure to show it to my friends
I played through this game one time and refuse to play it again. Not because I hated it like everyone else, but because I want the experience I had to last forever. This is my favorite game of all time.
Thank you for your insight and opinions, The Last of Us part 1 & 2 are also my favorite forms of media as well. People just saw what they wanted to see and complained about it.. “revenge is bad.” But the story was so much more than that, and it’s refreshing to see people agree with me. Great video!
This is also my most favorite game of all time! They really made me feel so many emotions. The best writing. Such a treat after the amazing story of part 1. I enjoy part 2 also way more. Can’t wait to see what part 3 brings
The worst thing about this series is it reintroduced me to this style of game but I’ve yet to find another I like. I tried the new Tomb Raider series. Bust. Tried to start the Uncharted series. Bust. The bar is too high.
Absolutely fantastic game. Narratively brilliant down to the most subtle details. Honestly... people don't have to love the story, or even like it.... but the people who have accused the team of being bad writers? That's just lunacy.
I still do like the first game more, only because it changed the way that I saw how video games could handle both story and gameplay. And honestly, I like Abby’s section of Seattle more than I do for Ellie’s.
I'm SO glad that Jeffrey Wright is reprising his role as Isaac in the live action series. Similar to how Merle Dandridge played the part of Marlene in both the game and the HBO series.
I love this game. Always knew Joel would die eventually but I feel like we needed a little bit more time with him. But having it the way we did make us appreciate the flashbacks and grieve with Ellie along the way. Love it!
You hit the nail on the head my guy. Expressed every emotion i felt from beginning to end on my first then second playthrough. There is so much meaning that people need to look deeper but dont which is why people say "this is the worst game of all time". Story is amazing, gameplay feels insane (makes it hard to actually play the first one with the clunkness) but a WOW of a game. Absolutely beautiful. Hope the last part (3) wraps it all up nicely :)
It's one of my favorite games of all time because of the gameplay! It gets so insane on higher difficulties. Very easily the best enemy AI I've seen in a stealth game
Idk if this is exclusive to the PS5 remaster of the game, but ive just realized that on day 3 Ellie is wearing a Siren shirt, which is awesome because that game is sooooo underrated
What I love about this game the most was how Ellie never knew Abby’s true motive which leads for their collective redemption in Part 3 if executed properly
i played it for the first time January 2024 and have played it 7 times and i think i’ve noticed something new every time, the little details shock me over and over
I won't lie, when this game first came out, I was one of the people who didn't like it initially. But overtime I've come to appreciate The Last of Us Part 2 much better. I respect the game for a lot of the risks it takes, and all the actors and actresses do a phenomenal job voicing all the characters. Plus the graphics and gameplay are incredible. Admittedly, me disliking the game when it first came out probably had more to do with my mood at the time than my actual feelings for the game. 2020 was of course a horrible year and I wasn't in the best head space at the time. The dislike I had for the game might've just been me projecting that anger. But in the years since I have grown a lot happier as a person. While I do still have some gripes with the game, overall my perspective on The Last of Us Part 2 has definitely shifted and become a lot more positive. I better understand the direction Naughty Dog was going for, and I'd say they most definitely succeeded. And just for the record, the people that hated on Laura Bailey over her portrayal of Abby, a *FICTIONAL CHARACTER* should be ashamed of themselves. I really hope people will be more mature towards Kaitlyn Dever when Season 2 of the show comes out. Which by the way, I can't wait for the show to continue (I'm especially excited to see Isabela Merced as Dina)!! Anyway, I just wanted to get my thoughts out there as I've come to regret how I reacted when this game first came out. I want people to know that I no longer harbor any dislike towards the game and I'm very happy for it's success. I plan on replaying the game again soon and I can't wait. This video was very well done and I applaud you for all your hard work!! It's nice to see some positivity surrounding both the game as well as the fanbase for once. It's a breath of fresh air!!!
When Nora asks if she still hear the screams, she says she does, I think she is not talking about Joel death but also what he did in the hospital. All the people he killed, she was a nurse,she probably saw a lot of friends die that day.
I actually never realized how Abby returning to specifically a hospital was representative of her returning and reckoning with the source of her trauma. Very astute of you.
4 years later, I guess we’re finally starting to get some sane appraisals of this game. The story of this game is such an accomplishment and I’m still bitter that half-brains and fanboys kept the dialogue in the gutter for so long. For more sane commentary on TLOU, check out TLOU Explained.
Something that shows the impassable quality of this game is how there are hundreds of videos talking about how the creator loves the game whilr the video lasts over an hour.. Such a damn masterpiece
People in the comment section acting like there are some mystic reasons for the way story goes and this game is so deep... it really makes it even worse. With zero complaints about wokeness trying to ruin pop culture (even though this game was directed by corny woke people) I will just say - this is really really bad story. It's like F tier quality... it's not about Joel getting killed.. it is just shallow shallow thing floating around acting like it's an iceberg but underneath... ... ... nothing.. I came to this video cause title to me looked like: why is a giant turd my favourite meal... so I wanted to know why.. I was not convinced.. anyway thanks for making the video and sharing the opinion. It is a matter of taste in the end.
What I hate most is people who force their opinion on others. If someone loves the game to death (like myself), don't tell others they're wrong. The same goes for someone who hates the game to death. Keep it to yourself man. We can chat about it if you want, but don't force me to change my love for the game just because you hate it. And to people who, like me, loves this game, don't tell others that, "oh, well you didn't get the point," because they might absolutely have gotten the point of the game. Disliking a game is about more than misunderstanding. People can understand something and still hate it. And if they didn't understand it, that might be because the game wasn't clear enough in explaining things.
This is literally my favorite game to this date, Nothing has come close to it since I first played it this year. It was a roller coaster of emotions and I’ve never felt so much while playing a literal video game. The Gameplay, The Story & the Visuals are just beyond beautiful. Was so Proud to make it my 3rd Platinum Trophy.
I love Joel's answer, "I saved her." There is so much packed into that, you need no other explanation, that sentence holds the weight of everything that happened, when he talks to Ellie as well and just says, "I stopped them." She needed no more, it held that weight. That always sticks in my head. The scene with Dina before Santa Barbara, and the porch scene...just amazing acting. I could say many more but those stick in my head.
She didn’t wanna be saved her reaction to the truth was proof on top of he killed the women that took care of her before he was even apart of the picture
Ive played this game a few times and the first time i played i hated Abby. But my second playthrough years later I felt really sorry for her and it broke my heart seeing how broken both Ellie and Abby were by the end
It genuinely bothers me how so many fans of this series believe that the 2nd game is not LITERALLY PERFECT. I was completely changed by this game and I truly had to take so much time after I finished this game (I mean honestly things still continue to hit me to this day) to just process what i had just witnessed over the last 18 hours of unpaused gameplay. I LOVE TLOU2
I’d read about the hate for the game before playing and knew what happened to Joel, so I wasn’t expecting much from it. Instead, I loved it. I love that it’s not clear cut who the bad guy is. Joel and Ellie are the villains in Abby’s story, Abby is the villain in Ellie’s story. I actually grew to really like Abby, so that when it came to the theatre confrontation it was wild because I wanted Ellie to face up to what she did to Owen and Mel (and Alice), but at the same time I realised Ellie did what she did because Abby killed Joel, but Joel killed her dad… By the end of of it I was exhausted and wanted them to stop fighting. The storytelling was brilliant, more so than part one.
In my opinion, this game and Red Dead Redemption 2 are the best games of all time. I think their ranking just depends on which game I’m currently stuck on, as I always play one game exclusively, until I’m ready to move on. TLOU2 was that game for a solid 2 to 3 years, but then I tried out RDR 2, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Both games are masterpieces in storytelling, with stories that rival the best ones in the history of cinema. They’ve transcended video games imo. If you love TLOU2 and haven’t given RDR 2 a shot, do yourself a favor and play it. NOW! And when you’re done, come back here and tell me all about how incredible it is. 😂
@@Pierce-Dante I never played it. I started a game on my ps5 and it crashed during the character creator, and I never went back. After all the stuff it’s added and fixed, I’ll eventually give it a try. But to say ANY game will dog walk RDR 2 (I’m assuming that’s what you meant to say) is about as ridiculous a claim that could ever be made. It’s impossible. Absolutely impossible.
I'm going to call some people out real quick. If you have an issue with Dina and Ellie cause you don't wanna be "force fed homosexuality" but you also have an issue with Abby and Owen getting it on too then your issue is within. You have your own insecurities that keep you from being able to understand relationships that aren't about you and you clearly have insecurities that you deflect on other people. Abby not being your type isn't an excuse either. The story isn't about you anyway so your opinion is irrelevant and there are plenty of other games that won't remind you how insecure you are.
I'll never forget the moment I returned to the aquarium with Abby after the seraphite island mission, suddenly realizing what I had done as Ellie hours ago. Just brilliant. Still makes me sad to think about all the shit the devs and actors had to put up with when the game released.
The simple fact that this game generated a debate that lasts to this day and continues to change people's perspectives is more than enough to know that it is much more than a common video game.
Yep it’s cool because it doesn’t have plot armor. Main characters die as if they are an enemy we kill through out the game. The dialog is very good, the graphics, the emotions you feel, and it’s super satisfying to play, I enjoy the game very much. The bad thing for me at least is that in this world where there is little food, zombies, and people who can hunt and kill you for resources or food, Lilly suddenly identifies as lev. The pyramid of needs would show that realistically she wouldn’t think about stuff like this when there is so much going on, also that others respect her pronounce in this world makes no sense either, as there is no good people in such a world, most kill others or ra*e or whatever. On top of what I mentioned all of this makes lev look extremely selfish and unlikable. Just because she felt like a man, this led to her shaving her head, this lead to her being hunted and her sister lost her arm because of levs feelings. Also later on because lev goes to the mom she gets yara killed aswell. What would have made this 100 times better and would have made lev/ lily more understandable is if they got rid of the trans plot and kept everything else because then the story would be like this. She is a kid, she was ordered to get married to one of the older men, maybe that guy was disgusting, probably was since he was gonna marry a child. This would lead lily to run away, making the scars hunt her, and now it makes sense why her sister sacrificed herself for her because she too could understand that a 14 year old marrying some old guy by force is disturbing. This would also make sense why lily went back to her mom since she didn’t think her mom would disapprove of her not wanting to be with this old guy. Legit all of this happened already as explained by yara, just that they added trans aspect for inclusion or whatever, but this makes all the difference, as it’s not so much that she didn’t want to get forced into marriage but rather she felt like a boy so she caused lots of death including yaras for no reason. Other than that I have one more thing, Joel was very careful even before he had to survive for 20 years, on outbreak day he didn’t t even stop for the family on the road, no way he would go in the middle of 8 people without any weapons. At least stand somewhere he can see everyone or something… the only logical explanation for this is that Jessie mentions Tommy and Joel didn’t get a lot of sleep before hand so maybe they were more careless, but still, looks more like bad writing. What would have been better is if Abby saved Joel or tommy instead, because why would Joel then think that Abby was going to shoot him when she just saved him, or his brother? This is my opinion at least, I agree with you tho it’s not just a common video game, can’t wait to see what they do with the third one
I also like that we play from both sides, seeing how it is being a big group, and how these trespassers are taking us out, also playing as the trespassers being basically John wick
@jawsdan Characters do have plot armour, and typically die only when it serves a purpose to the plot. Ex: Jessie dies so Ellie and Abby can have a family, making her decision to seek revenge more consequential, Joel dies to establish the revenge theme, Tess dies so Joel and Abby can bond, etc. The only difference is that their deaths are executed well, which makes them seem realistic in that they're unexpected, traumatic, and brutal.
Note: we are not currently experiencing an apocalypse so there is no need to misgender lev, even with your logic. @@jawsdan
@@bboi1489 yes they die for plot reasons, but plot armor is like in the boys when the boys have million opportunities to kill a member of the 7 and don’t because…. Just so they can use the character more
I’m so glad I’m not the only long time fan who adores this game like this
you're not the only one, im here
Same man
Always loved this game I’m glad you understood it
definitely not the only one lol
There are many of us behind all the dumb reviews
this game is my guilty pleasure, cause everytime i say that i have 400+ hours on it + platinum, and in general tlou2 is my favourite game ever i just get attacked because for some reason people are offended by someone's else's opinion
@@waterflameee504dont let em get to ya brother
lol it’s wild. i got a couple death threats on the one of the subreddits cause i said i liked abby’s gameplay
I love Abby’s gameplay 2 her day 2 is my favorite day
@@Amongus_sussys same
The most replayable game currently
"i shot her, i couldnt take my own life im a fucking coward" THE PARALLEL TO RILEY HURTS ME SO DEEPLY, not to mention the position of the skeletons perfectly mirroring joels death scene in the final shot
i’m so glad to see people soften on this game over the years
Naa it was shit
@@Chayton_Duffy one of the best games ever 100%
I don't think the naysayers changed their mind, it's just they have short attention spans and moved on to memeing other things. This game needed to be divisive to half the crowd to be a masterpiece for the other half with brains.
@@bladechild2449 haven’t changed my mind, don’t have a short attention span. I don’t care too much about how Joel died other than the false advertisement ; the execution of Abby was shit, the ending message was “revenge is bad” after she slaughtered countless other people, atrocious pacing, plot holes. When Bruce Straley left (original TLOU game director) Druckman went for the stupid revenge story plot across America story that was originally denied in for the first games plot for being stupid, inclusions for the sake of it that doesn’t actually provide any prospective on gay characters, jesse is just a sperm bank, the “maintaining morality is impossible” trope is overdone to hell and the grimy sex scene is just the rotten cherry on top 😂
@@Ivantheterrible495you sound like you have the media literacy of a toddler
i love hearing people love the game as much as i do !!
Finally a video with some appreciation for Abby. She is the most misunderstood character perhaps in gaming history. People are so blind to their bias because of the first game - we KNOW Ellie and Joel, we grew to love them. This game forces you to take yourself outside the bubble of selective bias and realise that the bottom line is Ellie would have done exactly what Abby did to Joel if she were in her position - Ellie’s entire journey through the second game represents that. The people who hate on this game prove that we are bias toward those we love, no matter what they do. Joel killed countless people who all had their own stories, families, people who cared for them and vice versa.
Thank you for this video!!! ❤️
Abby was so perfect for this game man i cant believe she was hated for so long
That's what I'm saying!!!! Ellie would've and almost did the same that's why even tho I liked Joel Abby was justified
@@skillfuloli492 100%! People also forget that Jerry was Abby’s Joel! I love Abby so much and I wish she was more acknowledged. At the end of it all, Ellie made a choice to sacrifice everything in the pursuit of revenge and Abby didn’t choose this yet was the person who lost everything - her dad, ALL of her friends and the place she called home! 😭 I cannot wait for TLOU3 and I hope we get to see Abby & Ellie somehow come together and realise they are two sides of the same coin.
Abby is not a misunderstood character. The entire game was poorly written 😂 watch this perspective on the last of th-cam.com/video/NJJnTSdPL5I/w-d-xo.htmlsi=zz6eRCZ43b92_duW
@@FreeSoul-ep6cr “watch someone else to have them explain it for you” stfu
I personally think that the fireflies didnt ask ellie for consent for the same reason joel didnt ask ellie. They were afraid of what she would say. Marlene didnt want to risk ellie saying no. 45:06
because they knew that if she said no, to either of them, they wouldnt have listened to her. They didn't want to risk becoming the villain. But continued to be one, just under sheeps clothing by not agreeing OR denying her wishes.
Marlene knew that Ellie would've said "Yes". They already had this conversation. Ellie and Marlene have spent time together before meeting Joel, and Ellie knew that she was the key to find a cure. They weren't sure that Ellie needed to die, but she was willing to give her life for the cause in case they came to that. They probably discussed this probability. Marlene knew that Ellie's purpose in life was helping to find a cure in any way. People never consider that Ellie's survival guilt and will to make something good, that would give a meaning to her survival, was her main driving force in Part 1. Not survival. That was Joel. It was Joel who told Ellie "You need to find something new to fight for". But it was Joel talking to himself. He found something new to fight for in Ellie, but he didn't care about Ellie's reason to fight, and it was the cure. That was Ellie's reason. Not being Sarah's replacement. When Marlene was fighting with Jerry, she was fighting for Ellie, but not because they weren't asking her. It's like Ellie's approval was something they were taking for granted. Even Joel was taking that for granted. Why do you think he lied to her? Not to protect her from that knowledge, but because he knew Ellie would despise him for his selfish choice. Joel took the right from Ellie and the Fireflies to find the cure for his selfish love.
@@Gabriel-TárIt’s a possibility that Ellie would have given consent in the moment but it is not certain. Also, there is no solid evidence pointing towards her and Marlene discussing this before having met Joel. If they had, wouldn’t the plot want to bring attention to it at some point? Even then, it is cruel to immediately grab and sedate her without being able to say goodbye to the man she traveled the entire USA with.
@@TotallyNotJoe_ It was cruel but as Marlene said “this isn’t about me, or even her. There is no other choice here”. She wasn’t a human being anymore she was more than that, the cure of the infection. And risking it all just to lose in “kisses and goodbyes” was something they didn’t have time for. What Joel did was cruelctoo. I know you think in “videogame mentality” but in real life if this happened to you I doubt that your father would simply take a rifle and kill 54 people. And let’s not forget that Joel isn’t even Ellie’s father from the Fireflies point of view, he was a smuggler that could have become friend with her after so much, yeah. It’s not like they know that Joel had a daughter and trauma and shit.
I think that the major hint is that at the end of the game Ellie says “back when I was bitten […] my best friend was there, and she got bit too […] I’M STILL WAITING FOR MY TURN […] She was the first to die, and then it was Tess, and then Sam.”
But Joel interrupts her, he doesn’t let her speak
“None of that is on you”
And after that she says “No, YOU DON’t Understand”.
Basically Ellie is sensing that Joel lied about the Fireflies because she wanted to express how much she was waiting “for her turn to die”, and give a meaning to her immunity (Part 2 prologue, Joel and Tommy), in a way, so she wants to be sure 100% that Joel is telling the truth because if not she would be really hurt (Part 2). so I don’t know how Marlene knew, but I know that Marlene knew that Ellie would’ve said Yes. And even Joel knew (Marlene to Joel: “It’s what she wants: And you know it!”)
Also, even if Ellie had given her consent, Joel would’ve still murdered everyone. The narrative purpose of having Ellie being unaware of that was not to make the Fireflies bad because they were doing it without her consent, it was to give Ellie and Joel 2 years of happy life together, because if Ellie had known earlier she would’ve simply hated Joel from the get go.
@Gabriel-Tár Marlene didn't know it would kill ellie until the end of part one and ellie didn't know it would kill her until like 2 years later so
I have played this game four times and I somehow didn't pick up on the rat king being a physical representation of Abby's combined trauma in the hospital. It just goes to show how many tiny little details there are in this game, I really pick up and learn something different about this story each time I play it/watch a video about it. Great video!
Three times here and neither! So cool
Something I'd like to add too is that the channel that he mentions, the last of us explained, when Abby descends down it could be her descend to hell, and the floors she goes down could represent the (9?) layers of hell in the divine comedy, and also Abby descending to the root of her trauma
I definitely feel that we were meant to feel more angry with Joel when he tells Ellie the truth, the entire game we are specifically put into Ellie’s shoes and our emotions follow hers. However I feel that because we only know and genuinely care about Ellie and Joel as opposed to the rest of the world, it made it harder for people to feel sympathy for Abby and feel anything for the millions that could have been saved. It greatly affected people’s opinion of Joel’s death and people weren’t able to feel sympathy for anyone else after that point, completely blindsiding all of the people who were hurt by Joel. This is actually a pretty important theme in the game, and its audience proved it right.
what i think is most interesting about the first conversation in tlou2 with tommy and joel is joel, being the lovable character that he is, still has many flaws and they shine through there. he doesn’t say “i killed them” he doesn’t say “i took her” he says “i SAVED her” he thinks what he did was subconsciously heroic. he really doesn’t truly see what he did wrong and although this is a flawed mindset, he’s still the loved joel he was. it’s truly like a weird father dynamic where you don’t know if you love or hate him. i never understood the hate of the second game. it’s too one of my favorite games.
@@purplebanana9 joel is very easily one of the best characters in gaming, what they did with him would be so hard to replicate
I don't know that it's that he thought it was "heroic" or didn't see "anything wrong with it", it's that it was a very clear choice to him. Save her, or let her die. And he couldn't bear the alternative. So he saved her. There's no moral question in it for him, it was simply the choice he felt he could live with. This ties back to when he says "you keep finding something to fight for" later to Ellie. Ellie became his reason. So naturally, he must save her - it doesn't matter if it's wrong or right on any front. It's a very selfish decision, but so SO human, and that's why it's great.
@@Invalidationcoded Definitely agree with your paragraph 👍
@@Invalidationcoded but seeing it as “saving” her in the first place is already inherently thinking it’s heroic. saving someone’s life is almost always seen as heroic and brave, but in this case, it wasn’t. for multiple reasons.
What always stood out to me that he didn't say "I lied", because he did lie to Ellie. So little of joel by the time we meet him can be described as good. He's almost like Mad Max in that sense, an antihero. Is one lie the worst thing he's done? Probably not, but the actions surrounding the source of the lie and the consequences of the lie in and of itself is probably the second most damaging thing that ever happened to him. It's not about heroism for him, he just can't lose his child again.
it absolutely PAINS me not knowing what happened to abby & lev i hope i’m the 3rd game (if there is one) that they expand on their relationship.
Third game is def coming out
Neil has confirmed a few times that the boat on the menu screen after you complete the game is washed up on the shore of Catalina Island where the Firefly base was, so they have made it to the fireflies
@@wisehat If you were Ellie at the end of Part 2, having pretty much lost everything other than your immunity, what would you wanna do? Maybe finally undo what Joel did and see if someone can make a cure cos you have nothing to live for... and what would be your only lead on that cure? The Fireflies. Abby.
No@@Braincleaner
The thing I always notice in the spaceship scene, after she takes the helmet off and he says, "I do okay?" - is the light shining on his watch. 😭😭😭 Immediate tears, every time.
That weird sound you hear out of nowhere is me clapping. Bravo... your video is... amazing. Simply amazing. You UNDERSTAND this game. You UNDERSTAND the message OF this game. Thank you for makin git
Of course and thank you!! Im glad this resonated with you
My favorite game too. Abbys journey of healing, changing and finding new allies was perfect. It felt like an epic, climbing to the highest point, dropping to the lowest depth and squashing the scariest enemy, her fears and her beliefs.
A lot of people seem to miss the point on this game. Of course there are valid criticisms; the pacing seems to be hit or miss for one, though it worked for me. But even today so many people point at things that actually don't matter too much in the overarcing story and use those as examples as to why the game was bad or created to force diversity.
Most of the things people point to as forcing a woke agenda could be removed and it wouldn't really impact very much. The only one that would require more extensive attebtion would be if they didn't include Ellie being gay, but seeing as we already knew that from Left Behind I don't see how people would possibly believe it wouldn't still be part of her character in Part 2.
I really think Part 2 is an example of diversity done _right._ The characters might be gay or trans or whatever, but it's only a portion of their personality. They were created as full, flawed people who _happen_ to be gay/trans/etc.
I'm a gay woman and I'm honestly sick of media conpanies trying to push representation in everything, because it often is done to the detriment of the story. I'd rather have no representation than _bad_ representation. And this is from someone who's been a gamer since NES and really did get sick of having to play male protagonists in pretty much everything growing up lol
I won't pretend that seeing Ellie as the lead protagonist, so a gay woman, didn't actually mean a lot to me; it absolutely did. I grew up during a time where i had to be closted for fear of being assaulted or fired for it. But if Naughty Dog used the game as a way to focus on LGBT stuff rather than telling a good story (that really has nothing to do with that), I would have hated it.
But the focus of the story was on the hard path to forgiveness. Everything else was just a small part of the characters. I actually really related to Ellie in this game. I've felt similar rage; my childhood wasn't sunshine and roses, and learning to let go and forgive others (and myself) was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
Ellie wasn't just struggling with her feelings around forgiving Joel, or learning to forgive Abby. She couldn't forgive herself for pushing Joel away for so long, for losing him without actually repairing their relationship.
A lot of people also criticize her decision to go hunting for Abby again after the farm only to let her go. I think it fits. When Ellie left Seattle, she didn't do it on her own terms. She was beaten and broken, with people she loved who were in even worse shape. So when she left Seattle, it was because she _had_ to.
When she let Abby go in Santa Barbara, it was Ellie's decision; she decided to let it go. She didn't want to be to Lev what Joel was to Abby, or what Abby was to Ellie. She needed it to be her own choice so she could start to heal. Having the choice taken from her was worse, especially after everything she went through.
Also, it's always refreshing when I hear someone else who appreciates Abby's character design. So many people say no woman could be built like that without steroids, which is not at all true. Is it common? No. But women with her build do exist. My girlfriend has the same build; she's a firefighter/paramedic who is required to work out for her job. She doesn't use steroids. Just willpower. That complaint, above all, makes me eyeroll the most.
And then there's Joel, and his death. People say he would never, _ever_ tell people his name, or walk into a room with people he doesn't know, or be at all complacent. I would wager most people who say that have never actually been in a setting where complacency is the difference between life and death. Even the most hardened, street-smart, battle-ready person can be conplacent. It doesn't matter how many years of experience you have. Anyone and _everyone_ is susceptible. I work in a field where complacency is a swift ticket to injury or death, and I've seen people get hurt or end up in very bad situations because of it. Hell, I've been there myself, after a decade in this job. It happens. You do your best not to allow it but it's evwntually gonna happen and you just have to hope you come out okay on the other sode and learn from it.
In that scene you can see that Joel reads the room and knows something is up. He knew he was in a dangerous situation but it was too late.
And to your point about how people seem to think his death was far too undignified for him; those people seem to want plot armor for a character they love. I get it. I love Joel's character, too. But i think the way it all happened was so mich more impactful. Death doesn't care if you love a person when he comes to claim them. Death is equal opportunity, and in a world as brutal as in TLoU, everyone is fair game. It comes so suddenly, and is so shocking, to anyone. Anyone can be a victim at any time, even if they have a heart of gold or people who love them.
I think one of the most important messages in this game is to learn to forgive the people you love and spend as much time with them as possible, because you never know when that time's going to be up.
I really enjoyed your video. It was well articulated and hopefully can help some people who didn't like the game to understand why so many of us appreciated it. I think it's a testament to Naughty Dog's abilities that we are still having these discussions in 2024, not even just about Part 2, but even Part 1. I love debating the minutiae of both games, and have reached a middle geound eith people who really disliked Part 2 on more than one occasion, where we can each understand why the other likes/dislikes the game.
I'm also kinda jealous you managed to get through Part 2 without being spoiled; I got spoiled with the leaks because I was watching anything and everything about Part 2 up until relase and the backlash from the leaks was just so insane that people were intentionally trying to spoil everything.
Thank you so much for your thoughts!! Your interpretation of the characters are literally spot on (esp the thing about abbys build i hate when ppl talk ab that) but realistically thank you fr, the diversity of tlou is so well placed and reminds me a lot of real life, i will never understand anyone who doesn’t appreciate any kind of diversity
True , people criticize/ruin/toxicated/bad-attention about LOU2 (I recently found why "Gamer-Girls" troll the LOU2 community years ago)
The only thing I would call woke that I hated was when Jesse asks if Dina is gonna keep the baby. If they established abortions can be done, okay but it's such a weird line that's so out of place for me. I know some people point to Dina being Jewish for the war now even though this game predates that war by years so it doesn't apply. The rainbow on the street was kind of cool because it was a real thing in Seattle.
I'd agree this is how to make a game with diverse characters because being gay, trans or whatever isn't their sole defining trait. You don't like Ellie because she's lesbian. You don't like lev because he's trans.
*applause* so well stated
@@tigerwoods373 i think the question is posed because of the world they live in. Women have given themselves abortions with little medical knowledge now in times of desperation. In a world as desperate at TLOU's id say it a perfectly reasonable question. No one would judge someone for not wanting to bring a baby into that life.
this is seriously my favorite analysis of my favorite game. so refreshing to see someone who actually understands abby and her arc. she’s goated fr
Part 2 will always hold a special place in my heart. I played it a year ago for the first time when i was going through a rough time and played it over and over again. The final fight where ellie remembers that glimpse of joel and their last conversation always gets me. Great video, im happy there are people who love the game as much as i do
I pray that we get a part III with more Abby and Lev! This game had no right in making me adore them as much as it did.
It’s so rare that I come across a video essay about tlou2 that actually has good takes and understands the game and the concepts addressed within it. I appreciate this video sm. I LOVE THIS GAME.
Bought a PS4 just to play the Last of Us part 1 remastered. Sold it to a father who wanted it for his son. Bought a PS5 just to play Last of Us part 2 remastered. Sold it to a mother who wanted it for her son. I don’t regret a thing, with the latter being my favorite single player experience of all time.
Wow!!! I'm impressed with your opinions for this game and the way you broke down why was awesome!!! This game deserves the chance to be appreciated for the masterpiece it actually is!!!
i just finished the game for the first time and i can never agree more. literally everyone craps on this game but as if now this is my fav single player game
@@not.bruce.wayne99 talk bruce you got the wzdm stamp of approval
@@wisehat i aint bruce lil bro (shhhh)
@@not.bruce.wayne99 my fault notbruce
@@wisehat nah but fr this vid was 10/10
@@not.bruce.wayne99 thank you man the support means to much!! Put my heart and soul into this
Thank you man!!! I am so glad to hear that someone else is as passionate about this game as I am. You see everything the same as me about this game. This was a good video to watch not only for the opinions but how much effort you put into it. Keep up the great work!
@@spincitygaming will do! And im happy i share your passion
I went into part 2 after loving part one and was worried I was going to hate it because all I hear are people talking about how bad the game is. This was definitely not the case, no video game has ever had such an emotional impact on me. This game is an absolute masterpiece.
this was an incredible video, thank you for sharing your side in a way most people don’t view this game. i would love more videos like this from you
The Last of Us 2 really made me fall in love with video games again it's beautiful!
This video is fire my guy, you have a dope perspective on a masterpiece of a game. Keep it up
I hope your channel blows up buddy. Love your love on TLOU 2.
I’m doing a high school research presentation on Last of Us 2, and this makes me understand the story so much more than I was gonna write, thanks for the massive inspiration man
glad to have find others who loves this game. Which is a masterpiece. No other games bring you in an emotional rollercoaster like that. It literally plays with your feelings. Those are not chronological mistakes, they are there for a reason.
What a beautiful video. ❤ So glad to see people with the same view as me on this game, I could talk hours about it. Love how much effort you put into this.
Thank you so much!
babe, wake up, it's a new positive tlou 2 essay 🗣️ great video bro, was genuinely confused when I saw how many subscribers u got, keep going!
Thank you 💕💕💕
omg dawg i love u, been wanting to make a video on this forever. great video man, I love this game. 8:12 😭
I've been playing games for 38 years on consoles and PC. TLOU2 is my favorite game.
Your commentary was great but also so funny. I rarely see people talk about how they struggle to play some parts while commenting on how great the game was or share the hate for stalkers like I did 😭
Some people hate this game for not doing almost anything with Ellies immunity, but Joel literally took the importance of her immunity by killin all the fireflies in part one. Now theres no one who can make the vaccine using Ellie, so theres pretty much nothin big they can do with the immunity except showing ellie gettin bit or breathing spores, but thats literally what they did. Showed ellie breathing spores and get bit and telling about her immunity to Dina. And people still say the game is bad because of this.
They should blame part 1 for takin the big thing away about the immunity not part 2
What’s there that needs to be done with their immunity? She is immune, end of story, what else is there to tell
@@jenishmaharjan9655 thats what im sayin. They already did like everything with her immunity and people still hating
Glad to see someone appreciate Abby. I have gone to like her immensely over the years, even more than Ellie, as controversal as this may be for certain fans. Loved the video. Amazing job 🫶🏼
thank you so much man glad to see someone else appreciate her
Great video! Just one tiny detail, 15:30 Cascina Caradonna was just Dina’s face model, the actor who played her was Shannon Woodward :D
I see thanks for letting me know
Love this thanks for adding to the ever growing chorus of sane takes on this absolute masterpiece ❤
Glad you like it!
Same. Something about this game broke me apart and then healed me. I needed this game.
The first game, as much as I loved it, left me with a gaping hole in my chest. The contruction of the Joel-Ellie relationship throughout the game ending on Joel's lie was simply... something that
didn't give me peace. This game, TLoU2, made me cry and suffer to a level the first game did not, but by the end, I felt renewed hope and understanding. For me, this game told me that no matter what happens, one can heal and continue on.
One question i wish Part 2 posed was the question of whether it was truly Ellie's responsibility to sacrifice herself. I'd argue its consistent with Joel's character to tell her it wasn't. I dont think he took her to the fireflies because he felt the cure was truly possible or because he wanted it. He did it initially out of an obligation to Tess and then because he started to grow close to Ellie. In Part 1, he tells her "We don't have to do this" yet in Part 2, when the truth comes out, i don't remember him ever arguing that point.
Ellie's need to sacrifice herself comes from her survivor's guilt. She feels the deaths of Sam, Tess and Riley were pointless and that she, as an immune, has an obligation to sacrifice herself. But its arguable that it isn't her responsibility. She's still just a child at the time riddled with guilt.
Plus she'd be leaving Joel alone again despite in Part 1 saying "I'm afraid of being alone" and "Everyone i loved died or left me except you." She's so willing to die and leave Joel alone refusing to see his side of the story. So whilst she has every right to be upset, she herself is also being selfish
This is honestlly the best video I have ever seen about this game, I played it for the first time earlier this year and was worried about not liking it because all the things people always said about it but this game is such a master piece, I loved the game and loved this video
hey man I really appreciate this video. people give part two a lot of crap but it's my favorite of the two parts. thanks for such an empathetic analysis of this game
@@tink6225 Thank YOUUUU man 💪🏿
No one, and I mean NO ONE, will ever change my mind on this game. I will love it no matter what. The story (whilst flawed in certain aspects) captures everything it’s going for. The acting is easily the best I’ve ever seen in a video game, the graphics are fucking gorgeous and the soundtrack somehow exceeds the first game for me. Feel free to argue with me in the replies but my opinion will not change.
This and god of war ragnaroks actin are top tier👌
@@yfpalli8899 damn right
fucking YES!! VOUCH!!! love this game
Same here (along Part 1) and nobody in this universe can convince me otherwise.
I haven't stopped loving or stopped thinking about TLOU since 2013 & Part 2 only refueled it and did the exact same thing again.
Sadly the game is buried by so much shit online that it's no longer fun to TALK about.
Sadly a lot of games, movies etc are now having a lot of hate, mostly on twitter and reddit and kind of on youtube, it's getting harder to talk about anything without being attacked by someone
@@TheTom20 Yeah 100% agreed.
Especially when it involves anything with the so called "woke" topic which Part 2 often does
(I don't really agree with those people but yeah it's sadly the reality)
Literally so happy with this video. Thanks for putting some respect on Part 2!
I think Jessie being similar/familiar to Joel might actually be the point, he's calm, supportive, understanding, obviously independent since he caught up to Ellie.
This helps with him saying "I looked up to Joel" and makes me wonder if Joel was like a mentor to him as well
Because of how emotional Part 2 is, it generally requires two playthroughs to fully be appreciated, and because most could barely get through there first, I have a sneaky feeling once season 2 releases, some who haven't touched Part 2 since they completed it will realize this game is a masterpiece.
I finally found my people!!! I love this game and even grew to love Abby, can’t even believe it. 100% a top tier game
Facts!
As another fellow fan of TLOU2 I relate to your passion for the game, The storytelling, characters, and emotional journey make it unforgettable. Your heartfelt perspective really resonates with me, and it's great to see someone who shares the same deep appreciation for this absolute fucking masterpiece. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and reminding me why this game is so special man this video was nothing short of a banger!
@@JayDaScoobs im glad to see someone resonate with the game like i did, its so spectacular and i hope part 3 is even better
I couldn’t agree more, I’ve played a lot of games since 2020 but none of them hooked me like the last of us part 2, I’ve replayed it countless times (at least 75 play throughs) & nothing is as gripping, poignant or rage inducing as this game, it’s a masterpiece from start to finish as far as I’m concerned, impatiently waiting for last of us 3
Amazing quality and production in this video I love how you pieced everything together
@@narrow5741 thank you sir who i dont know
FINALLY a positive video about TLOU2 it’s literally my fave game of all time. abby is one of my fave characters of all time, thank u for posting this😭 its so refreshing and nice to see someone with opinions like mine enjoying the game rather than sh’tting all over it with repetitive overused points. i prefer this game over tlou1 and everyone calls me crazy
repetitive points that #have no base and im also glad to see people with opinions like me
@@wisehat when the points is just recycled criticism of the game since it came out thats been spewed by 100 commentary/gaming utubers
@@shorthairkorra most of them stem from bigotry too its so annoying and sad to see people wirh such little media comprehension 💔
That first big stalker scene in the dark office building is so intense. I've done several playthroughs of this game and I always like to challenge myself to get through all of the stalker scenes in complete stealth using head shots with the bow or the silencer. It can be maddening sometimes, but I'll restart the encounter even if I'm able to run away and get back into hiding. You gotta move really slowly and never advance too far forward cause if you get to close, they'll charge you... but if you manage to keep your distance, the worst that can happen is they'll find a new hiding place and that's your best chance to track them and take them down when they peek around the corner.
damn i had to bring a whole tissue box at this point. really good video!
Im so happy someone else loves this game AS MUCH AS ME
So glad to have found this video! Very well done ❤
Okay I'm kinda late but man was this an amazing video. I geniunelly loved this game and although I can understand some of its critisism, I think a lot of it stems from people just not taking different perspective... It feels like they only see the characters's actions, but not their motives
Fantastic essay, I'll be sure to show it to my friends
Thank you so much friend 🙏🏾🙏🏾
I played through this game one time and refuse to play it again. Not because I hated it like everyone else, but because I want the experience I had to last forever. This is my favorite game of all time.
Thank you for your insight and opinions, The Last of Us part 1 & 2 are also my favorite forms of media as well. People just saw what they wanted to see and complained about it.. “revenge is bad.” But the story was so much more than that, and it’s refreshing to see people agree with me. Great video!
This a great video and I love the last of us part 2 but bro what did u make this part on 1:19:12
This is also my most favorite game of all time! They really made me feel so many emotions. The best writing. Such a treat after the amazing story of part 1. I enjoy part 2 also way more. Can’t wait to see what part 3 brings
The worst thing about this series is it reintroduced me to this style of game but I’ve yet to find another I like. I tried the new Tomb Raider series. Bust. Tried to start the Uncharted series. Bust. The bar is too high.
Great game top to bottom imo. We need more content from you btw
@@Jama004 will see boss
Absolutely fantastic game. Narratively brilliant down to the most subtle details. Honestly... people don't have to love the story, or even like it.... but the people who have accused the team of being bad writers? That's just lunacy.
I still do like the first game more, only because it changed the way that I saw how video games could handle both story and gameplay. And honestly, I like Abby’s section of Seattle more than I do for Ellie’s.
Subscribed because I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TLOU PART 2!!!❤
I'm SO glad that Jeffrey Wright is reprising his role as Isaac in the live action series. Similar to how Merle Dandridge played the part of Marlene in both the game and the HBO series.
Finally someone else realizes that the central theme of this game isn't "le revenge bad" but it's more about humanity and forgiveness.
I love this game. Always knew Joel would die eventually but I feel like we needed a little bit more time with him. But having it the way we did make us appreciate the flashbacks and grieve with Ellie along the way. Love it!
You hit the nail on the head my guy. Expressed every emotion i felt from beginning to end on my first then second playthrough. There is so much meaning that people need to look deeper but dont which is why people say "this is the worst game of all time". Story is amazing, gameplay feels insane (makes it hard to actually play the first one with the clunkness) but a WOW of a game. Absolutely beautiful. Hope the last part (3) wraps it all up nicely :)
It's one of my favorite games of all time because of the gameplay! It gets so insane on higher difficulties. Very easily the best enemy AI I've seen in a stealth game
Idk if this is exclusive to the PS5 remaster of the game, but ive just realized that on day 3 Ellie is wearing a Siren shirt, which is awesome because that game is sooooo underrated
wow what a video great job. Thank you for sharing.
What I love about this game the most was how Ellie never knew Abby’s true motive which leads for their collective redemption in Part 3 if executed properly
I don't think Abby's motive matters, not from Ellie's POV at least. She's well aware Joel's hurt people, even needlessly.
i played it for the first time January 2024 and have played it 7 times and i think i’ve noticed something new every time, the little details shock me over and over
I won't lie, when this game first came out, I was one of the people who didn't like it initially. But overtime I've come to appreciate The Last of Us Part 2 much better. I respect the game for a lot of the risks it takes, and all the actors and actresses do a phenomenal job voicing all the characters. Plus the graphics and gameplay are incredible. Admittedly, me disliking the game when it first came out probably had more to do with my mood at the time than my actual feelings for the game. 2020 was of course a horrible year and I wasn't in the best head space at the time. The dislike I had for the game might've just been me projecting that anger. But in the years since I have grown a lot happier as a person. While I do still have some gripes with the game, overall my perspective on The Last of Us Part 2 has definitely shifted and become a lot more positive. I better understand the direction Naughty Dog was going for, and I'd say they most definitely succeeded. And just for the record, the people that hated on Laura Bailey over her portrayal of Abby, a *FICTIONAL CHARACTER* should be ashamed of themselves. I really hope people will be more mature towards Kaitlyn Dever when Season 2 of the show comes out. Which by the way, I can't wait for the show to continue (I'm especially excited to see Isabela Merced as Dina)!! Anyway, I just wanted to get my thoughts out there as I've come to regret how I reacted when this game first came out. I want people to know that I no longer harbor any dislike towards the game and I'm very happy for it's success. I plan on replaying the game again soon and I can't wait. This video was very well done and I applaud you for all your hard work!! It's nice to see some positivity surrounding both the game as well as the fanbase for once. It's a breath of fresh air!!!
When Nora asks if she still hear the screams, she says she does, I think she is not talking about Joel death but also what he did in the hospital. All the people he killed, she was a nurse,she probably saw a lot of friends die that day.
I cant express how much i love Abby and lev together
I actually never realized how Abby returning to specifically a hospital was representative of her returning and reckoning with the source of her trauma. Very astute of you.
27:10 Can I just say, Ashley Johnson's performance of that line is just.....terrifyingly perfect, she sounds so scary here 💯💯
4 years later, I guess we’re finally starting to get some sane appraisals of this game. The story of this game is such an accomplishment and I’m still bitter that half-brains and fanboys kept the dialogue in the gutter for so long.
For more sane commentary on TLOU, check out TLOU Explained.
Something that shows the impassable quality of this game is how there are hundreds of videos talking about how the creator loves the game whilr the video lasts over an hour.. Such a damn masterpiece
People in the comment section acting like there are some mystic reasons for the way story goes and this game is so deep... it really makes it even worse. With zero complaints about wokeness trying to ruin pop culture (even though this game was directed by corny woke people) I will just say - this is really really bad story. It's like F tier quality... it's not about Joel getting killed.. it is just shallow shallow thing floating around acting like it's an iceberg but underneath... ... ... nothing.. I came to this video cause title to me looked like: why is a giant turd my favourite meal... so I wanted to know why.. I was not convinced.. anyway thanks for making the video and sharing the opinion. It is a matter of taste in the end.
What I hate most is people who force their opinion on others.
If someone loves the game to death (like myself), don't tell others they're wrong.
The same goes for someone who hates the game to death. Keep it to yourself man. We can chat about it if you want, but don't force me to change my love for the game just because you hate it.
And to people who, like me, loves this game, don't tell others that, "oh, well you didn't get the point," because they might absolutely have gotten the point of the game. Disliking a game is about more than misunderstanding. People can understand something and still hate it. And if they didn't understand it, that might be because the game wasn't clear enough in explaining things.
This is literally my favorite game to this date, Nothing has come close to it since I first played it this year. It was a roller coaster of emotions and I’ve never felt so much while playing a literal video game. The Gameplay, The Story & the Visuals are just beyond beautiful. Was so Proud to make it my 3rd Platinum Trophy.
I love Joel's answer, "I saved her." There is so much packed into that, you need no other explanation, that sentence holds the weight of everything that happened, when he talks to Ellie as well and just says, "I stopped them." She needed no more, it held that weight. That always sticks in my head. The scene with Dina before Santa Barbara, and the porch scene...just amazing acting. I could say many more but those stick in my head.
She didn’t wanna be saved her reaction to the truth was proof on top of he killed the women that took care of her before he was even apart of the picture
Ive played this game a few times and the first time i played i hated Abby. But my second playthrough years later I felt really sorry for her and it broke my heart seeing how broken both Ellie and Abby were by the end
sosososo happy to see people appreciate this game to this day
It genuinely bothers me how so many fans of this series believe that the 2nd game is not LITERALLY PERFECT. I was completely changed by this game and I truly had to take so much time after I finished this game (I mean honestly things still continue to hit me to this day) to just process what i had just witnessed over the last 18 hours of unpaused gameplay. I LOVE TLOU2
Also note how Dina always amended for Ellie and was always her moral compass
Love this game to death, thanks for the breakdown.
I’d read about the hate for the game before playing and knew what happened to Joel, so I wasn’t expecting much from it. Instead, I loved it. I love that it’s not clear cut who the bad guy is. Joel and Ellie are the villains in Abby’s story, Abby is the villain in Ellie’s story.
I actually grew to really like Abby, so that when it came to the theatre confrontation it was wild because I wanted Ellie to face up to what she did to Owen and Mel (and Alice), but at the same time I realised Ellie did what she did because Abby killed Joel, but Joel killed her dad… By the end of of it I was exhausted and wanted them to stop fighting. The storytelling was brilliant, more so than part one.
In my opinion, this game and Red Dead Redemption 2 are the best games of all time.
I think their ranking just depends on which game I’m currently stuck on, as I always play one game exclusively, until I’m ready to move on.
TLOU2 was that game for a solid 2 to 3 years, but then I tried out RDR 2, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Both games are masterpieces in storytelling, with stories that rival the best ones in the history of cinema. They’ve transcended video games imo.
If you love TLOU2 and haven’t given RDR 2 a shot, do yourself a favor and play it. NOW! And when you’re done, come back here and tell me all about how incredible it is. 😂
Well said
@@yfpalli8899 A man of culture, I see! 🤝
@@UpdoggWhatttcyberpunk walk dog all of them
@@Pierce-Dante I never played it. I started a game on my ps5 and it crashed during the character creator, and I never went back. After all the stuff it’s added and fixed, I’ll eventually give it a try.
But to say ANY game will dog walk RDR 2 (I’m assuming that’s what you meant to say) is about as ridiculous a claim that could ever be made.
It’s impossible. Absolutely impossible.
@@UpdoggWhattt there is not a better right now than cyberpunk good gameplay story graphics characters
43:17 I can't remember for the life of me what the name of the song playing here is. Please someone help me
LIFESTYLE - homixicde gang
@@wisehat a real one you are 🤙🏾💯✨️
People always look at me strangely when I say I like this game more than part one. It hurts so beautifully and this guy right here gets it.
I'm going to call some people out real quick. If you have an issue with Dina and Ellie cause you don't wanna be "force fed homosexuality" but you also have an issue with Abby and Owen getting it on too then your issue is within. You have your own insecurities that keep you from being able to understand relationships that aren't about you and you clearly have insecurities that you deflect on other people. Abby not being your type isn't an excuse either. The story isn't about you anyway so your opinion is irrelevant and there are plenty of other games that won't remind you how insecure you are.
Tilted.
I'll never forget the moment I returned to the aquarium with Abby after the seraphite island mission, suddenly realizing what I had done as Ellie hours ago. Just brilliant.
Still makes me sad to think about all the shit the devs and actors had to put up with when the game released.
A video essay on peak hell yeah