The Last of Us Part II Reviews
The gameplay is functional. It isn’t grossly offensive, it just is the bare minimum to get by. It does suffer greatly from the obtrusive narrative and forced walking sequences which are far too long, frequent and unskippable. There is new game plus, but the experience just fails to hold attention after the first time.
The Last of Us 2 is a beautiful, wonderfully acted interactive movie that is utterly let down by a fragmented plot and poor story telling. With solid but unimportant gameplay mechanics, a title that should have been game of the year is instead relegated to the sales pile. LOU2 is an interesting experience, one that I am happy to have had, but not one that I want to have again.
The Last Of Us Part II will be an incredible game for some and a disappointing, narratively disjointed mess for others. Graphically, the title is easily one of the best looking on Playstation 4 and the level design is second to none. The art feeds into this beautifully too, with an aesthetic that switches colour palettes and ideas throughout the 25 hours to prevent the game stagnating. Unfortunately all of this is undermined by characters with very little depth, a narrative that flits between personas and flashbacks with little rhyme or reason, and some genuinely unsatisfying conclusions for almost every character at the end, save for Ellie. As someone who loved The Last Of Us, Part II is a tough pill to swallow. It’s a game that asks perhaps the biggest question of all – why should I care about these characters? And that’s something this never really answers with much conviction.
While a technical wonder with strong gameplay, The Last of Us Part II tries so hard to disconnect itself from its predecessor that it ends up disconnecting itself from the player.
The Last of Us Part II is not for everyone. Sometimes, it wasn’t even a game for me, a huge fan of the original. It’s often an emotionally punishing experience, and even borders on sadism at times. But no matter how much hatred these characters feel, no matter what form of revenge they take, the game never loses sight of the importance of compassion and love. It’s a message that the world could use right now.
Ambition winds up elevating and harming The Last of Us Part II with respect to its expanded gameplay and uneven narrative.
The Last of Us 2 takes a massive misstep with its story, but it’s saved from failure by its brilliant gameplay. It’s slow and shallow far too often, but when the gameplay is allowed to take centre stage, there’s something special to be had. It’s a thriller and a bore, and while I enjoyed the gameplay, I don’t think I’d be able to endure it again for the New Game+ mode.
Some odd priorities, excruciating pacing, and weak character writing keep this intriguing game from being excellent, even if its gameplay and presentation have received large improvements.
The Last of Us Part II is a gripping masterpiece that's full of consequences and emotion. Naughty Dog's farewell to the PlayStation 4 is not to be missed.
The first half’s semi-aimless and methodical pacing drags in its latter half as it bites off more story than it can comfortably chew and then spends too many hours trying to flesh out each one of its many beats.
Let me be clear: I liked The Last of Us: Part II, and I feel like I can’t succinctly convey all of the things I wish to say about the game in 1,000 words (which I am well over at this point). The dystopian world created by the Naughty Dog team is one that I enjoy exploring and surviving in. For everything that The Last of Us: Part II gets right, though, I can’t help but feel like I just played through an extension of the same game from 2013. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, and like Ellie with Joel, I'm trying to accept the game as it is. Considering the impact that The Last of Us had on gaming, I guess I just expected to be blown away all over again.
Ultimately, The Last of Us 2 is a must-play title on the PS4. The sheer quality of the game on a visual and technical level all but guarantees that. I was amazed at what was possible on base PS4 hardware. The shortcomings of the story as a whole, especially in the denouement, left me with a feeling of disappointment. I am grateful I undertook this journey with these characters but in the end, the pay-off doesn’t live up to its predecessor and the ending, in particular, does not stick the landing that Naughty Dog intended.
Last of Us 2 is a hard game to critique. On one hand it sets new bars for performance capture and visual fidelity. Naughty Dog is truly head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to these areas. The world is impeccably detailed and the game is a true showpiece for visual fidelity. On the other hand it is just not fun to play at times. Whether it is the uncomfortable nature of what is happening or the fact that the game play feels like an afterthought to everything else included in the package. Combine that with a story that is sure to disappoint fans of the series and we have a mixed bag of emotions. There is no doubting the quality of this game, but I am not sure I needed or even wanted this sequel upon completing it.
The Last of Us Part II has the great combat and stealth that fans have come to love but also a one-note storyline more obsessed with being dark than telling a well-written tale.
Excellent gameplay and visuals help elevate a bloated and poorly paced story.
How far would you go to get revenge? How much would you sacrifice for forgiveness? How do you deal with guilt when it eats you from inside? Is there a line you won’t cross, or is everything fair game to make someone else pay for your pain? None of these are easy questions with simple answers, and The Last of Us Part II doesn’t really offer a definitive answer, either. It can’t, and if it did, it would ring hollow. Instead we’re left with the wreckage of two lives spurred on by vengeance and the hope that, maybe, there is closure for the worst of us.
Naughty Dog could concentrate on its true strenghts next time to create an absolutely remarkable game. The Last of Us Part II illustrates one of the best virtual worlds ever seen in a videogame and it even gives you a glimpse at a game that it could have become. A game full of emotions, ups and downs and diverse exploration and combat gameplay. The overall experience is let down by a few holes in the narrative as well as the general Naughty Dog gameplay formula that's been refined since 2013 but still hasn't aged very well.
Review in German | Read full review
The Last of Us Part II's tale of vengeance will incite feelings of hate and resentment but it delivers one of the most profound experiences this generation.