This is coming from someone who loved the first game and would rate the first game 10/10.
Here's my impression of the game so far.
If you liked the game play of the first game then you'll like the second. It plays pretty much the same. The combat didn't change much. They did add a dodge option when your fighting fist to cuffs which I find annoying. I had a system in the first game where I would punch out an enemy then run circles around them. It was also easy just to hit triangle right when they were about to hit me too. The second game has a dodge feature that -- for me at least -- makes it harder to not get hit. I would compare the combat change to Uncharted 2 and Uncharted 3. It's not a major change, but it will make you change your strategy from the first game.
MAJOR SPOILERS Alright, now for the story. I had already seen the spoiler saying Joel dies in the game, but I didn't know by who or when. I immediately stopped reading spoilers after learning that. Now, I just got to the part where Joel gets beat to hell and dies. Here's my problem with it. Joel is then baddest man on the apocalyptic planet. He survives getting shanked and who knows what else. He's Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry or whatever else. However, the creators of the game fed the baddest man on the planet to these guys: Maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit. Let me explain, the impression I got from the first game was that the world was shit and everyone was just tired as fuck. Nobody has nice clothes in the first game. Everyone looks like they haven't taken a shower in weeks. The Hunters look like all bearded homeless. The only groups that looked somewhat normal were the military and some of the Fireflies, but even they looked like shit. Their eyes looked all dark and crazy.
However, in the second game this new group of villains that jump Joel and his brother look like they just came out of 2020. One guy has a manbun another has a GQ style haircut. They look all fit like they've been eating right and working out.
I also feel as if this story lost its maturity There's people smoking weed, having sex, and making out in bars. The first game felt more focused on survival and trying to live in this new fucked up world with hardly any supplies for anyone. The second game is like alright things are somewhat normal now. There's movies, smoking weed, and other stuff to do. It feels weird to me.
I stopped playing for the night after Joel's death and I will see where the story goes from here. It's not the worst game so far, but story wise... they really should have used other characters for this new game. Joel and Ellie's story were done in my opinion. I feel like Naughty Dog just wanted to make a point that they could kill off any of their characters they wanted, but Joel's death didn't even feel natural in this game. I feel like it backfired.
To me it felt natural that people would band together to create some semblance of a society instead of being wilderpeople forever. There's also evidence of it in the first game with Boston QZ and Tommy's settlement, whatever it's called.
Also I don't agree with your view on how Joel's death was handled, but to each his own.
tbf, the first game was from Joel's perspective; a dude who's from the "old world", who experienced the apocalypse as it was happening, and had to survive and make a new life through it.
Ellie on the other hand, was born and raised after the apocalypse, so we see different things being emphasized. plus in Tommy's settlement, they're trying to create (and basically succeed in) a mostly peaceful society, so we see people doing more "normal", mundane stuff.
and I feel that some of your other issues, or at least one, will make better sense as you get further into the game.
Most of that intro is supposed to be what they consider a normal life. They emphasise that the town is a pretty nice place to live. I'm barley much further than you are but I won't be surprised if the other group have a similar story. Not everyone is a crazy cannibal out there. At this point it's 25 years after the outbreak.
as for Joel's death I thought it totally worked. He was caught off guard and basically tortured and executed. I don't think he gave Abby what she wanted. He didn't seem overly surprised by someone hunting him for revenge. The tragedy of it was that he had grown to be a good person again which is what lead him into that situation to begin with.
I don't think it's particuarly unique either. Just that this sort of character death either happens at the end of the story or not in a video game.
I thought Joel's death worked. He thought he was with allies, let his guard down and got blindsided by a gunshot to the leg, after which he was pinned down by two people and beaten with a club for who knows how long while staying defiant and conscious.
I would personally have placed it at a later point in the game, and Ellie's flashbacks earlier to build up those death flags. ---
I want you to grab your nuts. Grab your balls. I want you to take a handful, and just grab your nuts real quick. Swivel 'em around in a circular motion. -LTG
To me it felt natural that people would band together to create some semblance of a society instead of being wilderpeople forever. There's also evidence of it in the first game with Boston QZ and Tommy's settlement, whatever it's called.
Also I don't agree with your view on how Joel's death was handled, but to each his own.
The problem I have is that Joel was always suspicious about everyone in the first game. It's how he survived the Pittsburgh area that was full of bandits. I feel like Joel joining the group at the cabin and meeting everyone was out of character for him. I feel like he would have helped Abby and then left her somewhere, but never enter the cabin.
The problem I have is that Joel was always suspicious about everyone in the first game. It's how he survived the Pittsburgh area that was full of bandits. I feel like Joel joining the group at the cabin and meeting everyone was out of character for him. I feel like he would have helped Abby and then left her somewhere, but never enter the cabin.
He clearly has tried to become a better person after the events of the first game.
Outside of his house there were a shitload of flowers left as a memorial. He isn't a grumpy loner anymore.
He clearly has tried to become a better person after the events of the first game.
Outside of his house there were a shitload of flowers left as a memorial. He isn't a grumpy loner anymore.
In my opinion it would have made more sense for Ellie to be with Joel instead of Tommy. And Ellie suggesting to Joel they follow Abby to the cabin against Joel's wishes. This would have fallen in line with everything from the first game which was don't trust anyone. Just my two cents. I'll see how the story goes from here.
In my opinion it would have made more sense for Ellie to be with Joel instead of Tommy. And Ellie suggesting to Joel they follow Abby to the cabin against Joel's wishes. This would have fallen in line with everything from the first game which was don't trust anyone. Just my two cents. I'll see how the story goes from here.
To be fair it's not like Joel and Tommy had all that much choice either. It was either stay in the place being bombarded with infected, try to survive the blizzard outside or go to the manor.
Tommy also offers to help them go through town so I don't think helping people is new for them.
The other two hours were pretty fun. I see Naughty Dog is starting to grow the maps to allow more exploring like Uncharted 4 and Uncharted Lost Legacy.
