DwindlingSun

6y

So I just finished this last night and wanted to frame my thoughts.

I played on Survivor, which I highly recommend and feel like is the way the game should be played. Maximum tension and danger, forcing you to weigh up the risk/reward of exploring an area, always feeling like the underdog and needing to be smart.

I had the fortune of avoiding any spoilers and leaks, never tuned into this or the neighbour thread throughout my playthrough either.

I think its really cool when you go back and watch some of the earlier gameplay trailers, the state of play for instance, how they intentionally cut Dina out when showing the Seattle Day 1 section. Very smart piece of misdirection and worked perfectly on me. All I was aware of story-wise in the run-up was that something terrible happens to Jackson which sends Ellie on this revenge quest, and I was certain this was something to do with Dina, given all the pre-release focus on her.

In hindsight, it made perfect sense to kill off Joel, it was the only logical motivator for such a quest and for the player, I just never thought they would go there. I truly did feel visceral anger at that point and was fully committed to killing all of them.

Of course, this would change. I really can say I felt every story beat they wanted me to, every moment of doubt, every twinge of regret and empathy. Really came to like Abby's character and her motivations. Loved Manny, which is crazy considering how much I hated him previously for spitting on Joel's corpse.

The switchover was such an unexpected surprise, and the Santa Barbara section (which gave me major BrBa Neo-Nazi vibes). So much longer than I expected (40 hours for me in total), but I was with it every step, never felt a lag.

Glad they tied Abby's revenge into the doctor, the mirroring worked perfectly, and was much more effective than just being a random person Joel screwed over offscreen.

I thought the game would end with Ellie and Dina on the farm, glad it didn't, something just felt off and it did feel like there was unfinished business, even if I (and she) wasn't fully committed.

I think in the end if Abby hadn't been in such a vulnerable state then things might have been different. But in the end she was so broken I was relieved when Ellie realised it just wasn't worth it anymore, and I feel like we made that realisation almost in sync.

Played a lot of games, but this might be the heaviest of all. Has left me pretty devastated, even though I see the end as a positive note. That last line really is perfect, even though at the time it felt anticlimactic. But it really speaks to the way sometimes things just really don't work out perfectly and we have to find some way to reconcile that and move on.

The only part that felt almost too deus ex machina to me, was Ellie leaving behind the map, which I guess indicated that they were located in the theatre even though it wasn't quite overtly shown.

Finally, the gameplay is astounding. The human enemies are the gold standard for games, bar none. The Seraphites whistling might be the coolest mechanic I've seen, you as the player don't know what it means, don't know where exactly its coming from, its terrifying and so well executed. In terms of blurring the line between combat and non-combat they did perfectly, felt tension and on my toes the whole time. Incredible horror imagery and gameplay too.

All in all, it's a masterpiece to me.

bebacksoon

6y

Not out yet

DwindlingSun

6y

So I just finished this last night and wanted to frame my thoughts.

I played on Survivor, which I highly recommend and feel like is the way the game should be played. Maximum tension and danger, forcing you to weigh up the risk/reward of exploring an area, always feeling like the underdog and needing to be smart.

I had the fortune of avoiding any spoilers and leaks, never tuned into this or the neighbour thread throughout my playthrough either.

I think its really cool when you go back and watch some of the earlier gameplay trailers, the state of play for instance, how they intentionally cut Dina out when showing the Seattle Day 1 section. Very smart piece of misdirection and worked perfectly on me. All I was aware of story-wise in the run-up was that something terrible happens to Jackson which sends Ellie on this revenge quest, and I was certain this was something to do with Dina, given all the pre-release focus on her.

In hindsight, it made perfect sense to kill off Joel, it was the only logical motivator for such a quest and for the player, I just never thought they would go there. I truly did feel visceral anger at that point and was fully committed to killing all of them.

Of course, this would change. I really can say I felt every story beat they wanted me to, every moment of doubt, every twinge of regret and empathy. Really came to like Abby's character and her motivations. Loved Manny, which is crazy considering how much I hated him previously for spitting on Joel's corpse.

The switchover was such an unexpected surprise, and the Santa Barbara section (which gave me major BrBa Neo-Nazi vibes). So much longer than I expected (40 hours for me in total), but I was with it every step, never felt a lag.

Glad they tied Abby's revenge into the doctor, the mirroring worked perfectly, and was much more effective than just being a random person Joel screwed over offscreen.

I thought the game would end with Ellie and Dina on the farm, glad it didn't, something just felt off and it did feel like there was unfinished business, even if I (and she) wasn't fully committed.

I think in the end if Abby hadn't been in such a vulnerable state then things might have been different. But in the end she was so broken I was relieved when Ellie realised it just wasn't worth it anymore, and I feel like we made that realisation almost in sync.

Played a lot of games, but this might be the heaviest of all. Has left me pretty devastated, even though I see the end as a positive note. That last line really is perfect, even though at the time it felt anticlimactic. But it really speaks to the way sometimes things just really don't work out perfectly and we have to find some way to reconcile that and move on.

The only part that felt almost too deus ex machina to me, was Ellie leaving behind the map, which I guess indicated that they were located in the theatre even though it wasn't quite overtly shown.

Finally, the gameplay is astounding. The human enemies are the gold standard for games, bar none. The Seraphites whistling might be the coolest mechanic I've seen, you as the player don't know what it means, don't know where exactly its coming from, its terrifying and so well executed. In terms of blurring the line between combat and non-combat they did perfectly, felt tension and on my toes the whole time. Incredible horror imagery and gameplay too.

All in all, it's a masterpiece to me.

Vicko77

6y

Well put (40 hours tho???)

DwindlingSun

6y

So I just finished this last night and wanted to frame my thoughts.

I played on Survivor, which I highly recommend and feel like is the way the game should be played. Maximum tension and danger, forcing you to weigh up the risk/reward of exploring an area, always feeling like the underdog and needing to be smart.

I had the fortune of avoiding any spoilers and leaks, never tuned into this or the neighbour thread throughout my playthrough either.

I think its really cool when you go back and watch some of the earlier gameplay trailers, the state of play for instance, how they intentionally cut Dina out when showing the Seattle Day 1 section. Very smart piece of misdirection and worked perfectly on me. All I was aware of story-wise in the run-up was that something terrible happens to Jackson which sends Ellie on this revenge quest, and I was certain this was something to do with Dina, given all the pre-release focus on her.

In hindsight, it made perfect sense to kill off Joel, it was the only logical motivator for such a quest and for the player, I just never thought they would go there. I truly did feel visceral anger at that point and was fully committed to killing all of them.

Of course, this would change. I really can say I felt every story beat they wanted me to, every moment of doubt, every twinge of regret and empathy. Really came to like Abby's character and her motivations. Loved Manny, which is crazy considering how much I hated him previously for spitting on Joel's corpse.

The switchover was such an unexpected surprise, and the Santa Barbara section (which gave me major BrBa Neo-Nazi vibes). So much longer than I expected (40 hours for me in total), but I was with it every step, never felt a lag.

Glad they tied Abby's revenge into the doctor, the mirroring worked perfectly, and was much more effective than just being a random person Joel screwed over offscreen.

I thought the game would end with Ellie and Dina on the farm, glad it didn't, something just felt off and it did feel like there was unfinished business, even if I (and she) wasn't fully committed.

I think in the end if Abby hadn't been in such a vulnerable state then things might have been different. But in the end she was so broken I was relieved when Ellie realised it just wasn't worth it anymore, and I feel like we made that realisation almost in sync.

Played a lot of games, but this might be the heaviest of all. Has left me pretty devastated, even though I see the end as a positive note. That last line really is perfect, even though at the time it felt anticlimactic. But it really speaks to the way sometimes things just really don't work out perfectly and we have to find some way to reconcile that and move on.

The only part that felt almost too deus ex machina to me, was Ellie leaving behind the map, which I guess indicated that they were located in the theatre even though it wasn't quite overtly shown.

Finally, the gameplay is astounding. The human enemies are the gold standard for games, bar none. The Seraphites whistling might be the coolest mechanic I've seen, you as the player don't know what it means, don't know where exactly its coming from, its terrifying and so well executed. In terms of blurring the line between combat and non-combat they did perfectly, felt tension and on my toes the whole time. Incredible horror imagery and gameplay too.

All in all, it's a masterpiece to me.

Rino

6y

i knew i wasn’t the only one that got breaking bad vibes from santa barbara

DwindlingSun

6y

I do feel however, that the game potentially would have been best served with a conversation between Ellie and Abby at the end as opposed to the fight scene.

That said, maybe this is easier said than done considering the swirl of emotions. The default to just fight for the sake of it is strong I imagine.

But yeah, I was hopeful it would go further than 'I can't let you leave', to maybe something like Ellie saying I understand why you did it, but I dont know how to make peace with it. And Abby more openly expressing her desire to break from this pointless and destructive cyle of violence.

Curious what others think. Maybe the necessary catharsis could only be achieved through one last fight.

Luciano Schwartz

6y

I had Sarah Connor T2 vibes

DwindlingSun

6y

This too for sure. The tank top, drenched in blood, and that silenced submachine gun was such a badass look. One of the most satisfying sections of the game, just getting to go ham with all your upgrades and equipment one last time.

Vicko77

6y

Totally agree with this. I mean it isn't bad, but it should have been a Blood Meridian type of outcome.

DwindlingSun

6y

Yeah it isn't bad. I imagine they pondered it a lot. Its a tough one in game's medium to get right for sure.

picassos ear

6y

Finished this last night. Played pretty much the entire time knowing in the back of my head there was something that was causing ppl to review bomb this game.(avoided all spoilers) I can honestly say I’m not sure why. I thought it was excellent on just about every level. Solid 9/10 ..loses a point at most for odd pacing at times but other than that....

Gangstalicious

6y

At least 10% of this game is just Abby or Ellie falling from mad high and recovering within 8 seconds
Also ellie is immune but Tommy is f***ing immortal

The Retiring Mane

6y

GREATEST PAYOFF IN VIDEO GAME HISTORY

A REVENGE PLOT THAT GOES NOWHERE MY G

10 OUT OF 10.

Vicko77

6y

Well put (40 hours tho???)

CrimsonArk

6y

I complete the game in about 23 hours and explored almost every nook and crannie of the environment, so I have no idea how people are getting 30+ hours out of this game.

DS2

6y

did you play on survivor?

TrussMe

6y

My only flaw to this game:

The Abby s***scene needed a "mash square" moment.

Such a missed opportunity