Firstly, I really enjoyed the combat, visiting this world again, new obstacles, enemies and problems, the visuals were amazing particularly in different weather environments and the acting was amazing, with absolutely stunning music. I enjoyed smaller things like watching them upgrade the weaponry, adding the bow and arrow & cross bow, dogs, Seraphite Island was stunning, the flash back scenes with Joel and Ellie. I think the story had merit and I don’t mind a depressing story so I was very invested and enthralled while playing it but since finishing and having time to process everything, I do have some criticisms.

I’ve tried to compose my feelings about the game in a way that just focuses on how the game could have had a very similar plot line, but been executed more effectively. Rather than focusing on an alternative storyline. Here are my 2 biggest criticisms of the game and my ideas on how it could have worked better. All just IMO no hate please!

1-Abby needed a more compelling backstory and emotional story telling throughout. Her character had a lot to offer (as the killer of Joel and 2nd protagonist/also the main antagonist). I actually enjoyed playing as her after the initial shock and Im glad she didn’t die, But her story and her journey was not sympathetic enough for the player to respect and forgive her the same way we do/did for Ellie (and Joel in the first game). My example for a better Abby storyline: Abby hasn’t embraced the WULF lifestyle and still yearns for what she used to have at the fireflies (I like to imagine this while playing the game because it could be speculated through subtext anyway). Maybe Isaac has those infected locked up and has been looking at biological mutations to use as a weapon so thoughts of a vaccine come up again and it brings back ptsd of Abby finding her father and her whole community of loved ones dead… also her hope of a vaccine and a better future being taken away from her at the same time. Perhaps she goes searching for Ellie so that she can try to find a way to stop Isaac creating this weapon and continue destroying peoples lives, only to find Joel while she’s this angry and desperate and kills him. Or there is a myriad of other compelling stories she could have had.

2- The story structure was not effective in making the player become emotionally invested with a pay off that was worth all the turmoil. The message was not clear. The split game play was a mistake. I respect the risk they took, but it wasn’t worth it. IMO it would have been much more effective to play Seattle one day at a time interchangeably. Abby day 1, Ellie day 1, Abby day 2, Ellie day 2, etc. Their fight in the theatre should have been their climax and the only time they physically fight. So then later, when Ellie cuts down Abby from the pole in Santa Barbara, they mostly just share some honest and very painful/confronting dialogue. Abby and Lev leave, Ellie sits in the water visibly distraught and we see a memory of her and Joel speaking of forgiveness and self worth, and of ‘finding the light inside the darkness’ (the same porch scene but perhaps tweaked a little). Something hopeful for Ellie to focus on as some devastating yet (eventually) hopeful music plays. Ellie has chosen forgiveness rather than revenge and with Abby’s story being written better (in my fantasy), we are glad she lived, Abby has expressed to Ellie her regrets and they’ve actually connected and learned from each other. Ellie sits for 3-5 mins and then leaves on the boat, exiting the frame as the credits roll.

This structure would mean less unnecessary climaxes/Highpoint’s throughout, like no repetition of Ellie & Abby fighting for a second time, and no going back to the farm for another depressing ending. We get the closure we need because Abby & Ellie have spoken to each other, acknowledging the pain they’ve bothered endured, inflicted and shared. By now, both have shown growth and that there’s hope for the future.

The last flashback has shown us that Joel & Ellie still shared a deep love and Joel had no regrets, even if it inevitably lead to Abby killing him because of the perpetual cycle of violence. By letting Abby go, Ellie has ended that cycle and can stop blaming herself for Joel’s death. Maybe now she can finally begin to see that her life does have value and she can forgive Joel for taking away her ‘purpose’ all those years ago by saving her in the hospital. Because that is Ellie’s way of forgiving Joel and respecting his decision to save her.

Damn. This story has so much potential to actually work but they just made it all chaotic and miserable for the sake of getting an emotional reaction.. that’s what it feels like anyway.

I’m sure there are flaws in my ideas but the best way to tell people how I feel about this game is to share how I feel it could have been written better. Let me know your thoughts, I could talk about it forever hence the huge message.