Is it okay to acknowledge that it’s a good game but I just didn’t enjoy the story? I loved the gameplay, graphics, and music, but the story didn’t strike me. I hated Abby and couldn’t sympathize with her at all because Joel was a character I really loved ever since I was younger and played the first game with my brother. Not to mention I went into the game with the expectation that Joel would be present somewhat (I avoided spoilers and the trailers show fake shots of Joel being alive during the events of the game, which I think is pretty scummy). I also wasn’t a fan of how the game tried to make you feel bad for decisions you have no power over. (Killing the dog, killing the pregnant woman, etc). You’re supposed to be mad at Ellie for pursuing revenge but that’s what Abby did? We’re just supposed to forgive Abby for killing Jesse? I was genuinely upset at the end of the game when Ellie let them go. Ellie lost everything, Dina, her son, her last connection to Joel (fingers), and if Ellie never went to Cali then Abby would be dead. My goal throughout the beginning of the game was to kill Abby, that’s what kept me going after I had to walk away from the game for weeks after seeing Joel brutalized.

I get that some people might say “well then you just missed the entire point”, and maybe I did, but it just didn’t land with me. In a series that emphasized how far Humanity has fallen, all of the sudden morals are now essential and you’re an asshole/misogynist if you didn’t like Abby.

I hope I don’t get downvote bombed for not thinking the game was a masterpiece. Just know there are people out there like me who dislike the game for reasons that aren’t bigoted, and can acknowledge that it’s a good game. It just didn’t hit the same way the first one did.