Michaelf2225 wrote: ↑

June 22nd, 2020, 7:39 am

post seattle day 3 (no real spoilers aside from the "big one" you guys are discussing just contributing the over arching narrative talk and brief mention of the game's inciting incident)

the decision to have you play as abby was very tough for the first day or so for me. but after shit starts going down - especially near the end - i completely understand why ND did what they've done, and i think it's brilliant. i did not expect to cry playing as joel's killer - like vader said it's an exercise in empathy.

i also don't think it would've worked if we switched back and forth between abby and ellie. our connection with abby relies, i think, on spending a lot of time with her just like we would with ellie. my one criticism, and this isn't really about the story - a few of the combat encounters with her have gone on too long and feel a bit like filler. there's also one combat encounter with a certain infected that was absolutely bonkers.

This thread from a Naughty Dog dev is a must read, no spoilers whatsoever, just discussing themes from a profound and personal perspective:

I rolled the credits about 30 minutes ago and have been sitting in silence crying on and off the whole time.

If the first game is a streamlined, perfect masterpiece, this game is a massive, messy, imperfect one. It's possibly the highest artistic level this medium has ever achieved, and one that I'm not sure we'll see reached again for a while - or, at least until the next ND game if this stupid backlash doesn't cause Sony to reign Druckmann and co. in for the next game.

This is not the game I expected, and it's certainly not the game I wanted - but despite that, the ending had me ugly crying - no game has ever done this to me before. I'm so excited for you guys to finish, so we can talk about it. I'm just angry this is gonna go down by most people as an awful, hated game. If only people had actually played it.

If the first game is a streamlined, perfect masterpiece, this game is a massive, messy, imperfect one.

Yeah I was already starting to think of some TDK vs TDKR analogies too.

Michaelf, don't worry man, Druckmann certainly doesn't. Just look at his tweets. Everybody in the company seems to be incredibly proud of the achievement, it broke Animal Crossing opening record in UK and even Uncharted 4. Spider-Man's 3.3 million is going down soon as well. They can expect a 20+ mil seller, easily. And it's been a critical darling with currently 95 meta. People are only now finishing the game, processing everything and starting to come out to say something substantial. Let's not quote those 0/10 reviews cause there's nothing to quote there except hate.

There are lesbians in this game (one of them is a protag). Pregnant women. Wives and daughters. People of all race and color. People of various religious beliefs. Old and tired. Vile people. Good folks. Men and women trying to survive, protecting their own. Part II challenges your own ideals on every possible socio-political level, and it's not always pretty, on the contrary, mostly it's dark, and desparate, and unfair. But damn are the moments of true piece even more important in this game than ever. I'd argue Part II has more giraffes, and elephants, and lamas, than any other ND game (you know the references).

I teared up so many times playing this game, don't even count no more. Will probably finish tomorrow.

Sometimes what soul needs is to hurt. Love will come inevitably after.

Edit: update on my progress, 25 hours into it... After Seattle Day 3...Still ways to go... Major fight spoiler under a certain structure lol.

Yeah, I just finished, too. I agree that this is probably the greatest achievement in video game history. There are parts I vehemently disliked, and yet, as a whole, this game took me to places no entertainment property has ever taken me to.


I'll have more thoughts later, but the words are alluding me at the moment.

I'd argue that the second (third?) part of the game has some of the best set pieces and locations.

Finishing tomorrow, not ready to let go. Had to stop for tonight, unwillingly.

I finished day 4(ish) and I am floored by how well executed this all is.
I cannot wait to see where this goes. I'm going to limit myself to playing a couple hours a day now to savor it.


-Vader

I'm at day six(ish)... Day five will legit give me nightmares tonight.

When I said I wanted new Silent Hill, I didn't...

You know that scene from The Matrix, right before the betrayal: 'Not like this.' Yeah, that.

Vader, regarding your locales concern before, worry not.

And smart choice about limiting your game time, wish I had such strong will. But we'll see what happens. He he he.

Just wanted to mention one specific setpiece that reminded me of the everlasting fear of confronting David, even after so many playthroughs of the original, I just hate it so much, gives me the creeps. Anyway, the cutscene ends and the game wants me to move and my jaw just dropped to the floor and I just stood there, frozen. 'Fuck fuck fuck.' Such an adrenaline rush. I was legit sweating. Metal Gear Solid vibes.

You guys...



i need a hug