Some dev perspective:
I am now at a point in the game that reminded me of my childhood reading days. I was an avid reader who pretty much devoured all of the children's literature books and made a quick way onto adult section (Harris, King, Zelazny). The greatest gift my parents gave me was freedom of choice. I felt it the most when the librarian lady called my mother to tell her I mustn't read King at twelve (to which my mother replied she should mind her own business, naturally). Those early reading days were probably one of the main reasons why I was always attracted to darker themes, especially later, watching movies and appreciating Se7en and Silence of the Lambs and Halloween. What I somewhat lost over years, right around the time I also lost my favorite imaginary friend as well - Mr. Potter, was that sense of genuine wide eyed discovery, of turning page after page and finishing the latest lengthy piece in just two-three nights near the fireplace. As a high school teacher, my job is to read, to talk about the classics. You can imagine I don't always come back home to read some more. Nowadays, I find my piece and engage my brain mostly in other activities: watching movies, or tv series. Reading comic books, as a solid bridge between the moving picture and a written form. I also, as you know, play videogames. A lot of them. I played most PS exclusives this generation and probably tried a fair chunk of what PS Store has to offer.
Now, to finally make a point. The Last of Us: Part II checks all of the boxes for me. It's dark, it's engaging, it ignites mood swings inside me that I never expected. Reminds me of the best within the medium: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Silent Hill series, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne... It also constantly creates a dialogue with the first game that does not detract from what made the first game so good, but it also adds layers upon layers - and with narrative ferocity, that make you think - and re-think, what all of it means, not just for every character involved, but also you as a player.
It transports me back into my childhood, literally climbing up the stairs, into those darker sections of the library, picking up book after book, wondering what's inside, and later on completely engaging myself in the material. When the story is this good, I truly believe art can transcend our own reality, suck you in without realizing. Make you question not just the characters' choices, but your own as well, however far removed they might seem at first.
I rambled too much. I have so much more to say but need to finish the game. It's a huge one, so it might take me two or three days more than I expected.
So yeah, agreed on the variety commentary, the solace is then definitely in beautiful details like this.
