[WARNING: Spoilers for The Last of Us: Part 2]
The Last Of Us: Part 2 released to critical acclaim back in June. Critics praised the game for its unique take on a revenge plot and it's fantastic characters. The Last Of Us: Part 2 had a mission to show gamers and critics that games could still be "more." How Naughty Dog shows such a notion is through a grotesque and brutal adventure that pushes two very flawed women to do unspeakable things.
While the critical reception of the game was incredibly high, fan reception has overall been a mixed bag. Many fans didn't like the new direction of Ellie's character and found some early game twists to be "cheap shots" to garner an emotional reaction. Perhaps such perception of the game is very much tied to the themes of the game itself. The Last Of Us: Part 2 is about not only revenge but also forgiveness. However, many fans have seemingly overlooked portions of the game which gives it enormous value. Early leaked cutscenes didn't help either, and further elicited an emotional response. Due to all of these factors, the game has made itself an interesting legacy to say the very least.
Although The Last Of Us: Part 2 is certainly a brutal endeavor, it does justify such violence. The The Last Of Us was dark, shocking, and impactful because it took control away from the player. For once, the player essentially becomes a bystander, forced to execute Joel's Firefly massacre whether they like it or not.
What The Last of Us' Legacy Is
It seems that The Last of Us: Part 2 has taken the power of this scene as a reference point to justify much of the game. For one, Joel's murder at the hands of Abby is a side effect of his selfish actions. While many fans were upset by Joel's death (and have every right to be) the world of The Last Of Us is unforgiving and incredibly dangerous. Nobody is ever safe and everyone has blood on their hands. While the player may sympathize with Joel's actions, it doesn't change the fact he has hurt many people. This emotional response that Joel undergoes is traded off to Ellie after his death.
The truth of TLOU's harsh world is a reality many characters had faced in the first game, but the player was lucky enough to avoid, at least until the sequel. In The Last of Us: Part 2 the player becomes a participant. Much like Joel's murder of the Firefly hospital, many of the acts that Ellie engages in are morally horrible, but the player is forced to follow through despite this. Many of these moments made players uncomfortable, and while such feelings are valid, it seems likely such emotions were intended. Even the ending of The Last of Us: Part 2 forces Ellie to throw away her peaceful existence in an attempt to potentially gain satisfaction. Her traumas and emotions are understandable, but it doesn't make such actions justifiable.
The Last of Us: Part 2 forces the player to become Ellie much as TLOU did with Joel in its ending. As a result, The Last Of Us: Part 2 is simply different from any other game this year. Much of what this game pushes to the forefront, and its uncomfortable tone throughout, may have been a bit too intense for some gamers, and that's okay. The Last Of Us 2 separates Ellie from the player in a way that no other game has done before. Naturally, such an intense and violent venture has created a multitude of different emotional responses to the final product. All these reactions and interpretations are valid. However, one thing is for certain; Naughty Dog has created yet another game that will be ed for years to come, even after all of the internet review-bombs fade away.
