I like 2 better. The plot is more rich, the gameplay is smoother. Encounters feel more organic whereas in the first game, encounters feel too encapsulated.
this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2023
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Part one is way better. The story is enhanced by the gameplay whereas 2 the story is counter to the gameplay and contradicts it's message
Why do you feel the gameplay in two is counter to its message? I felt like it did a good job illustrating how pointless revenge can be, and just how much harm can come to so many people because someone can’t let go. Not trying to be rude or contradictory, just curious to hear more of your opinion.
I'm not them, but it's very hard to condemn violence in a game where the violence is pretty fun.
I agree while the gameplay is entertaining, I think the overall experience and message is left up to the type of person playing it a bit. For myself and plenty of others by the end, we just wanted Ellie to let it go. We saw how many lives Joel’s love for Ellie destroyed and how the need for revenge destroyed more and then the need for even more only took more lives in a world where lives are more precious then ever. I personally was begging the game to let me stop hurting Abbie. I have also read others opinions that they were angry they weren’t allowed to finish Abby off. I feel those people let the revenge become their focus just like Ellie, and maybe missed the point. They left themselves sitting in that empty house just like her because they couldn’t see the hate accomplished nothing but more grief. But I’m just some guy, and everyone might see it differently.
I agree with you 100%. I think the game does this especially well when it comes to major deaths and cuts scenes, like with Whitney, Abby vs Ellie in the theater, etc. But I think the game falls a bit flat when it comes to the attempts in standard combat to make you feel bad. They have people yelling other people's names and try to have the characters talk in a way that humanized them, but it ultimately falls to ludonareative dissonance because gameplay is really fun.
So anyway, I think I just see both sides of this argument, and I totally agree with you that the people who wanted to kill Abby at the end missed the point.
I personally like part 1 better, but part 2 is amazing. I liked how much more dynamic the gameplay was in part 2 and I thought the graphics and story were incredible. The difference for me was how I felt after ending the game. At the end of part 1, I felt "wow, how incredible that was to play". At the end of part 2 , I felt more relief that it was over. I could appreciate how incredible the story is, but it's such an emotional rollercoaster and mental toll, I couldn't get myself to play it again.