Revisiting The Last Of Us Part II
Published on .A recent family tragedy strangely prompted me to revisit this game for the first time since the original release. This personal loss left me feeling heavy and numb, and I felt like playing something equally heavy and dark as a channel for catharsis.
Frankly I just wanted to experience the story again. I remember that the first time I played it, I was always stressed and tense because of how hopeless the atmosphere feels and how oppressive the gameplay is. I definitely didn’t want to go through that again, so I chose the Light difficulty. It worked; it was still immersive and involved enough to make it exciting without it becoming overwhelming. The fact that I already knew when the big events were coming helped me better prepare for them. All in all I ended up appreciating the story much more.
I adore this story. It expands an already interesting setting into a fascinating world. The Wolves and Seraphites and their clash in the North, and the Rattlers in the South; how each area or population can evolve (or devolve) so wildly and differently; how the good-natured ideas of an individual can be twisted over time into an extremist cult; how one people’s “happy” ending can be the beginning of a nightmare for another. The corrosive nature of hatred. Guilt and redemption. Regrets and amends.
Now this world has its teeth on me; I want to listen to the official accompanying podcast, re-watch the making-of documentary, and replay the story with the developer’s commentary. Of course I’m super eager to watch the TV adaption of Part II. And finally, I’m really hoping we get see where Ellie, Abby, Lev, and Dina are in Part III.
Here’s to the future days.
Also published as a review on my backloggd profile.
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