Now that season two of HBO’s The Last of Us is done (and has been for a while at this point), and the third one is on the way, it got me thinking about the video game counterpart. And when I do think about it, the saying, “Time heals all wounds”, comes to mind. And just like the story, that saying doesn’t hold true. The game goes out of its way to show that that is not the case and, in the end, the violence brought about by that obsession will cost you everything. As for me, while I don’t have an obsession with how poorly the story and its themes were told, it doesn’t take away from the fact that I find it damaging. Time, in fact, did not heal all wounds.
That’s not to say that the game doesn’t have any redeeming qualities. Quite the contrary - to what a large chunk of the internet might say- it has quite a few. One of which many will probably think I’m crazy for even thinking. So, let's dive into them.
Firstly, the game is undeniably gorgeous to look at, both from a graphical standpoint and from a creative/artistic one. This is a world that’s gone to hell and I love exploring all the corners of it just to see the world building. Everywhere you look is packed with so much attention to detail that it’s a real marvel to know that everyone on the dev team had a passion to bring it all to life (though unfortunately it undoubtedly came at the cost of those devs having to be subjected to the dreaded Crunch).
Next is the voice acting/motion capture performances throughout the games' 20 plus hours long runtime. Not one character/actor feels like they’re phoning it in for a paycheck; everyone showed up to put in the work. Ashley Johnson definitely carries the weight of what’s expected of her for Ellie’s first half (and epilogue) of the game; bringing a new take on a beloved character with a seeming ease that any actor would be jealous of. Troy Baker effortlessly brings Joel to life just as he did in the first game. And Laura Bailey does a great job with Abby. But it's a performance that's borderline wasted on the character; with the creators setting her up to fail the moment she swung that golf club. You know, character assassination is usually reserved for already well established characters, not brand new ones we are supposed to sympathize with. It makes it very hard to care about a new character's plight when they kill a beloved character. Not saying it's not possible, just extremely difficult.
And my most controversial opinion: I respect that this game just went for the story they were trying to tell. Does that mean they did it well, or that it was the correct one to tell? No, not really. But, I appreciate that they didn't want to play it safe with the story; that they set out to tell the story they wanted to and did. One where they attempt to not hand hold their audience; and their characters are at least tonally consistent with they story and themes of it. Something that was sorely lacking in season two of the show. Even if you were to take the show on its own merits, the tone and characters are all over the place. For a story about revenge, the cycle of violence and the destruction those can cause, the show's version of Ellie and Dina act like they're out on a meet-cute adventure. Nothing from the show comes anywhere close to the same level as the game. Even going so far as to make sure the audience knows everything there is to know as to why Abby is doing what she's doing; not allowing for the reason to be revealed later, like in the game. But, I digress. And while I appreciate the attempts the game makes, they do tend to fall flat on their face if you look at it with even the tiniest of critical eyes. The amount of emotional manipulation they use is staggering; making Ellie cold as she descends into darkness, while making Abby warm as she attempts to leave it.
But, the worst thing the game does (and by extension, the show); the wound that hasn't, and won't, heal: Making Joel a bad guy. The moment they took that ambiguous end, and whether he was right in doing what he did, and explicitly landed on one side of the argument, they made the story worse. The beauty of the first game was asking you to understand it from Joel's perspective, but whether you agree with him or not waws left up to you. It sparked much debate from both sides of the argument, so it kept the story fresh and engaging. A second playthrough with all the prior knowledge in place could change your viewpoint from the first time you played. Talking to someone with a differing opinion could get you to think a little longer and harder on if you're position is the correct one. However, the moment the creators gave a more authoritative voice that his actions were indeed bad, they took that away. And they took that debate away from fans, and it weakened a much beloved character. It weakened him by trying to show us just how villainous his actions are through a brand new characters eyes (and retconning the doctor at the end of the first game); and it weakens him through Ellie's as when she finds out his lie, she immediately hates him for it and puts distance between them. They transform him from a character that we can empathize/sympathize with and root for, to one we are not supposed to like or trust. And if you're wondering: yes, I side--always have and will--with Joel. How do you let a loved one be sacrificed for a cause where there are no guarantees that it will actually work?
With all that said, I do enjoy the game (not the show) for what it is and what it tries to accomplish. Do I want to play it more over the first one? No, absolutely not. I think the second one is too flawed in its execution and themes. It tries so hard for you to question beloved characters and manipulate you in to liking others. And it's at times too bleak for its own good. I like a good revenge story; I like a dark/bleak story; but this one goes out of its way, at times, be a miserable experience. And it's a little too long, clocking in around 20 hours, double the length of the first. But, I do respect what they were trying to go for. I do appreciate the world building and gameplay mechanics. And I do enjoy all the performances that are here. So, I occasionally have a desire to follow up the first one with it.
But, Spookie, how would you fix the game if you're so smart (and good looking and always right)?
That's simple: You don't make this story. Joel and Ellie's story should have been left where it was, and the second game should have focused on the new set of characters. One of the biggest strengths both games have is its amazing world building; wouldn't it make more sense to use that to tell a new story? I think the inclusion of the W. L. F and the Seraphites in the second game are really interesting, so why shoehorn in Joel and Ellie (I know, brand recognition)? But, if they used all the original characters from the second game, I think they'd have even better results for the story they were trying to tell. Imagine playing the same story, but you're not entirely sure who you're supposed to root for. Both sides of the game show you both good and bad things these characters have done or can do. Imagine the debates, the blog posts, the Youtube essay videos that would stem from that kind of story. Even if it never reached the same heights as the first game, it wouldn't tarnish it. It would be it's own entity.
And I think that's the biggest take away for me. The Last of Us is a franchise better off telling different stories of a world fallen apart and the different people/factions that inhabit it; not a narrow focused, singular story about one specific character(s).
But that's just my thoughts on The Last of Us Part II, what are yours'? Let me know in the comments below! And remember to have a great day!
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