All the pleads for Neil to stay away from The Last of Us are nonsense, he is the main creator and writer, without him there would probably never have been the first game.
But second better than the first one? First was superior in everything aside from technical aspect of the game. Much superior story – plot, writing, characters, also better level design and pacing, that’s where I think the departure of Bruce Straley was felt the most. Game was relatively boring until a couple of final chapters.
Spoilers:
There are far more and bigger problems with the story than Joel’s death and hulk Abby, it’s her part in the story that driven hate towards her more than an actual character anyway. The problem is how the story was written and presented.
Joel and Tommy with 25 years of survival experience randomly run into an armed group in their zone while on PATROL, and completely drop their guard thinking those teens are their best friends. Ok, whatever, happens.
Then starts nonstop plot armor matching Daenerys from GoT, and everyone else in season 8. Tommy and Ellie spared for no reason, besides to show what? That we are the good guys and only wanted that piece of shit Joel? Ellie’s girlfriend randomly surving a large group of people and then resquing Ellie.
Something between Tommy and Manny I also didn’t like, don’t remember exactly though.
Then Abby’s group starts despising her after helping her find and kill Joel? What was their picture, they help her find Joel so they can sit with a cup of coffee and resolve the issue?
And the worst of all, 7-8 month prengant girl running and jumping all over? And Abby’s whole group, besides herself, was made of horrible, boring characters.
There are many other issues, but I don’t think there is a point in listing them all. Only last final chapters I truly enjoed, especially the last one where she finds Abby, was very well made and written.
It’s not a bad game by any means, I’d still probably give it an 8, very technically advanced as expected from ND, writing still more compelling than majority of games. Fans might have also influenced the story, many asked for completely new prtogonists in the world, others wanted to see Joel and Ellie come back. Well we got both. But it’s embarassing to even compare the quality of the first game to second. One is a masterpiece, that’s regarded as one of the best games of all time, my personal favorite, and the other is a major step down and a disappointment.
