What now?...
Every once in a while, a story, a narrative, a tale, of any sort, can change the way a human thinks. Any format, a piece of music, a book, a movie, a television show, or even a video game. The assumption of video games from people who aren’t as in tune with them is most likely bad-influenced shooters, crashing cars, addictive sports games, and time-passing app store games. What those people don’t take into account is the fact that a lot of developers have spent years working to create a narrative that grips players to learn about the story, to the point where the story means more than just playing. Sometimes watching a story flow is more satisfying than running around following an objective in order to learn more about the characters. That’s the case for Naughty Dog’s 2020 extravaganza, The Last of Us Part II.
The main focus of the series at first glance would most likely be a zombie apocalypse, a brutal shooting game, and a lot of awards to go with it. Why is that? Zombie apocolypses may be the most generic choice for a video game theme, as it’s been used countless times. Also, the murder mechanics seem to be more graphic than most games. So what’s the point? Well, when you learn about a story, and create a love for the characters, the importance of everything around them, outside of the apocalypse, comes into perspective.
Fatherhood plays an immense role in this series. In Part I, the first moment of the series, we see one of our protagonists, Joel Miller, holding his daughter in his arms, as she dies from a bullet wound. As 20 years go by, Joel is required to cross the country with a young girl, Ellie Williams, in order to drop her off with the Fireflies, a faction that wants to create a vaccine for the infection apocalypse. Ellie is significant and unique, as she seems to be the only human who’s immune to the infection. As they move through the country together, learning about each other and their experiences through the cruel world, Joel develops a love for Ellie, as if she’s his own daughter. As they reach the finish line in Salt Lake City, Joel is told that Ellie’s surgery will kill her, but it’ll make a vaccine for the greater good. Ellie is rescued by Joel, as he runs away with her, to be safe in Jackson County with his brother Tommy. The thing is, was Ellie rescued? Joel’s selfish ways in order to save her could’ve saved the greater good of the world, but his care for her gave him something to fight for.
Ellie and Abby are the main characters of the game, but the catch is, they’re on opposite sides of the factions. To focus on themes, the idea of distress after witnessing death is heavily influenced over the course of the entire game. PTSD causes heartbreaking memories to occur throughout the story, affecting the choices of the main characters. Abby is tough, and has self-awareness fairly early. As for Ellie, it takes a long time for her to have personal growth. To forgive and forget may be the hardest challenge of all. When it comes to telling a story through multiple perspectives, collateral damage is destined to occur. It’s interesting to play through the cause of a moment and see the effect later on, affecting the other side of the story. It speaks to the importance of context, and no matter what side you’re rooting for, the game tries to get you to sympathize with both sides. The masterful storytelling of The Last of Us Part II is the centerpiece of the game, as it’s not as focused on the action of playing.
What is the real “war” of this game? Well, it’s not the factions, who are all against each other in order to survive and maintain their territory. It’s not even about revenge, which seems to be an obvious motive. The real war is the war with oneself. The mind battles itself in a way no shape or form could come close to, which makes the decisions made throughout the game a tough watch. Father figures added to the mind battles significantly, as Joel’s decision from the first game is crucial to Ellie’s future. As for Abby, her father’s advice and positive mindset led her to stronger emotional strength despite the earthquake of moments ahead. The hell that broke through the three in-game days were rough, and the contrast between Ellie and Abby were obvious, but their fathers both wanted the same thing for them: To be happy in their lives and spend time with the people they love. Sometimes Ellie and Abby hold back from doing something awful due to thinking of what their fathers would want for them, and they become monsters in front of our eyes.
The satisfaction of a happily ever after, finally ending the revenge you’ve wanted forever, ends with the exact opposite outcome, but it works perfectly. Sometimes the real outcome is what’s realistic, and sometimes you feel like you’re left in the fog with nowhere to go but home. The sun shines as far as the eye can see over the mountain. The barn is filled with sheep as she looks out the window of the farm house. A place she used to call home isn’t an option anymore. Everyone she once had isn’t a part of that home, just her and her guitar she can’t play anymore. The revenge she strived for pushed the important people away, leaving her on a path to the unknown, unless she chooses to follow her past.
The Last of Us Part II is mind-boggling, as the ending left me in pure disbelief. This game was truly made with care, and it shows in every detail. The turn of events were shocking. The unexpected appearances of characters from the beginning of the story happened at the perfect time. However, the most compelling part of the narrative is the depressing, brutal, and heartbreaking scenes that felt so realistic, as they weren’t just made for the action of a fictional story.
It doesn’t matter how ugly the world gets. As long as love exists, the world can go around.
Every once in a while, a story, a narrative, a tale, of any sort, can change the way a human thinks. Any format, a piece of music, a book, a movie, a television show, or even a video game. The assumption of video games from people who aren’t as in tune with them is most likely bad-influenced shooters, crashing cars, addictive sports games, and time-passing app store games. What those people don’t take into account is the fact that a lot of developers have spent years working to create a narrative that grips players to learn about the story, to the point where the story means more than just playing. Sometimes watching a story flow is more satisfying than running around following an objective in order to learn more about the characters. That’s the case for Naughty Dog’s 2020 extravaganza, The Last of Us Part II.
The main focus of the series at first glance would most likely be a zombie apocalypse, a brutal shooting game, and a lot of awards to go with it. Why is that? Zombie apocolypses may be the most generic choice for a video game theme, as it’s been used countless times. Also, the murder mechanics seem to be more graphic than most games. So what’s the point? Well, when you learn about a story, and create a love for the characters, the importance of everything around them, outside of the apocalypse, comes into perspective.
Fatherhood plays an immense role in this series. In Part I, the first moment of the series, we see one of our protagonists, Joel Miller, holding his daughter in his arms, as she dies from a bullet wound. As 20 years go by, Joel is required to cross the country with a young girl, Ellie Williams, in order to drop her off with the Fireflies, a faction that wants to create a vaccine for the infection apocalypse. Ellie is significant and unique, as she seems to be the only human who’s immune to the infection. As they move through the country together, learning about each other and their experiences through the cruel world, Joel develops a love for Ellie, as if she’s his own daughter. As they reach the finish line in Salt Lake City, Joel is told that Ellie’s surgery will kill her, but it’ll make a vaccine for the greater good. Ellie is rescued by Joel, as he runs away with her, to be safe in Jackson County with his brother Tommy. The thing is, was Ellie rescued? Joel’s selfish ways in order to save her could’ve saved the greater good of the world, but his care for her gave him something to fight for.
Ellie and Abby are the main characters of the game, but the catch is, they’re on opposite sides of the factions. To focus on themes, the idea of distress after witnessing death is heavily influenced over the course of the entire game. PTSD causes heartbreaking memories to occur throughout the story, affecting the choices of the main characters. Abby is tough, and has self-awareness fairly early. As for Ellie, it takes a long time for her to have personal growth. To forgive and forget may be the hardest challenge of all. When it comes to telling a story through multiple perspectives, collateral damage is destined to occur. It’s interesting to play through the cause of a moment and see the effect later on, affecting the other side of the story. It speaks to the importance of context, and no matter what side you’re rooting for, the game tries to get you to sympathize with both sides. The masterful storytelling of The Last of Us Part II is the centerpiece of the game, as it’s not as focused on the action of playing.
What is the real “war” of this game? Well, it’s not the factions, who are all against each other in order to survive and maintain their territory. It’s not even about revenge, which seems to be an obvious motive. The real war is the war with oneself. The mind battles itself in a way no shape or form could come close to, which makes the decisions made throughout the game a tough watch. Father figures added to the mind battles significantly, as Joel’s decision from the first game is crucial to Ellie’s future. As for Abby, her father’s advice and positive mindset led her to stronger emotional strength despite the earthquake of moments ahead. The hell that broke through the three in-game days were rough, and the contrast between Ellie and Abby were obvious, but their fathers both wanted the same thing for them: To be happy in their lives and spend time with the people they love. Sometimes Ellie and Abby hold back from doing something awful due to thinking of what their fathers would want for them, and they become monsters in front of our eyes.
The satisfaction of a happily ever after, finally ending the revenge you’ve wanted forever, ends with the exact opposite outcome, but it works perfectly. Sometimes the real outcome is what’s realistic, and sometimes you feel like you’re left in the fog with nowhere to go but home. The sun shines as far as the eye can see over the mountain. The barn is filled with sheep as she looks out the window of the farm house. A place she used to call home isn’t an option anymore. Everyone she once had isn’t a part of that home, just her and her guitar she can’t play anymore. The revenge she strived for pushed the important people away, leaving her on a path to the unknown, unless she chooses to follow her past.
The Last of Us Part II is mind-boggling, as the ending left me in pure disbelief. This game was truly made with care, and it shows in every detail. The turn of events were shocking. The unexpected appearances of characters from the beginning of the story happened at the perfect time. However, the most compelling part of the narrative is the depressing, brutal, and heartbreaking scenes that felt so realistic, as they weren’t just made for the action of a fictional story.
It doesn’t matter how ugly the world gets. As long as love exists, the world can go around.
TrulyWack
1 year ago