Topic: What PS5 Games Are You Currently Playing?

@colonelkilgore You can count me in that few. I'd totally agree that the story is way deeper and has a really lasting message to it. I guess it really depends on the person and perhaps even what state of mind you are in at the time when you play it but I found that I was thinking about the ending a lot after finishing it.

@render I'm still not through it yet but... I have a feeling I've picked up on the underlying message so far... Still, I'm prepared to be surprised too. Glad there are a few of us out there 👊

@colonelkilgore Pretty sure there isn't just "a few" who thought the 2nd one was an improvement in every way
I'm on that list too and so is almost every person I know personally who played both games.

@Voltan must just be the social media philistines then 😉. Though I did speak to a friend who saw I was playing it yesterday who commented what an awful story it has 🤷‍♂️

@colonelkilgore I mean, it got a bajillion GOTY awards including a number of those voted by players. It can't be that bad just because Ghost of Tsushima beat it for the player choice award at Keighley's show
Of course, if you go to the TLOU subreddit (don't), you'll learn that it's the worst game of all time

Also I'm sure that it's merely a coincidence that the person I know who expressed the strongest disappointment in the game is also one I know to be a homophobic racist

@colonelkilgore another one here who thinks Part 2 has the deeper story. Loved the first, but I think the second is definitely an improvement. I'm very tempted to play through both again.

@Voltan @render @NedStarksGhost as glad as I am that I'm enjoying the sequel's story this much... I'm also kinda glad that I didn't know so many people found it to be better than the original until now. This way, I went in with all the damning criticism ringing in my ears and have probably enjoyed it even more as I was so concerned that I might not.

And yeah, I know it got a shed load of GotY's but I was also worried that maybe it got so many for the 'wrong' reasons if you no what I mean. I'm thrilled to find out that they were justly earned.

@colonelkilgore @Voltan @render @NedStarksGhost In the run up to playing part 2 I managed to avoid the spoilers in the most part so wasn't really sure what to expect. I tried to go in with an open mind as well in that I really enjoyed the first and didn't want my feelings about that to change, but was also really excited to see how the story could develop further.

I really do think those GotY's were totally justified as the entire experience was raised way higher than I was imagining and thought that they took the entire character development and story telling to a whole other level. GoT is an amazing game but in terms of which experience I will likely remember more in time it will definitely be TLoU2.

@render I agree, I've played GoT recently and am now maybe 3/4's through this... and while I loved GoT (& it's even more my type of game) thus is the best game I've played this year.

Ah yes, the legendary "politics"

@colonelkilgore glad to hear you’re enjoying the ride! Can’t wait to discuss it with you once your final thoughts and feelings are compiled.

Edit: just to add, I think those people who didn’t like the direction of Part II fell in love with the characters and turned them, in their own perception, into something that they’re not. Naughty Dog never lost sight of what these characters are, or the bleak world in which they exist. When light was shed on the terrible nature of these characters, I think some people rejected it. It’s convicting, and we all know how folks feel about that…

@Jimmer-jammer so I wouldn’t actually say they (the main characters) have a particularly terrible nature… they’re certainly flawed but aren’t all the greatest fictional characters. I personally take it as, regardless of one being moral and/or ‘good’ natured… everyone is capable of terrible acts if ‘the right buttons are pushed’. I’m definitely not saying I’m right and your wrong (not even telling the haters they’re wrong either tbh) but I look forward to the discussion. I don’t think I got that much left of the game now, so I’ll be looking to post final thoughts tomorrow or Friday 👍

@colonelkilgore Mind saying where you are currently? Use the spoiler tag, I guess

@Voltan Ellie has just left the farm, and I just took control of Abby in Santa Barbara

@colonelkilgore Alright - looking forward to full spoiler-filled impressions

@Voltan do I have much left?

@colonelkilgore This Abby segment is pretty short and there's another one with Ellie (that one's longer) and that's it

@Voltan cool, sounds like I’ll crack that out before breakfast tomorrow… and then on to the Platinum busy-work 😅

@colonelkilgore Bloody hell, do you ever sleep? Can't believe you've almost rattled the game off already.

Almost finished The Last of Us and whilst I think it's truly a great game, the story and world-building (and the combat and level design) of Part II affected me much more deeply.

I think people like the first one more because the story is more straightforward and simple than the second. It's also more optimistic as well, you want to see Joel break down the emotional wall he's built around himself and openly care for Ellie. It can be brutal and tense but also sweet.

The human enemies in the first one are one of it's flaws, most feel lifted directly from the Uncharted series although this is probably to be expected. The humans in Part II were more varied and cunning and felt less like the goons and mercs as they did in the original.

Also, and this may be controversial, whilst we sympathise with Joel from the Prologue he's never likeable. He's a grouchy killing machine but eventually Ellie warms his heart and we get to see another side of Joel. He's a survivor for sure but he's definitely done some terrible things and eventually they were going to catch up with him.

Having said that, ***** the fireflies man. Those guys are scum.

😝