-
Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
-
We have made minor adjustments to how the search bar works on ResetEra. You can read about the changes here.
Prediction: The Last of Us Part 2 Will Underwhelm
- Thread starter mindsale
- Start date
- Status
I don't think it's going to be underwhelming. I think it's going to be DIFFERENT than people expect but I don't think it's going to be underwhelming. Druckmann and Naughty Dog know what worked about TLOU1. They also know they can't just do exactly the same thing a second time and expect the results to match the first installment.
I don't really have any interest in buying TLOU2 because I've seen enough of that world already, but I don't have any particular doubt in Naughty Dog's abilities. It'll be a powerful game and it'll probably be pretty damn good. The people who want more of that setting will absolutely get what they want.
I don't really have any interest in buying TLOU2 because I've seen enough of that world already, but I don't have any particular doubt in Naughty Dog's abilities. It'll be a powerful game and it'll probably be pretty damn good. The people who want more of that setting will absolutely get what they want.
I'm tempering my expectations for sure. I loved the first one and the second is one of my most anticipated titles.
But - So was Red Dead Redemption 2 and I was completely disappointed by that. So I'm trying not to let my expectations get too crazy.
But - So was Red Dead Redemption 2 and I was completely disappointed by that. So I'm trying not to let my expectations get too crazy.
Ironically, I had next to zero hype for RDR2 (primarily because it was a prequel) and it ended up being basically my favorite game of 2018 by a rather wide margin. Sometimes hype is a curse more than a blessing..
Come on, we all know it's the latter. It happens with every immensely hyped game. See: Cyberpunk
Where did they say that it wasn't in the TLOU universe? I was following you up to that point, but the last correspondence I saw just said that fans of factions should wait for news.
I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying that this isn't something that I'm aware of.
Also I think it's odd for the person with the Uncharted avatar to tell people that they 'can't believe how many people are misinformed' on this. The communication on this game and any multiplayer from Naughtydog has always been sparse. It's quite possible that you're disposed to listen to the studio a lot more closely than most other people are.
I want to compliment you for your thoughtful and nuanced OP. You set up a potentially meaty discussion and I was sad to see so many other posters dismiss it out of hand. If I were more familiar with TLOU or the development of the sequel, I'd engage you more on it. But right now all I can contribute is to thank you for speaking on the point about fatalism. Really good stuff in that OP.
OP
OP
The walkback was certainly in regards to her lineage, but also in the democratization of Force sensitivity.
Nate isn't just born into these famous historians - he steals their work (literally) and uses it as the basis for his own adventures.
And if you thought that wasn't fatalistic enough, he sires a child who continues the family legacy of exploration / archeology / pillaging.
It's entirely possible that a studio that fosters this kind of ideology across multiple titles will continue the trend in their next work - helmed and overseen by almost entirely the same talent.
edited for mobile phone fuckery.
agree completely. like yourself, i also really disliked where naughty dog went with uncharted 4, but even discounting that factor, i'm not sure any possible sequel could surpass the overall impact of the first game...
Don't think there's any need to overthink a blockbuster to this degree before the game's even out but you do you.
OP
OP
Thank you for the kind words. On page 4 I synopsize how egregious the studio has become with it in their recent works across Uncharted, 3, 4, and LL.
With Uncharted 4 it's worth remembering that they were in a rush with it. Having to put it together in two years when it was a three year project. Part II is something that Neil has had in his head since a bit after the first game wrapped up. Troy mentioned on a recent podcast that Neil first brought it up to him over drinks after an event where the game was awarded. This story has been cooking for a while.
OP
OP
This is a valid point. Also they had a talent shakeup with the dismissal of Hennig (an aside: her work is among my favorite in Naughty Dog's history and I remain bitter we never saw her vision for Sam Drake hunting Nate for his transgressions en route to Libertalia)
OP
OP
Did you read the OP? I discuss recent studio trends in writing, the absence of authorship with McCarthy's influence being exhausted, (I'm remiss not to mention Straley's absence), and posit that the work won't be as resonant as the first.
while i appreciate that the uncharted 4 situation was a bit of a mess, that they chose to go with what they did (up to & including actually subverting a previously established narrative) is, to my mind, still pretty telling. i'd love to be wrong regarding the sequel. we'll see, i guess...
Well it's easy. That way you can't lose. If it's indeed bad, you won't be disappointed and afterwards can say "I told you so". If it's awesome you can be happy to play an awesome game and afterwards not say "I was wrong".
Personally, I don't expect much from the writing, as I haven't enjoyed Druckmann's work since The Last of Us. Even Left Behind underwhelmed me. I feel like it was by chance that the original resonated with me so much.
But I don't expect them to repeat the same mistakes in regards to general pacing as in Uncharted 4, and enemy variety is promising with all of the enemies from the first game plus a few more, and a more robust AI.
So I'm very interested in returning to that world and characters, and looking forward to the gameplay additions and new level structure, and that gets me excited enough for the game. Not sold on the writing at all, but I'm more than used to the idea at this point, and wouldn't feel disappointed if that ends up being the case. I don't care that much anymore.
But I don't expect them to repeat the same mistakes in regards to general pacing as in Uncharted 4, and enemy variety is promising with all of the enemies from the first game plus a few more, and a more robust AI.
So I'm very interested in returning to that world and characters, and looking forward to the gameplay additions and new level structure, and that gets me excited enough for the game. Not sold on the writing at all, but I'm more than used to the idea at this point, and wouldn't feel disappointed if that ends up being the case. I don't care that much anymore.
Seems like your main concern is the narrative. Given that's not a big deal for me I actually someone excited for TLoU2 despite not liking the 1st all that much. Gameplay that they've shown seems a good step-up and I playing as Ellie is a deal clincher (didn't like Joel).
OP
OP
I have every confidence the gameplay will be even better than the first from what we've seen. Yeah, the plot, that I'm unsure of.
Why do you think that McCarthy's influence is exhausted? Given the themes here, they're more than likely going to continue drawing from his work
1) Again, a child taking to their parents' passion professions/hobbies (especially tragically dead ones who had movie-fied exciting versions of said profession) isn't really any kind of huge flaw of storytelling or fatalism run amock. It's a fairly standard story device that simply explains where their interest & knowledge towards history & myth & antiques comes from. So it was from his parents, big deal. It's not like their existence plays into the narrative much otherwise. Their fame (?) didn't open any doors to some specific circles or secret societies. Other than having the same interests, I just don't think the lineage otherwise plays all that much into the narrative. Being orphaned is much more of an influence. Nathan isn't special because of his lineage. It just gave them an interest/passion towards the subject and combined with being orphans who didn't like their situation, set them on their path fo antique thievery & foolery.
2) "across multiple titles"? I mean, one game and its standalone DLC can hardly be used as any kind of proof of Naughty Dog being set on this one direction of fatalism (that can hardly even be called such direction) for any and all of their future endeavours, especially games from different franchises that try to achieve different goals.
3) Again #53923: The Last of Us is not Uncharted. For Uncharted's pulp fiction-y narrative, it fits that there is a passion across generations (see: Indiana Jones' dad too). That says nothing about what they'll do with more grounded narrative like TLOU's, just like TLOU said nothing/very little about how they'd handle Uncharted 4 (it was perhaps a bit more serious and they took some gameplay pointers but that's about it). They are entirely different beasts and even if the creative forces are the same, it doesn't mean they'll treat the stories the same. Even if you could make some meaningful case about horrible fatalism in Uncharted 4, that means absolutely nothing in relation to TLOU2.
I get where you're coming from. Whilst I said the plot wasn't a big deal for me it was the atmosphere in TLoU1 that kept me playing. As you said it that The Road vibe which I really loved. Seems like its going to lose that in the sequel for the reasons you stated, but so long as the gameplay actually hooks me this time then it'll be all the better for it in my books.
They haven't even drawn from some of McCarthy's best works (The Crossing, Suttree). It's far from exhausted.
Although the idea McCarthy is the only worthy source of influence they can draw on is ridiculous. Even if you feel he's the best living author (he's one of them but there are plenty of people on a par with him), there are other mediums to draw on too. Like you say, the first game benefitted from drawing on film—and there are many better filmmakers to draw from than those behind the Road adaptation.
Anyway in terms of other authors they could draw on, check out Bolaño. A lot of stuff that could really inspire and enrich the world of TLOU.
A documentary called Paradise Lost and The End of the F***ing World (for the humor) are the two pieces of media i've seen Neil mention as influences for PII so far.
Same thought.
The game will not disappoint. It will be tuned perfectly for people to go ohh/ahh at steady intervals. The typical ND tricks we are used to.
I mean it won't have Factions multiplayer so its already guaranteed to underwhelm in terms of overall content/value.
I still believe this will be a great game though. This IP is Druckmann's (and Straley) baby. He wouldn't make this game with the same characters if he didn't have something meaningful to say/show off with the story
I still believe this will be a great game though. This IP is Druckmann's (and Straley) baby. He wouldn't make this game with the same characters if he didn't have something meaningful to say/show off with the story
And your opinion is fine and valid. But the wording of how you convey that opinion should have been constructive like how you just did.
People are forgetting Neil isn't writing this game alone. It's also being written by Halley Gross. She wrote 2 amazing episodes of Westworld from its season 1 and i'm really curious to see how a woman writing a female character pans out for this series.
I'm sure her DNA will be all over this game, at least that's the idea i got from an older interview from Neil and her where he commented how she had written a "long ass game" for them to make, lmao.
I'm sure her DNA will be all over this game, at least that's the idea i got from an older interview from Neil and her where he commented how she had written a "long ass game" for them to make, lmao.
I mean there's not much new to play right now and there's not a lot of exciting news to talk about from anywhere...
so yes.
I've definitely lost some interest in this one, but I was in the camp of the original being a one shot story that ended on a perfect bitter sweet note. I think this one will be fine but there are other games I will be checking out first. Need something to look forward to when I visit the 20 dollar bin next year.
Every preview I read was hyped about it. Getting gameplay comparisons to MGSV is a major plus. MGSV had its issues, but its core gameplay was rock solid. And the fact that PII isn't open-world, means that they can craft sequences in a much more deliberate way to get rid of the flaws that MGSV had.
OP
OP
That's definitely an aspect of this, too. The world is one that I'd like to revisit, but all of the plot points had closure, really, so any elements that would advance the story are all external and new. Devil that you know. Unnecessary sequels. All that.
Bigger stealth focused encounters with smarter enemies sounds kinda fun but my previous experiences with ND games make me lump it into the "maybe check out the ps5 port once it's discounted" category of games.
If it does underwhelm, it will be months or years until most would admit it to themselves so it will be hard to measure. All it will take is 2 or 3 people to think their opinions are too worth for the OT to make a thread and give some people a false narrative that ERA is disappointed by it. Queue threads like these asking, where'd the hype go.
That all said, with the multiplayer next year, this game will have 2 distinct marketing cycles and hype waves, so it could all spin differently
That all said, with the multiplayer next year, this game will have 2 distinct marketing cycles and hype waves, so it could all spin differently
most likely. it'll be hard to live up to the first game.
plus, i'm just really not into the direction that ND are going with the story/commentary. hopefully they focus on making an enjoyable story for the game and not a piece of social commentary.
plus, i'm just really not into the direction that ND are going with the story/commentary. hopefully they focus on making an enjoyable story for the game and not a piece of social commentary.
Druckmann said many times that they didn't want to make a sequel unless they were sure it's at least on par with the first one. He doesn't want to tarnish its legacy. I trust his judgement. Even if some end up not liking, no one can say that he didn't do it out of love for the franchise.
I'm not following how this is fatalism. Fatalism is the idea that all events are locked in ahead of time and so one should just give in to their fate. In the epilogue of Uncharted 4 Nate and Elena hide events from their daughter until she's older.
There's something to be said that Nate could represent American imperialism in the same way that Indiana Jones does, and I don't doubt that interpretation but I'm really struggling to understand the fatalism angle. Could you explain it more?
OP
OP
The multiplayer component for this game was turned into a new game entirely. There is no forthcoming multiplayer for LoUPII.
I personally be prefer to be optimistic and positive in life, and learn how to accept "negative" experiences or the ones we perceive as so.
- Status