Spoiler
overall, i really liked it. Graphically it's obviously immense. Gameplay wise, it's much improved from the first one. Crafting hasn't changed much but theres more things you can do. Stealth play got better, being able to crawl under things, use grass for cover etc. The level design is better in this one, with more expansive areas, different routes and approaches you can take. The guns feel great to use, the sound and visuals when of them, especially with the headshots are just so satisfying. And the comments the characters make during the game is great touch (e.g Elli's comments after a kill, or the enemy comments when you took out one of their mates).The worldbuilding i thought was great too. The 2 different factions and their comments about one another, the writing on the walls, the notes left around, the eeriness of Seattle.
Some drawbacks, someone mentioned it already but it was slightly disappointing that so much of it was based in Seattle. Compared to the last game with different locations during different times of the year, it was a bit annoying that the game mainly takes place over 4 days in the same city. I was glad to get to California near the end of the game, but more of the game could have been spent there or somewhere else, it looked great.
I was Ok with playing as Abby, not my favourite character or anything. I actually thought it was decent that you got to see the other side of the coin and see the world from a different perspective, I just would have preferred to play as Ellie more. they could have split it to give Abbie slightly less time.
Guess the whole thing comes down to the story though. I knew Joel was getting clubbed, but I didn't think it was going to be so early, and I wasnt sure Abby was the one to do it. People said it was a pathetic death for a character like that. I think ND kinda wanted to show how in this world, shit like that happens. He made a decision and these were the consequences. Was it a fitting death, maybe not, but that's the shit that happens in this new world. So ellie begins her vengeance quest. I think that first half was probably the best part of the game. Not quite as enthusiastic about the WLF vs Scars (I enjoyed it much more when Eliie was navigating between them) or Abby and her mates - but again, I appreciated seeing her perspective and why she did what she did and who she was. The journey with Lev/Lily on the way to WLF base was the highlight. I think ND showed that in this world there's a lot of grey areas. Good people can do bad and good things (killing someone to rescue ellie and prevent a vaccine being made). Bad people (if you believe Abby is) can do bad and good things, like clubbing joel and then saving 2 scars. Ellie herself gets blinded by rage and vengeance but in the end allows Abby to live, which you would hope breaks the cycle, as you could then see Lev coming after Ellie in the future had she gone through with it.
Should Ellie have killed her. Maybe. People say what was the point of the whole journey if not, and that she got away with killing Jesse and Joel and crippling Tommy. Imo, Dina realised, and Ellie realised too late, that it wouldn't make a difference. Abby killed Joel because of what Joel did, and now she's doing the same, but it's not going to make her feel better. I was hoping she wouldn't do it. The only problem is she realised and lost everything anyway. I imagine Dina went back to Jackson and I hope she goes back there and finds something. Listening to her try and play guitar at the end was heartbreaking, especially since I really loved the scene when she played Take on Me to Dina. There were a lot of really great cutscenes and setpieces in this. Story wise, not quite as strong, but it was a great game, that could have done with a couple tweaks in the decision making.
Also, I hope the multiplayer is free or at least discounted for anyone that bought this
