Those are 2 different things.
In our world, merit sometimes counts, not always. Sometimes we work and we get what we deserve, sometimes we don't. You're right, I agree, it's not really fair, unfortunately it's our world and it's difficult to change it (nearly impossible). It has never really been fair in the past either, to be honest. We should try to live happily our time here with the people we love and probably accept what we can't change, only change what we can control. Or if you're really ambitious, be the change you want for the world, like Gandhi said. But you'll have to work a lot.
I agree on the second point video games shouldn't force their views on us, but I disagree that TLoU2 tried to force anything on me. I have my opinions, Neil Druckmann has his, you have yours. He wrote the story he wanted to write, I thought about it what I wanted to think about it, nobody forced anything on anybody.
He's ok with the fact you disagree with his views or don't like his story. He doesn't try to please you with his story, that's just what he wanted to write. He hopes you'll like the game though. Explain me why you feel TLoU 2 forced something on you. (it's late here, I may answer tomorrow though)
Good post. I can speak for myself only, nobody can force anything on me. I knew full well what the game was trying to do. I knew it wasn't going to be like the first part. I knew Ellie would be the main character and I also read a few spoilers, so I knew I would play as Abby. I bought the game knowing all that, because I knew I would enjoy atleast the gameplay aspect of it. Being a fan of the TLOU universe, I had to play it and experience for myself if this game worked for me or not.
Gameplay, even though it didnt really innovate or outdo their previous installment, as nothing was groundbreaking but it was a solid, fun gameplay and it worked for me. I wish the gameplay from last level was the case with most of the game as that was the most fun I had in any level. Now my problem with the game is its story ofcourse.
I got the feeling of being manipulated into liking Abby more than Ellie. Abby's side was given way more explanation and had more sympathetic cutscenes. For a story that focuses on grey areas of all characters, She's the most reasonable in her group, she loves animals, she lost her almost angelic father who was trying to save the world, killed by a selfish prick who she hunts down and kills. She decides to not kill Ellie, she lets her pregnant friend go. Alright they established that pretty well, whereas Ellie was nothing like the first game and just came across as a psycho killer, killing animals, all Abby's friends ruthlessly, kills a pregnant woman (who i have no sympathy for btw), kills Abby's love interest that we are forced to explore multiple times in flashbacks.
It almost seemed like the idea wasn't to create a balanced rivalry between Abby and Ellie but Ellie was actually bastardized in this one and came across as a completely different person than TLOU1. Tommy... they destroyed Tommy! The guy says "Lets get over it" and then the next morning leaves without Ellie?! WTF. Did he think Ellie wouldn't go regardless? Specially when she already told him she would? Then at the end he comes and shames Ellie? I mean who the hell is this guy, Tommy wasnt such an asshole in the first game.
Now on to Joel. Joel's reasoning is implied in the first game as to why he decided to kill fireflies and save Ellie... and thats it. While its wholly described why Abby killing Joel is justified, they dont even try to justify Joel's decision when it actually makes sense.
All the main characters from previous game, the characters I loved as a player were done dirty in this one. I bought the game to play their story.. I couldn't give a fuck about Abby and Owen and that pregnant woman who is prancing around going out to adventures without a care. If they wanted to tell the story of Abby, they could have made a sequel as a separate game without any link to the first one. It came across like, they used our love for the previous game as a bridge to put over new characters which weren;t half as good as the first games's.
In addition to that, it felt like every new side characters had some political background to them. He its a Trans, look its a woman with bigger muscles than Joel, shes a lesbian.. Look shes a brave pregnant woman. I mean okay.... I get it. Just stop hitting me on the head with it. If you want me to like them, give me something about their characters that actually impresses me. These all felt like cheap plugs to please specific communities. I dont mind them being a trans or a bi or pregnant or a lesbian or whatever, but can you please give me something more than that? Lev had somewhat of a proper story but then again, it felt like it was shoehorned into the game unnecessarily, which ended up bloating the game for me. IDC about Lev man.. I want to know what happens with the story of Ellie and Abby.
They tried very hard to change the perspective of the player into liking Abby by the end of it, which kind of worked in the sense because I didnt want her to die, and that brings my biggest dislike of the game... the ending.
How f'n dumb is Ellie? Why would she just not kill Abby? I as a player MAY or may not understand Abby's character (because I played as her and know her story), from Ellie's perspective Abby is an enemy who killed her father figure, and she has her right there and she lets her go? Why..? Now she suddenly realizes that "Revenge isnt the answer"? We weren't given ONE cutscene where someone (Dina should have) explained to her why she shouldn't waste away burning in the fire for vengeance... not one! How am I to understand why she doesnt kill Abby? She threw away her perfect life with a farm and a lover and all for revenge... she thinks over it and decides she needs a closure by doing it.. she leaves everything behind for it and then just didnt do it. I mean... why did you waste my 40 hours man.. you should have never left Jackson.
So the game didnt only fail to put over new characters with me as a player, but also managed to make me hate the characters I actually already liked from previous games.
Sorry for the long post, having beat the game recently.. I needed to get it out of my system.
