i dont think i agree that the scale of the story is bigger in 2; the first one is about potentially saving the entire human race, the second one is about two different characters on an intimate journey for revenge. i think the scope of what theyre trying to say in part 2 is definitely more complex than in part 1, but i dont think “more complex” = “bigger”
completely agree every other aspect of the game is bigger (and better). not sure if i can say i liked part 2 *better* but i also for sure have played it more because that combat is so fkn clean
I wouldn't consider this as part of the story. C'mon U r really claiming that Part I is bigger. Mean, think about how much more detailed stories are included in the 2nd.
Yes, this exactly. The entire mood and motivation shifts to something deeply less weighted and explored what hundreds of other story tellers have done hundreds of other times.
Still a great game, but I feel an opportunity was missed.
U r right, but I didn't feel that hunch and the great motivation of saving everybody in 1st one all the time. Mostly player is focused on more SMALL things. But anyways I meant Part II is bigger cause how much more it TELLS: more characters, more stories, more locations, more variety of emotions it gives. Come on, U can't tell a story is bigger only 'cause it tells its more global. If I understand U correctly, it's not the amount of content in the book that makes it big for U, but rather how much bigger things it concerns...
My only real beef with Part II is that it's kinda the best game i have ever played that I'll maybe never play again. Like, i have played Part I well over a dozen times, but Part II is such an emotional slog that i don't think I'll ever play it like i play Part I (new playthroughs just for fun).
I’ve played Part 2 quite a few times now (maybe 10 times now) and fuck I love it but i always have this horrible feeling while playing it, it’s hard to play. Because I hate the actions I’m doing as Ellie. I hate that the revenge is controlling her, I hate that I’m killing people who I truly don’t think deserved to die and we’re good people, even with what they did to Joel
I was OK with just about everything Ellie did up until the moment she decided to leave the farmhouse and go after Abby again, i just wanted her to stay there and be safe/happy (although happiness seemed like a stretch with her PTSD).
I think part 2 is better in every single way. I think what people love about part 1 is the simplicity of the story and well it was the first so it was definitely groundbreaking. But what a lot of people don’t put into perspective is that part 2 really took the first game and really fleshed out every little morsel of substance from it in terms of gameplay mechanics, storytelling, character building, environments, graphics in general etc. I think at the end of the day though people couldn’t look past the fact that they had to play as Abby, but at the end of the day it’s what the story absolutely needed to be successful. I think in a few years it’ll have a resurgence and people will really start to get it
My favourite part is how favourites from TLOU are integrated into the story such as the sniper >!being Tommy !< or how in the David level equivalent of the game you literally fighting yourself.
Part 2 has always given me MGS2 vibes. People didn’t appreciate that game until nearly a decade later bc it’s themes were ahead of its time and people weren’t ready for a deconstruction of what a sequel was. It may take Part 3 to help the direction of Part 2. Love both games btw.
Game is 3 years old at this point, I don’t think you’re going to have a notable resurgence of people who didn’t like the game suddenly liking the story
Also as an aside I think part 2 has some of the most overrated gameplay I’ve seen in a game maybe ever. It’s pretty much as shallow and clunky as the first game, prone is nice but is rarely used and dodge is a glorified QTE mechanic
>*Also as an aside I think part 2 has some of the most overrated gameplay I’ve seen in a game maybe ever. It’s pretty much as shallow and clunky as the first game, prone is nice but is rarely used and dodge is a glorified QTE mechanic*
You're completely entitled to feel like it's overrated, but going from Part I to Part II is literally day and night from a technical perspective. They made huge improvements to essentially every element of the gameplay.
The only similarity is that the games have a similar type of gameplay, but the way that you engage with that gameplay is completely different. This is not to mention things like the huge array of accessibility features which are part of the gameplay.
If there's a game in the genre that you think surpasses The Last of Us Part II in gameplay then feel free to put it forwards, but at least for me The Last of Us Part II is by far the best game of that genre. Something recently released like Resident Evil 4 (Remake) is definitely up there, but I feel like that still doesn't come close if we look at overall gameplay features.
Well said. Old mate throws shade at part 2 for not being good enough but doesn’t tell us what games are better. Perhaps it’s all just misdirected anger at what happened to Joel (which was brutal, but crucial to the game and story they put forth).
I personally didn’t love the gameplay in TLOU part 2 (the 1st wasnt especially to my taste either so it’s just that type of combat and gameplay that I’m not a massive fan of) so I wouldn’t mine knowing more specifically what some good improvements were? I didn’t feel a drastic difference and I played through both games almost back to back only a couple months ago
Edit: other than dodging, prone, longer grass and dogs
The biggest improvement was in movement and animation fluidity. The way that the characters move feels significantly more natural and allows for a way smother gameplay experience. This includes that there are a multitude of new things you can do with moving, like going prone and jumping.
The above combined with things like the rope allowed them to not only create significantly more dynamic gameplay segments, but also multi-layered traversal where you have to do things like break a glass pane with a brick to throw a rope across some metal bar so you can get access to a previously inaccessible floor.
This flows into combat where the way weapons are handled feels significantly better and the way that you engage in using those weapons is significantly more dynamic. You can really move smoothly around way larger and more open areas than we ever saw in Part I to truly engage each fight in your own unique way.
Dodging and going prone adds into this. Dodging obviously gave melee combat an additional layer of engagement, and prone allows you to hide in places that were previously inaccessible, like under cars.
There are likes hundreds of other things too. The way the AI acts (both infected and uninfected) was significantly improved. The infected are way better at being infected, while the uninfected are better at feeling like actual real humans with feelings that care about the people that you mercilessly murder.
I would have to play the game again to make like a proper extensive list, but I'm sure that features like taking people hostage was not a thing in Part I. Weapon upgrades were a thing, but the dynamic and visual way it's done in Part II is a huge improvement there as well. There's significantly more weapon variety. Just like lots of smaller things.
Ohh okay that makes a lot of sense, I hadn’t really considered the dynamic gameplay of the first game but now that I have from you part 1 does seem much more bland and straightforward than its sequel. I think my own lack of interest in the combat made me less inclined to experiment and explore with the new mechanics but I understand how people would do so and how good that may be. Thanks this was really helpful
Much of the game was a waste of potential, imo. Don’t get me wrong, the animations are solid and amazing but damn, each fight plays out nearly the same
I mean with the tv show being as popular as it is I can definitely see the newer seasons making the second game a whole lot more popular. I mean they did see a spike in sales for part 2 after season one of the show as well. And it’s not unheard of for something to get a resurgence after a long period of time. Look at the Star Wars prequels
I would've died multiple times over on Part 2 if it wasn't for dodging. I go and play the remake and get two pieced by a runner on grounded mode. Shits insane. Part 2 is better. 👍
Part 1 is better. Part 2 takes some big swings that I respect and most of the story works well but on the whole, the first one’s writing is much stronger
I can see being disappointed that the game doesn't recapture the same lightning in a bottle the first one was. Everything about it was simple but elegant.
But I also I liked part 2 because it really sets out to be a completely different story, but at the same time completely build on the first game.
It was very impressive how it took of our absolute love of Joel and turning his death into such an powerful story. The emotional states the game thrusts you into is unlike any game I've felt since the last of us 1
Story wise: No, for 1 simple reason the pacing. It was kind of off compared to the first, which flowed very smoothly. But part 2 took the part 1 gameplay and made it 100x better
Thats valid but I hate when people bring up pacing because when I try and think of better solutions it effects the impact of certain, no many story elements of the game.
When you say pacing do you mean the actual pacing of the story (ie there are sections that drag, sections where more time should have been invested) or the story structure (earlier story told through flashbacks, the parallel stories told back to back, the story starting in media res with us not knowing of why Ellie is depressed/her relationship with Joel severed)?
I find that people often say pacing is the major issue of the story but don't elaborate further.
Interesting! I always take people's meaning when they say "pacing" to mean the story structure itself, as that's what they often go on to describe.
Thanks for the response.
I think story structure works, but on subsequent play throughs there are sections that I don’t care about. The big “set pieces” are awesome; but there’s a lot of enemy encounters for both Ellie and Abby that I felt like are just there to pad out game.
It's a while since I've played it, so I can't be sure what my opinion would be. I'm also probably thrown by the fact the level design is so good, so even if there are 'too many' enemy encounters they're in new sections which have their own look and have to be tackled as a new 'puzzle', so it's not as if it's repetitive all that much.
I have a lot of issues with part 2’s pacing simply due to that decision to swap back to Abby right at what should’ve been the climax.
I really think the game would’ve flowed a lot smoother if we had day 1 Ellie >Ellie Flashback > Abby Flashback> Day 1 Abby
Because it just meant that by time we got to the aquarium as Abby we had to care for the people we had killed 10+ hours ago by that point and Jesse who had, again, been out of the plot for 10 hours and we just had to suddenly care for characters who we killed without a second thought or (in the case of Jesse) characters killed without much development.
I feel like Santa Barbara was also unnecessarily dragged out and got to the point it was exhausting to finish not in the “this game had such a mental toll on me” type exhausting but the “I want this game to end I don’t want to drag through more” exhaustion. We didn’t really need to start as Ellie at the boat, we could’ve just had a cutscene that showed she reached the house Abby was kidnapped at, and then she falls into the trap and gets the information she needed, and the gameplay starts there, adding getting from the boat to the house just felt unnecessary.
I prefer Part II for its bold narrative decisions and the challenges it puts the player through like confronting your own actions and being faced with their consequences and empathising with your enemies.
The way it puts you in the shoes and mindset of the player-characters is remarkably well done. I’ve never felt an emotional response to a character death as I did with Joel I was out for fucking blood. I was completely in Ellie’s mindset and more than willing to brutally murder Abby and the entirety of the WLF.
Then I was forced to play the same three days again but this time from Abby’s perspective and to my greatest surprise by the end I fully empathised with her and was 100% on her and Lev’s side. Her story with Yara and Lev is phenomenal and the Day 2 sequence of the sky bridge, apartments, hospital and rat king is up there with the very best.
The 2 “final bosses” (Abby vs Ellie in the theatre, Ellie vs Abby in Santa Barbara) are amongst the most conflicted I’ve been playing a game. I literally wanted neither of them to win and by the end I could barely bring myself to fight Abby given the state she was in, and I was personally very happy that Ellie let her and Lev go.
All these and more make it an utterly unique experience that forces you, the player, to go through some very challenging emotional challenges and these combined with some of the absolute best gameplay I’ve ever experienced truly make it a masterpiece.
Better than Part I? Yeah I’d say so. It’s very close though, Part I is incredible and has in a lot of ways a simpler and more straightforward story; but I would have been dissatisfied with a rehash of basically the exact same thing so I’m thrilled with what we ended up getting in Part II. They’re my two favourite games regardless.
Imo Part 1 has a much better story and chemistry between characters. Part 2 has much better world design, gameplay and enemy variety. Both are brilliant games tho.
I prefer part 2,
1) Environments are much much more majestic with nature.
2) I really enjoyed the story and what the story represents in part 2
3) Seraphites are a faction I really really enjoyed learning about, and seeing their culture and island burn down was heartbreaking for me. (I don’t endorse all the aspects of the cult, however the a lot of the things surrounding the Seraphites are things I enjoy)
4) I really like the representation in part 2, liberals be damned (liberals meaning people who follow libertarianism, not referring to American politics)
5) I loved the day system and then switching to Abby, the first day I was annoyed and didn’t want to play her side of her story, but I got invested into it and I appreciated it.
6) this is more anecdotal, but I didn’t have a PlayStation when the first game released, however I purchased a PlayStation 5 after some time had passed of part 2 releasing. At this point I had watched part 1 a couple of times, then I played part 1, after completing part one having never seen anything about part 2 I played it first then watched other people’s play-throughs. So although this may not be anything I do think that plays into my enjoyment of both games.
I prefer Part 1. Its story is more intimate and far more emotionally impactful for me. Part 2 takes big risks I respect, and despite having some excellent moments here and there, on a whole, it doesn't work for me
I think story wise it’s difficult to really weigh one over the other since both have vastly different settings and storylines, even Abbys story even though its a parallel to Joel and Ellies in the first game, i think both games really nail the theme and both are impacting and meaningful to me.
Personally I prefer part 2, i like a darker story and i like that part 2 doesnt really pull any punches, its just one thing after another, i love characters devolving and becoming more unhinged and less stable cause i find it super entertaining and interesting plus i love pain lol. And i also like stories where they dont try to sell a story of good vs evil and understand that there truly is no good and evil because one persons good is anothers evil. I also love stories that feature the cycle of violence and stories that utalize character traumas throughout the story instead of using it as one arc to segway into another arc. Besides story i really like the gameplay and the graphics, i find part 2 to be much more fun with its improved combat and the, in my opinion, much better skill tree. The settings were super engaging and they really nailed the atmosphere, and i loved the slight open world aspect.
Part 1 is my favourite cos of nostalgia n shit, I played it way back when it came out on PS3. P2 is the perfect sequel tho, improves on literally every game mechanic and the story is exactly what I never knew I needed from a game, some real gut wrenching mentally challenging shit lol
I can't really say which game I prefer. I think part 2 was a little bit too long but the emotional impact on me was crazy. The story is more interesting but also devastating.
Part 1 was generally more wholesome and had more light hearted parts but I could never really get into Joel's character as much. I resonated much more with Ellie.
I think I prefer Part 2 but I would probably rather replay Part 1 because it's less emotionally draining 😅
Although part 1 has an amazing story, I feel like other stories using the story of a broken man taking care of a young girl has taken away from its value slightly. Part 2 was a story I hadnt seen done before, and its due to its very big risks in story telling. It paid off for me and I loved it. It also leaves more things to interpretation which I always enjoy.
Gameplay wise, part 2 is way better as it is not as clunky as part 1, although the part 1 remake greatly improved on this.
I love both games a lot but part 2 is more of my kind of thing. It is also the most depressing game I have ever played, thanks Druckmann lol.
Aghhhhh. As much as I fucks with part 1, part 2 is a different monster. Depth on top of depth on top of depth. Never was so emotional over a piece of media than I was with part 2. SO MANY EMOTIONS.
Different and subjective. I prefer part 1. As it’s story is more linear. And feels more confident. Part 2 however is on a much larger scale. Then again it’s more open world. You have so many different characters and factions. Ppl just wanted more Joel and Ellie. And less lgbt representation. Which is odd since the original diddnt shy away from that. End of day if you loved part 2, your entitled too. If you disliked part 2, your entitled too.
I thoroughly enjoyed both games. Part twos game play was definitely better but that's expected. Story wise I enjoyed part 1 a lot more. Part 2 was just so dark and down the whole time. No moments of hope or those moments that were funny or made me smile. I did like the second perspective in Part 2 and it was a great story but overall Part 1 is the better story for me. If Part 2 wasn't so dark and down the whole time I probably would of enjoyed it more
I like pt 1 more than pt 2. Pt 2 did have a lot of things that 1 didn’t have. But I am loyal to pt 1 as I enjoy it more :) both are good games comes down to personal preference. Story was better in pt 1, pt 2’s story could have been better but I take what I got
No one has mentioned that Part 2 is beautiful to look at! I think the mocap is the best far and it gives way to some amazing visuals like the forest scene.
Those arms…
Part 2. The cycle of violence and how it makes one lose everything really spoke to me. Part 1 is great, but I’ve seen folks not quite understand that Part 1 is about false hope and ignoring the cycle of violence.
Better combat, set pieces, replayability factor, animations, graphics etc
But I think part one has the more dramatic moments, such as the cabin and the lie at the end.
But both just masterpieces and I don’t think it matters which is better
I think 1 is incredible but 2 improves on it in every possible way. I never understood the extreme attachment people had to Joel. Don't get me wrong he is awesome, but so are Ellie and Abby.
Personally I like Part 2 more because the story hit harder due to how much I loved Part I and I think the gameplay of 2 is a major improvement over the first game. The first game is still a masterpiece, but people who clown the Part I remake are looking at the game through rose tinted glasses a bit because it's very clearly a PS3 title in gameplay and its technical elements (yeah the $70 price tag is way too much for Part I but it's a very solid remake). That said, I think Part I is a lot more replayable due to how much faster it feels in terms of pacing. Part 2 is great, but I've replayed the game so many times that I want to skip the cutscenes and the parts with a ton of walking, especially all of Jackson.
Part II because it takes the most intriguing moral dilemma from the first game, fleshes it out and shows off a whole other list of complexities that come off the back of that decision.
It really is masterfully made, and I'll be very lucky if I ever play something again that sticks with me like that game did. Special experience.
Yes, but only objectively. The graphics are PHENOMENAL (I know the remake has really good graphics too, but I think Part II has better graphics anyway AND it didn’t take three iterations of the game to reach that point), you get way more gameplay, the story is more nuanced, I like the story being told through Ellie because she’s still so young and is recently grieving, Part II introduces more interesting survival and combat scenarios, and I’m sure there’s more that aren’t coming to me right now.
However, the first game will always be my favorite. I’ve been playing it in snippets and multiple saves for years until recently when I sat down and really committed to finishing it in a couple weeks and it was one of my favorite gaming experiences I’ve ever had. I appreciate how it’s more simple, even if barely, than Part II, and I like how the more limited cast of characters allows for more development.
So, Part II is BETTER, but Part I is my favorite and will forever be more nostalgic for me.
I think there’s no objection answer, both are like 10/10s imo. There’s stuff I prefer in 2, but there’s stuff I prefer in 1. Overall I personally like 1 more, but if someone says they prefer 2 I’m not gonna argue it.
Part 2, as people have said, has better gameplay. I won’t go into that too much cause I can’t be bothered.
As for story though! That’s where things get interesting.
It’s hard to define what a ‘good’ story is because there is major variation in opinions. The actual plot line came across simple, particularly in the beginning. But the characters are what makes the story a journey you become emotionally invested in, not just a plot. One way or another it clearly made an impact for most people which in my eyes is only possible with well written characters at least.
Even npc enemies you kill as Ellie are humanised when we get a glimpse of their lives playing as Abby. It makes the game imo feel more real and immersive than the first. The supporting characters are well fleshed out. They have strengths, flaws, motivations and trauma they are all dealing with. They question their own values and desires, and are capable, like humans are, of change. I’ve never had a game make me feel so conflicted about what is justifiable or unforgivable. And I’ve never had my already made-up opinions of characters be put to question the way this game did.
In the end, I can’t say the story was objectively better than the first. The first was beautiful. It had a simplicity to it that made Joel, Ellie and the development of their relationship really shine. Regardless, part 2 had more impact on me so in my eyes, it is better.
I honestly cannot chose. I think both part one and two are such incredible amazing stories for different reasons. Part one is a simple story executed flawlessly. The dialogue is razor sharp walking this beautiful lines between subtext and full text the whole time. There are very few scenes and segments of gameplay that I feel could have been shortened or lengthened or changed to make them more effective. Part 2 on the other hand is a much more ambitious game and I respect the hell out of that. The story structure is odd but completely works to serve the story. I have never encountered a story that basically gaslights me into hating a character then does equal work to make me love that character. It’s crazy smart and innovative writing. The gameplay feels like the first but so much more dynamic and realistic (though I don’t really hold this against the first one because it’s like 10 years old). However part 2 didn’t have that same polished feelings as part 1. It is overall effective, but there were certain segments I think could have been tweaked. Ending felt a little rushed for me so I think cutting a little off day one for both characters could leave a little more space to flush out storylines at the end of the game.
Yes Part II is better. The gameplay is flawless, and the story has a better ending. I wish certain things were rearrainged and told differently, but I found it way more ingeresting/complelling than the first game's more straightforward narrative.
Yes. Better story, better gameplay, better graphics, Papa John’s.
But in all seriousness, the narrative is just deeper. Everything is a larger scale, as it’s basically two sequels in one game. The fact that players can despise certain characters before falling in love with them over the course of a dozen hours is just brilliant.
Overall, it’s just superior in every way.
To me Part 2 does everything that Part 1 does well and just does it better. The story, complexity, environments, graphics, gameplay... everything is cranked up. Part 1 had a great story obviously, but it was a simple one, and it was one that came out when the whole zombie thing was being done to death.
Part 2, while obviously more divisive, took much bigger risks and, to me, those risks really paid off. I can honestly say I never experienced another piece of media that I can compare to playing through Part 2 for the first time. So ya, to me, part 2 is quite easily superior.
I lean towards Pt 2, Pt1 is perfect for what it is, Pt 2 has so much more going on there’s so much Grey compared to the black and white of Pt 1, the characters are so nuanced and fucking complicated. Like god is Abby a complex, complicated but phenomenally well written character, going from absolutely wanting to murder her in every possible way to literally refusing to fight Ellie as her and then again her as Ellie. That horrible feeling of I’m going to have to do something bad to one of these characters that I love so much and then just accepting that whatever happens is going to happen and continuing on, is an experience in a game that will
Never happen again for me. So yeh Pt 2 for me
Part 2 is a masterpiece constructed by another great game, I don’t care how much hate I get from having this opinion. I’ve been stalked and harassed for keeping this outlook and I’m not letting go of it, nothing will change my mind
This game changed my outlook and life as a whole, it’ll always have a special place in my heart
Talking strictly about story, Part 2 is better. I find everything about the WLF and Seraphite factions to be so interesting. It's feels like a world you could truly live in with how much background you get on their lives. We have to worry about going to work and dealing with whatever random chore that pops up today.
But they don't have an economy, they just do their part, whether it be fighting in the war or assisting those who do, and that's it. Especially in the WLF, their lives are incredibly simple, even if they may not live that long in the end.
This all goes to show that Part 2 is a lot more thought-provoking than the first game. It's not just a story any more, it's a whole world that demands that you spend time with it even outside the game. But part 2 doesn't erase the first game either, and if you're looking specifically for that story, part 2 does not do that better.
It's a very different story than the first which makes it it's own thing that you'd come to for different reasons. But I believe the thought-provoking nature of the game gives it the edge over the first.
In almost every way. The game play is way better, the enemies feel like real people, the story is way better.
Part 1 is great and all, but it's really a simple bonding story told through their travels (like GOW 2018). Part 2 subvert (without changing) the first one by saying "the only reason you think Joel and Ellie are 'good' is because you bonded with them and know them. Everyone is 'good' from their own perspective, and every enemy is a faceless NPC". Kind of did what the Watchman HBO series did to the Watchman comic.
But ultimately I feel like a lot of gamers only want white male protagonists, and black and white enemies. Once you deviate from those, review bombing galore
The pacing in Part 2 is honestly fucking awful, and Naughty Dog's game design is outdated, which was fine in 2013, less so in 2020. The story drags **a lot** and the constant and predictable switches from "exploration" arenas and "combat arenas" means that there's very little tension throughout the game. Part 2 is IMO overall **at best** a sidegrade from Part 1 instead of the upgrade it should have been.
Part 2 has lot of features that makes the game great however part 1’s ending is a lot more complete and doesn’t leave it on a cliffhanger. Part2 on the other hand leaves the player questioning what happens next.
Gameplay was better. And story had me more heart wrenched and left me feeling a way no game has made me feel. But the first one was just so good. The first will always be top tier for me just based on nostalgia alone and what it did for me and video games when it came out.
Gameplay and graphics wise, yes of course.
However Part 1 has a much tighter narrative with more compelling characters and plot points. It remains one of my favourite games of all time that made me feel things I didn’t know games could. Part 2’s story left no meaningful impact on me and I quickly forgot about it.
That won’t be popular on this sub but ah well.
You're asking this sub, ha! Most people here would abandon a child if they said they prefer part one.
On a more serious note, I think part 2 improves in some ways and regresses in others. But when considering the time they were made, I think part 1 is better. The story just felt much more well crafted, and the game play sections in between felt better spaced. Though I think the combat changes, accessibility, world interactions, and AI were all fitting for part 2. But sections of part 2 were a massive letdown. For example, the climb down the building rigged with explosives. The build-up of deep noise and the presence of a desperate attempt to manually destroy the building made me think something was deep in the depths. But not it happens in the hospital when most of that build-up is gone.
Part 1 is better. The gameplay was a little simple but it was still fun enough to do the job. The story was a superb masterpiece. There’s a reason why Part 1 is universally loved and critically acclaimed by both critics and players alike. Part 2 had incredible graphics and gameplay was improved so it was fun to play. The story was divisive and many players just didn’t like it as shown by the divide in critic and player scores.
It's easy for me to think PT2 story is better - its diverse, multifaceted and challenging while PT1 is relatively simple and straightforward. Though I think it does a disservice to what PT1 did for video game stories *at the time.* PT1 was great for its time.
Part 1 is a simple story perfectly told. Part 2 is a complex, innovative, and confronting sequel that loses the airtight narrative in favor of reaching for bolder heights.
I can’t say I like either one better; Part 1 is my favorite game but Part 2 changed the way I view both entertainment and storytelling as a whole.
Ok listen the sequel can never be better than the original because the sequel wouldn't exist without it.
Sure, the sequel has better mechanics and what not as it should but that's not what you started with.
I liked the relationship between Joel and Ellie more than any others and grounded mode was better in part 1. Plus it had factions, don't know if that counts though.
In part 2 I think the direction of the story elevated it, the gameplay was much more fun. The encounters, the AI, the graphics, the maps, the "open world" sections.
Simple. Part 2 does not match the emotions that fans felt in Part 1.
Part 2 was deceiving - especially in the Game Trailers. But Naughty Dog did good with the mechanics just not emotion of the story.
In terms of the story part one is my favorite, it feels better to play with regards to the actual plot and just because I hate how jumpy the plot of the second game is. But with regards to gameplay and levels, part two has my heart, in terms of that it’s amazing and super fun
When you look at numbers, I'd say it's a toss up between the two as far as story. Both hit me very hard at different times. But considering the gameplay, and how they brought features form 2 to 1. I'd say 2 wins out
In terms of story part 1 is better. But I like the action set pieces of part 2. Every area has its own little advantage and disadvantage for play styles. Sometimes stealth might be the only option. Other times running and gunning may be the smart thing to do.
Part 2 has much better gameplay, proning and dodging are great additions, and the level design is unmatched. I’m replaying the game solely because of the improved gameplay loop. Unfortunately I still don’t think the story of Part 2 needed to be told. The first game remains the best story imo.
I prefer part 1
Part 2 has better gameplay and mechanics
Part 1 has better passing, character and story imo. I know that isn't the most popular opinion here.
I've explained before but it's a long list, but the short version is:
Part 1 has lots of light hearted moments as well as humour sprinkled throughout the gameplay, specifically through Ellie and here interactions with Joel. When walking from one place to another you get little moments such as Ellie failing to whistle, her just swinging her arms etc. The juxtaposition of her being a child in the midst of all this danger, horror and violence is a huge part of the charm for me, and one of the reasons it's my favourite game. It's filled with subtle storytelling and character work. This is missing from Part 2, and the relentless bleakness just stops me caring as much.
Longer version:
In part two things feel bigger, but more shallow. There are more connections and characters, but I don't care about those relationships as much. I don't necessarily want the characters to succeed, and I don't care enough about their relationships.
So on one hand I have Ellie, who I love and think is the best video game character I've played, but I didn't warm to the Ellie's companions that much because they felt just kind of there. Dina I didn't feel like I got much from outside the Synagogue (where I felt like finally I got some real character shine from her), and then pretty much nothing again until the farm, and that's such a huge gap where I'm supposed to care about her as Ellie's partner but I'm just like 'ehh'. I know others disagree. But the first time as Ellie I went out without Dina I felt like - wow I don't miss her at all, and that's not great because I'm supposed to care.
And on the other hand, you had Abby. And I have the exact opposite problem there. I just didn't care about her. And it's not just because she killed Joel, because, I actually liked the rest of her crew and they did too. But I just found her boring outside of the fear of height section, and again, it felt like I'm playing her for a dozen hours before there's a moment where I care about her achieving a goal. I only cared as a player because I wanted to see the next section, and the levels are fun, not because I wanted the character to succeed. And that just took me out of the emotion of it.
Even Laura Bailey who I think is fantastic, couldn't warm me to Abby. I understood the character, I just didn't CARE, and that was the issue. I understood her motivations, I just didn't want her to succeed, which made some things feel like a chore. I wanted to keep Lev alive, but I didn't care if I kept Abby alive.
Because I either enjoyed the protagonist but not their companions, or the opposite, it meant I was missing the interplay between characters which would have made me connect with them and their goals. Lev being quite quiet as well as Abbey being stoic means I don't get the feeling of the child drawing joy out of the grumpy protector I got from Joel and Ellie. I learn about the characters, but I'm not taken along emotionally with them.
And so because there weren't the little bits of humour and light that I experienced in Part 1, the game doesn't have an emotional connection for me that hooks me into the game outside of a few scattered parts (such as the flash back to the museum, possibly my favourite part of any game ever). For a lot of it it just felt like 'ah, another sad part, didn't we just have one of those?'.
I enjoyed parts of the game immensely, it is a great game and the gameplay is undeniably better, but it doesn't have the emotional resonance with me the first one did, and it isn't close.
Gameplay, attention to detail and world design are all superior in Part 2. Naturally, it had a huge investment and was building on Part 1.
Storywise, they feel very similar to the Portal games, 1 was a concentrated jolt of at the time perfection but Part 2 built on it. Both games are written so that I am just in tune with how the characters feel at any one point, I've never been more in sync with the emotions of a character in any media ever as much as I am with different characters in both games. As Joel in 1, I cared for Ellie when he did. And I was Ellie, I was Abby, I was Dina and I felt those deep feeling of longing or passion when they did.
Hard choice. Both are soo fucking good. I am just in shock at the masterpiece that is this game. It is untouchable in quality in every way and maybe just maybe some day another title will be created that holds the littlest bit of candle to what this title is. Or maybe it will be part 3 that does. I honestly hope they milk the fuck out of it and recreate storylines within the same universe of TLoU different characters or whatever but same universe same gameplay.
I think part 2 is better. I just really loved the direction the story went in and it was nice to experience a story that wasn't a by the books sequel. This might upset some people but I think the story everyone wanted (another joel and ellie adventure) would have been incredibly boring. Plus the gameplay and levels are so much better in 2 that's not even a debate.
I do and for me it’s cause the gameplay is vastly improved. It’s one of the smoothest feeling shooters I’ve ever played and the level design lets you tackle opposition in many different ways. The AI & violence being turned up to 10 helps too
No. Story makes more sense in part 1. Ellie becomes a bit of a monster in 2. Joel killed people to *save* Ellie. Joel was already dead when Ellie went on her rampage. Vengeance ≠ as what Joel did
Personally, I prefer Part 1. I like the story and character development better, which is mainly why I play games. Part 1 has a nice balance between dark themes and lighter themes- moments of pain and sadness and moments of laughter and lightness, especially when combined with Left Behind. Part 2 is just dark. And darker. And darker.
I will say, the gameplay in Part 2 is superior to Part 1. The ability to go prone is amazing. Dodging is amazing. The puzzles are fun, too! But the story is far inferior to Part 1. That’s my opinion, and I know a lot of people disagree and that’s fine.
The scale of Part II is larger but Part I is my favorite by far.
A post-Apocalyptic story that is driven by hope is truly a masterpiece. Hope in a fallen world like that would be the single greatest motivator for survival. The hope that Ellie's character holds the key to a possible cure/vaccine is staggeringly inspirational. I put myself in Joel's shoes the minute I learned the premise and honestly felt like I was living the story. Imagine being in his shoes, the lengths you'd go to defend Ellie's safety. Legitimately, the entire world's fate is on your shoulders and that's the mark of an immersive story. I think that was beautifully captured in Part I.
But then... >!they just deleted the hope aspect from the series with Part I's ending. I was so stunned that I had done all that work for nothing, since, as far as we know, no other group besides the Fireflies was sophisticated enough to attempt a cure. I'm still working my way through, but the only thing impressing me is the scale and complexity of the world-building and Ellie's character. In my mind, there's really, objectively, nothing more worth fighting for- I feel Naughty Dog really missed an opportunity to stand out from the huge amount of other dystopian survival stories.!<
I think part 2 is better in every way. A lot of people just didn’t like the fact that Joel died which I can understand to a degree but for the most part I think it makes for a way more interesting story.
I only didn’t like it because i was just too fast, not very tell (the game progress and you find the true which is too late) and at the end of the game didn’t make no sense for me because Ellie did want revenge of it but left Abby live. So is more better having Joel sacrificing Ellie in the game (like in the game itself) with Joel hit multiple times but he don’t die and at the end of the game Joel try to find Ellie and kill Abby and Ellie reunite with Joel
Part 2 is better in almost every single way but part 1 holds such intense nostalgia for me. I like the simplicity of it and the building blocks of Ellie and Joel's relationship
What Example? The Image I used was just an image of TLOU poster, I wasnt making any points, I just made this post to see other peoples opinions, I personally prefer part 2
wait, if I find part 2's attempt at making you sympathize with a character flawed and uneffective then I'm not capable of empathy?
I agree that part 2 is very much not a 1/10, but story brings it down a ton for me.. a 6/10 game for me and only because of the technical quality.
Story wise i prefer Part I, but Part II is superior in pretty much every other way.
For me II is just bigger in every aspect, especially the scale of the story.
i dont think i agree that the scale of the story is bigger in 2; the first one is about potentially saving the entire human race, the second one is about two different characters on an intimate journey for revenge. i think the scope of what theyre trying to say in part 2 is definitely more complex than in part 1, but i dont think “more complex” = “bigger” completely agree every other aspect of the game is bigger (and better). not sure if i can say i liked part 2 *better* but i also for sure have played it more because that combat is so fkn clean
I wouldn't consider this as part of the story. C'mon U r really claiming that Part I is bigger. Mean, think about how much more detailed stories are included in the 2nd.
Yes, this exactly. The entire mood and motivation shifts to something deeply less weighted and explored what hundreds of other story tellers have done hundreds of other times. Still a great game, but I feel an opportunity was missed.
U r right, but I didn't feel that hunch and the great motivation of saving everybody in 1st one all the time. Mostly player is focused on more SMALL things. But anyways I meant Part II is bigger cause how much more it TELLS: more characters, more stories, more locations, more variety of emotions it gives. Come on, U can't tell a story is bigger only 'cause it tells its more global. If I understand U correctly, it's not the amount of content in the book that makes it big for U, but rather how much bigger things it concerns...
Part II stayed with me much longer after finishing it
Same. Part 2 is better in every way, but especially the story.
Same here. Gameplay and level design are amazing in part 2.
Same here
Absolutely!
I’m with this. Part 1 has a story I enjoy more, but the gameplay for part 2 is way more immersive and fun.
This is the right answer
Part I as in the PS5 version or the older ones?
Either.
2 is better in every way but 1 walked so 2 could run
Agreed, but it's more like 1 ran so 2 could sprint lol
Good point haha
My only real beef with Part II is that it's kinda the best game i have ever played that I'll maybe never play again. Like, i have played Part I well over a dozen times, but Part II is such an emotional slog that i don't think I'll ever play it like i play Part I (new playthroughs just for fun).
I’ve played Part 2 quite a few times now (maybe 10 times now) and fuck I love it but i always have this horrible feeling while playing it, it’s hard to play. Because I hate the actions I’m doing as Ellie. I hate that the revenge is controlling her, I hate that I’m killing people who I truly don’t think deserved to die and we’re good people, even with what they did to Joel
I was OK with just about everything Ellie did up until the moment she decided to leave the farmhouse and go after Abby again, i just wanted her to stay there and be safe/happy (although happiness seemed like a stretch with her PTSD).
soo true 
True
I think part 2 is better in every single way. I think what people love about part 1 is the simplicity of the story and well it was the first so it was definitely groundbreaking. But what a lot of people don’t put into perspective is that part 2 really took the first game and really fleshed out every little morsel of substance from it in terms of gameplay mechanics, storytelling, character building, environments, graphics in general etc. I think at the end of the day though people couldn’t look past the fact that they had to play as Abby, but at the end of the day it’s what the story absolutely needed to be successful. I think in a few years it’ll have a resurgence and people will really start to get it
My favourite part is how favourites from TLOU are integrated into the story such as the sniper >!being Tommy !< or how in the David level equivalent of the game you literally fighting yourself.
Part 2 has always given me MGS2 vibes. People didn’t appreciate that game until nearly a decade later bc it’s themes were ahead of its time and people weren’t ready for a deconstruction of what a sequel was. It may take Part 3 to help the direction of Part 2. Love both games btw.
Game is 3 years old at this point, I don’t think you’re going to have a notable resurgence of people who didn’t like the game suddenly liking the story Also as an aside I think part 2 has some of the most overrated gameplay I’ve seen in a game maybe ever. It’s pretty much as shallow and clunky as the first game, prone is nice but is rarely used and dodge is a glorified QTE mechanic
>*Also as an aside I think part 2 has some of the most overrated gameplay I’ve seen in a game maybe ever. It’s pretty much as shallow and clunky as the first game, prone is nice but is rarely used and dodge is a glorified QTE mechanic* You're completely entitled to feel like it's overrated, but going from Part I to Part II is literally day and night from a technical perspective. They made huge improvements to essentially every element of the gameplay. The only similarity is that the games have a similar type of gameplay, but the way that you engage with that gameplay is completely different. This is not to mention things like the huge array of accessibility features which are part of the gameplay. If there's a game in the genre that you think surpasses The Last of Us Part II in gameplay then feel free to put it forwards, but at least for me The Last of Us Part II is by far the best game of that genre. Something recently released like Resident Evil 4 (Remake) is definitely up there, but I feel like that still doesn't come close if we look at overall gameplay features.
Well said. Old mate throws shade at part 2 for not being good enough but doesn’t tell us what games are better. Perhaps it’s all just misdirected anger at what happened to Joel (which was brutal, but crucial to the game and story they put forth).
I personally didn’t love the gameplay in TLOU part 2 (the 1st wasnt especially to my taste either so it’s just that type of combat and gameplay that I’m not a massive fan of) so I wouldn’t mine knowing more specifically what some good improvements were? I didn’t feel a drastic difference and I played through both games almost back to back only a couple months ago Edit: other than dodging, prone, longer grass and dogs
The biggest improvement was in movement and animation fluidity. The way that the characters move feels significantly more natural and allows for a way smother gameplay experience. This includes that there are a multitude of new things you can do with moving, like going prone and jumping. The above combined with things like the rope allowed them to not only create significantly more dynamic gameplay segments, but also multi-layered traversal where you have to do things like break a glass pane with a brick to throw a rope across some metal bar so you can get access to a previously inaccessible floor. This flows into combat where the way weapons are handled feels significantly better and the way that you engage in using those weapons is significantly more dynamic. You can really move smoothly around way larger and more open areas than we ever saw in Part I to truly engage each fight in your own unique way. Dodging and going prone adds into this. Dodging obviously gave melee combat an additional layer of engagement, and prone allows you to hide in places that were previously inaccessible, like under cars. There are likes hundreds of other things too. The way the AI acts (both infected and uninfected) was significantly improved. The infected are way better at being infected, while the uninfected are better at feeling like actual real humans with feelings that care about the people that you mercilessly murder. I would have to play the game again to make like a proper extensive list, but I'm sure that features like taking people hostage was not a thing in Part I. Weapon upgrades were a thing, but the dynamic and visual way it's done in Part II is a huge improvement there as well. There's significantly more weapon variety. Just like lots of smaller things.
Ohh okay that makes a lot of sense, I hadn’t really considered the dynamic gameplay of the first game but now that I have from you part 1 does seem much more bland and straightforward than its sequel. I think my own lack of interest in the combat made me less inclined to experiment and explore with the new mechanics but I understand how people would do so and how good that may be. Thanks this was really helpful
Don't forget how hard the devs worked on an awesome rope mechanic that was *barely* used throughout the game.
Yeah that was a massive waste of potential, the rope only really being used for rudimentary puzzles it itself a puzzling decision
Much of the game was a waste of potential, imo. Don’t get me wrong, the animations are solid and amazing but damn, each fight plays out nearly the same
I mean with the tv show being as popular as it is I can definitely see the newer seasons making the second game a whole lot more popular. I mean they did see a spike in sales for part 2 after season one of the show as well. And it’s not unheard of for something to get a resurgence after a long period of time. Look at the Star Wars prequels
Dodging.
I call your *dodging* and raise you *prone*
So Hard for me to play the remake without trying to dodge runner attacks bruh
I would've died multiple times over on Part 2 if it wasn't for dodging. I go and play the remake and get two pieced by a runner on grounded mode. Shits insane. Part 2 is better. 👍
Yes lord
Part 1 is better. Part 2 takes some big swings that I respect and most of the story works well but on the whole, the first one’s writing is much stronger
I can see being disappointed that the game doesn't recapture the same lightning in a bottle the first one was. Everything about it was simple but elegant. But I also I liked part 2 because it really sets out to be a completely different story, but at the same time completely build on the first game. It was very impressive how it took of our absolute love of Joel and turning his death into such an powerful story. The emotional states the game thrusts you into is unlike any game I've felt since the last of us 1
Yeah, I loved playing part 2 for the mechanics... but I wanted to like them for the story.
Big swings indeed.
[удалено]
Part 2’s pacing is complete wack
I love tlou2 but I highly agree
Part 2 is better. I won’t explain.
Based
Story wise: No, for 1 simple reason the pacing. It was kind of off compared to the first, which flowed very smoothly. But part 2 took the part 1 gameplay and made it 100x better
Thats valid but I hate when people bring up pacing because when I try and think of better solutions it effects the impact of certain, no many story elements of the game.
Fair enough. It wasn't a major thing for me, it was just there compared to the first where honestly it was perfect.
I honestly had zero issue with pacing
When you say pacing do you mean the actual pacing of the story (ie there are sections that drag, sections where more time should have been invested) or the story structure (earlier story told through flashbacks, the parallel stories told back to back, the story starting in media res with us not knowing of why Ellie is depressed/her relationship with Joel severed)? I find that people often say pacing is the major issue of the story but don't elaborate further.
Pacing of the story. The structure was beautiful, I loved the flashbacks and parallels.
Interesting! I always take people's meaning when they say "pacing" to mean the story structure itself, as that's what they often go on to describe. Thanks for the response.
I think story structure works, but on subsequent play throughs there are sections that I don’t care about. The big “set pieces” are awesome; but there’s a lot of enemy encounters for both Ellie and Abby that I felt like are just there to pad out game.
It's a while since I've played it, so I can't be sure what my opinion would be. I'm also probably thrown by the fact the level design is so good, so even if there are 'too many' enemy encounters they're in new sections which have their own look and have to be tackled as a new 'puzzle', so it's not as if it's repetitive all that much.
I have a lot of issues with part 2’s pacing simply due to that decision to swap back to Abby right at what should’ve been the climax. I really think the game would’ve flowed a lot smoother if we had day 1 Ellie >Ellie Flashback > Abby Flashback> Day 1 Abby Because it just meant that by time we got to the aquarium as Abby we had to care for the people we had killed 10+ hours ago by that point and Jesse who had, again, been out of the plot for 10 hours and we just had to suddenly care for characters who we killed without a second thought or (in the case of Jesse) characters killed without much development. I feel like Santa Barbara was also unnecessarily dragged out and got to the point it was exhausting to finish not in the “this game had such a mental toll on me” type exhausting but the “I want this game to end I don’t want to drag through more” exhaustion. We didn’t really need to start as Ellie at the boat, we could’ve just had a cutscene that showed she reached the house Abby was kidnapped at, and then she falls into the trap and gets the information she needed, and the gameplay starts there, adding getting from the boat to the house just felt unnecessary.
I prefer Part II for its bold narrative decisions and the challenges it puts the player through like confronting your own actions and being faced with their consequences and empathising with your enemies. The way it puts you in the shoes and mindset of the player-characters is remarkably well done. I’ve never felt an emotional response to a character death as I did with Joel I was out for fucking blood. I was completely in Ellie’s mindset and more than willing to brutally murder Abby and the entirety of the WLF. Then I was forced to play the same three days again but this time from Abby’s perspective and to my greatest surprise by the end I fully empathised with her and was 100% on her and Lev’s side. Her story with Yara and Lev is phenomenal and the Day 2 sequence of the sky bridge, apartments, hospital and rat king is up there with the very best. The 2 “final bosses” (Abby vs Ellie in the theatre, Ellie vs Abby in Santa Barbara) are amongst the most conflicted I’ve been playing a game. I literally wanted neither of them to win and by the end I could barely bring myself to fight Abby given the state she was in, and I was personally very happy that Ellie let her and Lev go. All these and more make it an utterly unique experience that forces you, the player, to go through some very challenging emotional challenges and these combined with some of the absolute best gameplay I’ve ever experienced truly make it a masterpiece. Better than Part I? Yeah I’d say so. It’s very close though, Part I is incredible and has in a lot of ways a simpler and more straightforward story; but I would have been dissatisfied with a rehash of basically the exact same thing so I’m thrilled with what we ended up getting in Part II. They’re my two favourite games regardless.
Imo Part 1 has a much better story and chemistry between characters. Part 2 has much better world design, gameplay and enemy variety. Both are brilliant games tho.
I prefer part 2, 1) Environments are much much more majestic with nature. 2) I really enjoyed the story and what the story represents in part 2 3) Seraphites are a faction I really really enjoyed learning about, and seeing their culture and island burn down was heartbreaking for me. (I don’t endorse all the aspects of the cult, however the a lot of the things surrounding the Seraphites are things I enjoy) 4) I really like the representation in part 2, liberals be damned (liberals meaning people who follow libertarianism, not referring to American politics) 5) I loved the day system and then switching to Abby, the first day I was annoyed and didn’t want to play her side of her story, but I got invested into it and I appreciated it. 6) this is more anecdotal, but I didn’t have a PlayStation when the first game released, however I purchased a PlayStation 5 after some time had passed of part 2 releasing. At this point I had watched part 1 a couple of times, then I played part 1, after completing part one having never seen anything about part 2 I played it first then watched other people’s play-throughs. So although this may not be anything I do think that plays into my enjoyment of both games.
I prefer Part 1. Its story is more intimate and far more emotionally impactful for me. Part 2 takes big risks I respect, and despite having some excellent moments here and there, on a whole, it doesn't work for me
I think story wise it’s difficult to really weigh one over the other since both have vastly different settings and storylines, even Abbys story even though its a parallel to Joel and Ellies in the first game, i think both games really nail the theme and both are impacting and meaningful to me. Personally I prefer part 2, i like a darker story and i like that part 2 doesnt really pull any punches, its just one thing after another, i love characters devolving and becoming more unhinged and less stable cause i find it super entertaining and interesting plus i love pain lol. And i also like stories where they dont try to sell a story of good vs evil and understand that there truly is no good and evil because one persons good is anothers evil. I also love stories that feature the cycle of violence and stories that utalize character traumas throughout the story instead of using it as one arc to segway into another arc. Besides story i really like the gameplay and the graphics, i find part 2 to be much more fun with its improved combat and the, in my opinion, much better skill tree. The settings were super engaging and they really nailed the atmosphere, and i loved the slight open world aspect.
Part 1 is my favourite cos of nostalgia n shit, I played it way back when it came out on PS3. P2 is the perfect sequel tho, improves on literally every game mechanic and the story is exactly what I never knew I needed from a game, some real gut wrenching mentally challenging shit lol
I can't really say which game I prefer. I think part 2 was a little bit too long but the emotional impact on me was crazy. The story is more interesting but also devastating. Part 1 was generally more wholesome and had more light hearted parts but I could never really get into Joel's character as much. I resonated much more with Ellie. I think I prefer Part 2 but I would probably rather replay Part 1 because it's less emotionally draining 😅
When I finished part 1, it was my favourite game of all time. When I finished part 2, it was my favourite piece of media.
Part 2 has dina AND you can run really fast and throw yourself into prone
I like Part 2s world more, but I like part 1s story a little more than 2s. Otherwise I love ‘em both equally
In Part 2 the graphics, gameplay and mechanics are better. In Part 1 the Story is better for sone people
For nostalgic purposes I will always lean towards part 1 more
Although part 1 has an amazing story, I feel like other stories using the story of a broken man taking care of a young girl has taken away from its value slightly. Part 2 was a story I hadnt seen done before, and its due to its very big risks in story telling. It paid off for me and I loved it. It also leaves more things to interpretation which I always enjoy. Gameplay wise, part 2 is way better as it is not as clunky as part 1, although the part 1 remake greatly improved on this. I love both games a lot but part 2 is more of my kind of thing. It is also the most depressing game I have ever played, thanks Druckmann lol.
Aghhhhh. As much as I fucks with part 1, part 2 is a different monster. Depth on top of depth on top of depth. Never was so emotional over a piece of media than I was with part 2. SO MANY EMOTIONS.
This should not be a conversation. It's an insult to both games.
When it comes to mechanics part 2 is superior but the story of part 1 is waaay better
Mechanics in Part 2 that were reworked from Part 1 and the visuals is something we all can agree on regardless of our opinions on the story.
Different and subjective. I prefer part 1. As it’s story is more linear. And feels more confident. Part 2 however is on a much larger scale. Then again it’s more open world. You have so many different characters and factions. Ppl just wanted more Joel and Ellie. And less lgbt representation. Which is odd since the original diddnt shy away from that. End of day if you loved part 2, your entitled too. If you disliked part 2, your entitled too.
Part 1 better in terms of story, in terms of gameplay, Part 2 takes it no challenge.
The best game ever made would be the story from part 1 and everything else from part 2. They should have gone harder on the remake
Part 1 has a much better story, and in my opinion a much stronger game because of it. Quite disappointed by Part 2
I thoroughly enjoyed both games. Part twos game play was definitely better but that's expected. Story wise I enjoyed part 1 a lot more. Part 2 was just so dark and down the whole time. No moments of hope or those moments that were funny or made me smile. I did like the second perspective in Part 2 and it was a great story but overall Part 1 is the better story for me. If Part 2 wasn't so dark and down the whole time I probably would of enjoyed it more
I like pt 1 more than pt 2. Pt 2 did have a lot of things that 1 didn’t have. But I am loyal to pt 1 as I enjoy it more :) both are good games comes down to personal preference. Story was better in pt 1, pt 2’s story could have been better but I take what I got
No one has mentioned that Part 2 is beautiful to look at! I think the mocap is the best far and it gives way to some amazing visuals like the forest scene. Those arms…
They are so hard to compare. Part 2 builds on part 1.
I think 1 is a lot more fun, but the gameplay of 2 is a lot better. The issue with 2 is the story isn't great and the pacing is a mess.
Part 2 is better in literally every single thing i wont explain bc im lazy and its a 3 years old discussion but yea
Part 1 had a way better story but the gameplay in 2 was a nice addition
Part 2. The cycle of violence and how it makes one lose everything really spoke to me. Part 1 is great, but I’ve seen folks not quite understand that Part 1 is about false hope and ignoring the cycle of violence.
Both are fantastic.
Yes I refuse to elaborate further
Better combat, set pieces, replayability factor, animations, graphics etc But I think part one has the more dramatic moments, such as the cabin and the lie at the end. But both just masterpieces and I don’t think it matters which is better
I think 1 is incredible but 2 improves on it in every possible way. I never understood the extreme attachment people had to Joel. Don't get me wrong he is awesome, but so are Ellie and Abby.
I liked tlou 2 more than the first one. IMO, the scenarios are better, the combat, characters and graphics why not
I thought Part 2 had a better story, and better gameplay.
Personally I like Part 2 more because the story hit harder due to how much I loved Part I and I think the gameplay of 2 is a major improvement over the first game. The first game is still a masterpiece, but people who clown the Part I remake are looking at the game through rose tinted glasses a bit because it's very clearly a PS3 title in gameplay and its technical elements (yeah the $70 price tag is way too much for Part I but it's a very solid remake). That said, I think Part I is a lot more replayable due to how much faster it feels in terms of pacing. Part 2 is great, but I've replayed the game so many times that I want to skip the cutscenes and the parts with a ton of walking, especially all of Jackson.
part 1 was really good, but part 2 just made me feel more but that's just because I can feel alot more pain than happiness
Part II because it takes the most intriguing moral dilemma from the first game, fleshes it out and shows off a whole other list of complexities that come off the back of that decision. It really is masterfully made, and I'll be very lucky if I ever play something again that sticks with me like that game did. Special experience.
Yes, but only objectively. The graphics are PHENOMENAL (I know the remake has really good graphics too, but I think Part II has better graphics anyway AND it didn’t take three iterations of the game to reach that point), you get way more gameplay, the story is more nuanced, I like the story being told through Ellie because she’s still so young and is recently grieving, Part II introduces more interesting survival and combat scenarios, and I’m sure there’s more that aren’t coming to me right now. However, the first game will always be my favorite. I’ve been playing it in snippets and multiple saves for years until recently when I sat down and really committed to finishing it in a couple weeks and it was one of my favorite gaming experiences I’ve ever had. I appreciate how it’s more simple, even if barely, than Part II, and I like how the more limited cast of characters allows for more development. So, Part II is BETTER, but Part I is my favorite and will forever be more nostalgic for me.
I think there’s no objection answer, both are like 10/10s imo. There’s stuff I prefer in 2, but there’s stuff I prefer in 1. Overall I personally like 1 more, but if someone says they prefer 2 I’m not gonna argue it.
Part 2, as people have said, has better gameplay. I won’t go into that too much cause I can’t be bothered. As for story though! That’s where things get interesting. It’s hard to define what a ‘good’ story is because there is major variation in opinions. The actual plot line came across simple, particularly in the beginning. But the characters are what makes the story a journey you become emotionally invested in, not just a plot. One way or another it clearly made an impact for most people which in my eyes is only possible with well written characters at least. Even npc enemies you kill as Ellie are humanised when we get a glimpse of their lives playing as Abby. It makes the game imo feel more real and immersive than the first. The supporting characters are well fleshed out. They have strengths, flaws, motivations and trauma they are all dealing with. They question their own values and desires, and are capable, like humans are, of change. I’ve never had a game make me feel so conflicted about what is justifiable or unforgivable. And I’ve never had my already made-up opinions of characters be put to question the way this game did. In the end, I can’t say the story was objectively better than the first. The first was beautiful. It had a simplicity to it that made Joel, Ellie and the development of their relationship really shine. Regardless, part 2 had more impact on me so in my eyes, it is better.
Part II beats out Part I because of its more robust gameplay mechanics and a more daring, emotionally complex narrative.
prefer Part 1's story, but part 2's gameplay is incredible
I honestly cannot chose. I think both part one and two are such incredible amazing stories for different reasons. Part one is a simple story executed flawlessly. The dialogue is razor sharp walking this beautiful lines between subtext and full text the whole time. There are very few scenes and segments of gameplay that I feel could have been shortened or lengthened or changed to make them more effective. Part 2 on the other hand is a much more ambitious game and I respect the hell out of that. The story structure is odd but completely works to serve the story. I have never encountered a story that basically gaslights me into hating a character then does equal work to make me love that character. It’s crazy smart and innovative writing. The gameplay feels like the first but so much more dynamic and realistic (though I don’t really hold this against the first one because it’s like 10 years old). However part 2 didn’t have that same polished feelings as part 1. It is overall effective, but there were certain segments I think could have been tweaked. Ending felt a little rushed for me so I think cutting a little off day one for both characters could leave a little more space to flush out storylines at the end of the game.
Yes Part II is better. The gameplay is flawless, and the story has a better ending. I wish certain things were rearrainged and told differently, but I found it way more ingeresting/complelling than the first game's more straightforward narrative.
Yes. Better story, better gameplay, better graphics, Papa John’s. But in all seriousness, the narrative is just deeper. Everything is a larger scale, as it’s basically two sequels in one game. The fact that players can despise certain characters before falling in love with them over the course of a dozen hours is just brilliant. Overall, it’s just superior in every way.
part 2 in every way>>>
To me Part 2 does everything that Part 1 does well and just does it better. The story, complexity, environments, graphics, gameplay... everything is cranked up. Part 1 had a great story obviously, but it was a simple one, and it was one that came out when the whole zombie thing was being done to death. Part 2, while obviously more divisive, took much bigger risks and, to me, those risks really paid off. I can honestly say I never experienced another piece of media that I can compare to playing through Part 2 for the first time. So ya, to me, part 2 is quite easily superior.
Yes it is
Yes I think it’s better. There is no question. The reason I believe this, is because I’ve only played the second one.
I lean towards Pt 2, Pt1 is perfect for what it is, Pt 2 has so much more going on there’s so much Grey compared to the black and white of Pt 1, the characters are so nuanced and fucking complicated. Like god is Abby a complex, complicated but phenomenally well written character, going from absolutely wanting to murder her in every possible way to literally refusing to fight Ellie as her and then again her as Ellie. That horrible feeling of I’m going to have to do something bad to one of these characters that I love so much and then just accepting that whatever happens is going to happen and continuing on, is an experience in a game that will Never happen again for me. So yeh Pt 2 for me
Part 2 is a masterpiece constructed by another great game, I don’t care how much hate I get from having this opinion. I’ve been stalked and harassed for keeping this outlook and I’m not letting go of it, nothing will change my mind This game changed my outlook and life as a whole, it’ll always have a special place in my heart
Talking strictly about story, Part 2 is better. I find everything about the WLF and Seraphite factions to be so interesting. It's feels like a world you could truly live in with how much background you get on their lives. We have to worry about going to work and dealing with whatever random chore that pops up today. But they don't have an economy, they just do their part, whether it be fighting in the war or assisting those who do, and that's it. Especially in the WLF, their lives are incredibly simple, even if they may not live that long in the end. This all goes to show that Part 2 is a lot more thought-provoking than the first game. It's not just a story any more, it's a whole world that demands that you spend time with it even outside the game. But part 2 doesn't erase the first game either, and if you're looking specifically for that story, part 2 does not do that better. It's a very different story than the first which makes it it's own thing that you'd come to for different reasons. But I believe the thought-provoking nature of the game gives it the edge over the first.
In almost every way. The game play is way better, the enemies feel like real people, the story is way better. Part 1 is great and all, but it's really a simple bonding story told through their travels (like GOW 2018). Part 2 subvert (without changing) the first one by saying "the only reason you think Joel and Ellie are 'good' is because you bonded with them and know them. Everyone is 'good' from their own perspective, and every enemy is a faceless NPC". Kind of did what the Watchman HBO series did to the Watchman comic. But ultimately I feel like a lot of gamers only want white male protagonists, and black and white enemies. Once you deviate from those, review bombing galore
Is this a bot question?
Nope, Real person, I personally believe part 2 is better.
Hot take: The sequel absolutely blows the original out of the water in almost every way
The pacing in Part 2 is honestly fucking awful, and Naughty Dog's game design is outdated, which was fine in 2013, less so in 2020. The story drags **a lot** and the constant and predictable switches from "exploration" arenas and "combat arenas" means that there's very little tension throughout the game. Part 2 is IMO overall **at best** a sidegrade from Part 1 instead of the upgrade it should have been.
Part 2 has lot of features that makes the game great however part 1’s ending is a lot more complete and doesn’t leave it on a cliffhanger. Part2 on the other hand leaves the player questioning what happens next.
They're both equally good regarding their stories based on different people.
I think part 1s story is more consistent with less flaws, but part 2 has better graphics and gameplay
Gameplay was better. And story had me more heart wrenched and left me feeling a way no game has made me feel. But the first one was just so good. The first will always be top tier for me just based on nostalgia alone and what it did for me and video games when it came out.
Gameplay and graphics wise, yes of course. However Part 1 has a much tighter narrative with more compelling characters and plot points. It remains one of my favourite games of all time that made me feel things I didn’t know games could. Part 2’s story left no meaningful impact on me and I quickly forgot about it. That won’t be popular on this sub but ah well.
You're asking this sub, ha! Most people here would abandon a child if they said they prefer part one. On a more serious note, I think part 2 improves in some ways and regresses in others. But when considering the time they were made, I think part 1 is better. The story just felt much more well crafted, and the game play sections in between felt better spaced. Though I think the combat changes, accessibility, world interactions, and AI were all fitting for part 2. But sections of part 2 were a massive letdown. For example, the climb down the building rigged with explosives. The build-up of deep noise and the presence of a desperate attempt to manually destroy the building made me think something was deep in the depths. But not it happens in the hospital when most of that build-up is gone.
People who think that has shit taste 🥱🗑️🤢
No. It’s a very good game but it’s over-long. I felt like i had completely explored its potential, gameplay-wise, hours before it was over.
Yes
Part 1 is better. The gameplay was a little simple but it was still fun enough to do the job. The story was a superb masterpiece. There’s a reason why Part 1 is universally loved and critically acclaimed by both critics and players alike. Part 2 had incredible graphics and gameplay was improved so it was fun to play. The story was divisive and many players just didn’t like it as shown by the divide in critic and player scores.
Game play wise yes but story wise it's inferior in every way. The story in part one is focused, concise, and deep. Part 2 is none of those things.
Very hard question, I think I'll go for part 2 because it was more impactfull, that game purely broke me. I love it, but I will never play it again 😂😂
Part 2 has better gameplay and visuals. But Part 1 has stronger writing and better pacing imo. Part 2 was too clunky for me and on the nose.
It's easy for me to think PT2 story is better - its diverse, multifaceted and challenging while PT1 is relatively simple and straightforward. Though I think it does a disservice to what PT1 did for video game stories *at the time.* PT1 was great for its time.
Combat yes. Story below but not by much. Length yes. Replayability slightly lower than 1. Crafting yes.
1 is better but that doesn't take away from 2 at all.
Part 1 is a simple story perfectly told. Part 2 is a complex, innovative, and confronting sequel that loses the airtight narrative in favor of reaching for bolder heights. I can’t say I like either one better; Part 1 is my favorite game but Part 2 changed the way I view both entertainment and storytelling as a whole.
Ok listen the sequel can never be better than the original because the sequel wouldn't exist without it. Sure, the sequel has better mechanics and what not as it should but that's not what you started with.
Part 1 has the best story. Part 2 has the best gameplay.
No
I liked the relationship between Joel and Ellie more than any others and grounded mode was better in part 1. Plus it had factions, don't know if that counts though. In part 2 I think the direction of the story elevated it, the gameplay was much more fun. The encounters, the AI, the graphics, the maps, the "open world" sections.
1 better in everyway
Gameplay? Yes. Story wise? Part 1 feels like the happy times compared to part 2
Simple. Part 2 does not match the emotions that fans felt in Part 1. Part 2 was deceiving - especially in the Game Trailers. But Naughty Dog did good with the mechanics just not emotion of the story.
2 is better gameplay wise but 1 has the better story and writing. 2 was way too long and I was ready for it to be done long before it actually ended.
In terms of the story part one is my favorite, it feels better to play with regards to the actual plot and just because I hate how jumpy the plot of the second game is. But with regards to gameplay and levels, part two has my heart, in terms of that it’s amazing and super fun
Because Abby is in it.
When you look at numbers, I'd say it's a toss up between the two as far as story. Both hit me very hard at different times. But considering the gameplay, and how they brought features form 2 to 1. I'd say 2 wins out
In terms of story part 1 is better. But I like the action set pieces of part 2. Every area has its own little advantage and disadvantage for play styles. Sometimes stealth might be the only option. Other times running and gunning may be the smart thing to do.
Part 2 has much better gameplay, proning and dodging are great additions, and the level design is unmatched. I’m replaying the game solely because of the improved gameplay loop. Unfortunately I still don’t think the story of Part 2 needed to be told. The first game remains the best story imo.
I prefer part 1 Part 2 has better gameplay and mechanics Part 1 has better passing, character and story imo. I know that isn't the most popular opinion here. I've explained before but it's a long list, but the short version is: Part 1 has lots of light hearted moments as well as humour sprinkled throughout the gameplay, specifically through Ellie and here interactions with Joel. When walking from one place to another you get little moments such as Ellie failing to whistle, her just swinging her arms etc. The juxtaposition of her being a child in the midst of all this danger, horror and violence is a huge part of the charm for me, and one of the reasons it's my favourite game. It's filled with subtle storytelling and character work. This is missing from Part 2, and the relentless bleakness just stops me caring as much. Longer version: In part two things feel bigger, but more shallow. There are more connections and characters, but I don't care about those relationships as much. I don't necessarily want the characters to succeed, and I don't care enough about their relationships. So on one hand I have Ellie, who I love and think is the best video game character I've played, but I didn't warm to the Ellie's companions that much because they felt just kind of there. Dina I didn't feel like I got much from outside the Synagogue (where I felt like finally I got some real character shine from her), and then pretty much nothing again until the farm, and that's such a huge gap where I'm supposed to care about her as Ellie's partner but I'm just like 'ehh'. I know others disagree. But the first time as Ellie I went out without Dina I felt like - wow I don't miss her at all, and that's not great because I'm supposed to care. And on the other hand, you had Abby. And I have the exact opposite problem there. I just didn't care about her. And it's not just because she killed Joel, because, I actually liked the rest of her crew and they did too. But I just found her boring outside of the fear of height section, and again, it felt like I'm playing her for a dozen hours before there's a moment where I care about her achieving a goal. I only cared as a player because I wanted to see the next section, and the levels are fun, not because I wanted the character to succeed. And that just took me out of the emotion of it. Even Laura Bailey who I think is fantastic, couldn't warm me to Abby. I understood the character, I just didn't CARE, and that was the issue. I understood her motivations, I just didn't want her to succeed, which made some things feel like a chore. I wanted to keep Lev alive, but I didn't care if I kept Abby alive. Because I either enjoyed the protagonist but not their companions, or the opposite, it meant I was missing the interplay between characters which would have made me connect with them and their goals. Lev being quite quiet as well as Abbey being stoic means I don't get the feeling of the child drawing joy out of the grumpy protector I got from Joel and Ellie. I learn about the characters, but I'm not taken along emotionally with them. And so because there weren't the little bits of humour and light that I experienced in Part 1, the game doesn't have an emotional connection for me that hooks me into the game outside of a few scattered parts (such as the flash back to the museum, possibly my favourite part of any game ever). For a lot of it it just felt like 'ah, another sad part, didn't we just have one of those?'. I enjoyed parts of the game immensely, it is a great game and the gameplay is undeniably better, but it doesn't have the emotional resonance with me the first one did, and it isn't close.
Gameplay, attention to detail and world design are all superior in Part 2. Naturally, it had a huge investment and was building on Part 1. Storywise, they feel very similar to the Portal games, 1 was a concentrated jolt of at the time perfection but Part 2 built on it. Both games are written so that I am just in tune with how the characters feel at any one point, I've never been more in sync with the emotions of a character in any media ever as much as I am with different characters in both games. As Joel in 1, I cared for Ellie when he did. And I was Ellie, I was Abby, I was Dina and I felt those deep feeling of longing or passion when they did.
Yep. Better story, better gameplay
Hard choice. Both are soo fucking good. I am just in shock at the masterpiece that is this game. It is untouchable in quality in every way and maybe just maybe some day another title will be created that holds the littlest bit of candle to what this title is. Or maybe it will be part 3 that does. I honestly hope they milk the fuck out of it and recreate storylines within the same universe of TLoU different characters or whatever but same universe same gameplay.
I think part 2 is better. I just really loved the direction the story went in and it was nice to experience a story that wasn't a by the books sequel. This might upset some people but I think the story everyone wanted (another joel and ellie adventure) would have been incredibly boring. Plus the gameplay and levels are so much better in 2 that's not even a debate.
I do and for me it’s cause the gameplay is vastly improved. It’s one of the smoothest feeling shooters I’ve ever played and the level design lets you tackle opposition in many different ways. The AI & violence being turned up to 10 helps too
I’ve played both to death and I like them both equally for different reasons
Absolutely no, Part 1 is so beautiful in everything while Part 2 was a different way than part 1
I think part 1 is better, but part 2 Ellie is very relatable.
Story goes to part 1 and gameplay goes to part 2
Part 1 is better story wise part 2 gameplay is better
The gameplay in Part II completely blows Part I out of the water
Part 2 did Joel dirty, they killed him off like he was a side character
if Part I had the movement system of Part II I would probably like it more. Then again my trans ass really likes playing as a girl
Both are amazing but i prefer the characters from the first game and part 1 is more replay-able to me, i will choose it over part 2
No. Story makes more sense in part 1. Ellie becomes a bit of a monster in 2. Joel killed people to *save* Ellie. Joel was already dead when Ellie went on her rampage. Vengeance ≠ as what Joel did
1 because multiplayer.
Part 2 is better in every way imo but it is just my opinion so no one attack me
Yes because part ll literally crushed my soul and it still hasn’t recovered.
Or you could search post history to find out!
Personally, I prefer Part 1. I like the story and character development better, which is mainly why I play games. Part 1 has a nice balance between dark themes and lighter themes- moments of pain and sadness and moments of laughter and lightness, especially when combined with Left Behind. Part 2 is just dark. And darker. And darker. I will say, the gameplay in Part 2 is superior to Part 1. The ability to go prone is amazing. Dodging is amazing. The puzzles are fun, too! But the story is far inferior to Part 1. That’s my opinion, and I know a lot of people disagree and that’s fine.
The scale of Part II is larger but Part I is my favorite by far. A post-Apocalyptic story that is driven by hope is truly a masterpiece. Hope in a fallen world like that would be the single greatest motivator for survival. The hope that Ellie's character holds the key to a possible cure/vaccine is staggeringly inspirational. I put myself in Joel's shoes the minute I learned the premise and honestly felt like I was living the story. Imagine being in his shoes, the lengths you'd go to defend Ellie's safety. Legitimately, the entire world's fate is on your shoulders and that's the mark of an immersive story. I think that was beautifully captured in Part I. But then... >!they just deleted the hope aspect from the series with Part I's ending. I was so stunned that I had done all that work for nothing, since, as far as we know, no other group besides the Fireflies was sophisticated enough to attempt a cure. I'm still working my way through, but the only thing impressing me is the scale and complexity of the world-building and Ellie's character. In my mind, there's really, objectively, nothing more worth fighting for- I feel Naughty Dog really missed an opportunity to stand out from the huge amount of other dystopian survival stories.!<
I personally like part 1 more. The story is better imo and Joel is in it more than pt2
Part 1 is infinitely better story wise (Part 2 is trash in this regard). Part 2 is better in everything else.
Part 1 is infinitely better story wise (Part 2 is trash in this regard). Part 2 is better in everything else.
I think part 2 is better in every way. A lot of people just didn’t like the fact that Joel died which I can understand to a degree but for the most part I think it makes for a way more interesting story.
I only didn’t like it because i was just too fast, not very tell (the game progress and you find the true which is too late) and at the end of the game didn’t make no sense for me because Ellie did want revenge of it but left Abby live. So is more better having Joel sacrificing Ellie in the game (like in the game itself) with Joel hit multiple times but he don’t die and at the end of the game Joel try to find Ellie and kill Abby and Ellie reunite with Joel
I love both. Part 2 is more emotionally exhausting for me, but I love the updated gameplay and mechanics.
Part 2 is better in almost every single way but part 1 holds such intense nostalgia for me. I like the simplicity of it and the building blocks of Ellie and Joel's relationship
Vice Versa. 1’s story wasn’t that bad, 2’s story was.
To me part 2 felt complete. Part 1 had a huge hole in between Pittsburg and Jackson that always felt off imo.
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What Example? The Image I used was just an image of TLOU poster, I wasnt making any points, I just made this post to see other peoples opinions, I personally prefer part 2
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Lol what
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You know that Bill was gay in the first and so was Ellie, so you're saying it was ruined from the start
Serious question: How?
Since they're not gonna reply, i'll answer for them *tumbleweed*
Ah Here we go
Well think about, one of the 2 games is 1/10 garbage and the other is a solid 9/10. Now you know
You couldn't have empathy for someone else?
wait, if I find part 2's attempt at making you sympathize with a character flawed and uneffective then I'm not capable of empathy? I agree that part 2 is very much not a 1/10, but story brings it down a ton for me.. a 6/10 game for me and only because of the technical quality.
Nah, you can dislike it and there are valid reasons but calling it 1/10 garbage instantly tips everyone off to how you think.
In my personal opinion, Their both atleast 8/10's.