The Last of Us Part II
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
The Last of Us Part II is a highly polarizing cinematic experience that is frequently described as an emotional rollercoaster. While it is widely praised for its industry-leading visual fidelity, animation, and technical execution, the narrative and pacing are significant points of contention. Many players find the story deeply impactful and well-told, while others criticize the game's length, the mid-game character perspective shift, and an ending that some describe as anticlimactic or unsatisfying.
Pros
- Exceptional visual fidelity and animation quality that rivals high-budget films.
- Fluid and mechanically sound gameplay that iterates effectively on the first game.
- Deeply impactful and emotional storytelling that leaves a lasting impression.
- Incredible attention to detail in environmental design and performances.
Cons
- Significant pacing issues, particularly a mid-game perspective shift that can kill narrative tension.
- The game is considered overlong by many, leading to sections that feel repetitive.
- Polarizing ending that some find unsatisfying or 'flip-floppy' in its character motivations.
- Companion AI is noted to be weak compared to the 'mostly amazing' enemy AI.
Caveats
- The nonlinear story structure is intentionally disorienting and may not appeal to all players.
- Infected sections can be frustrating for stealth-focused players as stealth is not always a viable option.
- The game requires a significant time investment compared to the first entry.
Best for
- Fans of cinematic, high-fidelity action-adventure games.
- Players who enjoy challenging, non-traditional narratives and emotional weight.
- Those who appreciate technical excellence in game design and animation.
Avoid if
- You prefer a traditional, linear sequel structure.
- You are easily frustrated by major pacing shifts or long playtimes.
- You want a narrative that provides clear-cut closure or traditional redemption arcs.
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 122-month half-life. The evidence is based on 30 selected mentions from r/patientgamers between July 2025 and December 2025, reflecting a mix of retrospective and recent viewpoints.
Sentiment
15 positive (41%) · 8 mixed (22%) · 14 negative (38%)
Trust + time weighted score: +9% · raw score 3%
What redditors said (10 of 37)
Gameplay isn't actually super different from the Part I remake (though obviously Joel is very different from Ellie; >!he's actually quite mechanically similar to Abby!<). It's good, with several iterations from the previous game.
What a game. I came into this game kinda spoiled about the big twists (you know most of them), but the actual playing of it is something else. Luxuriating in the game really allows you to soak everything in - the characters, the world, the atmosphere. It's not a perfect game by any means, but I don't know if I'll ever play a game like it and it'll take a while before the game leaves my thoughts.
Absurdly good. This kind of story presented this way really requires this level of fidelity (similar to RDR2, IMO) and the game really delivers.
The story, by itself, is decent, not bad but not *very* good. What really shines is the story*telling*. LOU2 has a nonlinear structure that is intentionally disorienting, but it comes together tonally in a way that I don't think would work linearly
I am torn actually regarding the pacing. It's definitely way longer than it arguably could have been (and *significantly* longer than the first game), but there's so much cut stuff i heard about in the developers' commentary that I feel like would have helped us understand these characters and this world more.
Last of Us Part 2 is a game that will **stick with you**.
This was easily the most impactful game I've played this year. What an insane emotional rollercoaster, and what an incredibly well made game. ... Everything feels so real and human and impactful. The scene direction, set pieces, animation, environmental design, attention to detail, dialogue and performances are all so far ahead of basically everything else I've played.
The companion AI is also not great, especially compared to the mostly amazing enemy AI. Some things were also on the verge of getting repetitive/predictable, like getting ambushed by either humans or infected when crossing some kind of treshold, and going into dark and underground areas where inevitably there would be infected.
This was easily the most impactful game I've played this year. What an insane emotional rollercoaster, and what an incredibly well made game. ... It's unbelievable to me that this game is somehow way more cinematic and well made than Part 1, which was already so incredible in this regard.
the more real it felt, the more jarring it was when you are taken out of the illusion, for example when fighting two clearly identical enemies, or really gamey 'big men' that can take multiple shots to the head. The companion AI is also not great, especially compared to the mostly amazing enemy AI.
Compare
The Last of Us Part II vs Sekiro: Shadows Die TwiceThe Last of Us Part II vs Armored Core VIThe Last of Us Part II vs Dispatch
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