www.indiewire.com
IMO this is the fundamental misconception these guys have about video games. Players just do what the game asks them to do, because it's a game. They need to do it to progress. Nobody wrestles with characters' decisions, because they're not their own. Even if TLoU2 had actual choices to make, most people would just make these decisions based on what they think those choices would mean for the outcome of the game. It's really hard to make people care about choices outside of the context of the game itself. Of course for the game we ended up getting, people have reacted to decisions characters make in the game, but that's because the writing is nonsensical and absolutely retarded.
Nicely put. The writers seem to be under the impression that controlling a character forces us to internalize their motivations and decisions as an inherent component of that control. "Playing as Abby forces you to wrestle with her choices because you're playing as her". Not only is this not true, but conflict prevents internalisation. It's the reason people often lack empathy for those they fundamentally disagree with - we cannot internalise something we simply cannot understand. It would seem they built the game on a flawed premise. Unless you can say to yourself "Abby was right in murdering that person", I would expect the game to completely fall apart?
To call the writing "nonsensical and absolutely retarded" is a bit far don't you think? I thought the story was actually rather good however I think this medium may not have been the place for it, I will admit. Videogames and "gamers" were never going to appreciate what they were trying to convey and what they wished to achieve. I also think the original game and the deep connection build with Joel has left a lot of people upset with the manner in which he was treated.
Lev is trans?
Kinda - except that TLOU spent the entire gaming working up until that moment to establish Joel's motivations. The entire point of the game was to understand Joel's action. My understanding of TLOU2, as I haven't played it, is that Abby's inciting act is carried out around 1/10th into the game. If you don't immediately understand her position, even if you don't agree with it, the following 9/10ths are likely going to run into some problems along the way. Judging from the feedback around the internet, they were not successful with this character, and I believe it's because they don't understand how people internalise characters they're forced to inhabit. Just because people are forced to inhabit Abby, doesn't mean they'll empathise.
I can see where you're coming from and while playing the Ellie section and having no idea of the motives I just assumed Abby was some firefly grunt.
I kinda disagree though. Joel might have done bad stuffs and understood bad actions have bad reactions.
Lev is trans?
This makes no sense buddy
I agree with you... until I finished the game and by that point, oddly enough, I started sympathizing and she became... well, not good looking but dare I say it, cute?
The Abby that goes to the aquarium for the first time with Owen was how she should have looked, only a few years older. She looked right and grounded there. Later, she looks like some kinda ultimate warrior wrestling buddy.
I guess the point I wanna make is: "it has impact"... for you. "Abby's story hits"... for you. That's the issue with this type of narrative structure: it works if you agree with the concept already, in which case you were always on board and the writers accomplished nothing meaningful because you were already seeing things from their perspective. They "had you at hello", so to speak. If you don't agree already, then the writers face an impossible uphill battle that ... virtually no one has ever won. Some writers can pull it off - but I'm struggling to think of more than one. George R. R. Martin has some pretty incredible character turn-arounds in his 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series as the most obvious examples - but better in the books, than the show. But it's rare for a reason: first impressions matter, and most writers lack the ability to make sympathetic villains, let alone villains that can become enjoyable protagonists the audience roots for.
That's an old horror movie trope - make the female protagonist attractive so that the audience is more likely to feel for her. It's one of the reasons I adore 'Cabin in the Woods', as it uses these cliches in a very cool way. In a way, I applaud Naughty Dog not going the typical route with Abby.
Damn if this ain't spot fucking on.
Yes, he was born as Lily.
It fails not only because she is an angry orangutan but mainly because the writing is so in your face.
Dude. That would've been so much more satisfying, even if it was the same plot. Joel dies along the way but had to in order for Ellie to provide the cure... Dude! . But instead we got this "Omg we're so good at storytelling in games we need to go all out and be so groundbreaking and powerful and omg so much lgbtq representation omg so powerful so speshul so stunning so brave" and completely forget how to make a believable and coherent story with loveable characters.If a game gives the player freedom to do what they want then my canon ending is Abby getting eaten by some failed QTE sequence.
Then Joel and Ellie continue to go on adventures when Ellie wants Joel to help her reach a Doctor that might have the answers that she wants.
I haven't play the game, have no intentions, because I've tried that with other games, just to become dissapointed and stuff like that....however.....how does that work in post-apocalyptic world?
Yes, I don't played the game, as I said, so I don't know how is it presented.
Err... Joel killed her father to save his 'daughter'.... then Abby kills Joel for revenge in a total disrespectful manner. And she looks like an abomination. Because in a post-apocalyptic world, whey-protein dealers are a thing.
Personally I found it surprising how quickly Abby identified the gender of this character. For me it would be hard guess but if I had to without asking for the gender I'd say female despite the bald head. Also it's worth mentioning that this character didn't undergo any hormone therapy or whatever it's called, just shaved his (her) head and changed the gender identity.
Yeah. I'm not saying that it cant happen. But seeing how it's presented in the game, and serving no purpose in the story, it screams 'hey we have a trans character, look at him' more than anything, at least IMHO.
