The Last of Us 2 is likely the single best game I have ever played. Darker than it has a right to be, the story unwinds a ball of yarn connecting the characters to their actions, and the consequences that follow.

There is a lot to like about the game. Gameplay is a step forward. Voice acting and animation have improved considerably, and the story, while bordering on the line of edgy for the sake of edgy, is a gut punch over and over.

Complaints about some characters and resolutions to the story are warranted. I didn’t like the epilogue or final ending. I wasn’t looking for a happy ending to the story, but the feeling of emptiness, while intentional, was difficult to accept.

I’ve come to accept that liking the direction of the story and the ability for that story to be told are not always the same. My favorite character dying or becoming a villain doesn’t mean the story wasn’t excellent, it just meant that I had to disconnect what I wanted to see happen from what was. A framing device I think the game uses intentionally.

I can see why many people may not “like” the various parts of the game, but you can’t deny that you take it with you.

10/10: Masterpiece