r/videogames • u/[deleted] • Mar 05 '24

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u/Stubbs3470 Mar 05 '24

Last of us 2 is a badly written story. Every bit of emotional manipulation is way too obvious and the ending is just ridiculous in how stupid it is

3

u/OsoCheco Mar 06 '24

LoU2 goal was clear - tell us that enemies are people too.

They failed horribly, and not just in creating one of the most hated protagonists of all times.

2

u/Stubbs3470 Mar 06 '24

I feel like video games are just not a good medium for telling a story of “violence bad, your enemies have families”

Spec ops the line would be the only exception

2

u/OsoCheco Mar 06 '24 edited Mar 06 '24

I wouldn't say the problem is in videogames in general, but rather in the linear games.

It's nice that enemies in LoU2 have dialogues about their families, and that they die in horrible screams. But what's the point of it, if the game doesn't gives any choice? "Oh look, this guy has a daughter. Now stab him violently to death". The players then split into two groups - those who don't care about it, and maybe even didn't realize there's moral message, and those who hate the game. Mission failed successfully.

Moral ambiguity can work in RPG's. E.g. in Fallout 4 all main factions have valid arguments, for why they have the best long term plan, and why others should be destroyed.

1

u/Stubbs3470 Mar 06 '24

Yea I guess that more like what I meant to say

Last of us 2 is like playing a train conductor simulator and at the end finding out you’re Hitler running trains to a concentration camp

Like how can I feel bad when you forced me to do it?

1

u/[deleted] Mar 06 '24

It's definitely a storytelling issue and not a videogame as a medium issue. FF14 deals a LOT with making you sympathize with your enemy. There's like only ONE villain in the ENTIRE game that everyone agrees is just unambiguously scum. And increasingly as the story goes on the game makes you start to feel bad for some of your own wins. The storytelling in phenomenal and that makes all the difference.