Gaming Lacks Substance
The Last of Us 2 stands out for its substantial storytelling, a rarity in games, with a heavy-handed yet effective exploration of grief and revenge.
Key points
- The Last of Us 2 is praised for its storytelling, which, although heavy-handed, effectively conveys its themes of grief and revenge.
- Naughty Dog, the developer, is credited with having a clear vision and conviction in their storytelling, making the game an impactful experience.
- The game's narrative is described as exhausting and miserable, intentionally so, to convey the emotional weight of its themes.
- The gaming industry is criticized for lacking substantial storytelling, with many games feeling insubstantial despite memorable moments or entertainment value.
- Analysts argue that more games should strive for meaningful storytelling like The Last of Us 2, rather than aiming for broad appeal.
The gaming industry has been criticized for its lack of substantial storytelling in recent years. Despite the medium's strive for artistic value, many games have been deemed insubstantial, with few memorable moments and even less conviction in their narratives. However, The Last of Us 2 stands out as an exception, with its heavy-handed yet effective exploration of grief and revenge. Developed by Naughty Dog, the game is praised for its clear vision and conviction in storytelling, making it an exhausting and uniquely miserable experience. The game's narrative is intentionally emotionally taxing, conveying the emotional weight of its themes. This approach is seen as a rare example of substantial storytelling in games, with analysts arguing that more games should strive for similar depth and meaning.
Sources
The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.