[Warning! The below post contains SPOILERS for The Last of Us Part 2]
Well before The Last of Us 2 Part 2 even released, there were gamers who were calling for a boycott of Naughty Dog's latest game. Through a series of The Last of Us 2 leaks, major details from the game had made their way online, including some videos of key scenes. Some didn't believe the leaks were real, but those who did had some unkind words for Neil Druckmann and his team.
Now that The Last of Us Part 2 is available on PS4, the criticisms surrounding the game have only grown. Review bombs of Last of Us Part 2 on Metacritic have plummeted the score to around 3/10 and it seems the fervent detractors are only getting started. Without getting into a debate over whether or not the criticisms are correct, there are a few key points that have frustrated Last of Us fans and are why the game is getting so much hate.
Joel's Death
There was no doubt that Naughty Dog knew that Joel's death would be controversial, but the studio might not have realized just how poorly it would go over with some fans. Early trailers for The Last of Us Part 2 had fans speculating that Joel might die (or be already dead) in the sequel, but it's the how of all it all that has some fans frustrated.
One of the major elements of Joel's death that fans don't seem to like is the vulnerable position he and Tommy find themselves in. Throughout the course of The Last of Us 1, Joel shows that he is not one to trust anyone, and even runs over a guy rather than find out if he really needs help. His suspicion seemingly runs deep and is influenced by years of surviving in post-outbreak.
The criticism then is that Tommy and Joel so freely give out both their names and where they are living to complete strangers. There is a sense in the scene that Joel is wary of the group, but some were surprised how easy the ambush was. Killing Joel was a narrative choice that some fans could seemingly accept, but they were surprised by the narrative direction Naughty Dog chose.
Deceptive Marketing in Trailers
Part and parcel with Joel's death, the marketing for The Last of Us Part 2 has been a point of contention among disgruntled fans. As mentioned, Naughty Dog gave plenty of hints that Joel was not around for the bulk of the game, but then a trailer appeared to suggest that he would end up joining Ellie on her journey.
In the trailer, Joel sneaks up behind Ellie and pulls her out of sight of some WLF soldiers. Ellie is surprised to see Joel and remarks, “What are you doing here.” To which Joel replies, “Do you think I would let you do this on your own.”
Now that exchange does occur in The Last of Us Part 2 but it's not between Joel and Ellie. Instead, the scene features Jesse in the role of “Joel,” surprising Ellie and joining her throughout parts of the game.
Many felt that Naughty Dog misled the fans with this scene and were frustrated by it. Yes, some companies use fake scenes in trailers to help combat spoilers and to misdirect fans, but this was seen as more of a betrayal.
Lev's Characterization
One of the other controversies within The Last of Us Part 2 is the characterization of Lev. Abby is saved by Yara and Lev and she eventually takes Lev as a companion throughout parts of the game. During some of these sections, Abby learns that Lev was cast out of the Seraphite cult because he cut his hair. At a glance, it might not seem significant, but the game slowly reveals that Lev was born Lily and was meant to be a bride for one of the Seraphite males.
Among some members of the LGBTQ community, the choice to portray Lev in the way that Naughty Dog does has drawn criticism. Having enemies taunt Lev by calling him “Lily” has especially struck a chord with people. The feeling is that the game's only trans character (which is a rarity in video games as it is) is handled poorly.
Playing as Abby
Naughty Dog hinted that there would be a second playable character in The Last of Us 2, but most assumed it would be Joel. And while that is true for a brief prologue, the actual playable character besides Ellie is Abby.
Having players control a character that they are supposed to hate and who they have been tracking down to kill is a bold choice by Naughty Dog and for some it simply doesn't work. Other games (like Halo 2, for example) have tried to portray the "villain" in a sympathetic light, but considering there was a lot of anger regarding Joel's death, making people play as his killer was not going to go over well with some people. There other criticisms about the way the game splits screentime, like the fact that jumping to Abby kills the game's momentum, but this seems to be the biggest.
The Last of Us 2's Ending
For as much as Joel's death is controversial, fans felt that it could be justified if Ellie got her ultimate revenge against Abby. However, the final confrontation between Ellie and Abby does not offer that satisfaction. Right before Abby is about to drown, Ellie lets up and allows Abby to leave with Lev.
Many fans saw this ending as the complete opposite of what they were hoping for and as a result, were left disappointed by the game. Naughty Dog paints The Last of Us Part 2 as a revenge story but does not deliver what fans expect. It's a change of heart that either lands or doesn't, and for some players, it didn't work.
There are plenty of other reasons why fans are disappointed or mad at The Last of Us Part 2, but those seem to be the biggest sticking points. Whether or not gamers agree with them depends on the person and how they view the experience of the game. Naughty Dog set the expectation that some weren't going to enjoy the sequel, and the studio was right. But perhaps they didn't expect how strong the criticisms of the game would be.
The Last of Us 2 is available now for PS4.