u/IjustwannaBeer

^(I get it I can understand that certain sections like the hospital and right after otherworld sections were kinda onerous. However I loved it after playing it for the first time ever. I played the game about 5-6 times through and through from what I remember and every time was just amazing. The mood, dread, story, acting, visuals, and detail still haunt me. I didn't get silent hill f because I personally didn't find it scary looking and the boss fights seemed a bit souls like. I was stoked for their to be a female character because heather looked like such a cool protagonist in sh3. I was also let down by the fact it was only 12 hours. Mind you games were only 30$ when the n64 came out and the xbox it was 50$. Games on average were around that timeframe to finish on the 360. The first game I bought on PS5 was god of war ragnarok and that game was one of the best if not the best game I played so far in the new generation of consoles. Finally I loved when playing Silent Hill 2 with no hud display. I want them to make that a difficulty option next time because I feel that on hard or even a welcome to silent hill mode is what really makes this game horrifying.)

I played the game and finished it once and that was enough for me to understand why the community is so split between this game. Now personally knowing the political climate of things going on in todays society I just want to address 3 things I really was thrown off by this game.

1. The fascist and other questionable ideological undertones in this game along with the idea that revenge only serves the purpose of never ending violence. I would give examples but I can save that for the comment section.
2. Look I understand Ellie is immune but the only thing I have a problem with involving both games is the fact she's white. I know I know.... I get it the games already going on 10 years. I'm just so done with white people being the forefront of saving humanity. This can be fixed if they had maybe 1 or 2 more people that are immune around the globe and they could share their stories also in the third one. Possibly telling the story of one of them that perished and hinting at one more immune person that is someone of color.
3. The way they threw Abby at the forefront of this game to try and justify a skewed narrative on revenge. I'm not gonna go into much detail on the research and questionable ideologies being shown full display when it comes to Abby but they definitely are biased and some what only half full when it comes to justifying her position in the story.

Ok what I like about the 2nd game are these 3 things also.

1. The mechanics, graphics, and mood of this game still to this day hold up and are even more complex that other modern games. The acting is phenomenal.
2. The pacing of the game although a lil janky at times is still on point. The stealth approach or full on action haven't been replicated to this day not even by the like of Resident Evil. I haven't played 9 and what got me into horror games was Resident Evil 4. So that says alot in itself.
3. I really don't have much to say about how games make me feel but god. I didnt get too emotional not even in red dead 2. God of War Ragnarok made me tear up slightly and Silent Hill 2s remake made me tear up a bit more. But I can tell you this game is one of the only games if not the only game that made me actually cry. Even if Joel allowed the procedure it still wasn't promised the doctor would be able to create a cure. I know ultimately it would have been Ellie's choice but let's be real. The world was literally in shambles and I'm pretty sure it was less than a 25% chance anything good would've come from their being a cure. Shoot even less than 5%. The world is now upside down and I put my money on it that the cure would've been used for the benefit of a few. Also knowing what it's like to let others down and being in a very chaotic world I could somewhat feel the guilt Joel felt and I also could relate to Ellies anger of betrayal. Ellie is left in an empty home after sparing Abby betraying Dina's trust and is now alone.

Lastly my recommendations on how to fix the flaws from the recent story.

1. Do not include Abby in the next game. She should be a lesson to Ellie. Ellie should regret possibly not finishing her off in the next game or grow from her decisions.
2. POSSIBLY Allow someone else that is immune to come into the picture. Someone of color PREFERABLY for the love of god. A man a woman idgaf. Just another immune person that can save humanity, possibly another kid. Or make them have some type of genetic resistance idk come up with something that follows this.
3. Make the world slightly more chaotic and show that most of humanity is still suffering if not off worse than before, and the Cordycep virus evolve to include animals. Make the stakes a bit higher to ensure Ellie knows to double down if the story does include her after all.
4. Have a way they can defeat the cordycep virus even if it is different from other realistic approaches since everyone is flipping out on the fact they dont want Ellie having kids. Just make it solid and not too Resident Evil like or comic book like.
5. Lastly I don't care about philosophy or any type of questionable ideology being expressed within the contexts of the game. The world is in peril so yeah the way people think are going to reflect extremism at times. Just make it slightly more digestible I guess. IDK though cuz this is probably going to be a bit more difficult than just typing it. Just make the story more reasonable I guess.