The floodgates have opened

Honestly if this story were a book people would have absolutely eaten this up. But because it’s a game people are still at the early adolescence storytelling stage where everything must come out in the end.

I think you are definitely being condescending, even if it isn't intended. I also don't think you are giving enough credit to the fact that this game is a sequel.

The reception would likely have been very different if this was the first game in a series.

The hero MUST get revenge, any beloved character MUST get a proper and heroic death.

And if they don’t then the antagonist must be evil and must get their comeuppance.

These are all old tropes that I feel like most people would be tired of by now.

But this is just leaving a regular trope unfulfilled. Is that considered good storytelling? It just sounds a lot like the empty phrase about subverting expectations.

If your story is one of revenge, you would expect that the hero gets his revenge. In general, I would say most good games, movies, and books don't just abandon the story midway. (I haven't read Best Served Cold, but I did read the First Law Trilogy (though I didn't love it.))

This game dares to tell a real story of very much what would have probably happened with these characters.

I think it just "dared" to kill off a beloved character. I admit it is daring, because most people don't enjoy that. That's really what you're saying though; shock value and subverted expectations are "mature."

How about a different game? What if TLOU2 opened in front of two tombstones and Tommy giving a speech about how Joel got infected and died and Ellie couldn't handle it and committed suicide. Isn't that very much a real story? But is that a good story?

She doesn’t become them, she rises above them. And in doing so finds the best possible ending.

We just disagree here. Hard disagree about the "best possible ending." Milder disagreement about Ellie rising above Abby and Joel. I don't see her life being any better for the actions that she took. At the same time, I wouldn't see her life being any worse had she just killed Abby.

...Except possible preventing Abby from changing her mind and coming back for revenge again later. In fact, if you are telling a real story, I find leaving Abby alive to be the dumber and more unrealistic of the two options. If TLOU world and the story has taught us anything, is that leaving potential enemies alive to return later for revenge is dangerous and will ruin your life.

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