fallinlight
Distinguished Member
The area of downtown Seattle is, by NDs admission, the biggest play area they've made, but after that there aren't any other areas (that I can think of) that match it in size.
This is one aspect of the game that I think did not gel well. The switch to
the more linear and traditional - though yes, still bigger and more open than the first game - sections after that opening Seattle area did not feel consistent to me and made that first open area feel separate. It reminded me of the Plateau in Breath of the Wild, but the transition onward and off the Plateau into the big, wide open world did not happen in TLOUII. Instead we find ourselves in smaller environments and set pieces again after. Still, it does not impact the overall game for me at all.
Note, Naughty Dog have said frequently that it is overall the biggest and most ambitious game they have made.
I also felt that the further you get into the game, the more linear the areas are and the less scope for exploration there is.
Hmm.. perhaps. I need to play though new game plus to comment on your point. What about the
boating section, how cool was that! A wider area but still linear. So much atmosphere ion this section with that heavy Seattle rain drenching everything - I love Ellie's putting on her hood animation, man! And the heavy mist and gloom, then later the lightning in the clouds were just stunning. I would have loved to have had the horse and boat as permanent modes of transport
What I did notice are areas of the game where it is always almost
wider and more open than the first game and split into usually two paths that lead to the same point. For example playing through the boat segment. I felt that this gave the illusion of a wider play area or of more freedom. Still, nice.