The Reason Behind the Execution Ceremony of the Game That Gamers Highly Anticipated 'Cheohyeongsik'

Sony's Hit 'The Last of Us 2' Gains Global Attention
Critics Score 94, User Reviews 49...Mixed Reactions
Storytelling Surpasses Prequel...Some Fans Push Back
Addresses Diversity Issues Including LGBTQ+ Topics

Sony Distribution 'The Last of Us: Part 2' / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] The console game distributed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, "The Last of Us: Part 2" (TLOU2), released on the 19th, is receiving heavy criticism from some fans.

Although the game recorded sales of over several million copies within three days of its release and received high ratings from experts, some fans disappointed with the game’s story have been continuously posting harsh reviews, saying "Our expectations were betrayed."

According to Sony's official PlayStation blog on the 30th, TLOU2 sold over 4 million copies worldwide within the first three days after its global release on the 19th. This record is the highest sales volume ever for a PlayStation 4 exclusive game.

TLOU2 also received critical acclaim upon release. On Metacritic, the world's largest review aggregation site, the game scored an average critic rating of 94 points, ranking second worldwide among games released this year so far.

On the other hand, the user review score, where players leave their ratings, is only 4.9 out of 10 (49 points). As of the 30th, 43,256 users gave positive reviews for TLOU2, while negative reviews reached 53,071.

On the 21st, a YouTuber conducted an "execution ceremony" by cutting the game software CD of "The Last of Us: Part 2" with scissors. / Photo by YouTube capture

Some users expressed their anger by holding so-called "execution ceremonies," such as cutting the game CD into pieces with scissors or smashing the game case with a golf club. One YouTuber cut the CD containing the game software with scissors and said, "I trusted the developers until now, but I was betrayed," adding, "How could they make such an unpleasant game?"

The controversy surrounding TLOU2 is pointed out to be due to the treatment of some popular characters. The predecessor, "The Last of Us," released in 2013, realistically depicted a world 20 years after an unknown virus had swept the globe, earning critical acclaim.

In particular, the story emphasizing the paternal love of the main character "Joel" was praised for surpassing the limits of existing games, creating numerous fans. In fact, this game won the "Game of the Year" award at the 2013 British Academy Film Awards.

However, in the sequel, Joel steps back into the background of the story and is portrayed as a character who is unilaterally and brutally sacrificed due to sins committed in the past.

Controversy also arose regarding the female protagonist "Ellie" featured in this work. This character is a lesbian, and throughout the game, her sexual identity is continuously depicted, including kissing other female characters.

Sony Distribution 'The Last of Us: Part 2' / Photo by Yonhap News

Some users argue that this storyline is overly contrived and disrespectful to fans who loved the previous game. One overseas fan who left a review on Metacritic wrote, "We waited for five years, but the developers gave us a terrible intro and ending," adding, "I just want to forget this game."

Film critic Heo Jiwoong harshly criticized the game on his Instagram on the 21st, saying, "It insults, looks down on, manipulates, and preaches to those who sincerely loved the protagonist of the previous work," calling it "in short, a dogmatic game."

Some fans also criticized the game’s storyline for addressing sexual diversity issues such as LGBTQ+ topics. One domestic user expressed dissatisfaction on Twitter, saying, "Why should feminism and LGBTQ+ issues be at the forefront in a world where civilization has collapsed due to an infectious disease?" Another fan claimed, "The game was swayed by 'political correctness.'"

On the other hand, some praised TLOU2’s storytelling as bold and sophisticated.

U.S. media outlet Time, in its review of the game, stated, "Some fans may feel uncomfortable having to control a queer woman instead of the middle-aged man they knew and loved. Some claim the developers are imposing a political agenda," but added, "However, the game’s story is bold and realistic, regardless of politics."

U.S. IT media The Verge named TLOU2 the "Best Game of 2020," saying, "(TLOU2) is not a fun game because fun is not its purpose. Instead, it is a brutal, exhausting, and very uncomfortable game. It shows how violence exacts a price on both perpetrators and victims."

Amid escalating conflicts surrounding the game, Neil Druckmann, Vice President of Naughty Dog and director of TLOU2’s development, said he is carefully observing the controversy.

Druckmann said, "We tried to tackle difficult subjects and tell new stories that challenge you in unexpected ways," adding, "It is amazing to witness the resonance and deep discussions this experience has sparked among people."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.