Yes of course. But what I think happened is that, 1. The first game did really well, then 2. The publisher did the classic thing where they do focus group research, which in the end results in the product becoming normalized, non unique, slop. It got zeroed in on and rewritten to appeal to the broadest spectrum, so we get "marvel" dialogue. Add in potential budget cuts, firings, crunch etc, and you end up with a worse sequel. :sterling:
That definitely could be it. But since it has the same creative team with Cory Balrog directing it once again the issue could also be with a decision Santa Monica Studios made.
I don't think Sony messes around with its development studios that much for narrative or writing. Like Last of Us 2 seems like what Neil Druckman wanted to make
Yes of course. But what I think happened is that, 1. The first game did really well, then 2. The publisher did the classic thing where they do focus group research, which in the end results in the product becoming normalized, non unique, slop. It got zeroed in on and rewritten to appeal to the broadest spectrum, so we get "marvel" dialogue. Add in potential budget cuts, firings, crunch etc, and you end up with a worse sequel. :sterling:
That definitely could be it. But since it has the same creative team with Cory Balrog directing it once again the issue could also be with a decision Santa Monica Studios made.
I don't think Sony messes around with its development studios that much for narrative or writing. Like Last of Us 2 seems like what Neil Druckman wanted to make