1. This essay examines Ellie’s journal, a paratext in The Last of Us Part II, to analyze her relationships with Joel and Abby.
2. It uses the term “paratext” coined by Gérard Genette to describe in-game artifacts that extend the main narrative.
3. It provides an analysis of how video game narratives can be understood in the context of game studies.
The article is generally reliable and trustworthy, as it provides a detailed analysis of Ellie’s journal in The Last of Us Part II and its importance for understanding the game’s narrative. The author cites relevant sources to support their claims, such as Gérard Genette’s work on paratexts and other scholars who have written about video games. Furthermore, the author does not appear to be biased towards any particular point of view or opinion; instead they provide an objective analysis of the game’s narrative structure and how it relates to paratexts.
The only potential issue with this article is that it does not explore counterarguments or alternative perspectives on the topic at hand. While this is understandable given the scope of the article, it would have been beneficial for readers if there had been some discussion of opposing views or different interpretations of Ellie’s journal entries. Additionally, while the author does mention other games that use paratexts (such as BioShock and Gone Home), they do not provide any detailed analysis or comparison between these games and The Last of Us Part II which could have added further depth to their argument.