IcaroRibeiro said:
The absolute majority of scenarios, maps and assets of Abby's journey are original, so I strongly disagree with your idea it was just an attempt to make the game bigger (I also disagree with RE2, but for other reasons). The point of the second part of the game is to show any story has two sides. The third part of the game wouldn't work nearly as well if we haven't see Abby and Lev journey and, of course, how to create connection with both. I frankly just love Lev and hope he comes back later in the series, but anyway. Gameplay wise I like Ellie's slightly better because I feel she's more focused on stealth, while Abby is more brutal remember me a bit of Joel. Overall I think both maps are equally well designed with a fair share of challenge, with Ellie's journey being more grey, rainy, grimmer and providing a nice view of the desolation in Seattle. Abby's give me a perspective that was still some kind of civilization living there and overall I found her scenarios to being either lighter or outright dark/nocturne, although the differences aren't pronunciated enough as still the same place. Narrative-wise is where the most important reason can be found: Ellie journey is about her disintegration and how he was growing more heartless and blood seeking. It was a pain to see the character we already love being consumed by the darkness. Abby story is diametrically the opposite, she meets two kids and vow to help and protect them . Abby's journey is light-hearted, noble even. The effect is to see a character we hate turning into a better person. At the end of the game I was kinda of sympathizing with Abby so I guess it worked lol | 
