Platforms: PlayStation 5
Is a remaster of a game that was released less than four years ago necessary or even worthy? The Last of Us Part II’s original PS4 release was undoubtedly the most visually stunning game the system has ever seen, and playing it on a PS4 Pro or PS5 thanks to backwards compatibility made for an incredible experience.
However, The Last of Us Part I arrived, updating the 2013 first game in the fungal zombie apocalypse epic for players of today with a native PS5 edition that essentially outpaced Part II in every way. Even if the well-loved sequel didn’t really “need” it as much, developer Naughty Dog was obviously itching for parity for Part II, and thus here we are.
And, see, this situation’s main game? It remains the amazing five-star experience from when it released on the PS4. A change from the previous game’s protagonist Joel to an adult Ellie and then a new character named Abby creates for another terrifying trip, taking place five years after the events of the first game. It still has all the narrative turns and emotional gut punches that initially made it so powerful, making it an exciting, suspenseful, and terrifying story. Nevertheless, Naughty Dog has created a more intriguing bundle than Part I, probably aware of the response that such a short order remaster would provoke.
Playing one of the greatest games of the decade is best done this way.
With two modes available—”Fidelity” for authentic 4K rendered images at 30 frames per second or “Performance” for 1440p renders upscaled to 4K at 60 frames per second—the remastering is comparable to its predecessor. Regardless of the mode you choose, this is unquestionably the finest the game has ever looked, even though the jump isn’t quite as noticeable given how fantastic Part II’s visuals were already. In a similar vein, the inclusion of numerous accessibility tools (such as visual filters, audio controls, and more) has improved the game’s accessibility for all players. In other places, the PS5’s native compatibility enables full integration of the DualSense controller’s capabilities, including more sophisticated haptic feedback and astute use of the joypad’s sound for some very terrifying interactions with the infected.
That being said, the abundance of “Making Of” content elevates everything. Three “Lost Levels” provide an intriguing glimpse into the game’s development process by providing playable pre-alpha builds of planned game parts that were omitted from the final version, along with developer commentary. Similar to this, there are a ton of behind-the-scenes films available, as well as four episodes of the official The Last of Us podcast that discuss the development of the game and include a director’s commentary that offers details on cinematography. A wonderful bonus is that there’s a guitar free-play mode where you can spend as much time as you like strumming chords and enjoying what were essentially quiet asides in the main game.
However, the new “No Return” mode—a roguelike survival mode—might be the biggest draw. Players must execute a variety of tasks, obtain supplies, and upgrade their characters in between missions while fighting five rounds of randomly selected opponents. It’s significantly different from the campaign’s fighting, which is frequently frantic and abrupt, if not completely avoided through stealth, but once you get used to the new flow, it serves as a powerful reminder of just how good The Last of Us’ combat systems are in the first place.
The fact that some of the supplementary stuff, like the entire game director’s commentary, isn’t accessible until you’ve finished the tale at least once is one of the game’s more annoying features. Barring this feature, Part II Remastered feels a little stingy considering that for many gamers, it will be their second time through the game. However, it is important to note that players can get around this difficulty by transferring their saves from the original game.
Although some people might still be surprised by the quick release of a remastered edition, Naughty Dog has truly gone above and beyond with this release. For those who possess the PS4 original, this is a really pleasant upgrade, costing just £10. It’s the ultimate way to play one of the best games of the decade.