Great graphics, same misery porn

Good, here we are. The Last of Us Part Ithe remake of 2013’s legendary PS3 title of the same name (minus the “part” bit), has arrived to much skepticism and a chorus of gamers and critics alike asking: Do we need that (again)?

The Last of Us Part I is a remake of a modern classic. When it landed on the PS3, it did so with a bang, with an immersive story, gameplay to match its thematic brutality, and the best graphics on the system (my PS3 never sounded like a jet engine anymore). The game also raised the thorny question of whether media, and games in particular, should be rated for how “fun” they were, as that was sometimes hard to tell The last of us, with all its misery and brutality, was a “fun” game. A remaster that increased the resolution and frame rate came to the PlayStation 4 in 2014 and a controversial sequel, The Last of Us Part IIarrived in 2019 on the same console.

So it’s fair to ask if there’s even a need to go back to this very familiar story, especially if that’s the case a seemingly very accurate HBO television adaptation also on the go. And the reviewers wrestle with it. Aside from all the snark, there is some meaningful conversation going on and reviews reflect that.

The conversation seems to revolve around three different topics.

First is improved visual fidelity. Is all the money you spent (or could spend) on this fancy PS5 is it worth it for the pixels? such is EurogamerfocusWith Digital Foundry‘s John Linneman provides his expert technical analysis and concludes that this remake is indeed one hell of a technical feat.

Then the question arises as to how this game, i.e. the gaming experience in general, works The last of us has aged. When it premiered it was very unique in what it delivered. Almost a decade later, it feels less. Destructive more or less suggests that While this is the best way to play the first game, if you’re already fed up, and especially if you weren’t impressed, there’s not much more for you here. If it made you tired the first time, there’s no need to go back.

After all, there are people who have never played before The last of us Before. I envy you. igamesnews was an outlet that explored the newcomer angle, with a review looking at the game for the first time and discussing the difficult, if not necessarily unfunny, aspects of its gameplay and story. Naughty Dog’s technical prowess and PS5’s power could improve the experience, but it’s still just as frustrating with its weapon mechanics and deadly, sometimes difficult, stealth sequences.

Overall, reviewers seem to find The last of Part I the best way to visit or revisit this groundbreaking PlayStation title. The violence is unprovoked, but these memorable characters are worth spending time with. (Also, several websites singled out the remakes comprehensive accessibility features for praise.) So, here’s what else reviewers have to say:

---

“If you’ve already experienced this story and said ‘I’m fine,’ you probably don’t need to move on The Last of Us Part 1. Those fanatics who played it 10 or more times probably already pre-ordered it. That leaves the most important group: total newcomers. While The last of us still has some of the same issues that the original debuted in 2013, the PS5 version (and likely the upcoming PC port, [based on Sony’s past efforts] is the best way to play it yet.”

“Nevertheless, in 2022, the violence in The last of us still feels worried. People have said it before and I’ll say it again: The last of us is not exact fun to play. it’s no Halo infinity or Fourteen days, in which shooting and killing are just a series of numbers scrolling on a scoreboard. Holding Joel’s gun, aiming that gun, and shooting that gun is miserable, excruciating, and painful—not just because Joel is fighting off other surviving humans, but because resources are so scarce: Will I regret using this bullet?”

“Unforgettable characters, sky-high stakes, gripping action and impeccable pacing The Last of Us Part I a superlative gaming experience in every respect. At every turn, it’s evident that the team at Naughty Dog has loved, honed, and obsessed with this story for well over a decade. And thanks to a remarkably rich set of accessibility features, now more players than ever can benefit from it.”

“The danger, of course, is that you haven’t played The last of us, you’ll probably think the significant visual advances the developer has made here have been there all along. Essentially it would be like The Last of Us Part I is always as you ‘remember’ The last of us looking, although the PS3 and PS4 versions of The last of us aren’t even a patch on what The Last of Us Part I doing optical speaking here. Of course, direct comparisons very quickly reveal the absolute gap in detail and fidelity that exists in between The Last of Us Part I and every other version of the game released to date, but you won’t always have these comparisons [on] hand, which will likely contribute to the wrong (though understandable) idea The Last of Us Part I is actually less of a visual jump than it actually is.”

“The Last of Us Part I is the definitive way to experience Joel and Ellie’s journey together. With all the new bells and whistles, series veterans will always fall in love with the gameplay, story, and characters. For newcomers, part One is an excellent entry point into the franchise as its flawless presentation makes for an unforgettable adventure.”

“Make no mistake: the story here in both the main game and the short prequel, left behind (which is included part One, still as a separate story), remains as powerful, compelling, and shocking as ever. If you haven’t played it yet, The last of us is a jumble of themes, but Naughty Dog expertly weaves them together. It can trade in desperation, selfishness, and misery, but it is also quick to breathe the embers of hope, redemption, and love that glow in its darkness. The result is an unforgettable trip that I still cannot recommend highly enough.”

“How it compares to that The Last of Us Part 2, that might be harder to answer. It is clear that the work is done on Part 1 is derived from the upgrades created for the second game, but I’d say it feels broadly similar. Cutscenes are of comparable quality and both look exceptionally good. These real-time sequences are some of the best looking cutscenes I’ve seen in a video game. However, if you stop and take a close look at the gameplay mockups in photo mode, you definitely get the feeling that this is the case Part 1 has an advantage in terms of details. Joel appears oddly older and grizzled in the remake, but there’s no doubt that his in-game model now more closely resembles the real-time cutscenes. Weapons and clothing are similar, but it’s clear that they didn’t just use the same weapon models from Part 2 in this new game.”

“If you didn’t like it TLOU First off, this remake isn’t going to change your mind. It’s still gruesome and dark, a cross between a heartbreaking post-apocalyptic story and a sometimes uncomfortable video game. The core is the same as always. What this remake does, however, is the smooth transition between the two games in the franchise. Think of it as sanding away (most of) the game’s rough edges. That will probably be important for those who played Part II in front of the original or the hypothetical brand new audience being introduced The last of us through next year’s live-action adaptation of HBO, or the upcoming standalone multiplayer experience as well. The last of us is now a franchise – and in that context, a remake so soon actually makes a lot of sense.”

“The most welcome addition to The Last of Us Part I is its impressive suite of accessibility features. As The Last of Us Part II, there is a wide range of visual, audio and difficulty settings that significantly lower the barrier to entry and make the experience more enjoyable. You can customize subtitles, tweak screen shakes, enable different display modes, and customize the controls to suit your needs at any time. Even if you don’t think you need any of these features, you might find something in there to make your experience a little smoother. I’ve often played with contrast mode turned on to spot smaller collectibles that I wouldn’t normally be able to see, but for others these newly added options could turn a previously unplayable game into a playable one.”

“Naughty Dog spent a lot of time emphasizing that this remake was built from the ground up and it really shows. Joel and Ellie have this “so realistic it’s a little scary” look, with every facial expression and gesture adding a lot of emotion to the cutscenes. As you explore, the contrast between the decaying urban structures and the natural beauty reclaiming the planet is stronger than ever. That visual accuracy is actually most impressive with small things, like shimmering reflections in puddles in the street, dirt covering the walls in the sewers below, or the way each blade of grass sways and bends as you walk over it. “