Developed By: Naughty Dog
Published By: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5
Reviewed On: PlayStation 5
Review Code Provided By: Sony Interactive Entertainment Singapore
The Last Of Us and its sequel are widely regarded as one of the best games of all time with some going so far in proclaiming they are part of the most important and quintessential gaming experience in recent generations. The first game in the series has almost universal acclaim when it came out for the PS3 and many (including me) double-dipped when the remastered version came out for the PS4. The Last of Us Part II came out in 2020 and had a lot of controversies attached to it that almost split the fanbase in half due to how Naughty Dog decided to advance Joel and Ellie’s story. As much as I loved the first game, The Last of Us Part II was a much more devastating tale that in my mind perfectly captured what it set out to do and that is why I gave it a perfect score.
When rumours started swirling that The Last of Us was getting the remake treatment, I must admit I felt quite apathetic about it. After all, it has only been 9 years ago since it came out originally and the remaster coming a year later. As beloved as it is, was it really necessary for this game to be remade as opposed to an original game to supplement the PS5 library which one can argue is still sorely lacking in killer exclusives?
Thanks to Sony Interactive Entertainment Singapore, we were granted the opportunity to dive in early for The Last of Us Part I. There have been many reveals so far on the numerous improvements coming for this full remake and it really was a nostalgic walk down memory lane with brand new 4K glasses. By the time the credits rolled again what is certain is that The Last of Us Part I looks and plays great, the story holds up tremendously and is without question the absolute best version that long-term fans and new ones will enjoy.
You Have No Idea What Loss Is
The Last of Us Part I tells a story of a world ravaged by a mutated Cordyceps fungus that has systematically and thoroughly dismantled modern civilization. Most major cities in the US have been closed off and are under the control of the oppressive government organization known as FEDRA. Resources are dwindling and there are some that have banded together to form a separatist group known as the Fireflies who have their own agenda as to how civilization should move forward. Most of society has regressed with everyone looking over their shoulder trying to survive just another day.
The main protagonist of the game is Joel who after a personal tragedy is a jaded man that doesn’t believe in attachments but only the survival of the fittest. As fate would have it he soon crosses paths with Marlene, leader of the Fireflies and recruits him to transport a potential vaccine for the Cordyceps fungus. The only catch is that this potential vaccine is an immune child called Ellie.
The journey across the country that Joel and Ellie undertake is a harsh one as apart from the deadly Cordyceps fungus, society has descended into savagery discarding any semblance of ethical or moral values often at the expense of one another. Ironically. It is on this journey as well that pockets of hope emerge with colourful characters along the way. Tess, Bill, Sam, and Henry are just a few of many notable characters the player will meet along the way that brings along their own personal stories of love, adversity, and tragedy.
What makes the story of The Last of Us Part I so timeless is how effortlessly it weaves complicated narratives into a seemingly straightforward journey. Choices are never easy, and consequences are never far behind. Both Joel and Ellie are amazingly realized characters brought to life by Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson with so many beautiful and nuanced moments in their performances. Until today there is just so much to talk about, especially with how beloved these characters are and for those who are jumping in for the first time, you really are about to embark on something special.
You Make Every Shot Count
Naughty Dog has rebuilt The Last of Us Part I with a brand-new engine for the PS5 and the technical wizards have done it again. This game is really one of the best-looking games for the system right now. Three are two graphical presets for players to choose from, Fidelity mode for 4K 30fps, and Performance mode with a Dynamic resolution aiming for 60fps at all times. What’s even cooler is for TVs that support it, the game also allows VRR to be toggled on so players will be in for a treat. The high-fidelity textures, HDR lighting to die for, and improved animations among others really make The Last of Us Part I an astounding graphical leap.
When it comes to the DualSense features I did find it a little on the tame side. There is haptics and use of the adaptive triggers but it’s mostly because of how the game was designed however I did find it incredibly impressive how haptics was integrated into the accessibility side of things with feedback tailored in enhancing players who are deaf with the sensations of how conversations are meant to flow. The accessibility options from TLOU Part II were already so impressive and this just takes it one step further and I am so very happy about it.
However impressive the technical side of things is, there are a couple of letdowns. The major one for me is how the sound design for this game seems to have really missed the mark. Of course, this is just my personal opinion and other reviewers probably have better setups and might not have encountered the same issues I did. I found the mixing to be quite a bit off as I noticed how supplementary characters’ voices just completely disappear if you move a short distance away from them. The automatic detected set-up for my soundbar was set to narrow but even tweaking it to other settings just seem to make it worse. When I tested the 3D Audio with headphones, it felt unnaturally enclosed like I was in a fishbowl. I fully expect other reviewers to say the 3D Audio is amazeballs but it really just wasn’t for me.
Another thing that I noticed was that even with all the graphical improvements the game is still unmistakably a PS3 game underneath with some facial and general animations giving it away. One could argue that “well it is a remake of a PS3 game” but perhaps my own personal expectation was too high on this front. It’s also not flawless as I played the whole game on Performance mode (I love that smoothness) in certain scenes, and the dynamic resolution felt very noticeable. There are also very rare geometry issues with things loading weird on certain angles and very minor bugs.
It’s Normal People That Scare Me
If you have played the original, the gameplay is still very much the same with barely any major changes to it. Players will traverse around each playable area scrounging for ammo and supplies to create med kits, nail/smoke bombs, or Molotov cocktails. You will also be collecting supplements to upgrade attributes that extend Joel’s life bar or craft faster. There are also parts that are used to upgrade the various weapons the players will come across at workbenches.
One of the best things about this game is the collectible informational items that really flesh out the amazing world-building. There are so many hidden stories for players to seek out that just slowly unravel the transformation and history of certain areas that you will visit. There are personal and heartbreaking stories from characters you will never even meet but will feel something for.
How A.I behave and encounters play out in the game have also been upgraded as per Naughty Dog following in the footsteps of TLOU Part II and as much as I would like to believe that it feels more of the same to me really. Two encounters in the game stand out to me particularly; the encounter beneath the streets in Salt Lake City, and the final level of the game in St. Mary’s Hospital. The former still had a section where if you ran away from two Bloaters, crossing an almost exact spot of the original game they would immediately return to their original positions. It’s a weird déjà vu feeling to be having but I guess that was left in? Also the final encounter in St Mary’s where the A.I just felt so passive instead of actively trying to outflank me instead of choosing to remain in a very fixed position for easy pickings. I know increasing the difficulty might give me a better challenge but on Moderate it still felt like a walk in the park.
One thing I must highlight which I spoke about earlier was how the team at Naughty Dog have greatly expanded their accessibility options comparable to the immense effort that they did with TLOU Part II. I’m excited about this because this would mean more players who were unable to enjoy it before would have more access than ever and that is a win in my book.
What I Loved About The Last of Us Part I
- Story – Although there were a few minor details I have forgotten over the years, I really appreciated getting to experience it again and cement how it just aged so well.
- Soundtrack – The soundtrack by Gustavo Santaolalla is still amazing.
- Characters – There isn’t a single character in this game that won’t stay in your memory for years.
- Graphics & Detail – Naughty Gods have done it again is all I can say.
- Accessibility – The expanded options are a very welcome sight and I’m thankful more are able to enjoy this amazing game.
What I Wished Was Better
- Old Bones – This is probably just going to be my own personal nitpick but with all the work that went through this Remake, it still couldn’t shake off how it’s a very gorgeous PS5 game on top of a PS3 game.
Endure And Survive
First things first, I have to get out of the way about how The Last of Us Part I is an amazing narrative and technical achievement. If you are a long-time fan, this really is the absolute best version of the game. For new players, you really have no idea the journey you will be embarking on as it will be one of if not the best that you will have.
However, the question that is undeniable and one that I myself have no answer to up to this point: Was this Remake necessary? Is it worth the full price you will be paying for it when it releases? I started the game with a very muted sense of excitement but still found myself loving this game again once the credits rolled. Value is subjective at the end of the day and personalized to every single person. If you love what the team has revealed so far then it’s a no-brainer to jump back in. If you are on the fence and are thinking twice that’s very valid too. The game stands on its own undeniable merits.
I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I wish the team was working on something new but that is not to take away all the hard work that went into this game. I enjoyed my time with it and it really stoked my interest in continuing the journey with another walk down memory lane with The Last of Us Part II.
