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The Last of Us Part I is a worthy remake for newcomers

It’s difficult for me to believe The Last of Us was first released nine years ago, but here we are in 2022, and that is indeed the case.

Though The Last of Us Part I doesn’t really need to exist since the original still looks and plays great — and its subsequent PlayStation 4 remaster remains even more visually stunning — the graphical overhaul offered in Part I is impressive.

Thanks to the power of the PS5, everything from facial animations to environments and enemies has been reworked in the impressive visual style of The Last of Us Part II. That said, it’s worth noting that this improved fidelity makes some of the original game’s aging animation look slightly more robotic when compared to other modern titles. It’s a small issue that you need to look for to notice, but it can be jarring during some cinematics.

Still, Part I is a stunning remake. Whether you’re playing at 4K HDR 40fps or variable resolution with a 60fps locked framerate, The Last of Us Part I looks like a PlayStation 5 title. But if you expected the remake to be a director’s cut-style revision of the iconic game featuring content that didn’t make it into the original, you’ll be disappointed. For better or worse, The Last of Us Part I is a faithful remake of the PlayStation 3 classic that follows the same plot and features identical gameplay. For example, Ellie still can’t swim, and your AI companions remain invisible to enemies in most situations.

There are quality-of-life and accessibility improvements, however. While you can’t dive, dodge or crawl like in The Last of Us Part II, the workbench that allows you to upgrade your weapons now features animations similar to its sequel (there are a few other examples of extra animations throughout the game). You’ll also encounter additional detail in the environment that can sometimes add a bit more to the experience, though I won’t delve into details to avoid spoilers, alongside the DualSense gamepad glowing in different colours depending on the action at hand. Enemy AI has also been improved slightly, resulting in some encounters feeling more dynamic than they did in the original, but the difference isn’t substantial and doesn’t compare to the intelligence offered by foes in Part II.

All of these upgrades are welcome additions to what is still one of the best video games ever made, but they don’t fundamentally add much to the experience.

On the accessibility side, significant positive strides have been made in the same fashion as The Last of Us Part II, including cinematic descriptions, screen reader, enhanced listening mode, additional cues and more. A new speedrun mode that features an in-game timer that pauses during cinematic transitions has also been added.

Part of me couldn’t help but have expected more from The Last of Us Part I given Naughty Dog’s stellar reputation. It would be great to see content that didn’t make it into the original offered in this remake or other quality-of-life changes tied to combat controls and its environment, especially since Part I‘s still very brutal stealth-action gameplay can, unfortunately, feel limiting at times if you’ve recently played The Last of Us Part II.

For example, just like when it was first released, some of The Last of Us Part I’s environments are repetitive, making it easy to get turned around and lost. I spent far more time than I’d like to admit wandering around the title’s overgrown ruined city environments trying to find the next cue to push the story forward (thankfully, the built-in hint system saved me). Subtle solutions to issues like this could have gone a long way towards making the remake feel more substantial and worthwhile for those who played the original.

On the other hand, I also understand that part of the remake’s purpose is that it’s a promotional tool for 2023’s The Last of Us HBO TV show, so it was likely developed on a tight timeline and only so many new features could be added. With this in mind, for some, Part I could act as the perfect intro to the series’ Clicker-filled, Cordyceps-infected world.

It’s also worth noting that even with the above shortcomings, The Last of Us has aged remarkably well for a nine-year-old game and feels far more modern than I expected. This really speaks to how far ahead of its time the original title was. The Last of Us weaves a compelling, grounded story against a post-apocalyptic backdrop, especially as it delves into the moral ambiguity of Joel, Ellie, and their violent actions. Few games have attempted to tell a tale like The Last of Us because Naughty Dog’s narrative does it so well that it’s near impossible to match, let alone surpass.

If you haven’t yet played one of the finest video games ever made, The Last of Us Part I is undeniably the best way to do so. On the other hand, for those like myself that spent a lot of time with the 2013 original and its 2014 remaster, there’s not much to offer here beyond an impressive visual upgrade.

The Last of Us Part I releases on PlayStation 5 on September 2nd, 2022 for $89.99. The game will also make its way to PC at a later date. The Last of Us Factions multiplayer mode isn’t included in this remake, but a successor is on the way.

For more on The Last of Us Part I, check out our interview with the game’s directors.

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Image credit: Sony

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Sony releases The Last of Us Part 1 trailer, and it looks nice

Naughty Dog’s 2013 hit action-adventure game The Last of Us‘ PS5 remake is set to release on September 2nd, and Sony is now giving gamers a piece of what’s to come with a launch trailer.

It’s worth noting that the main game and its storyline remain the same as the original 2013-released title, albeit with a pretty filter.

The remake also brings in haptic feedback, 3D audio, enhanced visuals that have been completely rebuilt from the ground up and faster in-game loading times.

The launch trailer features multiple scenes from the latter half of the game, and also from the Left Behind DLC, so if you haven’t played the original game, watching the trailer will give you a pretty good idea of what you’re getting into.

Naughty Dog has also released three new short videos on its YouTube, showing how The Last of Us Part 1 for PS5 compares to the title’s PS4 remastered version. See one of the clips below for reference.

The title is available to pre-order now for $89.99 here. A PC version of the game will be released at a later date.

Image credit: PlayStation

Source: PlayStation

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The Last of Us Part 1 developer says remake is not a ‘cash grab’ amid online discourse

The Last of Us Part 1 remake is caught in a new wave of online discourse over its $70 USD ($89.99 CAD) price tag. However, an animator who has worked on the game has come out and defended the game.

Some of the online discourse has gone as far as to call The Last of Us Part 1 remake a “cash grab.” Robert Morrison, who currently works at Sony’s Bend Studio, calls the game “the most meticulously built and crafted project that I have ever seen or been a part of in my entire career.”

Built from the ground up, The Last of Us Part 1 remake largely improves the visuals and animations of the original 2013 title. The game offers 4K 60fps performance and improved enemy AI. Plus, the game is integrating the upgraded combat system seen in The Last of Us Part II. It’s also likely that the game will also fold in the accessibility options Naughty Dog included in the sequel. Character models are also upgraded, with Naughty Dog highlighting the differences.

The game is set to bring in new fidelity and performance. However, many are criticizing Sony’s decision to market the game at full price. A large focus in contention is that Sony has already released an upgraded version of the game in the form of The Last of Us Remastered for PS4.

Morrison argues that The Last of Us Part 1 remake has been developed with “the highest level of care and attention to detail possible.” In a follow-up tweet, he continues to state that he is “in awe” of what went into the game. “A tremendous amount of passion was put into it.”

The Last of Us Part II brought in a ton of acclaim for Naughty Dog when it launched in 2020. Updating the original and bringing over the quality of life changes would balance out the duology from the studio. Plus, the launch perfectly aligns with the anticipated HBO adaptation, which was shot in Calgary.

The Last of Us Part 1 arrives on PlayStation 5 on September 2nd, and PC on a yet-to-be-confirmed date.

Image credit: Naughty Dog

Via: IGN