The PlayStation 5 received its own version of The Last of Us on Friday with The Last of Us Part 1, and was largely praised by reviewers for delivering a much-loved original title with a PS5-powered facelift and making a handful of other tweaks around it. the margins that improve aspects of the original game.
With over 100 critics’ reviews cataloged by Metacritic, the game has an average review score of 89.
While some reviewers grappled with whether the remake was really necessary, most were clearly impressed with the graphical overhaul the game received.
“Among the most notable changes are the facts that foliage is denser, destructible objects are more abundant, and reflections are a standout,” wrote Luke Rielly in a 9 out of 10 review for IGN. “The soft lighting is absolutely stunning too, and it’s packed with details so grainy you’ll miss them if you don’t look closely enough. The way the rain trickles down Joel’s gun and slides down his wet shirt before realistically falling off the bundled parts dripping from its sleeves made me stop in my tracks, just like how the light picks up dust and spores in the air at the most humid levels.”
In a review that scored the game 3.5 out of 5, PC Mag’s Zachary Cuevas said the visual upgrade “aligns the Last of Us Part 1 with the second game,” which was released on PS4 in 2020. .
“It cannot be emphasized enough how much these updated images improve the overall experience,” Cuevas added. “Areas are definitely rich in detail: light shines through the trees, your flashlight cuts through the darkness of abandoned sewer tunnels, and the visceral violence inflicted on both the infected and the survivors adds to the tense and dark atmosphere of the game.”
Giving the game an 8 out of 10 for GameSpot, Jake Dekker echoed a general feeling about how much more expressive characters appear in the remake.
“The overhauled lighting, sharp new textures and smoother animations make The Last of Us a better game, but it’s the details in the faces and characters that make it more meaningful,” Dekker said. “I can feel the repressed pain in Joel, the pervasive hope in Marlene, and glimpse fleeting moments of innocence in Ellie.”
Gene Park also praised the visuals in his Washington Post review, saying the new game makes the 3D models of the 2013 original look “stiff and plastic.” Park compared the visual jump as akin to Toy Story 1 to Toy Story 3, although much of the impact of the new look comes from the in-game depiction of brutal violence.
“PlayStation won’t market the game this way, but it’s worth noting that all of these changes result in much more satisfying, visually impressive violence,” Park said. In addition to being a father-daughter story, The Last of Us has always been a great zombie video game. Zombies and humans alike explode in clouds of blood and succumb under the rule of newly realistic, horrifying physics. The screams of burning bodies feel all the more so. more poignant with improved fire effects. Louis’ house for the first five minutes of the game never burned as brightly as it does now.”
In a VG247 review that gave the game a 10 out of 10, Tom Orry gave high marks to some of the non-visual changes made to the game, such as 3D audio, haptics using the PS5’s DualSense controller and AI that won’t have seemingly stealthy teammates stumbling through the middle of a battlefield in plain sight, a common complaint with the original game.
“These are all things that make this feel like a new experience, not just a port,” Orry said. “The AI is the hardest to judge because no one is playing the game and following the movements of every enemy and buddy, but encounters play out really well, the dynamics change quickly depending on how well you use stealth. I played the game with a USB headphones and the 3D audio is quite disturbing at some points. At times the tension proved a bit too much, so I switched to playing with the sound muted for the sake of my heart.”
The rest of Naughty Dog’s changes to the game seemed to have less of an impact on reviewers. Orry said previous critiques of The Last of Us gameplay remain relevant, even if they don’t bother him as much as others.
“Maybe it’s the fact that in the nearly ten years since the original release, more and more games have opted for this heavy, rough feel to combat, but in the remake I didn’t find it a nuisance at all. There’s a slight clumsiness some mechanics like switching weapons, which I would normally hate, but… at the risk of sounding like the worst PlayStation fan of all time, it works pretty brilliantly here.”
Cuevas said the original Last of Us fell short in moment-to-moment gameplay, something the remake hasn’t fixed.
“Despite the improved AI and combat, the gameplay still isn’t engaging and feels quite linear,” Cuevas said. “I was hoping The Last of Us Part would borrow me more from the larger, more varied environments of the second game. Instead, it still relies heavily on scripted sequences with plenty of fast-paced events. Puzzles are another sore spot, because usually solved them by throwing Ellie over a wall, pushing a dumpster, or helping her over a body of water.”
The second game’s wider environments weren’t the only changes reviewers missed when playing the remake of the original. Several also mentioned missing out on the ability to dive and advance those reformed battles in The Last of Us Part 2.
“[Going prone] It may have seemed like a minor mechanic in The Last of Us Part 2, but it fundamentally changed the way I approached combat,” Dekker said. “Obviously, Part 1 wasn’t designed with a crawling Joel in mind. There’s no grass to hide in and coverage is almost always waist-high, but the inability to move forward creates more dissonance between part 1 and part 2.”
Another common complaint was the complete absence of the multiplayer mode from the original game, Factions.
While reviewers largely praised the game itself, several also noted Naughty Dog’s efforts to give players reasons to go through it repeatedly. In particular, park acclaimed options that are unlocked after an initial playthrough, such as the ability to skip puzzles, auto-collect items, infinite ammo, and a bullet-time effect that accentuates the brutality of the game.
“That’s the main triumph of this remake,” says Park. “It offers more ways to ‘play’ your role as Joel, and let the audience set the pace of repetitive performances. The Last of Us, I believe, is a game that is meant to be played over and over.”
While reviewers agreed on whether the game was worth paying full price – especially considering that the PS4 remaster of the 2014 original is available as part of PlayStation Plus subscriptions – they largely agreed. that The Last of Us Part 1 improved upon its very high predecessor.
“A beautiful and thoughtful remake of one of the greatest boppers in the PlayStation pantheon, The Last of Us Part 1 is the best way to play – or replay – Naughty Dog’s acclaimed survival classic,” said Reilly. The notable improvements it makes to its completely rebuilt world are complemented by the subtle refinements to its characters’ performances, and while it doesn’t come equipped with all of the sequel’s best changes afterwards, the upgrades to movement and AI make a welcome difference. into an already excellent game, though, it’s harder to argue that it was a completely pivotal remake as 2014’s The Last of Us Remastered still stands head and shoulders above almost all of its story-driven, action-adventure peers right down to the day today.”
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