The reveal of The Last of Us Part I was divisive, most notably because it’s a game that didn’t really need a remake. The original game already had a remastered release on the PlayStation 4, and whilst it was clear that you were essentially playing a souped-up PlayStation 3 title, it still held up well. Naughty Dog revealing that additional features from the sequel wouldn’t be making it into the game didn’t help things either, with many quick to criticize the release as a bit of a cash grab.
Personally, I can’t wait to get my hands on the game. Whilst The Last of Us was hardly number one on my list of games to get remade, what I’ve seen looks incredible. It’ll be nice to have some visual consistency with The Last of Us Part II, whilst it’ll be interesting to see some of the minor changes that have been made to bring an extra sense of consistency between the pair of games (nothing of which I’ll spoil here). And, most importantly of all, there’ll never be a time when I DON’T want to play more The Last of Us – having another release feels like a treat, even if it is (in some ways) another re-release.
I do think Sony missed a trick by not launching the game directly into their new PlayStation Plus Premium/Extra service, but that’s something to talk about another day. For now, I’m giving you five reasons to be HYPED for The Last of Us Part I.
– The visuals look absolutely outstanding
You’ve only got to look at the videos and screenshots released by Naughty Dog to see that The Last of Us Part I looks outstanding. The detail on character models, the improved animations, the environments that are rich with current-gen goodness… everything has been done to ensure that the game takes full advantage of the PlayStation 5’s capabilities to look better than ever.
I’m excited to experience the game at 60fps with a dynamic 4K resolution, whilst seeing familiar sights and sequences with a beautiful new lick of paint will feel great. I was left in awe of just how good The Last of Us Part II looked when its PlayStation 5 patch released, but it looks like The Last of Us Part I will even manage to exceed that.
Whilst I will admit there were certain aspects of the original that didn’t really need improving, you’ve only got to see some comparison shots to realise just how much effort has been made to bring The Last of Us up to visual par with modern releases.
– The Last of Us is bigger than ever right now
It was only a few days ago that we got to see a closer look at the upcoming The Last of Us TV show, which is one of HBO’s most anticipated releases for 2023. It looks fantastic and like it has really captured the grim and desolate atmosphere of the game perfectly, with Pedro Pascal nailing his take on protagonist Joel.
With the new series inbound, there are going to be a lot more eyes on the video game. With the TV show basing itself around the first game, it’s cool to know that folk will be able to play it in its best possible form. It gives the franchise as a whole the potential to be bigger than ever, and come on, who wouldn’t want to play it for the first time with the full power of the PlayStation 5 behind it? It’s an exciting time to be a fan and I’m hoping that The Last of Us Part I keeps both new and old players invested in the world.
– Photo mode will let players pull off some amazing shots
Despite the desolate situation the world finds itself in, there’s no denying that The Last of Us brings with it a beautiful world where nature has taken over. It’s the perfect landscape for Photo Mode really, so it’s great to see that The Last of Us Part I will have it included. I’m already excited to see the countless giraffe shots that are going to hit Twitter…
Of course, the game is also full of jaw-dropping action sequences and set pieces, so I expect to also see a showcase of both violence and trauma with player’s photos. The Last of Us Part II brought plenty of dark and wonderful creations to social media via its Photo Mode, so I’m excited to see what players manage to capture here.
– New game modes offer different ways to experience the game
One particularly neat addition to the game are the Speedrun and Permadeath modes, with players having new ways to experience Joel and Ellie’s journey.
Admittedly, I’ve never been one for speed-running and the idea of permadeath through some of the game’s stealth sections already makes me feel uneasy, but I know that they’re very popular amongst gamers – especially for streamers, who want to complete the harshest challenges that video games have to offer. Well, The Last of Us Part I caters for it and I’m looking forward to seeing how well gamers handle it.
Also, as a side note, Naughty Dog brought some amazing accessibility options to The Last of Us Part II and it looks like The Last of Us Part I will have those too. Gaming should be inclusive for everyone, so it’s fantastic to see that this release will bring with it a wide array of options that cater for the many different needs for gamers worldwide. Bravo, Naughty Dog.
– It’s also coming to PC
Whilst a lot of PlayStation gamers don’t like the idea of the platform’s biggest exclusives coming to PC, I think it’s great. Not only does it bring the games to a wider audience, but it also brings in more revenue for Sony; with more sales, there’s more money to be sent on your favourite franchises.
What excites me the most though is the potential for mods. We’ve already seen some of the zany things players have done with Marvel’s Spider-Man since its release on PC, so what will we see in The Last of Us Part I when it eventually hits the platform? There’s a lot of potential there and I can’t wait to see just how creative those clever modders are going to be.
More about The Last of Us Part I
Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us, winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards.
In a ravaged civilization, where infected and hardened survivors run rampant, Joel, a weary protagonist, is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie out of a military quarantine zone. However, what starts as a small job soon transforms into a brutal cross-country journey.
Includes the complete The Last of Us single-player story and celebrated prequel chapter, Left Behind, which explores the events that changed the lives of Ellie and her best friend Riley forever.
Completely rebuilt from the ground up using Naughty Dog’s latest PS5 engine technology with advanced visual fidelity, fully integrated DualSense wireless controller features and more.
Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters of Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us, and explore the events that changed the lives of Ellie and her best friend Riley forever in the critically acclaimed prequel chapter, Left Behind.
A total overhaul of the original experience, faithfully reproduced but incorporating modernized gameplay mechanics, improved controls and expanded accessibility options.
Feel immersed in improved environmental storytelling, effects, facial animations, and enhanced exploration and combat.
The Last of Us Part I is coming to the PlayStation 5 on September 2nd 2022. Find out more on the official website through this link.
