I wasn't really sure whether I should review this as simply how The Last of Us holds up in 2023, or based on the value of buying this new PS5 version of a PS3 game. It's pretty ridiculous that Sony decided to charge $70 for this version when base level PlayStation Plus subscribers can play the PS4 version for free. This was actually my first time playing any version other than the original PS3 release (shoutout to my friend Matt for letting me borrow his copy), and when I replayed that in 2020 I really didn't have any issues with the way it looked. Obviously this new version is a significant visual upgrade but, like it usually goes, once you really settle in the prettier graphics don't really matter so much.
Naughty Dog has pitched this as a remake of the original game but outside of some very modest tweaks here and there (I noticed bow mechanics more akin to Part II), the gameplay is very largely the same. You won't see the added movement options from the second game here, or redesigned combat encounters. There's a commentary track that's weirdly locked behind game completion- I would've liked this right off the bat considering I've already beaten The Last of Us maybe five or six times.
While it's not an impressive remake, The Last of Us is still the incredible game we all fell in love with in 2013. Sure, the Naughty Dog environment traversal feels a bit silly at times with repetitive situations like "Ellie jumps on the pallet to cross the water", but the combat, stealth, and crafting systems are just as solid as they were when the game first came out. While I've challenged myself on more recent runs by stealthing my way through the higher difficulties, this time I set the game to normal and just had a good time being more aggressive and letting loose in combat.
The game has a great propulsive pace to it that has you feeling like you went on a whole journey with these characters, but it at the same time its hard to put down. I really like the way the narrative handles its time jumps as Joel and Ellie move across the country toward their goal.
The Last of Us is one of the most powerful and effective post-apocalyptic narratives ever told, and while it leans heavily into tropes it brings a depth that is frankly still ahead of most narrative-driven video games ten years later.
Credit also has to go to Gustavo Santaolalla's soundtrack for really giving this game its distinct personality. At this point it's easy to take his work for granted but I'm stoked that they've got him back for the promising television series about to debut at the time of this writing.
The Last of Us: Part 1 is only a package I can recommend for diehard fans or with those with plenty of funds to spend on games- but at the same time it's the new best way to play one of the greatest video games. While it might not be my personal favorite Naughty Dog title, I think that it is probably their best and a game everybody should experience. It's just that you'll probably be fine with the PS4 version.
Naughty Dog has pitched this as a remake of the original game but outside of some very modest tweaks here and there (I noticed bow mechanics more akin to Part II), the gameplay is very largely the same. You won't see the added movement options from the second game here, or redesigned combat encounters. There's a commentary track that's weirdly locked behind game completion- I would've liked this right off the bat considering I've already beaten The Last of Us maybe five or six times.
While it's not an impressive remake, The Last of Us is still the incredible game we all fell in love with in 2013. Sure, the Naughty Dog environment traversal feels a bit silly at times with repetitive situations like "Ellie jumps on the pallet to cross the water", but the combat, stealth, and crafting systems are just as solid as they were when the game first came out. While I've challenged myself on more recent runs by stealthing my way through the higher difficulties, this time I set the game to normal and just had a good time being more aggressive and letting loose in combat.
The game has a great propulsive pace to it that has you feeling like you went on a whole journey with these characters, but it at the same time its hard to put down. I really like the way the narrative handles its time jumps as Joel and Ellie move across the country toward their goal.
The Last of Us is one of the most powerful and effective post-apocalyptic narratives ever told, and while it leans heavily into tropes it brings a depth that is frankly still ahead of most narrative-driven video games ten years later.
Credit also has to go to Gustavo Santaolalla's soundtrack for really giving this game its distinct personality. At this point it's easy to take his work for granted but I'm stoked that they've got him back for the promising television series about to debut at the time of this writing.
The Last of Us: Part 1 is only a package I can recommend for diehard fans or with those with plenty of funds to spend on games- but at the same time it's the new best way to play one of the greatest video games. While it might not be my personal favorite Naughty Dog title, I think that it is probably their best and a game everybody should experience. It's just that you'll probably be fine with the PS4 version.