How do you make the best game of 2013 even better?
That was the challenge placed before Naughty Dog. The Last of Us was one of the finest games of the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 era, a visual masterpiece and a triumph of gaming storytelling, but it arrived at a video game crossroads, hitting the market just months before the next generation of machines.
Could Naughty make the game relevant again, barely a year later?
Somehow, the answer is yes. The Last of Us Remastered arrived on the PlayStation 4 last week, and it manages to make an instant classic worth replaying. If you haven’t played The Last of Us and own a PlayStation 4, now is your chance. And even if you did play it, there are enough tweaks for you to a least ponder the pickup (or grab it when the price invariably drops).
If you didn’t play The Last of Us last year, here’s a quick recap. You play as two characters, Joel and Ellie, in a gripping story about what happens to humanity when we’re nearly wiped off the planet by your average zombie-like virus. Ellie is somehow immune to the virus, and she becomes the key to the plot. She also becomes far more than that, evolving into one of the most memorable characters in gaming memory.
If you know the story, you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t, to tell you any more would be a disservice to your playthrough.
The game plays out in standard third-person adventure fashion, and it’s very linear. But compelling controls and near film-quality visuals drive a masterful experience. Both those things have gotten better in the remastered edition.
The Last of Us Remastered has been completely redone in 1080p, and the difference between PS3 and PS4 versions is huge. You’ll read signs in the distance now, and see the skyline and far off buildings with far greater clarity. A handful of iconic scenes now truly jump off the screen, immersing you more fully in the action.
A new Photo Mode takes advantage of that, allowing you to capture your favorite in-game moments with the push of a button. It’s a subtle addition, but in an era when gamers are addicted to sharing their experiences with each other, it’s welcome.
There are controller tweaks, too, tweaks so natural that you won’t even think about it. You open Joel’s backpack with a press of the Dualshock 4 touchpad, something instinctive and natural and far easier than the old Select button-press. Even better are the refined shooter controls; you’ll rely on your triggers and it all feels natural.
The Last of Us Remastered also bundles in the fine Left Behind DLC, adding some extra story elements to the package. It all adds up to a fantastic package, even if it’s one that’s not required. The PS3 version of The Last of Us remains the better bargain, available in most spots for under thirty bucks.
But The Last of Us Remastered is easily the finest version of a brilliant game. And just a year later, that’s quite impressive.
Reviewed on Sony PlayStation 4
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